The hottest Virology Substack posts right now

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NIAID Funds and Nature Publishes Doomsday COVID Viral Virulence-Enhancing Technology by Dr. Zheng-Li Shi: Call for Emergency Restrictions and Severe Penalties for Misuse

Popular Rationalism • 277 implied HN points • 02 Nov 24
🔬 Science Virology Bioethics Public Health
  1. The new method of using customized viral receptors (CVRs) allows scientists to study how viruses infect cells more safely, but it also poses serious risks if misused.
  2. These CVRs can make viruses more contagious and easier to spread, raising concerns about biosecurity and the potential for creating bioweapons.
  3. There's an urgent need for stricter regulations and accountability in viral research to prevent misuse of technologies like CVRs and ensure public safety.

Dear Shambolic Oligarchs: Here’s What I Did This Week

Viruses Must Die • 96 implied HN points • 25 Feb 25
🔬 Science Virology Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Vaccines Health Research
  1. There's a plan to create a vaccine for chickens using yeast to help them fight bird flu. This involves some complex science but aims to protect poultry.
  2. Efforts are underway to upload massive amounts of viral data to a federal cloud, making it easier for scientists to access crucial information. However, workplace issues are causing worries about delays.
  3. A colleague discovered a cancer treatment but was let go during a staff change, which highlights the challenges faced by dedicated scientists and the impact of workplace stress on their work.

The Pet Theory Economy

Nepetalactone Newsletter • 1965 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🔬 Science Genomics Virology Health Policy
  1. In the Pet Theory Economy, people defend and promote their theories as if their livelihoods depend on it, driven by the need for traffic and novelty.
  2. Challenging someone's theory is seen as interference with their ability to make a living, leading to a circular logic where blame is shifted.
  3. Focusing on various aspects of issues is valid; one should not be limited to a single perspective or group and should question narratives that feed into a narrow Pet Theory economy.

Reverse Genetic Systems

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 58 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🔬 Science Biology Virology Genetics Statistics
  1. There are two main theories about the origin of SARS-CoV-2: one is that it came from animal trade, and the other is that it originated in a lab. Each theory has its own set of details that scientists are still investigating.
  2. Understanding the origins of the virus requires knowledge of both biology and complex statistical methods. These methods help researchers weigh the evidence carefully, which is crucial for arriving at the most likely explanation.
  3. The evidence increasingly suggests that the virus may have come from a lab, especially noting the features like the furin cleavage site that were put into a reverse genetic system. This raises important questions about how we study viruses and their potential risks.

Macbeth

Microanimism • 119 implied HN points • 30 May 24
🔬 Science Biology Virology Health
  1. Viruses are ancient, existing before cellular life and influencing the history of biology and life today.
  2. The presence of viruses is widespread, from biblical references to everyday life, emotions, and biological processes.
  3. The text explores themes of guilt, perfection, and the intertwining of life and death through a poetic and philosophical lens.
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Genetic Variations that Predispose People to Severe COVID-19, Cause of Acute Deadly Hepatitis in Children Likely Identified, SARS-CoV-2 Origin Still Being Investigated

LIL Science • 471 implied HN points • 18 May 23
🔬 Science Genetics Infectious Diseases Research Virology
  1. Research has identified genetic variations that make people more likely to have severe COVID-19.
  2. The likely cause of acute deadly hepatitis in children has been identified as a combination of viruses and genetic predispositions.
  3. The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is still under investigation, with reports detailing activities in China preceding the pandemic.

Accelerated Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in US Deer Populations

LIL Science • 471 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
🔬 Science Virology Evolution Public Health
  1. SARS-CoV-2 can evolve quickly in deer populations and may become very different from current variants.
  2. Zoonotic transmission is the spread of a virus between humans and animals, which can lead to new variants that may be problematic for human immunity.
  3. Monitoring wildlife for zoonotic diseases is crucial to prevent the emergence of highly divergent variants that could infect humans.

