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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.
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Rob Reddick
Commissioning Editor, COVID-19
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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
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.
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Various types of astronaut assistant are in development.
Michal Bednarek/shutterstock.com
Deep Bandivadekar, University of Strathclyde ; Audrey Berquand, University of Strathclyde
Artificial intelligence can help us venture further in space.
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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
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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Health + Medicine
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Rebecca Aicheler, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cambridge study finds blood markers that could help predict, very early in the disease, who will get severe COVID.
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Elena Ratschen, University of York; Emily Shoesmith, University of York; Roxanne Hawkins, University of the West of Scotland
Pets both helped and harmed mental health.
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Dolly Theis, University of Cambridge
We don’t need more government obesity strategies – governments just need to implement the proposed policies for them to work.
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Politics + Society
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William Wang, Beijing Normal University; Holly Snape, University of Glasgow
Controlling transmission isn't as straightforward as simply replicating China's policies in the west.
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Helen O'Nions, Nottingham Trent University
The UK government intends to make intentional trespass on private land a criminal offence.
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Binoy Kampmark, RMIT University
As her 16-year reign as German Chancellor comes to an end, Merkel will be remembered for her staunch centrism and her willingness to wait to sense the political mood - sometimes then changing course.
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Business + Economy
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Enrico Bonadio, City, University of London; Andrea Borghini, University of Milan
Oatly and Flora are fronting a petition to stop the EU getting even tougher on their packaging.
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Arts + Culture
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Chloe Preece, Royal Holloway; Finola Kerrigan, University of the Arts London
With No Time To Die pushed back for the third time, the timeliness that has contributed to the brand's success could be its downfall.
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Environment + Energy
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Gregory Moore, University of Melbourne
As you swelter during this heatwave, it may not be all bad news for our urban and natural environments. Sometimes, positive outcomes arise when and where we least expect them.
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Science + Technology
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Alexandra Pavliuc, University of Oxford
New research suggests tech firms need to improve how they detect abuse in response to the evolving use of coded language.
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Featured events
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Cardiff University, CUBRIC, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, Cardiff, CF14 0UP, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Cardiff University
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East Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB11PT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Anglia Ruskin University
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East Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB11PT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Anglia Ruskin University
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Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Essex
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