Babbage: Shot at victory

<p>Could repurposing existing drugs, such as <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2020/05/04/two-potential-therapies-for-covid-19-have-some-effect" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">remdesivir</a>, be the answer to the search for treatments for covid-19? Also, the winner of this year’s Marconi Prize, Andrea Goldsmith of Stanford University, on her pioneering work in wireless communications technology. And, the mission to give<a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/03/05/re-engineering-britains-rivers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> rivers their wiggle back</a>. Kenneth Cukier hosts.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>For more on the pandemic, see The Economist's coronavirus <a href="https://www.economist.com/news/2020/03/11/the-economists-coverage-of-the-coronavirus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hub</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Please subscribe to The Economist for full access to print, digital and audio editions:</p><p><a href="http://www.economist.com/radiooffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/radiooffer</a></p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>