Editor's note

Much of the concern about the coronavirus stems from the fact that there is currently no vaccine. This could be a big factor in whether or not the outbreak worsens. The good news is that researchers at several labs across the world are on the case and trying to create an effective vaccine for the coronavirus. The bad news is that it could be months before one is available as Aubree Gordon and Florian Krammer explain.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is a massive project on one of the Nile’s main tributaries, the Blue Nile in Ethiopia. It’s caused major tensions between states served by water from the Nile basin, especially Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan. But, after rigorous discussions, plans are finally in place that lay the framework for an agreement. Mahemud Tekuya discusses what this should look like.

Lynne Anderson

Senior Health + Medicine Editor

Top Stories

A security guard wears a mask as she keeps watch at arriving passengers at Manila’s international airport in the Philippines on Jan. 23, 2020, as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus. Aaron Favila/AP Photo

When will there be a coronavirus vaccine? 5 questions answered

Aubree Gordon, University of Michigan; Florian Krammer, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

One of the dangers of the new coronavirus is that there is no treatment – and no vaccine. But researchers had already been at work on vaccines for close-related viruses.

The Nile river in Cairo. Grant Faint/Getty Images

Nile Basin states must build a flexible treaty. Here’s how

Mahemud Tekuya, University of the Pacific

Instead of allocating the Nile waters based on a fixed, perpetual water supply Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt must consider changes in weather patterns, among other factors.

Health + Medicine

Steps Nigeria is taking to prepare for cases of coronavirus

Chikwe Ihekweazu, UCL

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says it will use lessons from the Ebola outbreak to strengthen its risk communications capacity.

Perspectives from Kenya and Ghana on coronavirus preparations

Abdhalah Ziraba, African Population and Health Research Center; Peter Kojo Quashie, University of Ghana

Airport public health officials have got better at screening at ports of entry especially for international arrivals.

Politics + Society

How Kurdish diaspora groups are pushing for unity over their divided homeland

Veysi Dag, SOAS, University of London

Different ideologies and agendas among Kurdish political groups means they don't push a single narrative about the Kurdish homeland. Diaspora groups are trying to change that.

Despite defeats, the Islamic State remains unbroken and defiant around the world

Brian Glyn Williams, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

The Islamic State group, often called ISIS, is not just based in Iraq and Syria. A scholar tracks where the group and its affiliates have spread around the globe.

Environment + Energy

Atmospheric river storms can drive costly flooding – and climate change is making them stronger

Tom Corringham, University of California San Diego

Earth's biggest rivers are streams of warm water vapor in the atmosphere that can cause huge rain and snowfall over land. Climate change is making them longer, wetter and stronger.

Microplastic pollution is everywhere, but scientists are still learning how it harms wildlife

Kennedy Bucci, University of Toronto; Chelsea Rochman, University of Toronto

Many studies find microplastics have important negative effects on animals, but others don't.

Science + Technology

How we found a special maths equation hidden in rat whiskers

Robyn Grant, Manchester Metropolitan University

The Euler spiral has helped engineers for over 100 years – now we're using it to understand biology.

How smart were our ancestors? Turns out the answer isn’t in brain size, but blood flow

Roger S. Seymour, University of Adelaide

To understand how much thinking a brain can do, look at how much blood - and therefore how much energy - it uses.