Coronavirus variants: What you need to know

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? Sign up for the Nature Briefing: An essential round-up of science news, opinion and analysis, free in your inbox every weekday: