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Debate over the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks. Back in March, the World Health Organization released the findings of a study concluding that it was most likely transmitted directly from animals to humans. Less than two months later, a group of prominent scientists publicly called for more serious consideration of the possibility the virus was leaked from a lab – a hypothesis previously dismissed as a conspiracy theory. Biden administration officials, including infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, now also back further investigation.
Talk of further sleuthing prompted me and my colleagues to wonder: How do scientists determine the origins of a virus? And is that even possible with COVID-19?
For answers, we reached out to viral ecology expert Marilyn Roossinck of Penn State to walk us step by step through the clues and tools viral detectives use to trace viruses to their origins. It turns out it’s not quite as elementary as you might think.
Also today:
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The prevention of future pandemics requires examining viral family trees.
Stockcrafter/iStock via Getty Images Plus
Marilyn J. Roossinck, Penn State
Bat hosts, lab leaks – tracing SARS-CoV-2 to its origins involves more than just tracking down patient zero.
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Science + Technology
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Priyanka Ranade, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Anupam Joshi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Tim Finin, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Bots flooding social media with fake news about politics is bad enough. Muddying the waters in such fields as cybersecurity and health care could put lives at risk.
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Karen Hughes, University of Tennessee
Poison can be a deadly defense that helps a mushroom make sure its spores are spread to new places to grow into baby mushrooms.
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Environment + Energy
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Andrea Duffy, Colorado State University
Drought has been a threat multiplier for centuries, fueling conflict and migration from the time of the Ottoman Empire to Syria today.
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Politics + Society
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Erin Hofmann, Utah State University; Guangqing Chi, Penn State
In rural Kyrgyzstan, 1 in 3 marriages begins with an abduction. Older generations see this as a harmless tradition, but two brides have been killed since 2018. A study finds other problems, too.
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Ethics + Religion
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Rebecca Janzen, University of South Carolina
The latest movie to take on this classic story sentimentalizes history in the name of inspiring religious devotion.
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Education
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Nancy S. Jecker, University of Washington
A moral philosopher and bioethicist offers parents some tips for weighing family masking decisions.
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Economy + Business
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Isabelle Brocas, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Governments and companies are using incentives in hopes of getting more Americans to get a COVID-19 shot. A behavioral economist explains how they work.
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Trending on Site
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Maureen Miller, Columbia University
A more coordinated effort by scientists, stakeholders and community members will be required to stop the next deadly virus that's already circulating in our midst.
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Arif R. Sarwari, West Virginia University
Vaccinated people can still get infected with the coronavirus. So if you have symptoms of COVID-19, getting tested can protect others and help health officials keep an eye on the virus.
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Kimberly Merriman, University of Massachusetts Lowell; David Greenway, University of Massachusetts Lowell; Tamara Montag-Smit, University of Massachusetts Lowell
A divide is growing between workers and management over the return to the office and other issues.
Today’s graphic
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