Thread by @Ayjchan

“If SARS-CoV-2 came from a lab, the result would likely be a global crackdown on all high-risk biosafety labs, says Chan.”
qz.com/1986084/why-do…

Journalists need to do due diligence. When you interview a scientist, have you checked whether they could stand to lose $millions, possibly even the ability to retain employees if it were determined that COVID-19 emerged due to research activities?

https://twitter.com/Ayjchan/status/1374808529467478030

There's a common perception that scientists are somehow anointed saints and have no conflicts of interest that could lead them to temptation.

Getting your PhD doesn't free you from the temptations of mankind.

In fact, I invite journalists to attend any pre-covid or hopefully-post-pandemic poster session so you can witness the susceptibility of scientific trainees and even some professors to free food.

I knew one senior scientist who would sneak into the meetings of OTHER labs to eat their food before their meeting started.

I'll give you a hand. When you interview a scientist, ask them 2 questions.

1. Have they recently (past 5 years) co-authored papers with scientists who hunt for viruses in the wild?

2. Have they recently (past 5 years) received or approved $ to hunt viruses?

Tell the experts you interview that you will publish their statements on these 2 questions before you write about what they told you on the topic of COVID-19 origins.