Posted on December 27th, 2020 Courtesy The Times (UK) Science offers hope despite fears about the effect of quick-spreading coronavirus variants Borders closed, lockdowns were tightened and dire warnings of aggressive new outbreaks were issued. Scientists worried about the vulnerability of children and politicians agonised over shutting schools. There was scant relief on the coronavirus front last week, as the discovery of an alarming pair of mutant strains played havoc with the Christmas plans — not to mention the fraying nerves — of Britons, South Africans and a rapidly growing number of other nationalities. Yet a singular effort by a weary microbiologist in Texas offered at least a glimpse of hope that the mutant army of variant coronavirus strains will ultimately be defeated by science.