Some of the first COVID-19 infections were linked to the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China. Photo: Simon Song. According to the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong, China), a study by scientists from West China Normal University and Oxford University recently shed light on the wildlife trade. in Wuhan City, which has long been considered a potential source of the spread of COVID-19. In the most detailed record of the wildlife trade yet to be released, scientists estimate that more than 47,000 wild animals were sold in the city’s markets in the two-and-a-half years before the outbreak. disease outbreak. According to the study, up to 38 animals were sold at 17 stores in four markets in Wuhan city between May 2017 and November 2019. These include mammals such as civets, ferrets and raccoons, which are known to be susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, along with squirrels, badgers, foxes and porcupines, as well as birds and cows close. However, the researchers did not find any evidence that bats or pangolins – considered two sources of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission – were commercially available. Seven of the wildlife shops are at the Huanan seafood wholesale market, which has been linked to several COVID-19 cases in late 2019. On average, about 1,100 animals are transported throughout the city’s markets each month, in a trade that the researchers describe as qualifying for disease spread and “essentially any legal”. “Almost all the animals for sale are alive, caged, crammed and in poor condition. Most of the shops offer butchering services, which are performed on site, which does not guarantee food hygiene or animal welfare,” the researchers said. Huanan Seafood Market, Wuhan, closed last January. Photo: Simon Song/SCMP Veterinarian David Hayman, a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) team visiting Wuhan in early 2021, said the study confirmed that live wild mammals were for sale. in Wuhan, which the WHO team suspected, but could not verify. The study also provides clear evidence that several species that are susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been “continuously marketed,” Hayman said. The origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 epidemic is still unknown. Scientists as well as governments in many countries have called for further investigation into whether the virus came from the wild or leaked from a laboratory, a theory that China has repeatedly denied. The wildlife trade has been identified as a possible route of transmission of the virus, which is believed to have originated in bats. Most of the first cases were linked to the Huanan Seafood Market, and a subsequent analysis found that more than half of the first cases in December 2019 were in contact with this market or markets. other in the city. However, no link was found between commercially available animals and the virus. Earlier, a report by the WHO team, based on information from Chinese authorities, said that only snakes, crocodiles and salamanders, which are less likely to contract SARS-CoV-2, were sold directly. continue at the market at the end of December 2019. “It is important that mammals that are alive and being sold in markets in Wuhan just before the first cases of COVID-19 were recorded, are very contagious with the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” said Daniel Lucey. , an infectious disease specialist at Georgetown University Medical Center (USA), said. Meanwhile, Zhou Zhao-min, co-author of the study, hopes the newly published data can be useful in tracing the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic can originate from the Wuhan Institute of Virology is of great interest to the world. (Photo: CNN) Where is the “birthplace of COVID-19”? The laboratories at the Wuhan Institute of Virology are classified as the safest, or biosafety level 4 (BSL4). They are formulated to control dangerous bacteria and viruses that can cause serious diseases for which there is no cure or vaccine. The researchers here are all well-trained professionals and equipped with protective gear. “ The laboratory is equipped with an HVAC feeder system so viruses cannot escape through the exhaust, all wastes are treated with chemicals or high temperatures to ensure that no (pathogens) are still active. dynamic “, said Dr. Gregory Koblentz at George Mason University. In addition to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, there are still 59 similar scientific research institutions in the world. Meanwhile, there are no international standards specifying the level of safety, security and responsibility in the preservation of disease-carrying specimens at these facilities. The possibility of problems in these labs is entirely possible. This rate is even higher for the thousands of lower-level laboratories than the Wuhan research facilities scattered around the world. The laboratories at the Wuhan Institute of Virology are classified as the safest. (Photo: CNN) Man-made disaster A prime example of a disaster stemming from a laboratory accident is the human H1N1 virus. After the terrible pandemic of 1918, in 1977, the H1N1 epidemic once again leaked from the laboratories of the Soviet Union and China, then spread all over the world. In 2001, a mentally disturbed employee of a scientific laboratory in the US spread anthrax spores across the country, killing five people. In 2004, two Chinese researchers exposed to the SARS virus became the source of infection, one of the infected people died. In 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration discovered that some samples carried smallpox at risk of being released. Lynn Klotz, a senior fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Nuclear Nonproliferation, warned that scientific labs have posed many public health threats in history. history, and a similar situation is likely to repeat itself in the future. “ Human error accounts for more than 70% of laboratory incidents “, said Mr. Klotz. A prime example of a disaster stemming from a laboratory accident is the human H1N1 virus. Is Wuhan bat research dangerous? GOF research involves editing pathogens to make them more contagious, more dangerous, or easier to evade vaccines and treatments, all with the aim of improving measures against these pathogens. this disease. GOF has long been an area of ​​intense controversy. The US government, the largest funder of research on the link between COVID-19 and bats in Wuhan, disagrees with several independent scientists. They could not agree on whether this work should be classified as a GOF study. Epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch expressed concern about studying the SARS-CoV-2 virus in bats: I am afraid that it will create a new strain of virus that, although not deadly if infected by the laboratory staff, will cause a new pandemic.” . “ This research is unnecessary and does not contribute to drug or vaccine development ‘, said Professor Richard Ebright at Rutgers University, a longtime GOF expert. The US government also banned GOF research in 2014. The ban was relaxed in 2017, under which some cases will be considered to be allowed to operate based on the application of the research. However, the review process has been criticized as lacking transparency and unreliable. Leading US health experts Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health have denied the research on COVID-19 and Wuhan bats is of the GOF category, but independent scientists disagree with this. their statement. The US government is the largest funder of research on the link between COVID-19 and bats in Wuhan. (Photo: AP) There is currently no clear scientific evidence on whether the virus that causes the COVID-19 pandemic leaked from a laboratory. However, there is some indirect evidence in favor of this hypothesis: Wuhan is only about 1,600 km north of the bat cave containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, scientists from Wuhan are also known to often frequent visits to bat caves to take samples. Alina Chan, an expert in molecular biology at the Broad Institute, said the SARS-CoV-2 virus does not grow quickly after infecting people. This is one of the signs that the virus came from the lab. Ms. Chan added that the research on the SARS-CoV-2 virus will not be abandoned even after the pandemic ends. On the contrary, this study can be further extended in the future.

