Three Ways to Make Coronavirus Drugs in a Hurry

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April 23, 2020

Dear Reader, Why is there so much more matter than antimatter in the universe? This question is one of the defining mysteries of physics. New findings could point toward a possible answer. In other news, gene-editing technology CRISPR is making a bid to help fill in holes in coronavirus testing regimens. And our top story today examines some of the drugs being developed to attack COVID-19 and the virus that causes it.

Sunya Bhutta, Senior Editor, Audience Engagement @sunyaaa

Medicine Three Ways to Make Coronavirus Drugs in a Hurry With no time to make treatments from scratch, researchers search for existing compounds that deflect harm By Michael Waldholz

Space Antimatter Discovery Reveals Clues about the Universe's Beginning New evidence from neutrinos points to one of several theories about why the cosmos is made of matter and not antimatter By Clara Moskowitz

Medical & Biotech CRISPR Gene Editing May Help Scale Up Coronavirus Testing An inexpensive assay based on the technique can provide yes or no answers in under an hour—perhaps even in the home soon By Jim Daley

Space The Lost Worlds of Soviet Space Graphics [Slideshow] A new book captures the pioneering, propaganda-infused visions of mid-20th-century Soviet space exploration By Lee Billings,Liz Tormes

Environment "Ghost Flights" Haunt the Skies, Enlarging Carbon Footprints Though air travel demand has plummeted, federal regulations have required airlines to maintain flights By Maxine Joselow,E&E News

Behavior & Society The Pandemic Could Lead to More Discrimination against Black Americans African-Americans are already afflicted disproportionately by COVID-19, but economic collapse could make things even worse for them By Amy Krosch

Medical & Biotech Flexible Armor Inspired by Mollusks Better Defends Joints A scaly sea creature called a chiton sparks an idea for new protective gear By Sophie Bushwick

Public Health Diseases Can Jump to Humans from Plants, Not Just from Animals The deadly fungal pathogen Candida auris may have developed drug resistance on farms By Peter Beetham

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FROM THE ARCHIVE Warm Clothes Could Be Made of Chicken Feathers Originally published in March 1951 | April 2020

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