Why tracing the origins of COVID-19 is so tricky

+ should vaccinated parents keep masking up for their kids? US Edition - Today's top story: How virus detectives trace the origins of an outbreak – and why it's so tricky [View in browser]( US Edition | 7 June 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Debate over the origins of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks. Back in March, the World Health Organization released the findings of a study concluding that it was most likely transmitted directly from animals to humans. Less than two months later, a group of prominent scientists publicly called for more serious consideration of the possibility the virus was leaked from a lab – a hypothesis previously dismissed as a conspiracy theory. Biden administration officials, including infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci, now also back further investigation. Talk of further sleuthing prompted me and my colleagues to wonder: How do scientists determine the origins of a virus? And is that even possible with COVID-19? For answers, we reached out to viral ecology expert Marilyn Roossinck of Penn State to walk us step by step through the [clues and tools viral detectives use]( to trace viruses to their origins. It turns out it’s not quite as elementary as you might think. Also today: - [AI-composed fake news can fool even cybersecurity experts]( - [Climate change lessons from the Ottoman Empire]( - [Curious Kids: What makes some mushrooms toxic]( Vivian Lam Assistant Health and Medicine Editor The prevention of future pandemics requires examining viral family trees. Stockcrafter/iStock via Getty Images Plus [How virus detectives trace the origins of an outbreak – and why it’s so tricky]( Marilyn J. Roossinck, Penn State Bat hosts, lab leaks – tracing SARS-CoV-2 to its origins involves more than just tracking down patient zero. Science + Technology - [Study shows AI-generated fake reports fool experts]( Priyanka Ranade, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Anupam Joshi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Tim Finin, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Bots flooding social media with fake news about politics is bad enough. Muddying the waters in such fields as cybersecurity and health care could put lives at risk. - [Why are some mushrooms poisonous?]( Karen Hughes, University of Tennessee Poison can be a deadly defense that helps a mushroom make sure its spores are spread to new places to grow into baby mushrooms. Environment + Energy - [What the Ottoman Empire can teach us about the consequences of climate change – and how drought can uproot peoples and fuel warfare]( Andrea Duffy, Colorado State University Drought has been a threat multiplier for centuries, fueling conflict and migration from the time of the Ottoman Empire to Syria today. Politics + Society - [‘Bride kidnapping’ haunts rural Kyrgyzstan, causing young women to flee their homeland]( Erin Hofmann, Utah State University; Guangqing Chi, Penn State In rural Kyrgyzstan, 1 in 3 marriages begins with an abduction. Older generations see this as a harmless tradition, but two brides have been killed since 2018. A study finds other problems, too. Ethics + Religion - [‘Lady of Guadalupe’ avoids tough truths about the Catholic Church and Indigenous genocide]( Rebecca Janzen, University of South Carolina The latest movie to take on this classic story sentimentalizes history in the name of inspiring religious devotion. Education - [I’m fully vaccinated – should I keep wearing a mask for my unvaccinated child?]( Nancy S. Jecker, University of Washington A moral philosopher and bioethicist offers parents some tips for weighing family masking decisions. Economy + Business - [Free beer, doughnuts and a $1 million lottery – how vaccine incentives and other behavioral tools are helping the US reach herd immunity]( Isabelle Brocas, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Governments and companies are using incentives in hopes of getting more Americans to get a COVID-19 shot. A behavioral economist explains how they work. Trending on Site - [The next pandemic is already happening – targeted disease surveillance can help prevent it]( Maureen Miller, Columbia University A more coordinated effort by scientists, stakeholders and community members will be required to stop the next deadly virus that's already circulating in our midst. - [I’m fully vaccinated but feel sick – should I get tested for COVID-19?]( Arif R. Sarwari, West Virginia University Vaccinated people can still get infected with the coronavirus. So if you have symptoms of COVID-19, getting tested can protect others and help health officials keep an eye on the virus. - [Employees are feeling burned over broken work-from-home promises and corporate culture ‘BS’ as employers try to bring them back to the office]( Kimberly Merriman, University of Massachusetts Lowell; David Greenway, University of Massachusetts Lowell; Tamara Montag-Smit, University of Massachusetts Lowell A divide is growing between workers and management over the return to the office and other issues. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s graphic [A bar graph showing the percentage of people who donate in different forms.']( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451