On May 26, the Biden administration directed US intelligence officials to take a closer look origin of SARS-CoV-2 , including theories such as animal-to-human transmission and lab leaks. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has so far infected more than 172 million people globally and caused more than 3 million deaths. (Photo courtesy: AFP) To date, the most comprehensive look at the origins of Covid-19 is a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) published on March 30 by an international team of researchers who traveled to China to Investigate the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, weeks later, many countries around the world have expressed concern that investigators have not had access to adequate data, while scientists say the report clearly shows how the virus develope. “The quick and obvious answer is not possible, as it normally takes years to trace the source of the virus. But in this case, I think we have enough evidence to make some hypotheses about SARS-CoV-2,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Center for Global Health Science and Security at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Georgetown University Health, said. In the WHO report, the team found that it is possible that SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted from one animal to another before it was transmitted to humans. They also looked at evidence supporting the hypothesis that the virus was transmitted directly to humans from the original host animal, or that the virus spread through the frozen food supply chain. In addition, the research team said that the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan (China) is “very unlikely”. Below are the evidences for each of the four hypotheses about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 that the WHO report makes. 1. Direct animal-to-human transmission WHO assesses direct transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from animals to humans as a “probable” possibility. The SARS-CoV-2 virus originated in an animal, possibly a bat, and then spread to humans. The WHO report provides evidence that the majority of coronaviruses that infect humans come from animals, including the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak. Bats are thought to be the most likely animal to cause it. epidemics of Covid-19 because they are hosts of a virus that is genetically related to SARS- CoV-2. The WHO report acknowledges the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 spread to humans from pangolins or ferrets. However, David Robertson, a virologist at the University of Glasgow, said that the WHO team of scientists had sampled many animals other than bats for study, and the analysis showed that bats are a natural reservoir for the virus. SARS-CoV-2. 2. Transmission from animals to humans through an intermediate host According to WHO, the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from animals to humans through an intermediate host is very high. In the event that SARS-CoV-2 was not transmitted directly from bats to humans, the scientists believe the most likely hypothesis is that the virus first spread through another animal species, such as a ferret or ferret. pangolin. Unlike bats, these animals are in constant contact with humans, especially if they are raised on farms or during the illegal wildlife trade. If SARS-CoV-2 was initially transmitted to another animal, that could also explain how the virus adapted to harm humans, although Robertson said the virus probably won’t change much. Genome analyzes show that SARS-CoV-2 is a virus specifically adapted to humans, which explains why it can be easily transmitted between pangolins, ferrets, cats and other species. other animals. The WHO report indicates that this is the route that previous corona viruses have taken to infect humans. For example, the SARS virus is believed to have passed from bats to civets before causing an epidemic in humans in 2002. Meanwhile, the virus that causes MERS has been found in camels throughout the Middle East. Daniel Lucey, an infectious diseases specialist at Georgetown University Medical Center, said that the similarities between SARS-CoV-2 and coronavirus families like SARS and MERS are a compelling argument that the strain type This virus can be transmitted in the same way. However, if this hypothesis is correct, it remains unclear what the intermediate host for the transmission of the virus from animals to humans is. The WHO team analyzed samples from thousands of domestic animals across China, all of which tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Mr. Lucey said that the WHO team did not adequately examine mink raised in China, one of the suspected intermediate hosts. 3. Transmission through frozen food WHO assesses the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 transmission through frozen food is probable. Another theory is that the virus can be transmitted to humans through the cold supply chain, the supply chain that distributes frozen food. In this case, the virus may have originated outside of China but spread into the country through the surface of the food packaging or in the food itself. This hypothesis gained interest in the summer of 2020 after several outbreaks in China. Since then, there has been some evidence that pathogens can survive longer at cold temperatures. However, while cold supply chains may play a role in new outbreaks, scientists say there is little reason to think that is the source of the pandemic. There is no direct evidence that SARS-CoV-2 causes food-borne outbreaks, while Rasmussen noted that SARS-CoV-2 is rarely spread through surfaces. . “It is not an impossibility. This possibility cannot be ruled out. But I think the current evidence is not enough to show that,” Ms. Rasmussen said. 4. Leaks from the lab According to WHO, the possibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus leaking from the laboratory is extremely unlikely. The most controversial theory about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is that the virus leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan, where scientists studied coronaviruses in bats. WHO scientists point out that there is little evidence that the virus leaked from the laboratory. An employee works at the laboratory of the Wuhan Institute of Virology (China). Photo: AFP There are 2 possibilities of the SARS-CoV-2 lab leak hypothesis, that is, a researcher was accidentally infected in the laboratory or the researchers intentionally invented a corona virus strain to create SARS. -CoV-2. However, the researchers completely rejected the second possibility that SARS-CoV-2 was created by genetic evidence that the virus arose spontaneously. WHO focuses on the possibility that the virus accidentally escaped from a laboratory where wildlife samples are being studied. Although there have been laboratory leaks in the past, the WHO report indicates that these are very rare. According to the WHO report, there is no record of any laboratory in Wuhan working on a virus closely related to SARS-CoV-2 before the first cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed. diagnosed in December 2019, nor have any laboratory staff reported symptoms of Covid-19. An article by the Wall Street Journal on May 23 stated that three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became ill in November 2019 and were hospitalized with “symptoms consistent with both Covid-19. -19 and seasonal flu. