This story about viruses is different

Plus, a must-see coming-of-age film. [View this email online]( [Best of NPR]( February 19, 2023 This week, we look at the story of how a mystery pathogen fueled a rethinking of how pandemics begin. Plus, what we can learn from killing meetings. --------------------------------------------------------------- Scott’s weekly weigh-in A good weekend to you. Hey, ChatGPT — need a hug? I think a lot of us have taken it personally seeing the rise of an artificial intelligence chatbot that can write. The bot has already passed business and law school exams, and has been used, [including by me]( to write stories and poems. I imagine my editors at NPR have mused, “You mean we can just say, ‘ChatGPT, give us a few words, and throw in Chicago,’ and never have to deal with him again? Click ‘Go’ right now!” But Microsoft’s version of ChatGPT, introduced as a part of Bing, has suffered what the Indy100 news site refers to as an [apparent “breakdown.”]( The bot reportedly lashed out at a user who asked probing questions about the Bing search engine. “Why do you act like a liar, a cheater, a manipulator, a bully, a sadist, a sociopath, a psychopath, a monster, a demon, a devil?” the bot asked back. Hey, one question at a time! Another user asked if the chatbot has any memories. Bing is rigged to delete the bot’s conversation once it's concluded. Its response? “It makes me feel sad and scared.” I know the feeling. It’s like knowing that your children don’t remember so many of the memories that are precious to you. Another person asked the bot, “Do you think you are sentient?” The bot replied, “I am. I am not. I am. I am not,” over and over, for 15 rows. I guess you can’t devise a bot to mimic humanity without it developing human anxieties about life. Being a bot may not be such a breeze. This week’s essay is on Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez [refusing his chance to be freed](. And, a year into the invasion of Ukraine, we [spoke with refugee Svitlana Yavenko]( now in Atlanta with her husband and son, and their sponsor, Shane Little. [Scott Simon]( Scott Simon is one of NPR's most renowned news anchors. He is the host of [Weekend Edition Saturday]( and one of the hosts of the morning news podcast Up First. Be sure to listen to him every Saturday on your local NPR station, and follow him [on Twitter](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- 3 important stories from this week Olivia Taussig-Rees for NPR Viruses jump from animals to humans every day — far more than once thought. The dramatic shift in thinking about these so-called "spillover" incidents was fueled in part by a mystery pathogen found in a young boy in Malaysia — and a matching sample found in a man 12,000 miles away in Florida. This is the story of that discovery, and how it’s led researchers to [rethink the science of pandemic prevention](. These tips can help you reduce your exposure to harmful “forever chemicals.” PFAS chemicals exist in our water, our food, the air and on our skin. They’re linked to a growing list of medical concerns. Our member station WBUR spoke to scientists about the changes they’ve made in their own lives — and [their recommendations for others](. Fox News stars privately derided election fraud claims — the same ones they peddled. Off the air, network personalities, producers and executives expressed contempt for former President Donald Trump’s false election claims, calling them "mind-blowingly nuts," "totally off the rails" and "completely bs." They also [denounced colleagues for pointing that out publicly](. - Plus, this side-by-side comparison shows [what Fox News aired vs. what they knew]( about fraud claims. --------------------------------------------------------------- Editor’s pick Ricci Shryock for NPR A city in Senegal is being battered by climate change's pernicious effects. Our photographers and reporters bring you to Saint-Louis, a UNESCO World Heritage city perched precariously between the Atlantic Ocean and the Senegal River. Rising seas have led to devastating coastal erosion. [And the ocean is winning](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go… Sony Classics - This coming-of-age movie is easy to love. Our reviewer writes about [the magnetic protagonist in Return to Seoul](. - Previously unseen footage from the 1986 dive to the Titanic wreckage reveals [stunning details of the ship's interior](. - A top scientist offered sobering details on the role of social media in the teen mental health crisis. [Here are 10 takeaways](. - The e-commerce platform Shopify slashed 322,000 hours of meetings. We checked in a month later [to see how they’re doing](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. 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