What If All Viruses Vanished?

In the past couple years, you may have found yourself wishing that all the viruses in the world just disappear. But be careful what you wish for...
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Sources:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.nature.com/articles/s4157...
www.nature.com/articles/nrmic...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.nature.com/scitable/topic...
www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs...
www.nature.com/articles/s4157...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.nature.com/articles/s4139...
www.sciencedirect.com/topics/...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.energy.gov/science/ber/ar...
virologyj.biomedcentral.com/a...
www.sciencedirect.com/science...
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
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[@diamondjub2318]

well, for one thing, there certainly wouldn't be any viruses

[@jeweliasifuentes6123]

I'm ashamed how hard I laughed reading this

[@botigamer9011]

Nicht Scheiße, Captain Obvious

[@austinmoon]

This is probable.

[@matthijshoogeland7893]

r/technicallythetruth

[@its_mil_4816]

@@botigamer9011 er ist ein Genie unter Narren

[@Dee-jp7ek]

My mind immediately thought of bacteriophages and how we'd all probably die from bacterial infections without viruses to hunt them down

[@C05597641]

Would your less burdened immune system not just perform better with less viral work on its plate?

[@lpawowp]

@@C05597641 yeah but bacterias would be way more abundant

[@C05597641]

@@lpawowp it would depend. What is the viral burden on the bacteria on your skin and mucous membranes? Without viruses those bacteria would be that much more potent. Our immune systems are adaptable so we can adapt to more potent bacteria by just devoting more of the bodies energy to the parts of the immune system that combats bacterial infections. What is the viral burden on the human body and the immune system? We are all riddled with viruses. Each and every one of us. It woild likely take generations of natural selection to become as seemingly stable as it is now.

[@Dee-jp7ek]

@@C05597641 the bacteriophages outnumber the amount of viruses that negatively infect you, it wouldn't be an equal trade off

[@C05597641]

@@Dee-jp7ek Impossible to know. We can only guess at this.

[@InTheAKSnow]

I'm very surprised you didn't cover the fact that once upon a time a retrovirus infection was responsible for introducing the genes to produce syncytin, which is vital for the placenta and we would not be able to exist as we are without it.

[@reformCopyright]

He did mention endogenous retroviruses in general and how we wouldn't exist without them, without using the term "endogenous retrovirus", though.

[@Sprinklgrl]

Didn’t a virus create mitochondria

[@DeannaSusanHealy]

I was thinking the same thing I learned that from pbs eons

[@jamesj.williams7702]

At my university there is a freshman lab that focuses on the discovery of new bacteriophage and has each student or group of students collect a dirt sample. The sample is then tested to try and find a new type of bacteriophage, and because of how common they are and how little we know about them it is very very likely that at least half of the class will discover a completely new virus

[@adarshmohapatra5058]

Wait really?! So have they discovered any new viruses by now?

[@CaTastrophy427]

@@adarshmohapatra5058 I would say yes, given the odds.

[@jamesj.williams7702]

@@adarshmohapatra5058 yeah I discovered a new bacteriophage, bacteria virus, when I was a freshman. I named it Taranis, after my dnd character.

[@ardnaif552]

@@jamesj.williams7702 SJU?!

[@samsunguser3148]

Cool. I hope I do that someday

[@MonkeBrain07]

Yeah, this needs to be taught at schools. Schools tend to focus on pathogenic viruses and omit other details.

[@ckinggaming5bucketmadness766]

Because school is dumb, it teaches you useless nonsense and excludes other useless nonsense

[@suzannebrown2505]

Not true, Kevin07. If you studied biology and microbiology in college, you would learn all about these little critters: both the good and the bad. I was a microbiology tech for years when I worked. Besides learning a ton of Latin names of many species, you know everything that’s known about them, including the fact that every few years, their names change. Example: Pasteurella pestis to Yersinia pestis. This is the causative agent for bubonic plague.

[@MonkeBrain07]

@@suzannebrown2505 I study microbiology, but only ones related to food. I'm a food science major...

[@shanedancer3895]

I mean unless you’re getting a really in depth education and want to work in the field knowing about the pathogenic ones is far more relevant.

[@samsunguser3148]

In defense of schools. It gives a more general knowledge about things and doesn't dive much deep as there are many topics

[@twocvbloke]

"I wish for a Professor Farnsworth 'What if...? machine' to accurately find out what the consequences of wishes would actually be before I made them!!!"