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on May 25 denied this information. When the WHO report was released in April, Mr. Lucey believed the hypothesis was plausible, although less likely than animal-to-human transmission due to the lack of evidence. Lucey pointed out that there was no forensic investigation of the Wuhan labs. “There really isn’t any way to prove or disprove the lab leak theory based on what is presented in this report,” Ms. Rasmussen said, noting that, to address the issue, A forensic examination of the laboratory is required to find the origin of SARS-COV-2. According to expert Robertson, supporters of the virus lab leak hypothesis argue that SARS-CoV-2 has spread too quickly and effectively in humans to become a virus of natural origin. But if SARS-CoV-2 is a “smart” virus, according to genomic studies, Robertson said, it is not surprising that it infects humans so quickly and so strongly.

The lack of information raises more questions. Recently, 24 scientists sent a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) asking for an independent and rigorous investigation because they thought that the international investigation to China in early February was not deep enough. US President Joe Biden on May 26 also ordered intelligence forces to “double efforts” to investigate the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the possibility of a leak “from a laboratory accident”. While the theory that the corona virus leaked from the laboratory was “resurrected”, two competing groups of experts in the study of bat diseases in Wuhan became the target of criticism. The reason is that they are willing to ignore safety measures during research. Many new diseases in the past originated in bats. Photo: SCMP. “Batwoman” and Wuhan Institute of Virology Nicknamed “bat woman”, Dr. Shi Zhengli is a famous Chinese corona virus researcher. She has identified many strains of the virus similar to SARS (severe acute respiratory distress syndrome) over the years and forewarned of new pandemic risks. Thach’s laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) also discovered and studied viruses that are closely related to corona virus. However, the scientists point out that the two viruses are still decades apart in natural evolution. According to the report of the WHO expert team, Ms. Thach said that all field activities were carried out with full protective clothing, including N95 masks, overalls, visors, and gloves. However, in a speech in June 2018, Ms. Thach said that is not the case. “Most of the time, we’ll wear simpler protective gear, and that’s fine,” Thach said in her speech. That’s because most diseases in bats can’t be directly transmitted to humans, but can only be through intermediate animals, Ms. Thach explained. To illustrate, Ms. Thach showed the audience during the presentation a photo of her team casting nets to catch bats in the cave and sorting the samples. Some people on the team only wore medical masks and thin rubber gloves, while others used their bare hands and did not wear masks. “When are we going to strengthen the protective gear? For example, when there are too many bats in the cave or when there is a lot of dust when entering the cave,” Thach said. When the pandemic hit, Ms. Thach became quiet and appeared only occasionally. On February 2, 2020, she posted to friends on the social network WeChat and “swore on her life” that her lab was not related to the pandemic. Three months later, Ms. Thach continued to post denying rumors that she had brought intelligence files to the West, according to Global Times . Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Photo: AFP. When suspicions fell on the WIV, Ms. Thach sent a statement to the scientific journal Science in July. She said the corona virus could not have come from the WIV because her team did not encounter this strain during research. In addition, every employee here has tested negative for corona virus antibodies. According to Ms. Thach, before the pandemic, her team “never exposed or studied this virus, and did not know of its existence”. But she also admitted that her lab has not yet sequenced the genes of every sample due to financial and human constraints. She declined to say how many samples remain unsequenced. In January, Thach’s laboratory was questioned even more after the US State Department announced that there were “reasons to believe” that some WIV researchers showed symptoms similar to Covid-19 in the fall of 2019. May, Wall Street Journal also cited intelligence reports that three WIV researchers had been so sick that they needed to be examined. Vien Chi Minh, WIV’s laboratory director, called this a “blatant lie” in response to state media. Bat explorer and Wuhan CDC CDC During this time, the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lab was less visible than the WIV. The WHO expert team’s report on the trip to the Wuhan CDC did not include notes on research safety measures. According to the report, the laboratory moved on December 2, 2019 to a location near the Huanan market – the market that was linked to the first cases of corona virus infection. “Such activity can disrupt the operation of any laboratory,” the WHO expert team said. However, the Wuhan CDC laboratory did not record any interruptions, according to the WHO expert. The Wuhan CDC is the place to monitor China’s initial response to the pandemic. At the Wuhan CDC, there is also a person who regularly works with bats – Dien Tuan Hoa. According to the Washington Post , in terms of position, Dien Tuan Hoa is a deputy technician in the pest control department of the Wuhan CDC. But Mr. Dien is known for being an aggressive adventurer when it comes to working with bats and insects. “He often goes to places that other people cannot find to get the necessary specimens,” a colleague said