German Newspaper Forces Correction at Science Magazine, While Americans Ignore Study That Undermines Market Theory for Pandemic Origin

The DisInformation Chronicle • 375 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🔬 Science Research Statistics Virology Journalism
  1. A German newspaper forced Science Magazine to correct a study about the pandemic origin, while American science writers ignored new research questioning the study's validity.
  2. The Science Magazine study, claiming the pandemic began in a wet market, was criticized for its statistical methodology by experts from Germany and Hong Kong, raising doubts about its conclusions.
  3. Independent experts confirmed the criticism of the study, highlighting flaws in the statistical analysis and describing Science Magazine's handling of the methodology as careless and unprofessional.

Science Magazine’s Paper Advocating Market Origin for COVID Based on False Statistics

The DisInformation Chronicle • 270 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🔬 Science Virology Journalism Statistics
  1. A group of virologists, including Anthony Fauci, may have intentionally diverted attention away from a possible lab accident in Wuhan at the start of the pandemic.
  2. An analysis published in a British science journal has found that the Science Magazine study advocating for the market origin of COVID is based on flawed statistics, contradicting the claims made in the study.
  3. While American media has largely ignored the analysis questioning Science Magazine's study, German journalists, like those from the weekly science magazine Spektrum, have reported on it.

First People Sickened By COVID-19 Were Chinese Scientists At Wuhan Institute Of Virology, Say US Government Sources

Michael Shellenberger • 685 HN points • 13 Jun 23
📰 News Investigative Journalism Global Health Government Virology
  1. The first people sickened by COVID-19 were Chinese scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
  2. They were engaged in 'gain-of-function' research on SARS-like coronaviruses when they fell ill.
  3. Significant evidence points towards the accidental escape of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the Wuhan lab.

Birth of protein folds and functions in the virome

Axial • 14 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🔬 Science Virology Genetics Molecular Biology Bioinformatics
  1. A lot of viral proteins have unique structures, showing there's still much to discover in the viral world. More than half of these proteins are structurally different from anything we've seen before.
  2. Some viral proteins are surprisingly similar to human proteins, which allows viruses to trick our cells. This understanding could lead to new ways to combat viral infections.
  3. Using advanced techniques to study protein structures is really powerful. It can reveal function and relationships that traditional methods might miss, helping us understand viruses better.

(Temple Prokarya) 1. A brief manifesto: I think this is important

Microanimism • 19 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🔬 Science Microbiology Ethics Virology Epidemiology
  1. Pathogens like bacteria and viruses do not have a desire to make us sick, they simply exist and propagate efficiently.
  2. Exploring the morality of survival in the face of life-threatening diseases can lead to deeper philosophical discussions about microbial behavior.
  3. Human activities like deforestation and increased contact with wild animals are linked to the emergence of new infectious diseases, highlighting the impact of our actions on public health.

The Pathogenic Academic Lobby

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 99 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🔬 Science Academic Research Virology Ethics Pandemic Preparedness
  1. The history of the COVID-19 pandemic traces back to controversial research on potentially pandemic pathogens conducted by influential scientists before the pandemic began.
  2. A group called Scientists For Science, formed by key researchers, lobbied for the continuation of risky research on enhancing potentially pandemic pathogens, prioritizing academic pursuits and funding over clear benefits or safety precautions.
  3. The public may not be aware of the ongoing conflicts of interest, power struggles, and lobbying efforts within the scientific community regarding high-risk research, highlighting the need for transparency, accountability, and ethical guidelines in handling dangerous pathogens.

Science Magazine Reaches New Low, Defames Their Critics

The DisInformation Chronicle • 35 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
🔬 Science Research Journalism Virology Pandemic Criticism
  1. Science Magazine published a defamatory article attacking critics but later had to retract false information, exposing a consistent theme of inaccuracy in science reporting.
  2. The journalists at Science Magazine showed bias and ignored evidence that contradicted their reporting, leading to criticism for unethical practices.
  3. Researchers pointed out flawed research and misleading behavior from virologists, highlighting the importance of ethical journalism and integrity in science reporting.

Anniversary bonus: A sample from the archives of 2020

The Strategy Toolkit • 26 implied HN points • 24 Apr 23
🔬 Science Language Evolution Genetics Virology
  1. Language is a key element that distinguishes humans from other species and plays a vital role in human history.
  2. The study of the survival and extinction of languages over time reveals the impact of demographics, empire-building, and technological change.
  3. Reviving a dying language involves various strategies such as language nests, support from institutions, political action, and technology.