HN Explorer

13 comments

[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 49.6 ms ] thread
NVHacker
This is a bit like those research papers that "prove" the obvious. Better late than never I suppose.
ggm
This is a highly politicized response, and has medium confidence as a fiat declaration. Virologists don't believe this, based on genomic testing of the strains and prior experience. Wet market emergence is (in their eyes) as, or more likely.

We may never know. Right now? this is a message directed at US domestic political circumstances, its not really revealing of anything and it is far from "proven"

His reasoning is classified.

t0bia_s
> Virologists don't believe this, based on genomic testing of the strains and prior experience.

Any source info about this?

ggm
https://theconversation.com/heres-how-scientists-know-the-co...

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0820-9

https://virological.org/t/the-comparative-recency-of-the-pro...

salawat
Note that the Director of the FBI is generally someone who has been in law enforcement long enough to have internalized the fact that everyone lies when their own freedom is at risk. Which a virologist's would be in the face of having their acceptable research avenues cut down.

So take the "prior experience" with a grain of salt, and remember you're dealing with people at the end of the day here. The image of the "noble, selfless, untarnished scientist" frequently falls short of mark in reality.

t0bia_s
Politicization of science leads to overall distrust in everything. Which is good if we suppose to "trust" in science without observable evidence.

Same logic could be applied to consuming news.

jfengel
Generally, yes.

This particular FBI director spent most of his time in private practice, representing foreign gas and oil interests. The closest he came to law enforcement is resigning over illegal surveillance.

t0bia_s
Interesting timing btw. Right after spy balloons.

Pure information warfare.

trabant00
For a lot of people this has been the simplest and therefore the most likely explanation for a long time. But what are the implications that now it's a somewhat official position of several US agencies? Will China be asked for reparations? Will they be asked to allow external audits of their labs? Something else?
frupert52
I think you might find that labs like the one in Wuhan are or were being operated at arms length by US companies and individuals anyway. I doubt much will happen here, maybe some funding cuts
h2odragon
Not that new information has come to light; but because the existing information can now be interpreted this way without "seeming to support the wrong political side."
dsq
At one point when at work, I raised the possibility of a lab leak. My friend, whom i usually consider open minded, immediately burst out with “conspiracy theorist!”.

Now the FBI director thinks the same.