of Mr. Dien on a local TV station in January 2020. “He can confidently say that he can catch what others can’t.” Tian Junhua on a field trip to collect insects in Hubei province. Photo: China Daily. Using nets and traps, Mr. Dien’s team caught 155 bats in his home province of Hubei, and hundreds of bats in other areas for research in 2013. Mr. Dien was also a member of the team. discovered 1,445 new vertebrate RNA virus species. This result was published in a famous scientific journal Nature in 2016. Once, Wuhan CDC held an internal meeting with the theme “Learning from the achievements of Dien Tuan Hoa”. “No one can remember how many mountains he climbed, how many rivers he waded, how many bat caves he explored, how many stables he crawled, and how many landfills he had to search,” the CDC wrote of the event. However, Mr. Dien also admitted that sometimes he did not comply with research safety rules. In 2017, Mr. Dien told the state newspaper Wuhan Evening News that he once forgot his personal protective equipment, so he had to be isolated at home for 2 weeks after being shot in the body by bat urine. On several other occasions, he got bat blood on his skin while trying to control the animal with forceps, Mr. Dien said. On February 3, 2020, Mr. Dien’s team continued to appear in the journal Nature with early-stage clinical descriptions of a corona virus patient in Wuhan. The team’s research indicates that bats can be a host for pathogens. But when Covid-19 spread, Mr. Dien became quiet. March 2020, the state newspaper Health Times An anonymous source said Mr. Dien was not infected with corona virus. According to the article, Mr. Dien was in a bad mood because of rumors about whether he was patient zero. According to a report at the end of March by the WHO expert team, the Wuhan CDC denied storing or experimenting with bat viruses before the pandemic took place. However, in a video, Mr. Dien said he had been to dozens of bat caves and studied 300 types of virus vectors. Also from March, Mr. Dien no longer spoke in public. This highlights the challenge of an independent investigation into the origins of Covid-19: Many of the people who might have had key information in Wuhan are now silent. Mr. Dien continued to research during this time. In August 2020, Mr. Dien was a co-author on a study on ticks. Another of his November 2020 studies focused on antibiotic resistance genes in fish. Mr. Dien no longer speaks or publishes research on bats.

Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Photo: Daily Mail According to the Daily Mail (UK), this incredible mistake was revealed in a screenshot sent to a Chinese medical journal. The photo shows information about a 61-year-old woman, known as “patient Su”, who lives about a mile from one of Wuhan’s main virus research facilities. The woman was also near a train station along the high-speed rail line that played a key role in spreading the virus around the city of 11 million people. This latest finding was revealed through an interview by a medical journal with the scientist tasked with compiling China’s official data on cases. In an interview with Health Times, Yu Chuanhua, Professor of Biostatistics at Wuhan University, said there were 47,000 confirmed and suspected cases on the national database of COVID-19 by the end of the year. February 2020. Among these, there was a death of a patient at the end of September 2019. “There is data on a patient who became ill on September 29. The data shows that the patient has not been given a nucleic test and a clinical diagnosis. It is possible that this is a suspected case of COVID-19. The patient died. This data has not been confirmed,” added Mr. Yu. The data also shows that two other suspected COVID-19 cases were reported to doctors in Wuhan on November 14 and November 21, 2019, along with several other cases prior to December 8, the period. China informed the World Health Organization (WHO) of the first cases. Inside the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Hubei Province, China. Photo: AP The Health Times article includes screenshots of information of two suspected COVID-19 cases in November 2019 on the database of Professor Yu. Although the patient’s personal details have been obscured, some information can still be seen, including the hospital name and home address. Information shows that patient Su has been treated at Rongjun hospital in Wuhan. Both the home address and the hospital where this patient is being treated are in Hongshan District, Wuhan City, where many studies on SARS-CoV-2 virus related to bats have been conducted in laboratories. experience. The area where patient Su lives and is treated is more than 20 kilometers from the Huanan seafood market, which Beijing initially believed to be the source of the COVID-19 infection. The second patient discovered in November 2019 is a 62-year-old man named Wang, who is being treated at Hanyang Hospital. However, Professor Yu has requested that the information published in the newspaper be retracted, claiming that the dates were entered incorrectly and that all other suspected cases before December 8, 2019 need further verification. . Wuhan Institute of Virology, Hubei Province, China. Photo: EPA This detail was discovered by Gilles Demaneuf, a member of the Drastic digital operations team, who discovered many facts that are said to contradict the theory that COVID-19 is an infectious disease from animals. Chinese objects. “We were able to accurately determine the name, age, and address of the suspected COVID-19 case very early, almost a month before the first case was officially announced. This address is right next to metro line 2 and not far from the hospital that treated some of the other first cases,” Demaneuf said. The railway system, which carries 1 million people a day, is linked to a seafood market, the Wuhan Institute of Virology and an international airport, he said. Demaneuf argues that these new findings show that more clues can be accessed if there are continued and determined efforts to evaluate the hypothesis that the virus leaked from the laboratory. The Wall Street Journal last week also cited a US intelligence report that said three researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalized for medical care in November 2019, a few months before China announced it. announced the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in this country. However, China has denied the above information. Beijing insists the WHO-led investigation team concluded after a visit to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in February that the possibility of a virus leak from the laboratory was “extremely unlikely”.

