| Scientists race to learn more about new variants, AstraZeneca and the EU dispute vaccine delivery, and experts explore mass vaccination clinics. Here's what you should know: Headlines The race to understand and protect against new variants continues On Monday, Minnesota reported the US' first case of the Brazil variant of SARS-CoV-2. Meanwhile, Moderna released initial findings indicating that its vaccine is effective enough at protecting against this and other new mutations of the virus. Scientists around the world are racing to understand how these variants spread and how they could change the course of the pandemic. There's one thing we already know for certain, though: The less transmission there is, the more likely we are to avoid new variants in the future. Disputes over vaccine delivery escalate between AstraZeneca and the EU Sparring between leaders of AstraZeneca and the EU has continued over delayed vaccine deliveries. Problems first arose last week when AstraZeneca announced that it planned to cut initial deliveries in the EU from 80 million to 31 million doses, citing difficulties ramping up production and saying the delivery figures in its contract were targets, not promises. In response, the EU said it might put export controls on vaccines made in the region. A third round of talks to resolve the issue is scheduled for Wednesday evening, and the EU's drug regulator will be looking at the AstraZeneca shot on Friday. Experts explore mass clinics and other possible ways to speed up vaccination Among the most critical parts of Biden's vaccine distribution plan is a promise to create 100 new vaccination sites with the help of the Department of Defense and FEMA. The plan doesn't say where or how big the sites will be, but some experts have raised the possibility of mass vaccination clinics. These could streamline the process of getting as many shots into arms as possible. But depending on where they are and how they're run, such sites could end up excluding the people most in need of protection. Daily Distraction Science fiction is chock-full of made up words. Ever wondered where they all came from? A new online dictionary can help. Something to Read What would happen if the splinternet—specifically, the way the Chinese internet is increasingly separate from America's—devolved into a third world war? In a new novel, writers and national security veterans Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis answer this question—and it isn't pretty. WIRED has devoted this month's print issue to an excerpt, and we'll be publishing it in installments on our website over the next six weeks. Check out Part I here. Sanity Check While you're stuck at home, there's no need to break the bank on your phone plan. We put together a guide to the best cheap options. One Question Will vaccinating teachers be enough to fully reopen schools? Teachers in the vast majority of states have been bumped to near the front of the Covid-19 vaccine line. However, the question of what happens after they receive their shots is still largely unanswered. Leaders of many of the country's teachers' unions are now saying that vaccinating teachers alone may not be enough to reopen schools, given how little we know about whether the vaccine reduces transmission and the importance of continuing to follow CDC distancing guidelines. But public health experts have said that waiting until all children are vaccinated isn't a solution. Further, some add, teachers were prioritized at the expense of some other groups, and returning to their jobs once they're inoculated may well be the ethical thing to do. Covid-19 Care Package 📦 The Covid-19 virus can linger on objects for as little as a few hours or as long as a couple of days, depending on the surface. Here's a look at the research. 😷 If you're planning to go out in public anytime soon, you're going to need a mask. Here are the best ones you can buy, or how to make one at home. 🧼 It's not just your hands that need washing—your gadgets, clothes, and home need it too. Here's how to properly disinfect your stuff. 💻 Whether or not you're a work-from-home pro, here's how to stay productive without losing your mind. 😔 It's hard not to be anxious about a global pandemic, but here's how you can protect yourself and your family without spiraling and how to not hate the loved ones you're quarantined with. ✂️ It may still be a while before you can see your hairstylist, so here's how to cut your hair at home, plus other ways to keep yourself lookin' fresh. 🦠 Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. | 
[New post] A Sonic Central video presentation has been announced for tomorrow
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