Pandemics are dynamic – things can change very quickly. Two months ago, the threat of the coronavirus mutating still seemed hypothetical. Now, more infectious strains are dominant in the UK and South Africa, driving up cases, hospitalisations and deaths.

This means our responses have to change too. Restrictions will now need to be stronger and last longer in order to keep the virus under control. These strains might also be able to resist current COVID vaccines, so Moderna has become the first manufacturer to pledge to update its product to handle the new variants. This is reassuring news at a time when other manufacturers are struggling: after some poor results, Merck has abandoned its COVID vaccine.

Two of the scientists who discovered the South African variant have explained how this strain differs and why its mutations have led to the virus being more transmissible. They then look at whether this variant causes different symptoms and what’s known about its ability to resist vaccines.

Last weekend also marked a year since the Chinese city of Wuhan was first put into lockdown; since then, China has done well in limiting transmission. But while it’s tempting to look to China for what to do, other countries need to take care, say William Wang and Holly Snape. Its policies can’t be applied elsewhere without fully understanding the context that allowed them to work.

Meanwhile, advances in AI are set to help humankind explore space, while the impeachment of a dead pope may offer clues as to what lies ahead for Donald Trump.

Rob Reddick

Commissioning Editor, COVID-19

Health care workers and patients in the temporary outside area Steve Biko Academic Hospital created to screen and treat suspected Covid-19 cases in Pretoria. Alet Pretorius/Gallo Images via Getty Images

South African scientists who discovered new COVID-19 variant share what they know

Willem Hanekom, Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI); Tulio de Oliveira, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Scientists have observed that 501Y.V2 has quickly become "dominant" among multiple variants that have been circulating in the South African population.

Various types of astronaut assistant are in development. Michal Bednarek/shutterstock.com

Five ways artificial intelligence can help space exploration

Deep Bandivadekar, University of Strathclyde ; Audrey Berquand, University of Strathclyde

Artificial intelligence can help us venture further in space.

The Cadaver Synod (897): Seven months after his death, the corpse of Pope Formosus was found guilty of perjury. Jean-Paul Laurens (1870) via Britannica

Trump impeachment after leaving office is nothing – in 9th-century Rome they put a pope’s corpse on trial

Frederik Pedersen, University of Aberdeen

The story of the 'Cadaver Synod' tells us that in some cases, even the departed can be held to account.

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