[@Maxjoker98]

In a meta way your wish came true, as the episode exists, and your wish was basically just seeing that machine in action. Nice.

[@JosephFuller]

That is a mind bending paradox....

[@platinummyrr]

Too bad you don't have that machine before this wish was granted!!

[@Dalenthas]

Now I'm imagining a monkey's paw wearing a finglonger.

[@rogeliozunigachavez161]

Not as dramatic as "take over" but it would definitely change ecosystems forever... and probably not for the good

[@EOTBuk]

I am no virologist, but I would consider that even pathogenic viruses have been useful in history to help keep animal and plant populations in check.

[@aaronmarks9366]

Absolutely

[@darthsidius9631]

As any other pathogens lol

[@brendanfogel4573]

If we didn’t have viruses or diseases, what would we have to be in check for?

[@EOTBuk]

@@brendanfogel4573 over population

[@darthsidius9631]

@@brendanfogel4573 climate, change

[@jasminegann]

I'm gonna be real- my favorite part of these videos is the list of sources and picture credits at the bottom of the description. I love this. I wish all channels would do this when they're referencing something or talking about something that could definitely benefit the viewers by sharing their sources.

[@Tikachu]

Seconded!

[@autodidacticartisan]

Nahhhh, that would make it way too hard to spread radicalizing misinformation

[@spacepatricia6268]

Yeah, I agree

[@jediaray8847]

"I wish Humans won't be negatively effected by any kind of viruses."

[@phoenixstrills2289]

Add bacteria to that and it'd be great

[@Dark0neone]

@Eastern fence Lizard enjoy the rest of your lonely life in that situation. you'll crave people after a few months. what about if it was the most painful death imaginable would you be able to sleep after killing so many innocents in such a way?

[@GlacialScion]

@@Dark0neone That seemed like a satirical comment making fun of people who unironically say they hate humans or that we're a plague or some other such nonsense.

[@Dark0neone]

@@GlacialScion well it didn't seem like that to me but I hope it was bc saying all humans should die is just avoiding the problem

[@bcubed72]

_"I wish one would wipe out all mankind. Except me, of course."_ I hope you're a dedicated prepper who has serious farming and DIY skills, or you're gonna die a quick, awful death. And are we to assume people just...disappear? Yeah, GFL with all the nuclear power plants that will boil off their cooling water, once the grid is down and the generators run out of fuel. Every nuclear power plant melting down simultaneously? Good times.

[@nolakillabeast]

I have a gastro virus right now, literally feels like dying, but I know there is a war inside of me. I am so proud of my little soldiers that keep this virus at bay within 24h, but why don't they learn??? I get that gastro virus every year !!

[@ANTSEMUT1]

Get your gut microbiome tested? A healthy one would decrease your chances of getting a stomach bug by a significant amount. Sometimes food sensitivities can also make you more likely to get a stomach bug, so that's another thing you might consider to get tested for and eliminate from your diet.

[@sarahlyon807]

Because that gastro virus changes what it looks like all the time and your immune system has to relarn what it is.

[@chase__k3548]

Viruses also mutate, so your likely not getting the exact same virus every year. Every time you get the virus it will be different than the last time you got it and your immune system will be starting from scratch. Hence your getting sick every time

[@TheChrisLeone]

The worst is the dehydration you get from a bad one

[@MolestedDonut]

I'm in the 2%. Now just gotta figure out how to get to the 0.01%

[@henrykrider179]

I remember in a video on COVID there was mention of basically 'viral niches', where different viruses might specialize towards different tissues (like lungs vs throat for respiratory diseases), and with benign viruses in the body I wonder if any of them provide some buffer against new viruses by occupying a viral niche. May be more likely in the digestive system if the virome is essentially a pair to gut bacteria, but idk, it's an interesting thought

[@Numbers21589302]

I like this idea. I think it leads into the idea as well that the virome can contribute to priming of immune systems almost like a natural vaccination. Like if you have a virus that mostly infects epithelial gut cells with a slow reproductive rate and doesn’t cause significant damage, that can leak into lymph or blood, but is harmless and killed, but closely related to a deadly blood borne pathogen sharing viral epitopes. It could then prime the immune systems response to an infection from a more pathogenic virus that could infect lungs etc.

