Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid • Hacker News Board

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#11

Post by LeonB » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:19 AM UTC

Early on the article makes a conjecture that others also make which I think is part of why the topic is so hot:

“Whether the virus emerged as a result of a leak from a laboratory or from nature has become one the most controversial problems in science.”

The words “in science” are my problem here: people thinking this is a “scientific” question.

It’s a history question, a political question, and could be made into a forensic question. But science does not ask this kind of question!

Is it possible for a lab to leak a virus? That’s a question science can ask, but it doesn’t answer this one.

So we end up with a belief that scientists can answer this question… but it isn’t a “scientific” question in the first place.

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#12

Post by qup » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:23 AM UTC

LeonB wrote: post #11

Early on the article makes a conjecture that others also make which I think is part of why the topic is so hot: “Whether the virus emerged as a result of a leak from a laboratory or from nature has become one the most controversial problems in science.” The words “in science” are my problem here: people thinking this is a “scientific” question. It’s a history question, a political question, and could be made into a f…

Please, scientists, no need to peer review Wuhan.

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#13

Post by pyuser583 » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:25 AM UTC

LeonB wrote: post #11

Early on the article makes a conjecture that others also make which I think is part of why the topic is so hot: “Whether the virus emerged as a result of a leak from a laboratory or from nature has become one the most controversial problems in science.” The words “in science” are my problem here: people thinking this is a “scientific” question. It’s a history question, a political question, and could be made into a f…

There was a peer reviewed paper earlier in the pandemic where scientists used their knowledge of viral anatomy to argue it wasn’t engineered.

Subsequent scientific have disagreed.

But this isn’t purely historical.

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#14

Post by LanceH » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:30 AM UTC

pyuser583 wrote: post #13

LeonB wrote: post #11

Early on the article makes a conjecture that others also make which I think is part of why the topic is so hot: “Whether the virus emerged as a result of a leak from a laboratory or from nature has become one the most controversial problems in science.” The words “in science” are my problem here: people thinking this is a “scientific” question. It’s a history question, a political question, and could be made into a f…

There was a peer reviewed paper earlier in the pandemic where scientists used their knowledge of viral anatomy to argue it wasn’t engineered. Subsequent scientific have disagreed. But this isn’t purely historical.

Apologies to those accused of being conspiracy theorists, xenophobic, and spreading misinformation will be going out shortly.

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#15

Post by spookthesunset » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:30 AM UTC

LeonB wrote: post #11

Early on the article makes a conjecture that others also make which I think is part of why the topic is so hot: “Whether the virus emerged as a result of a leak from a laboratory or from nature has become one the most controversial problems in science.” The words “in science” are my problem here: people thinking this is a “scientific” question. It’s a history question, a political question, and could be made into a f…

> but it isn’t a “scientific” question in the first place.

... which is true of the pandemic response in general. "Science" doesn't tell society how to react to something. Science is a process to test hypothesizes--it isn't a book of facts or direct answers on the trade-offs of various mitigation techniques. It can only inform, not dictate.

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#16

Post by fsckboy » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:31 AM UTC

LeonB wrote: post #11

Early on the article makes a conjecture that others also make which I think is part of why the topic is so hot: “Whether the virus emerged as a result of a leak from a laboratory or from nature has become one the most controversial problems in science.” The words “in science” are my problem here: people thinking this is a “scientific” question. It’s a history question, a political question, and could be made into a f…

So, science doesn't have a problem when results of experiments are faked, because science doesn't ask this question, it's a question for politics, forensics, and history? Nice try! Still your move.

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#17

Post by yawnxyz » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:33 AM UTC

LeonB wrote: post #11

Early on the article makes a conjecture that others also make which I think is part of why the topic is so hot: “Whether the virus emerged as a result of a leak from a laboratory or from nature has become one the most controversial problems in science.” The words “in science” are my problem here: people thinking this is a “scientific” question. It’s a history question, a political question, and could be made into a f…

There’s a lab at U of A that accidentally infected their student researcher with cholera, and another case of campylobacter.

It’s just sloppy work, but when you’re there for 12 hours a day for 5-6 days a week, you’re bound to get sloppy

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#18

Post by th0ma5 » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:34 AM UTC

LeonB wrote: post #11

Early on the article makes a conjecture that others also make which I think is part of why the topic is so hot: “Whether the virus emerged as a result of a leak from a laboratory or from nature has become one the most controversial problems in science.” The words “in science” are my problem here: people thinking this is a “scientific” question. It’s a history question, a political question, and could be made into a f…

[flagged]

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#19

Post by th0ma5 » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:35 AM UTC

pyuser583 wrote: post #13

LeonB wrote: post #11

Early on the article makes a conjecture that others also make which I think is part of why the topic is so hot: “Whether the virus emerged as a result of a leak from a laboratory or from nature has become one the most controversial problems in science.” The words “in science” are my problem here: people thinking this is a “scientific” question. It’s a history question, a political question, and could be made into a f…

There was a peer reviewed paper earlier in the pandemic where scientists used their knowledge of viral anatomy to argue it wasn’t engineered. Subsequent scientific have disagreed. But this isn’t purely historical.

[flagged]

Re: Inside the Wuhan lab weeks before Covid

#20

Post by laserbeam » Sun, Jun 11, 2023, 5:35 AM UTC

This is the kind of writing you need to properly discuss the lab leak hypothesis. It's not perfect, there are no good links to sources which suggests a lot of it is made up.

However, this kind of writing should only happen after years or months of investigation. You can't do the lab leak panic 2 days into the pandemic. You can't even really do it half way through the pandemic.

I'm glad such investigations are being caried out. I only wish links to whatever is declassified from the investigations to be made public for such publications. Authors need to prove their research effort when it comes to such news.