This is the 2nd half of the piece on the #originsofcovid that @mattwridley was very nice to invite me to co-write.
In the first 1/2 @WSJ we advocated for a credible investigation. In this 2/2 @Telegraph we revisit the story of the search for the origins.
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/0…
In the first 1/2 @WSJ we advocated for a credible investigation. In this 2/2 @Telegraph we revisit the story of the search for the origins.
telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/0…
I know that there are a growing number of similar pieces out there now including yesterday's @washingtonpost editorial board opinion, @NYMag @nicholsonbaker8 lab leak hypothesis, and @BillNye podcast interview of @DavidRelman - all superb reads/listens.
In our piece in the @Telegraph @mattwridley and I lay out for the non-scientist what has been investigated so far, what the public has been told in the past year re: #originsofcovid and why we think that #laborigins are plausible and must be investigated. telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/0…
One of the highlights of the article is the list of top experts who have made public statements/endorsements that a lab leak as the #originsofcovid remains a plausible scientific hypothesis to be investigated, regardless of how likely or unlikely.
Many of the experts do not agree with my take on the findings surrounding #originsofcovid (e.g., RaTG13, pangolins). Several also think that lab leak is incredibly unlikely. And at least one probably hates my guts.
But they all said that #laborigins needs to be investigated.
But they all said that #laborigins needs to be investigated.
Rather than getting experts to sign a letter, it's better that readers can see what each expert has said.
I'll post links to statements by the listed experts here. This list is also by no means complete - there are other experts who have said #laborigins should be investigated.
I'll post links to statements by the listed experts here. This list is also by no means complete - there are other experts who have said #laborigins should be investigated.
Other experts had reached out, but the strict criteria we set was that we wanted experts in the field (virology, infectious diseases, evolutionary biology, biosecurity) or at least adjacent fields (life sciences, bioengineering) with a solid & recent research publication record.
A lot of journalists (and also scientists) ask for highly respected, trusted, established scientists to talk to about natural vs #laborigins of covid. I think this will be helpful to you and also show the wide range of scientific opinions on #originsofcovid 
Some of the experts in this list think #laborigins are more likely than natural origins. Others think it's closer to 50:50. And some think it is super unlikely but a proper investigation is still needed.
You're not getting a consensus. You're getting a spectrum of opinions.
You're not getting a consensus. You're getting a spectrum of opinions.
@BallouxFrancois gave an interview to @spectator discussing possible #originsofcovid scenarios - saying that natural spillover is most likely but we cannot rule out lab accident and requires proper investigation to clarify (~9min mark).
Dr Ralph Baric has also given public statements to @Presa_Diretta and written an article: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
@trvrb has also made public tweets and 🧵 on #originsofcovid directly addressing lab escape hypothesis
https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1230634136102064128
https://twitter.com/trvrb/status/1333885880054910976
@jbloom_lab "I will say that based on currently available information, both natural origins and lab escape are plausible theories."
https://twitter.com/jbloom_lab/status/1346577474268745729
@canardbruno
https://twitter.com/canardbruno/status/1306891846371733507
https://twitter.com/canardbruno/status/1269234415793831937
@R_H_Ebright since Jan 2020 "2019-nCoV data are “consistent with entry into the human population as either a natural accident or a laboratory accident.”"
sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/m…
sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/m…
@mbeisen "I am nonetheless surprised at the degree of confidence people express in a natural origin."
https://twitter.com/mbeisen/status/1350537123120570368
@JonesNonwork endorsed @DavidRelman @PNAS piece
Had co-authored a paper on bat coronaviruses with Daszak and Shi Zhengli in 2007.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
Had co-authored a paper on bat coronaviruses with Daszak and Shi Zhengli in 2007.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
https://twitter.com/JonesNonwork/status/1324298114451333122
@FilippaLentzos indefatigable since early 2020 advocating for credible investigation into possible #laborigins of covid
thebulletin.org/2020/05/natura…
thebulletin.org/2020/05/will-t…
thebulletin.org/2020/05/natura…
thebulletin.org/2020/05/will-t…
@michaelzlin explained a possible lab escape scenario in response to the interview Shi Zhengli gave @sciencecohen @ScienceMagazine last July.
https://twitter.com/michaelzlin/status/1286780815704125440
@mlipsitch "the @WHO team will need to consider the hypothesis that the virus was accidentally released from the lab, says epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch" sciencemag.org/news/2021/01/a…
@sanewman1 in response to @nicholsonbaker8 @NYMag article, revealed that he had shared concerns about flaws in the Proximal Origins argument against #laborigins
https://twitter.com/sanewman1/status/1348520839562620930
@ras_nielsen gave an interview to @fayeflam @bloomberg and also a podcast interview: open.spotify.com/episode/2TMcMI…
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
bloomberg.com/opinion/articl…
Dr Nikolai Petrovsky @vaxine_news who has also given interviews since early 2020 that the covid-19 virus could have escaped from a lab.
9news.com.au/videos/nikolai…
9news.com.au/videos/nikolai…
@angie_rasmussen "Lab origin is one hypothesis that should be tested. My opinion is that it is less likely than natural origin but still possible and can’t be ruled out. As a scientist I believe the data must lead the way."
https://twitter.com/angie_rasmussen/status/1348029640237932544
And @DavidRelman who wrote this @PNAS opinion that stimulated this @washingtonpost editorial board opinion
washingtonpost.com/opinions/globa…
And also gave an interview to @BillNye
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cor…
pnas.org/content/117/47…
washingtonpost.com/opinions/globa…
And also gave an interview to @BillNye
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cor…
pnas.org/content/117/47…
I'm getting questions about how I decided on this list of experts. Why is X on the list? Why is Y not on the list?
Even if someone is not on the list, it doesn't mean they are not experts. This list should serve as a door opening for everyone to be able to talk about #laborigins
Even if someone is not on the list, it doesn't mean they are not experts. This list should serve as a door opening for everyone to be able to talk about #laborigins
There is no scientific consensus about the origins of this virus. There hasn't been one despite what has been widely reported in the media.
Even since early 2020 many experts thought a lab escape was on the table and should be investigated.
Even since early 2020 many experts thought a lab escape was on the table and should be investigated.
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