[@prapanthebachelorette6803]

Interesting

[@anyascelticcreations]

That's a really interesting idea! And very possibly true. I've been sick from something unknown for most of my life. I thought for sure that COVID would kill me if I got it. But it didn't. It didn't get all that bad for me. I wonder if my resident virus, or whatever it is, was already taking up that niche. Or what if my resident virus actually fought of the COVID 19 virus for me??? You know, didn't want to share it's space with another really bad virus. How's that for a crazy idea!? Maybe my lifelong illness actually saved my life!

[@justwinks1553]

Like cow pox vs small pox!

[@hedgehog3180]

That was what I was thinking as well, it does sound temptingly obvious since this tends to apply in almost all of biology but I think to be sure you'd have to actually prove that viruses can exclude each other, since like with how many cells we have it's not like there's ever a lack of cells for viruses to infect.

[@odomobo]

"As much havock they've wreaked throughout history, scientists are starting to understand..." We need to do something about these scientists

[@MutationsMuecke]

Brilliant

[@charliemackenzie-nash5707]

Thanks for saying I'm amazing, Hank! I needed the boost ❤

[@wcookiv]

It's always seemed to me like the most intuitive way to view a virus is to consider the infected cell to be the mature organism and the virion to be a spore or predatory gamete.

[@autodidacticartisan]

That's an interesting way of looking at it

[@jeorgiaroach165]

“Predatory gamete” gave me chills.

[@wcookiv]

@@jeorgiaroach165 This reply popped up while I was watching reaction vids to the original Alien movie, 10/10 timing.

[@autodidacticartisan]

@@wcookiv talk about a predatory gamete amirite??

[@Federico-mj3si]

What, why? A spore has nothing to do with viruses, and a "predatory gamete" implies the virus fuses with the cells to create a new organism.

[@Thunderwalker87]

This hypothetical wish reminds me of the worst parts of my parents... they get a bad idea in their head and they will keep at it for a long time not getting how it will impact other things... then get angry when they finally get what they wanted and its impacts are worse than anyone could of ever imagined.

[@tessat338]

Right, like "How bad do the consequences have to be for you to realize that this is a bad idea?" This is one of the great frustrations with people in my life, though thankfully, not my parents.

[@tessat338]

@@louisfalcone5494 I don't think that was what we were discussing. Go off and play, dear. The adult conversation is going over your head.

[@Thunderwalker87]

@@tessat338 Yeah... I get we all can be foolish and have our eccentricities.... I guess in a way its also a reminder to check myself and others. I wish I realized sooner this about my parents

[@tessat338]

@@Thunderwalker87 Hugs, Hon. (Here in Maryland, we call everyone, regardless of age, sex or station "Hon.")

[@conradkorbol]

@@louisfalcone5494 I mean why? Animals being tested for diseases do that our species can live has no moral consequence really. I mean every animal on earth would probably do the same. We are at the end of the day animals like any other. Also animals benefit from testing as well. You have to test in order to get medication for animals. Apparently you are just anti life though. Which is fine, but realize most people don’t value other species over their own species because of the way we evolved.

[@Kittsuera]

I get the feeling someone found a Genie and was asking this question “for a friend”

[@anavii12]

I'm here from Hank's tiktok video because I want to be part of the 2%

[@CarlyJae]

Same 😂

[@Sam-dj2sx]

me too!

[@danyalovich1934]

The fact that viruses exist in such numbers and for so long, means that they are essential and have a reason to be here and apparently everywhere. Rarely have we found that something that is everywhere is not an integral part of nature. Understanding their significance, function and evolution is going to be important to everyone.

[@ruben77]

I remember reading something very like this problem of getting rid of all viruses in 1969's "The Andromeda Strain" by Michael Crichton.

[@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647]

that was a good read and the classic movie too

[@project.eutopia]

One paper I found fascinating is "Viruses and cells intertwined since the dawn of evolution". In it they hypothesize that Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya are the results of a DNA virus infecting an RNA cell on 3 separate occasions. If that is the case, then viruses really have been central to the history of life on Earth.

[@project.eutopia]

@@louisfalcone5494 Nothing about this video is about animal testing. Get out of here with your eugenics garbage.

[@lyreparadox]

@@project.eutopia it's a bot. just report it.

[@qwertyTRiG]

Sounds fascinating.

[@Alpha13Wolf]

It’s soo cool seeing how much we’ve learned about viruses even in just the past decade.

[@lindsaywheatcroft8247]

‘Eliminate all human pathogens’ is still a really dangerous wish. Some microbes are harmful in one context and helpful in others. Eradicating absolutely everything that can be dangerous if it gets into a wound or lung or whatever could be crippling to the organ it usually resides in or on.