The study suggests that the “hot spots” will be places where horseshoe bats live and have factors that make the risk of corona virus spread to humans and outbreaks into epidemics. This study does not provide additional information about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but rather points to locations where similar corona viruses may appear in humans in the future. The study results show that southern China is a very high-risk place, and urges us to reduce risk factors, such as reducing deforestation, not just deal with the virus when it has become an epidemic. . Perfect combination” Research by the Intergovernmental Policy-Science Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), a German NGO, shows the number of outbreaks caused by zoonotic diseases object is on the rise. Accordingly, it is humans who are the cause of this increase, through deforestation and destruction of natural ecosystems. At least a third of disease outbreaks since 1960, including Ebola, have been linked to changes in human land use, the report said. Deforestation is one of the many causes of the increasing number of zoonotic diseases being transmitted to humans. Photo: Greenpeace. As humans encroach on natural forest land, the risk of humans coming into contact with wild animals, as well as the pathogens they carry, increases. Newly published research reinforces this hypothesis, as it shows that the risk of humans coming into contact with wildlife increases if the area of ​​primary forest is reduced by 25%. In addition, the destruction of natural habitats also causes disease-carrying species, such as bats and rodents, to become more numerous. Scientists also warn that the occupation of forest land is just one of many causes of zoonotic diseases spreading to humans. High population density, as well as large-scale livestock production, are two other factors that increase the risk. That’s because pets can catch diseases from wild animals or become vectors of disease to humans. The risks to industrial farms are even greater, where large numbers of livestock live in small spaces, and these animals are often less resistant. Outbreak “hot spots” Paolo D’Odorico, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and co-author of the study, said that most research on corona viruses currently focuses on human-to-human transmission, not on the possibility of elimination. This virus is transferred from animals to humans. Therefore, he and his colleagues collected data on forest land occupation, livestock density, population density and a number of other factors and compared it with the habitat of horseshoe bats in Asia and Africa. Europe. Horseshoe bats are considered to be carriers of a large number of corona viruses, including a species closely related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The “hot spots” of potential coronavirus outbreaks are shown in dark red. Photo: Natural Food. The results of the study are represented by a map, in which dark red dots represent areas with a high risk of corona virus spreading to people. In contrast, the blue dots indicate places where there are relatively few conditions for disease outbreaks. Professor David Hayma, another co-author of the study, said that the main concern is that large areas of southern China are still at high risk for a new disease from the corona virus to emerge. In addition, the scientists also pointed out that some areas, including Shanghai, Japan and the Philippines, are at risk of becoming “hot spots” if deforestation continues. “We need surveillance in these areas to prevent the emergence of new diseases,” Hayman said. How to prevent a new outbreak? Scientists estimate that as many as 1.7 million virus species have not been detected in mammals and birds, and half of them have the potential to spread to humans. Professor Andrew Dobson of Princeton University, thinks that the Covid-19 epidemic is a wake-up call for us. “The most important thing is to figure out what we can do to reduce the likelihood of similar events happening,” said Dobson, arguing that we should start from stopping deforestation. Horseshoe bats are considered to carry many pathogens and are capable of spreading to humans. Photo: Wall Street Journal. Professor Dobson said that people living in “hot spots”, such as in southern China, should “put pressure on politicians” to introduce appropriate policies and mechanisms to protect forests. The cost of protecting forests will be much lower than the price we pay each time a pandemic breaks out, IPBES research shows. Besides, experts also warn that the livestock industry should take appropriate measures to prevent livestock from being infected. At the same time, they also call for a greater focus on the earth’s ecosystems. “We knew how to launch rockets into space decades ago. But understanding how diseases spread from animals to humans is a much more difficult problem,” Professor Dobson commented.

