Matter and antimatter. Why are we here?

The matter making the solar system, the Earth, all living beings and ourselves, is made up almost entirely of atoms which, in turn, are based on three elementary particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. For each of these particles, as well as for many others, not usually part of atoms, there is an antiparticle. Therefore, there could be antimatter antiatoms, made of antiprotons, antineutrons, and antielectrons (positrons).

An interesting property of matter and antimatter is that they cannot be together. As soon as they come into contact, they completely disintegrate, transforming into energy. Everything suggests that our galaxy (the Milky Way) is made up almost exclusively of matter. There is also some antimatter, in the form of antiparticle clouds, outside the galaxy, close to it and attracted by its gravity, but in such a small quantity, compared to the mass of the galaxy, that for practical purposes it can be ignored. It has also been said that there could be some (but very few) anti-stars.

October the first is too late

Fred Hoyle was one of the great scientists of the 20th century, as well as one of the most controversial, due to the eccentric theories he defended. His most important scientific discovery had to do with the nucleosynthesis of elements in stars, heavier than hydrogen and helium, which are the simplest and lightest in existence. In particular, from his theory on the formation of carbon atoms, Hoyle deduced an early version of the fine-tuning problem, which made him go from atheism to a vaguely theistic position, as can be seen in this paragraph from his article The universe: past and present reflections (Engineering & Science, 1981):

Would you not say to yourself… "Some super-calculating intellect must have designed the properties of the carbon atom, otherwise the chance of my finding such an atom through the blind forces of nature would be utterly minuscule... A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a superintellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature. The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question."

Masking against COVID-19, yes or no?

Some governments are using the mandatory or voluntary use of masks for political gain, for there are many people who do not like them, and the rulers think that lifting the obligation can give them votes. Some people deny that masking does prevent contagion, despite the fact that the use of masks to prevent the transmission of a respiratory disease is common sense. Is there any scientific study that clarifies the situation?