[@Pengalen]

Properly structured wish: viruses will never cause any pathogenic state in eukaryotes worse than a mild cold.

[@aaronmarks9366]

But! If you include all eukaryotes in that, you could have the unintended consequence of certain animals reproducing uncontrollably without natural viral infections to control their population, and we know where that leads

[@Pengalen]

@@aaronmarks9366 ok, chordates, or vertebrates.

[@aaronmarks9366]

@@Pengalen Even then: rodents, anyone? ;)

[@Pengalen]

@@aaronmarks9366 rodents aren't primarily taken out by infectious diseases or viruses in particular. They're either eaten, or die of cancer mostly. Also, many rodents are cute, such as squirrels, beavers, porcupines, and capybaras.

[@LeslieKwan]

"They're present in our oceans in such astronomical numbers, it's estimated that they would stretch from here past the next 60 galaxies if laid end-to-end." Wow. To lay out something nanometres in length that stretches out a million lightyears away just boggles my brain.

[@steveipsen6293]

How would we know they stretched that far, since they are microscopic? For that matter, how do we know there isn't already a "chain" of viruses that help new viruses invade?

[@alexhong1117]

@@steveipsen6293 👀

[@LeslieKwan]

@@steveipsen6293 If you know the approximate amount of viruses in the ocean, and the approximate length of a virus then you can determine how far it would reach if laid down end-to-end. Works for any object, microscopic or not. In this case, according to "Marine viruses - major players in the global ecosystem" by Curtis A. Suttle, they estimated there are 10^30 viruses in the ocean. And viruses vary in length from 20 nm to 500 nm. If we take even the smallest virus at 20 nm and multiply that with 10^30, we get 2x10^31 nm which is equal to 2,114,002 light years.

[@John-Perry]

@@steveipsen6293 Well, they are small but according to a quick google search there are approximately 1x10^31 viruses on earth, and they range from a few micrometers to a few hundred micrometers. At the most conservative estimate that would mean they would stretch 5,285,117.5 light years across if laid end to end. That's not taking into account anything larger than 5nm.

[@IntelligentleMANgief]

Don't eliminate all the viruses? Sounds like someone infected with viruses would say

[@bobbuilder155]

Sounds like someone with a weak immune system. Only the weak can't handle nature.

[@authenticNL2]

@@bobbuilder155 yes because let’s kill all immuno-compromised people, old people, and chemo patients. That’s a lot of people and a lot of family members

[@bobbuilder155]

@@authenticNL2 no what?, what I meant was the guy who wants all viruses destroyed is clearly someone who has so little faith in his own immune system that he is willing to destroy a crucial part of nature due to his fear.

[@samsunguser3148]

-we are all infected in some way-

[@darkroastordeath]

Watched a Hank TikTok where he calls people out for not watching this video and I took that personally

[@locutusofquail8426]

Aw, Scishow. You've been filling me with wonder for almost 10 years now (yep, I'm an old viewer). Great topic, great episode. I learned a lot.

[@terronjackson7755]

I completely forgot about SciShow. I just haven't seen it in like 3 years. It didn't come up on my timeline. Forgot how awesome this channel is.

[@The_InfantMalePollockFrancis]

Watching the stupid, pseudo-hip, script-reading non-experts they have over at PBS Eons?

[@ooooneeee]

The KZbin feed do be like that. You can click on the subscriptions tab to see all new videos from channels you're subscribed to.

[@lenwecalmcacil]

@@The_InfantMalePollockFrancis care to explain whats with pbs eons? i watch it sometimes

[@erinmoore6463]

Chick out Black American history with Clint Smith. It’s now one if my favorites along with astronomy and philosophy.

[@erinmoore6463]

@@The_InfantMalePollockFrancis whoa what? Are we also mad at pbs space time? What’s happening?

[@dianasofia1669]

Thank you for this SciShow episode, I needed it and didn’t know! It’s always fun for me to learn about viruses and I forgot I love it.

[@iamTheSnark]

What did I learn today? "A Monkey's Paw situation." From Wikipedia. I am suddenly quite happy that I donated 10 euros to Wikipedia's continued existence. And yes, even at less than a minute in, much of the rest of the video should be familiar already, but I'm going to enjoy it anyway.