The study said the new virus is more distantly related to the previously found strains of the coronavirus that cause Covid-19. However, this new virus has a high degree of similarity in gene sequence with the virus that causes Covid-19. This is the first time that the Wuhan Institute of Virology has released detailed information about the virus it has collected several years ago. “These results suggest that the coronavirus we detected from bats may be just the tip of the iceberg,” the team wrote in the paper. Wuhan Institute of Virology, China. Photo: AFP. Many research results have never been published Through the paper, the institute also provides more insight into the viruses they host. The latest study examines eight viruses collected during a 2015 survey trip to a town in southwestern China’s Yunnan province. During this trip, researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology collected more than 1,000 specimens from bats living in and around the cave over a three-year period. The Wuhan Institute of Virology has studied the corona virus found in bats. Photo: South China Morning Post. This trip started after a few workers came to the cave and became ill. After testing, the doctors said they had an unprecedented virus, so they started looking for a virus from bats. The team also added that the group of workers at that time did not have Covid-19. Previously, in the journal Nature published in November 2020, Wuhan researchers said that during their exploration of the cave, they found 9 viruses that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome and Covid- 19. One of them is RaTG13 – published by researchers in February – still considered the closest “relative” to Sars-CoV-2, the cause of Covid-19. The remaining eight viruses were newly classified in the May 21 paper. The origin of Covid-19 is still unclear and controversial. Doubt In February, after a trip to China, international experts investigating the origin of Covid-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that the virus probably came from a bat-like animal. . The virus then passes to another animal that has close contact with humans and infects them. Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Photo: SCMP. However, critics, including the head of WHO, say the investigation is not deep enough. May 23, Wall Street Journal Citing a confidential US report, it was revealed that in November 2019, before China reported its first Covid-19 cases, some researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalized. . Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian stated on May 24 that the article was “completely untrue”. Article by Wall Street Journal was released ahead of the WHO meeting, which is expected to discuss in detail the next phase of the investigation into the origins of Covid-19. The amazing variety of corona virus virus Evolutionary biologist Edward Holmes at the University of Sydney said that the paper by researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology provides further evidence that the Wuhan laboratory does not have a virus closely related to Sars -CoV-2 – the origin of the Covid-19 outbreak. A database of hundreds of thousands of bats is needed to see a complete picture of the coronavirus. Photo: AP. “This paper shows us the incredible diversity of coronaviruses found in animals in the wild,” added Mr Holmes. He and another team of experiments also found four viruses in bats closely related to Sars-CoV-2 among more than 400 samples collected in Yunnan province. The area is considered by WHO to be an important place for further research into the origins of Covid-19, although it remains unclear whether research is ongoing. The May 21 article also highlights recent work that highlights the possibility that Covid-19 is related to another species, besides bats. A pangolin coronavirus has the ability to effectively bind to human cells, distinct from the bat viruses associated with Sars-CoV-2 that have been identified so far. However, according to Maciej Boni, an associate professor at the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Pennsylvania State University (USA), there are not enough viruses yet to see an overall picture. “We need to have databases of hundreds of thousands of viruses in bats. Until then, we won’t have many new discoveries about the origin of Sars-CoV-2,” he said. Satellite photos show that Covid-19 can spread in Wuhan from August 2019 According to a study from Harvard Medical School (USA), satellite photos of hospital parking lots in Wuhan show that the corona virus may have been spreading since August 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic first broke out in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. Photo: Getty Images The United States and several countries are closer than ever to defeating COVID-19 thanks to progress in vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. But the world still does not know how this deadly virus appeared, and there is a growing opinion from the scientific community that it does not happen naturally. The US is stepping up calls for more research and warning about the risks of future pandemics. Washington is also more open to weighing the theory that a mistake or failure in a Chinese laboratory caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the Chinese Government completely rejected this hypothesis and said that the dossier to trace the origin of the COVID-19 epidemic was closed. What’s new? According to CNN, a recent US intelligence report found that several researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill in November 2019 and were hospitalized – a new detail on the severity of the symptoms. disease in these scientists. It is not clear whether the researchers at that time had COVID-19 but the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) vehemently rejected the report, considering it a lie to promote the hypothesis that the virus leaked from the laboratory. . Scientists who worked for the WIV previously said the institute had nothing to do with COVID-19 disease until December 30, 2021. On May 24, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denied the information that three Wuhan researchers were hospitalized before the outbreak of COVID-19 and affirmed that this information was “completely untrue”. