J writes:
Hi TWIV,
I’ve just gotten into the show, and am already a huge fan! Totally random, but I just wanted to say that thrips and chromothripsis are thought to be connected (they are “cognates”, in jargon) through the ancient greek word τρῑ́βω (tribo), and that the Wiktionary pages were just unclearly organised.
These are also connected to the words monotreme and triboelectricity, and if you go very far back (to proto-Indo European), trout and dreidel.
Thanks, J
Rodney writes:
For clarity I and others may appreciate acronym definitions that are NOT so common such as DNA, PCR or RTPCR. An acronym such as ME/CFS that was used in the Dr. Bruchfeld interview in episode 1139 is an example. There was another one in that episode I assume dealt with a physical condition for PT therapy (but a guess) from what was being discussed at that point, other such uncommon, undefined terms or named undefined summaries/effects were mentioned in the past. The suggestion that I propose is to have an additional line or two below the links for these types of acronyms. It allows for non experts in the field to learn more. For ME/CFS all that would be needed is below: tells how it fits into the discussion at the point of the long COVID symptoms in 1139 and what it signifies.
ME/CFS: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Many thanks for your efforts on these sessions, They are great.
Rodney
James writes:
Dear Vincent and Daniel
I wanted to thank you and Dr.Griffin for mentioning the JVI commentary “The harm of promoting the lab leak hypothesis for SARS-CoV-2 without evidence,” that Felicia Goodrum and I wrote with the help and expertise of many others.
You had suggested that the piece would not be widely seen because it’s published in a scientific journal. Ironically, JVI has turned out to be a great place to publish these sorts of commentaries— no paywall, we can have as many authors as we want to include, no word limits and we can really reference things. Plus ASM has a direct line to Congress where these do get pumped. Additionally, these are written for scientists so they have the talking points and references.
We have written a shorter version of this commentary as an OpEd to mainstream media. It has been rejected by Washington Post, LA Times and others. We have encouraged all the other 40-some authors who signed onto the commentary to take it and create their own OpEd. The NYT has gotten several versions from different people and rejected all. STAT did publish one https://www.statnews.com/2024/08/02/coronavirus-lab-leak-hypothesis-damages-science/.
Felicia and I would really like to see this more strongly represented in the mainstream media…but it is very tough. Presentation of the science and facts on Zoonosis in a way that is edgy or confrontational enough to grab NYT, WaPo or LA Times readers has eluded us, maybe because we don’t want to write that way. Unfortunately, it’s a battle of narratives that science and zoonosis have been losing. But Felicia and I have written nearly 40 OpEds and commentaries over the past 4 years, we think its vital to write. One reason for doing it is the hope that it will inspire other scientists to realize they can write, they have something to say, they can push back. Science must come together and push back relentlessly. And let’s not forget that we must make our voices heard because the next election is so critical for virology, indeed for all of science.
Thanks again
Jim Alwine
Emeritus Professor of Cancer Biology
University of Pennsylvania
Visiting Professor of Immunobiology
University of Arizona
Mike writes:
In TWiV 1136 letters, Will suggests that you continue to emphasize that the efficacy of the COVID vaccines are for prevention of severe disease, not infection.
Many of us argued with friends and relatives during the pandemic to follow and support the science. Many of our arguments on public policy were based on the belief that we could eradicate the disease. Some diseases can be eradicated or eliminated, but not SARS CoV2. Realization of that fact came later for me, after I was vaccinated and boosted. This was well after I had vehemently argued in favor of vaccination as a way to get beyond the pandemic. Vaccination does not eliminate this pandemic, so the argument for vaccinations is now not as strong as it once was.
If you eventually correct your thinking, should you really get beat up for ever thinking otherwise? That’s the whole purpose of educating the public. Eventually, you’ll hear the facts, and that is the test: are you one to ignore reality or are you one to adjust your world view to fit the emerging facts? That’s what TWiV is for, giving people the opportunity to update their thinking.
I am disappointed that we cannot eliminate or eradicate SARS CoV2, but I could say the same about HIV, Influenza, and common cold coronaviruses. Research and study of these fields may make it possible to eliminate these diseases, it just takes time.
The following paper on the CDC website explains a lot about how to categorize diseases and what is possible.
It is entitled:
The Principles of Disease Elimination and Eradication
Here’s the link
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su48a7.htm?ref=readtangle.com
I appreciate TWiV’s help recalibrating my thinking process, but it does make one grumpy to grapple with those uncooperative facts.
Mike
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Katja writes:
Christian Drosten has written a book about Science, Media and Politics
Perhaps you can translate the transcript of this podcast.
Heimspiel: Christian Drosten & Georg Mascolo
Apokalypse & Filterkaffee
Have we really survived the pandemic? The virologist Christian Drosten and best-selling author Georg Mascolo are guests at Heimspiel today to talk to Wolfgang about the Covid-19 pandemic, which has already moved far into the past in many people’s minds. A look back is more important than ever, after all, the role of politics, science and (social) media in dealing with the global health crisis and an affected and divided society was serious. What was important and right, what now needs to be examined critically? What lessons do we need to learn from the last four years in order to prevent and be prepared for similar disasters in the future? In her book “Everything Overcome? – An overdue conversation about a pandemic that will not be the last”, which was published by Ullstein Verlag at the end of June, Christian Drosten and Georg Mascolo dare to calmly and intelligently come to terms with the events and discuss the most important findings from their joint work in this episode from home game. Would you like to find out more about our advertising partners? You can find all the information and discounts here:
https://linktr.ee/ApokalypseundFilterkaffee
Auf Apple Podcasts anhören: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/apokalypse-filterkaffee/id1505993848?i=1000661414037
Ryan writes:
I have a pick of the week
https://apnews.com/article/who-mpox-africa-health-emergency-cc9bdf31b49d06bec5efd44fb55d5e42
AP News is reporting The World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreaks in Congo
https://apnews.com/article/what-is-mpox-monkey-pox-congo-emergency-415d11f9e62d104b4c40dd8fe8e80b47
Let’s hope it does not morph into a pandemic COVID-19 did.
Rona writes:
https://radiolab.org/podcast/9d5209706f0cb91a4248748a
My listener pic for TWIV or TWIM (because it’s a microbe issue) is this week’s Radiolab episode. A fire ecologist and an infectious disease doctor discuss how the wildfires clogged up hospital filters and led to a bacterial and fungus outbreak in a hospital. The microbes thrive in wildfire smoke. You might be interested in the guests. The MD MPH infectious disease doctor is Naomi Hauser. The fire scientist is Leah Kobziar, PhD.
Very cool episode and cool individuals
All the best
Rona
David Ranada writes:
This may not be suitable, being very political. But it would be great if it can be mentioned.
Inspired by the Harris/Walz campaign and backed by my training in classical music, I decided to edit campaign-event footage using the Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony as the music. To fit within YouTube’s 60-second time limit for a “short” the music is greatly abbreviated, but I think the final cut is still effective. If you like it, share it around. It would be great if it would go viral.
David Ranada
YouTube:
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@dvdranada/video/7402647582008462638