Domain expertise and monopoly of knowledge   In the debate about the origin of COVID-19, claims exist that only “domain experts” are qualified to comment; that the opinion of “outsiders” should be devalued, if not disregarded altogether. This is neither a new claim, nor unique to any specific scientific field. However, at the extreme, it...

Artist Augusto Zambonato, “DNA” series, 2015 There’s some irony in the fact that dangerous microbes that are investigated in the name of increasing our safety might do just the opposite if released. This article by Gregory Koblentz and Rocco Casagrande (New York Times 2/20/2023) is an important step in the right direction, highlighting the fact...

The US Department of Energy recently assessed that the COVID-19 pandemic was likely caused by scientists doing research on viruses. This assessment is not proof of the “lab leak” theory: it was made at “low confidence”, and different US government agencies have made different assessments about the likely origins of COVID-19. The scientific community also...