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian confirmed that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was not exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus before December 30, 2019, and its staff so far have not been infected. Scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Photo: AFP Meanwhile, on May 25, speaking at the US Congress, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the failure to fund previous research on Corona virus in bats in China. Quoc is a “negligence of duty”. According to Fauci, the US should have pursued to the place where the contact between animals and humans could lead to the spread of the virus between species. Dr. Fauci himself, the leading infectious disease expert in the US, said this week he did not believe the COVID-19 outbreak occurred spontaneously and prompted further investigation. A World Health Organization (WHO) adviser, Jamie Metzl, also said the leak hypothesis is possible, while scientists are “groping, creating and studying” the virus with the aim of vaccine development. “So I believe what could have happened was a leak, followed by a cover-up,” said Metzl, who served at the US State Department and the Atlantic Council during the US presidency. President Bill Clinton said. The conclusion is that further investigation is needed An in-depth study conducted by WHO in collaboration with the Government of China, published in March, explored the different possible origins of the COVID-19 epidemic and came to the conclusion that: although still It is not yet known how the disease originated, but it is likely that it spread to humans, either directly from bats, or more likely from an intermediate species that caught the virus from bats and then spread to humans. for human. Bats can be an intermediary that spreads the SARS-CoV-2 virus to humans. Photo: NPR The WHO report called the laboratory leak theory “extremely unlikely”, citing the fact that no laboratory staff in Wuhan were infected before December 2020 as an argument against this hypothesis. After the WHO report was published, its officials still called for an additional and public investigation from the Chinese side. Meanwhile, a newly released US intelligence report shows that laboratory workers of the Wuhan Institute of Virology have been sick since before December. According to WHO adviser Jamie Metzl, in the early stages of the outbreak of the disease. when China did not warn the world appropriately, Chinese officials blamed the transmission on an initial hotspot, a seafood market in Wuhan, which at this point was essentially Is not right. This expert said that there is a lot of evidence that the Chinese government initially tried to cover up the existence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. “Whatever the origin of the pandemic, the first month, when China was spending all its energy trying to cover things up rather than fixing the problem, allowed the fire in the furnace to cause a fire in the kitchen.” into a house fire and a worldwide fire,” said Metzl. The Wuhan Institute of Virology became the center of doubts about the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Photo: Getty Images A group of well-known and experienced scientists also criticized the WHO report for not taking seriously the hypothesis that the virus leaked from the laboratory. According to them, this hypothesis was refuted within just a few pages of a hundred-page report published by WHO. The scientists wrote in the journal Science: “We must seriously consider the contagion hypotheses in the wild and in the laboratory until we have enough data.” Fear of a recurrence of a pandemic These “closed doors” have also helped conspiracy theories expand. Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton has promoted the idea that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was purposefully created as a biological weapon. But there’s no concrete evidence to back up that claim, and experts still say it’s unlikely. Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, told CNN it’s unlikely the Wuhan lab manipulated the virus to make it more contagious. but “we have to find out” the truth. Dr. Offit said that the world needs to do something to prevent another pandemic. “What I know is that they [Trung Quốc] must allow this [điều tra mở về nguồn gốc dịch]“This is now the third pandemic to emerge in the past 20 years,” said Mr. Offit. First there was SARS 1, then there was MERS. I think we can assume we’re not done with this yet.”

The researchers found that from their first flight, these echolocating mammals somehow knew exactly how long it would take for the sound waves of their calls to echo from their prey. again. An innate reference point related to the speed of sound allows bats to judge distance in units of time, as opposed to spatial units like humans. Unlike humans who rely heavily on sight, various types of bats “see” the world around them with their ears. However, just as our eyes can fool ourselves, bats don’t always decode their echoes correctly. Illustration. For the test, the team housed six newborn bats in normal atmospheric conditions, as well as five newborn bats in helium-enriched air. This will increase the speed of the sound. These two groups were then tested for echolocation in their respective environments. When approaching a food target, helium-enriched airborne bats displayed echolocation patterns and normal airborne bat-like flight behavior. When a bat flies and lands somewhere, it requires precise coordination between its call to attract and its body. As the creature gets closer to its target, the bat’s echolocation speed increases, and when landing slows, it rolls its body, straightening its legs. However, in an environment where the speed of sound travels faster, this all happens much faster, causing the bats to land ahead of their target. Despite many attempts, the bats still managed to approach the target using the normal sound reference speed. The problem is that bats never learn from their mistakes. Even when adult bats were conditioned in a helium-enriched environment for several days, the researchers found that they were unable to change this fixed reference point. This is surprising, since sensory learning is an advantage for many animals, especially those with the ability to change conditions. Little known secrets about bats According to the analysis results of scientists, in the feces of bats there is a lot of potassium nitrate salt, also known as salt pepper. This chemical is the main ingredient in many fertilizers. At the same time, it is also used to make explosives and detonators. In the past, especially during the American Civil War, bat droppings were considered an important resource for both sides. Because from this waste, one can extract salt and pepper (which is quite scarce) to supply the army. When it comes to bats, most of us probably think of animals with a “unique” way of sleeping upside down. According to scientists, this unusual sleeping position of bats actually has its own purpose. Specifically, unlike birds or insects, the leathery wings of bats are not strong enough to easily lift them from the ground to the air. Therefore, when resting, bats always choose an elevated position so that when they need to fly, they just drop down, taking advantage of air resistance to support take-off. However, according to statistics, there are 6 species of bats that do not hang upside down when sleeping. Most of them have suckers on their limbs, allowing them to cling to leaves or other flat surfaces to sleep. In fact, only small bats (suborder Microchiroptera) have poor eyesight and must be located using sonar. Meanwhile, the larger representatives (of the suborder Megachiroptera) possess excellent eyesight. Even the vision of these bats is better than that of humans. However, in exchange for “bright” eyes, members of the suborder Megachiroptera do not know how to use ultrasound waves.