Matt Ridley on the Search for the Origin of COVID-19

The Michael Shermer Show # 234
A new virus descended on the human species in 2019 wreaking unprecedented havoc. Finding out where it came from and how it first jumped into people is an urgent priority, but early expectations that this would prove an easy question to answer have been dashed. Nearly two years into the pandemic, the crucial mystery of the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is not only unresolved but has deepened.
In this conversation based on the uniquely insightful book, Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19, Matt Ridley reviews how he and his co-author Alina Chan have tried to get to the bottom of how a virus whose closest relations live in bats in subtropical southern China somehow managed to begin spreading among people more than 1,500 kilometers away in the city of Wuhan. They grapple with the baffling fact that the virus left none of the expected traces that such outbreaks usually create: no infected market animals or wildlife, no chains of early cases in travelers to the city, no smoldering epidemic in a rural area, no rapid adaptation of the virus to its new host - human beings.
To try to solve this pressing mystery, Ridley delves deep into the events of 2019 leading up to 2021, the details of what went on in animal markets and virology laboratories, the records and data hidden from sight within archived Chinese theses and websites, and the clues that can be coaxed from the very text of the virus’s own genetic code.
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[@GauravSharma-xx5qw]

absolutely love and deeply respect Michael's perspective and insight, glad to have discovered him on this youtube platform

[@jefferywest3625]

My life testimony I can never forget #Doctorojie cured me from herpes completely

[@ohalloranjames]

thanks for this interview shermer. i read the book and found it quite interesting, objective and fair. your interview is a wonderful follow up, and is much appreciated

[@boydhooper4080]

A great conversation between two very important modern minds

[@crypticnomad]

I'm a legend in my own mind. Does that count too?

[@1DangerMouse1]

I'm almost done with the book. The amount of research that the authors had to do is impressive. The irresponsible statements made by multiple scientists and the complete lack of Chinese cooperation to genuinely find out the origin of this pandemic is very concerning. The authors get deep into why people would think that there was a lab leak and why it matters. I recommend the audiobook if you don't read quickly and if you don't have a background in biology. It's a very dense book. Lots of information packed into each page.

[@kennyw871]

The Chinese will abolish wet markets when Americans abolish their guns, which is saying it's not going to happen. The flip side of the origin question is what to do with the information, assuming scientists can agree, if ever, on a definitive answer?

[@pasokhjoo1158]

Summing up towards the end, Matt Ridley makes quite a strong argument for the virus having escaped from the lab. And the destructive culture of secrecy prevalent in communist China. Listening to the whole podcast is informative and at the same time quite worrying that an uncaring system may very well be responsible for millions of lives lost and untold grief and misery unnecessarily heaped upon the world. China's communist overlords still hellbent on stamping any and all progress at all cost.

[@P103-u2f]

Nice video

[@deeprecce9852]

Another great discussion..will probably grab the book too...thanks for sharing!

[@monkerud2108]

Yeah i enjoyed this!:) great conversation, will read your book for sure.

[@MrEtc31265]

1) The Book Viral should be required reading by everyone. For sure, it should be required reading for everyone in the research domain. 2) Are you aware or had you seen this NIH GOF Conference in 2013? kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHKmoqSdh9WeqqM 3) Why would NIH fund research at a lab that they knew or should have known was not ready to operate? They knew that the French were not involved. I am assuming to keep an eye on them? The first GOF research break throughs that were funded by NIH was under close observation and verification before the research began. As pointed out in the book.

[@JCResDoc94]

*judging from twiter today; youd think it started in an unmasked 4y old mid a plane flight.* cant rule anything else i guess. -JC

[@JCResDoc94]

39:00 nice. that is what it says. a lota ppl miss that. who is this guy, maybe ill read this bk. pretty good. -JC

[@frankmaitland1254]

I am so ready for Michael to get back in front of people.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck,…then it’s probably a wet market.

[@subhuman3408]

*

[@cmmndrblu]

Laowhy86 posted a video in April 2020

[@duyduhh3798]

Leaky labbys make hurting flabbys

[@erixoz8535]

Terrorists want to be blamed, so he makes no sense on that point.

[@CalisthenicsWork]

Yes I thought the same thing re that point.

[@ceeyaaa]

👋👋👋

[@tomkerr552]

Go check the Georgia Stones if you can open your mind long enough.

[@PrairieWolff]

" in the year 1348 after the fruitful incarnation of the Son of God, that most beautiful of the Italian cities, noble Florence, was attacked by deadly plague. It started in the East either through the influence of the heavenly bodies or because God's just anger with our wicked deeds sent it as a punishment to mortal men; and in a few years killed an innumerable quantity of people........" So begins Tales from The Decameron. Has there ever been a plague that didn't come from the East? Honest question.

[@johnandrea8743]

There is evidence the spanish flu began in Toronto or usa midwest.

[@gutsurfer]

Come on 51/49? Schemer lost

[@tooter4u271]

More smaller is not a thing.

[@williamrunner6718]

It came from an animal and was first detected in humans in China.

[@Mastermindyoung14]

The Wuhan Institution was performing gain of function research on modified bat-based corona virus and it leaked from a lab. The Chinese government then lied to save face.

[@unsatura]

very diplomatic lmao ....

[@Mastermindyoung14]

@Cardi-C if you genuinely think that, I hope you're ready for world war 3

[@williamrunner6718]

@Jay Mendoza I don't know what you mean they made it because virus's are found in nature and this one is no different, second why would they intentionally release it when it affected the whole world including themselves?

[@williamrunner6718]

@@Mastermindyoung14 Possibly.

[@williamvorkosigan5151]

Don't ask. Don't tell. Isn't that the universal policy of Western Liberal Democracies?

[@1DangerMouse1]

No.