- University of Arizona evolutionary biologist Michael Worobey, who also signed the letter, said natural emergence is the most plausible explanation. But as someone who works with potentially dangerous viruses, he knows a laboratory leak is not out of the question.
It has happened before, he said, including in 1977 when a strain of flu apparently stored in a freezer for more than two decades somehow escaped and caused the so-called “Russian flu” epidemic in the former Soviet Union and China.
“It’s something I’ve been concerned about in my own lab for a long time,” Worobey said.
Even if a lab origin is ruled out for COVID-19 — which Worobey hopes will be the case — he believes the potential role of research facilities in spreading new pathogens deserves careful consideration in the future.
I like this article, and the treatment they gave the science part. It's a much better journalistic effort; "...scientists have questions, and so far there are only political answers because we do not have access to X, Y, and Z, and to get access to those, A, B, and C need to happen." I wish all science was reported this well. And shit... I want every one of these fuckers digging deeply into coronaviruses and planning for the next one ASAP!
Yes, exactly. Look at the difference between Galileo and Capernicus. Cap knew how to work the establishment, so he was allowed to say whatever he wanted. Grovel at the Pope's feet and congratulations!!!, you're not a heretic. If you do things in a way that's impolitic, you're only undermining your mission.