[@zumabbar]

man i knew the meaning but never knew the story. that was some seriously screwed up stuff, felt like i just read a decent horror short story

[@yellowlarch]

I'm so happy you mentioned viruses in the ocean! They are so important to ocean ecology and nutrient cycling!

[@icy_bird5540]

Maybe just wish to get rid of the chance for viruses to become deadly wouldn’t get rid of what we’ve got but it’d be better for the future

[@tagAught]

I was waiting throughout the video (and fascinated by the mentions of the virome, virions, and the effect on the carbon cycle) for the "all animals have viral DNA *in their own genomes*, and it's proved to be beneficial for us" bit to be mentioned! Not to mention, the effects of viral plagues on human history - there's been a *big* role played by those.

[@TheTerranInformed]

Wow, this is amazing!!! I learned so much new information!! Thank you so much!!!

[@libbygallovitch5095]

This is so cool, leaves me with so many questions, thank you for sparking curiosity

[@uitham]

i have a seperate hypothesis - viruses arose as defence method. for instance, bacteriophages being made by an organism that is preyed upon by certain bacteria. perhaps that organism that originally evolved to produce bacteriophages now died out or lost the ability to make bacteriophages

[@AmyraCarter]

"There's a universe now." "What's it made of?" ♫Quarks and stuff♫ ~Bill Wurtz, 2017

[@thatsmrfisher]

Hank’s TikTok reminded me about this and I had to rewatch

[@joette5333]

this is one of the best videos Sci Show has made many thanks !

[@apaw2959]

I’m 2% out of the 20 people that came to those video, which FIRSTLY means that we’re smaller than 2% because there were more than 100 people watching your tik tok, and SECONDLY, I want to say that I’m out of a higher percent of one who watched all of both the tik tok and this video, AND I put in the time to write this comment, you may not see this, but I would just like to point out (not scientifically proven yet) taht I may be part of the smallest percent- so small that I think I deserve atleast a hi :)

[@krandeloy]

So. Message received, Worship Nurgle.

[@angelitabecerra]

One can basically this about every organism on Earth. Everything is important within its ecosystem and we shouldn't be messing around with it. Like say, trying to eradicate mosquitoes in an effort to kill off the diseases they carry.

[@RohitPant04]

Notes: Two hypotheses on how viruses came to be- 1 - Progressive Hypothesis - Pieces of DNA and RNA learned to jump between cells. 2 - Regressive Hypothesis - Viruses are remains of cells that somewhere in the past lost their cellular casing and thus had to parasitize other cells in order to survive & proliferate. 3 - In a third scenario, viruses arose through multiple scenarios.

[@dankymatters838]

"As a person who might get a wish" ... what are you not telling us, Hank?

[@PeachesCourage]

Viruses are in our bodies and actually help us from becoming ill and they are about the same size as exosomes and those definitely help us Dr Sam Bailey MD and MD research youtube also

[@coasterblocks3420]

One of the best episodes ever!

[@winterworld]

This was so good thank you

[@Articulate99]

Always interesting, thank you.

[@st_cuthbert544]

Just a headscratcher: I know viral DNA integrates itself into host DNA and can be actively repurposing the cell there or be dormant for generations. Now here's my take: what if (some)viruses are originally made by the DNA as an early sort of cooperation (original parts of the cell's evolutionary track). Viruses as a sort of automated turret a cell could make to keep itself safe in dangerous surroundings (If you require a metaphore an aircraftcarrier where the planes have to come back to the cell to recharge/multiply). Then at one point some of those virusses got a mutation allowing them to overtake the whole celulair machinery, instead of an allocated amount of the mothercell, causing it to kill it`s host. A very early attempt at numerical safety where cells didn`t have had anything like that before. Just a thought

[@johnortiz6129]

Those are called cytokines. Secreted by some immune cells, B cells secrete immunoglobulins. Most likely a prion, self replicating protein. Evolved into a virus then a bacteria

[@ooooneeee]

Sounds like the complement system.

[@dawnnightinger3025]

Every natural part of our ecosystem has a role, sometimes we just happen to be a factor in that role. Scientists do their best to negate the damage done by these events but it is ultimately up to us how much we will be involved. With Covid, people decided to ignore all of the advice given. That is why we are all still in this situation.

[@amberwalsh2712]

Wow that was well said Hank!

