Scientists challenge lab leak theory
A global group of 20 experts have released a review of the evidence—and concluded that Covid almost certainly originated from an animal and not via a leak at the Wuhan lab—or any other, for that matter. It is signed by some of the leading experts in coronaviruses and the genetics of viruses, and says:
“There is currently no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 has a laboratory origin. There is no evidence that any early cases had any connection to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), in contrast to the clear epidemiological links to animal markets in Wuhan, nor evidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology possessed or worked on a progenitor of SARS-CoV-2 prior to the pandemic.”
CNN has more details. We explained the lab-leak theory here.
Other pandemic-related news: Japan has announced a state of emergency in Tokyo, and banned spectators from the Summer Olympics scheduled to kick off on July 23. This state of emergency is projected to cost the country’s GDP nearly $9.1 billion or 1 trillion yen.(Reuters)
Also this: A global research study has identified 13 segments in the human genome that appear to increase or decrease the risk of Covid-19 susceptibility and severity. The Telegraph has that story.
Supreme Court rules against Facebook
The Delhi legislative assembly’s Peace and Harmony Committee had summoned Facebook to explain its platform’s role in the violence that broke out in February, 2020. The company argued the committee had no jurisdiction over law and order in Delhi—which rests with the union government—and filed a plea challenging the summons in the Supreme Court. But the Court ruled against it yesterday, saying Facebook cannot claim any “exceptional privilege” to ignore the summons:
“The court lashed out at how the social media giant, by its own admission, appears only before committees which serve their commercial and operational interests. ‘But if their business interests are not served, they seek a right to stay away. Such a stand is completely unacceptable to us. Facebook has the power of not simply a hand but a fist, gloved as it may be,’ Justice Kaul emphasised.”
The Hindu offers an overview, and Indian Express has extensive quotes from the ruling.
Four quick news updates
One: This week, we did a big story on an app that “sells” Muslim women as “deals of the day.” A case has finally been registered, and the hunt is on to find the creators of the app. (Quint)
Two: The ‘search and rescue’ operations have finally been called off 14 days after the apartment complex collapsed in Miami. The official death toll is at 54 but at least 86 people are still missing, and now presumed dead: Authorities concluded that the force of the collapse on the walls and floors showed there was “no chance of life.” (Miami Herald)
Three: The trial court judge who extended the custody of Sudha Bharadwaj—one of the Bhima Koregaon co-accused—may not have been “designated” to hear matters related to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). It sounds like a technicality, but it may mean that Bharadwaj’s detention and that of eight other accused in the case could be deemed illegal. (Indian Express)
Four: Haitian president Jovenel Moïse was shot and killed by a group of armed men on Wednesday. Authorities have now detained 17 suspects—while three were killed in a gun battle, and eight are still on the run. Of those arrested, two are US citizens of Haitian descent, and others are Colombian. Also read: The Hindu’s explainer on what is happening in Haiti. (Washington Post)
Afghan Women march with guns
With the US on its way out, and the Taliban steadily advancing in their wake, women are taking matters into their own hands. They have taken up guns in northern and central Afghanistan—and hundreds have marched in the streets with guns in hand. One of them said:
“There were some women who just wanted to inspire security forces, just symbolic, but many more were ready to go to the battlefields. That includes myself. I and some other women told the governor around a month ago that we’re ready to go and fight.”
Another said: “I don’t want the country under the control of people who treat women the way they do. We took up the guns to show if we have to fight, we will.” Read our explainer to learn more about the rise of the Taliban. See a photo of the armed women below:
The enormous toll of the American heatwave
Initial estimates show that over 1 billion sea creatures like clams, mussels, barnacles, and snails have been cooked to death during the Pacific Northwest heat wave that hit a few weeks back. The reason: Hot temperatures combined with poorly timed tides:
“A mussel on the shore in some ways is like a toddler left in a car on a hot day...They are stuck there until the parent comes back, or in this case, the tide comes back in, and there’s very little they can do. They’re at the mercy of the environment. And on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, during the heat wave, it just got so hot that the mussels, there was nothing they could do.”
During the peak of the heatwave, the lab-recorded temperature along the coast was 122°F or 50°C. (Gizmodo)
Point to note: Scientists have confirmed the obvious—the heat wave would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change. They said that the occurrence of the record-breaking temperatures was made “at least 150 times more likely” because of global warming. (BuzzFeed News)
Sweet and beery dreams
Remember the Leo DiCaprio movie where he can ‘incept’ other people’s dreams—to put an idea or thought in their head? Well, the beer company Coors tried to do something similar:
“Coors encouraged people to watch a short online video before bed, then play an eight-hour ‘soundscape’ through the night. If successful, this ‘targeted dream incubation’ would trigger ‘refreshing dreams’ of Coors, according to the company.”
No one knows if the experiment worked, but experts are not amused:
“They’re trying to push an addictive drug on people who are naive to what’s being done to them. I don’t know if it can get much worse than that… Anything you could imagine an advertising campaign for, at all, could arguably be enhanced by weaponizing sleep.”
Watch the “dream incubation” experiment below:
Is your dog a genius?
Just like humans, some dogs are way smarter than others. That’s according to a study of 40 dogs who underwent a three-month training with the goal of learning the names of at least two dog toys—the minimum amount necessary to confirm that a dog can actually tell objects apart:
“By the course’s conclusion, researchers found that a handful of dogs had risen to the top of the pack, acquiring knowledge at the breakneck pace of 13 to 39 toy names within the three months. On the other hand, the rest did not show evidence of learning at all. There was hardly any in-between.”
Also seven of the 13 gifted dogs were Border Collies. (Fast Company)
And just like humans: trout can become ‘addicted’ to meth, according to a new study. And that’s bad news since drugs enter rivers, streams etc. via human feces and urine in wastewater. (National Geographic)
New contender for worst fan ever
An English fan shone a laser pointer at Danish goalie Kasper Schmeichel's face—right as he was fending off a penalty kick by Harry Kane, who ultimately scored the winning goal soon after. Everyone is angry, many are calling for a lifetime ban, but not everyone agrees it made a difference to the outcome of the match. UEFA plans to look into the incident. See the moment below:
Also something to look at: The world’s biggest sandcastle—built in a small seaside town in Denmark. It is 21.16 metres (69.4 feet) in height and has been made with nearly 5,000 tonnes of sand. Right on top of it: A coronavirus wearing a crown! Watch its construction below:
Also worth a look: A 101.38-carat pear-shaped diamond, which is going up for auction over at Sotheby’s. Priced at $10-15 million, it will be the most expensive physical object offered for purchase with cryptocurrency.
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