As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, viral variants have become the latest concern. But variants are complicated. Each one is made up of a collection of mutations, all of which have the potential to change the SARS-CoV-2 virus in unexpected ways.
So what do scientists mean when they talk about variants and what might this mean for the future of the pandemic?
Why US coronavirus tracking can't keep up with concerning variants
Multitude of coronavirus variants found in the US — but the threat is unclear
Five coronavirus questions scientists still don’t have answers to
How fake news about coronavirus became a second pandemic
How scientists are fighting the novel coronavirus: A three minute guide
Science under Trump: Four key moments