[@privateprivate1865]

It's nice to live in the day and age where you can ask random questions and somebody made a video about it

[@psyogisoma8819]

I've had this idea about viruses for a while now, viruses being some sort of DNA making machine that caused evolution etc., I'm glad to have found this video. The "error"/ virus in the order causes creation. The sacred duality of nature and in the cosmos

[@ANTSEMUT1]

Well it played a significant role in evolution but it's a huge stretch to suggest it caused it with substantial evidence.

[@AvangionQ]

Any Dungeons and Dragons player or dungeon master would tell you to be careful what you wish for. When you make a wish, make sure your wording is carefully crafted to avoid getting screwed over. An example of such: "I wish that all harmful viruses which infect humans would stop infecting humans." Alternatively, if you're slightly more selfish: "I wish for the ability to cure disease as an at-will touch power."

[@EdwinWiles]

The Lathe of Heaven Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin

[@iramsavir5631]

No matter what you may wish for, everything has unintended or unexpected consequences. It's foolish to mess with God's plan.

[@AvangionQ]

@@iramsavir5631 As far as D&D is concerned, that's part of the fun.

[@TypicalUkraine_]

@@AvangionQ Yeah, messing with God is fun.

[@thizizliz]

No matter what we do, there will be impact, usually in ways we had not foreseen. This is great Hank.

[@47r41L]

It really was a great question. thoroughly enjoyed this!

[@tallygirl1387]

Here from TikTok! Love you Hank!

[@nathansamuelson]

I remember hearing (might have been from this channel) that bacteria can't be both virus resistant and antibiotic resistant, so not having viruses would possibly lead to harder to kill bacteria

[@Azzarinne]

I'm less than a minute into the video, and already the premise has me thinking that SOMEBODY has been watching a lot of Kurzgesagt lately. XD

[@susankay497]

WOW! Thanks for this :)

[@iainballas]

Viruses: *Are deleted and forbidden to spawn* Half of all "Free Downloads": Adios

[@CarlyJae]

Welcome fellow 2%

[@MrPuddle01]

Thank you Hank.

[@IsaacConejo]

Kudos to your writers. Well said .

[@khills]

Thanks for acknowledging them!

[@ThePoliticalPhysicist]

Clicking on this thinking "I know I want all viruses gone, but go ahead and change my mind"

[@sonderingkayla]

Came from Instagram to watch this after Hank's post. 😁

[@kevinwatson5833]

Also phages could be the key to killing antibiotic resistant bacteria

[@LeifBergfromBoulder]

This was great! Hank should get on TikTok too.

[@raven-iw5uj]

Came from Hank's instagram 😌 2% represent!!

[@x057wind]

Here I was watching my daily SciShow video thinking Hank had a fancy tie! It was not a tie.. the tie was in my mind! Love the videos and its always lovely to see Hank

[@resourceress7]

It's a fancy t-shirt from this year's Pizzamas collection. Look at the vlogbrothers channel to see more.

[@x057wind]

@@resourceress7 Thank you very much for letting me know =3

[@1.4142]

There was this question in the book what if where if you gathered all the viruses in the world in one pile, it would be 225 million cubic meters, the size of a small mountain.

[@lorenrenee1]

Viruses are another forms, and probably a lot more ancient. Always a treat to see Hank.

[@duomaxwell2293]

I wish all Viruses on this planet would disappear.. Genie: Your wish has been granted. *ALL HUMAN LIFE ON EARTH DISAPPEARS* Earth: Ahh much better now

[@linda_jac]

I'm here to be the cool 2% mentioned in Hanks TikTok about this topic.

[@naturallyherb]

Love this!!

[@AllenTax]

One of many parts in the cycle of matter. All are needed.

[@pattyporto5561]

I'm part of the 2%

[@joebaumgart1146]

I like this idea of a show. Science: What If......

[@EvilPaladin11]

As someone that views viruses as creepy, this was a unsettling and interesting video. The part where 8% of our genome is virus DNA, is unsettling!

[@kevjumbaz]

more than just all the points mentioned, there is also research going into using viruses as a vector for transferring pharmacological medications into a difficult host body!

[@porakiyadraekojin3390]

So, several thoughts on this. As has been pointed out already, viruses are an integral part of life, and wishing them all away would doom life, basically. One thing that I wish to point out is when he said to maybe just wish the viruses that do harm to humans gone. My thinking is that that isn't such a good idea either. There are multiple bacteria, and I believe viruses, that peacefully coexist with their host organisms. A big one that comes to kind is salmonella. Reptiles, fish, and birds can live perfectly fine with said bacteria, but it makes humans very sick. Secondly, the fact that viruses can infect reproductive cells gives me mad scientist vibes. Imagine someone trying to "perfect" or doom humanity. They'd be able to program a virus that would effect our offspring!

