The coronavirus evolves at a slow rate and it has a proofreading mechanism. As a result, few scientists were worried about it mutating into something far more dangerous. But that all changed in November last year.

The UK was the first to identify a “variant of concern” within its borders. It was found to be up to 70% more transmissible than the dominant virus. Other concerning variants then cropped up in South Africa and Brazil. They caused more consternation because they had a mutation called E484K – a so-called “escape mutation”. An escape mutation is one that is able to evade neutralising antibodies, making vaccines less effective. That mutation has now been found in the UK variant. Claire Crossan explains what it means.

Two new vaccines, developed by Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, recently reported late-stage trial results, and both were shown to be effective against the UK and South African variants, although not as effective as against the regular coronavirus, called D614G.

We also take a look at how the GameStop trading saga is just the start of the democratisation of capital markets. And whether the UK government’s plan to feed grey squirrels oral contraceptives is the solution to getting rid of this invasive species.

Plus, watch out later today for the launch of our new podcast – The Conversation Weekly – and our Curious Kids webinar, which will see two experts on rainforests answer questions from the audience.

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