How an infodemic is reshaping the world This investigative article will require some patience. It is a deep exploration of how a (largely) social media-driven epistemic crisis interferes with democratic processes, arguably one of the most important topics to understand in today’s world. …

The case for a zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2 This is a very long article about the origins of SARS-CoV-2. To get a comprehensive picture of why scientists believe a zoonotic origin best explains the evidence, it is worth reading it in full. If you are just interested in specific scientific…

A recent compelling study suggests a possible origin of Omicron in rodents. Others indicate a connection with immunocompromised HIV patients. It is unclear whether the uncertainty will resolve anytime soon. …

How a repurposed CRISPR-Integrase fusion protein allows for large genome insertions without DNA cleavage When it comes to biology, nature is often the inspiration for brilliant engineering. Our cells are filled with biological nanomachines (proteins or protein complexes) performing complicated and nuanced tasks; adding amino acids to growing protein chains…

An unusual discussion about the disputed origin of Covid-19 & information pathogens Background: Last year, I reached out to Dr. Carlos Morel from the WHO’s SAGO mission to interview him about his perspective on the origin of Covid, his life-long dedication in fighting against neglected and emerging diseases, biosafety, and…

and the merciless battle to infect our minds How much should we think about the role of information in society? Background: Headlines after headlines. The US Department of Energy assesses a lableak likely with low confidence, the Wall Street Journal blasts out. The FBI director is even moderately confident, he…

The manipulation playbook of anti-science actors Background: “The only thing the COVID vaccinations stop is the heart” … outrageous lies catch eyeballs. That is what they are designed to do. While sometimes shocking in their maliciousness, it is no secret that the internet is rife with many such anti-science falsehoods. Quacks…

Warning signs, explained in less than 5 minutes The attention economy and social media dynamics that rule online infrastructure have created an asymmetric landscape against disseminating science to a wider audience. …

Less than 5 minutes to explain a scientific consensus Asymmetric factors of our broken info sphere favor intuitive, emotional and exciting myths over dry, nuanced and complicated science. Fantasies, fears and lies about bioweapons, secret experiments and cover-up conspiracies travel five times around the world before truth has a chance…