[@bishoukun]

What if we wished for "all pathogens, including parasites, bacteria, and viruses, that cause harm to plants and animals without resulting benefit to those plants and animals, would lose the parts of their DNA/RNA which direct them to cause such harm"?

[@dementiasorrow]

This would be a great topic for Journey to the microcosmos. I would love to know about how viruses can interact with the environment like decomposition or population balancing... viruses are very interesting.

[@haze6647]

Another mico fan, sure, psycho james will do that, just tell him, tell him to stop shooting em with uv and change to virus, let him create a bactery bio war.

[@chcebs8662]

Awesome show

[@MrLarryLicious]

I’VE BEEN WONDERING THIS.

[@blindsightedkill]

Isn't not getting sick by any other diseases a side effect of being a werewolf?

[@austinhowell8643]

I came here from TikTok to be one of the 2% Hank called amazing. 🙂

[@Sierra038]

Ayy I was apart of those virome studies back in 2012 after a lung transplant! Cool stuff

[@markr8716]

The modern view of viruses remind me of school and learning of endospores. They carry everything necessary to make a new cell, but aren’t technically alive. When conditions become favorable they become viable and form a new bacterium. Of course, endospores are not parasitic, but it reminded me of them.

[@asailijhijr]

Is there an argument anywhere in the scientific community about whether sperm cells should be considered virions?

[@michellemoore7208]

Team 2% 🤙🏽

[@tronganhvu1333]

Good and bad are just like shadow and light, one define other and cant be exits without the other part.

[@littlemissmisses2981]

Oh I like this format! It’s why I enjoy Kurtzgezagt! What if!

[@erindonovan8756]

How many of you are here because hank challenged us in his tiktok with the "only 2%" comment

[@LaineyBug2020]

Can you do what if we could photosynthesize? I still think that would be a cool episode...

[@dynamicworlds1]

Unfortunately, the energy requirements of a moving animal already excede the potential energy gain from photosynthesis, before even counting in growing and carrying around all the extra mass to photosynthesize. The tree of life splitting with things that stay still and produce their food going one way and things that move and eat to get food going the other is the inevitable specialization in reaction to not being able to do both well enough to outcompete the things that specialized. (To see the scale of the problem, compare the amount of farmland needed to keep one person alive to the size of said person.)

[@aeritsukii]

And not only the soil and oceans! Earth's deep continental subsurface has viruses too! We got a study from groundwater reservoirs found viruses that attack archaea, the viruses can be indirectly involved in carbon cycling due to its interaction with the archaea (when the archaea, a major player in carbon fixation in certain environments, is threatened) :)

[@mirandaworl4055]

Just wanna let you know Hank, that I’m here after the shout-out to this vid in your tik tok 🐒💨 #justiceforSciShow

[@mcell9161]

Hank, I’m here from TikTok! 2%!

[@werbnaright5012]

As the BareNakedLadies said, "I'd be rich."

[@anyascelticcreations]

"Haven't you always wanted a monkey? "

[@pierrevillemaire-brooks4247]

Thanks for addressing this question ! I asked my father in my youth if germs could be gene carriers , in the same way that asexual reproduction can be , and his answer was a straight 'no' and that kind of threw me off since he didn't explained why. I also thought at one point that viruses were just microscopic robots given their simplicity and how they operate. Now that we better understand the mechanics involved in their functions and diversity , we might change our views on this matter. It is important to remember the SCALE of things when we peer into the nature of things with our scientific tools , and I must admit that the idea of a virome is new to me but sounds very reasonable given how we already consider how the gut flora can affect one's health. Maybe researching how our eating habits can influence how we are prone or immune to certain types of conditions or infections could teach us valuable lessons about life and how we take some freedoms for granted. PS - I remember a time when we use to say that people who did cocaine weren't getting along with people who did weed , either because of the vibe that came along those consumptions or simply because of the difference in social status because of money. Maybe something similar can be said about our eating habits , or we might come to realize that the biome that ensues different eating habits can be toxic to others in some way or another because of their different life styles or environment. One thing I can say for sure is that despite wearing a face mask , I can't stand the smell of a smokers breath , even if just the remnants of it in an elevator :-o

[@Breadbug90561]

This channel has teavhed me more than school