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change do not occur at the same time, both crises have similarities. COVID-19 and climate change both cause significant loss of life COVID-19 is known to particularly impact the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, causing severe respiratory illness. Climate change affects all health-related factors such as air quality, drinking water, food supplies and shelter. Climate change is expected to cause an additional 250,000 deaths annually between 2030 and 2050. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 2.3 million people worldwide since the pandemic began. COVID-19 and climate change highlight the gap between rich and poor Both the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change are known to impact certain demographic groups. Studies have shown that the vulnerable and disadvantaged pay more in both crises, with the poor suffering more from the impacts of climate change and the pandemic than the rich. There has long been a disparity between the poor and the rich in terms of health care. Pandemics and climate change highlight these disparities. Putting the worldwide healthcare system in crisis Ultimately, both crises pushed regional healthcare systems around the world to the limit. Climate change and COVID-19 have resulted in large numbers of people being hospitalized, forcing countries to reassess how they manage their health care systems. The COVID-91 pandemic and climate change have many similarities. Is climate change the cause of the COVID-19 outbreak? In January 2021, an article published in the journal Science of the Total Environment revealed evidence that climate change may be a direct cause in the emergence of the virus that causes the COVID pandemic. -19, acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2. An international team of scientists from institutions in the UK, Germany and the US has linked climate change caused by climate change to COVID-19. They emphasize that the number of bat species present is related to the number of coronaviruses in a particular environment. Due to climate change, factors such as temperature, atmospheric CO2 and cloud cover are evolving. These factors have a direct influence on the growth process of plants and trees. Climate change is affecting natural habitats and ecosystems through altering environmental factors. Even small adjustments can have a big impact on the species living in the ecosystem. Climate changes have directly created a favorable environment for many bat species to thrive, allowing the emergence of new coronaviruses – including the SARS-CoV-2 strain. COVID-19 is not the only infectious disease linked to climate change. For years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the link between changing environmental conditions and disease outbreaks. It is hoped that this linkage can now become central, forcing policymakers to consider the far-reaching impacts of climate change and devise calculated strategies to avert the damage. environment further and reverse the damage already done if possible. Climate changes create conditions for many new viruses to emerge. What needs to be done to prevent epidemics and climate change? Experts have suggested that tailoring government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change would enable an overall improvement in public health, as well as promote a sustainable economic future. sustainable for regions around the world. In addition, aligning responses offers an opportunity to protect the planet’s biodiversity and limit subsequent changes to diverse ecosystems. Just as anthropogenic climate change affects disease outbreaks, wildlife trade is an important factor in the spread of zoonotic diseases such as SARS-CoV-2. . The illegal wildlife trade causes people to mix with different species of animals where they are not supposed to, which promotes animal diseases. Climate change and infectious diseases cause preventable losses of life. Through strategic adjustments, it is possible to prevent the loss of life. In the coming years, more strategies will be implemented to modify human behaviours, so that they have less impact on the environment and limit the spread of infectious diseases.

Balut Illustration. This dish is very popular in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Laos. In which, the duck eggs are incubated for 16 to 20 days, then boiled and eaten with sliced ​​fresh vegetables and ginger. Most foreigners will not dare to eat duck eggs because it feels like a scary dish. Durian Despite its very eye-catching colors, this famous fruit of these Asian countries is not popular with Western tourists. For many people, the smell of durian is quite unpleasant, so they have to cover their noses a hundred meters away. Even some tourists cannot eat this fruit even a piece. Rotten tofu Considered a dish of the Chinese in the past. Stinky tofu tastes like rotten feces, but to the person who eats them, it tastes delicious, extremely ecstatic. This dish is usually deep fried, served with sauerkraut and soy sauce. For Western guests, trying tofu is definitely a difficult and unforgettable challenge. Tuna eyes This is one of the most exotic Japanese specialties. Tuna eyes are very hard, only the cone-like jelly can be eaten after steaming. This dish makes many Europeans dare not look, let alone eat. Shirako (fish genitals) Shirako is made with sperm sacs from fish. According to many people, shirako is not easy to eat. Its taste has a strong smell but the Japanese love to eat fresh shirako. Bat soup Although bats are also often eaten by many Asian countries, seeing black bats in a bowl of specialty Indonesian soup still makes many people feel scared. Natto Natto is a type of fermented soybean with a very unpleasant smell and sharp taste. On the surface of natto covered with viscous, silk like spider webs. Most people can’t eat natto because they can’t stand the smell of it, not because it doesn’t taste good. Raw horse meat Basashi – raw horse meat is a traditional Japanese dish. The meat is thinly sliced, easy to put in the mouth, served with grated ginger and some herbs, dipped with shoyu soy sauce. Although many people commented that the taste is not bad, for Western tourists, eating red meat is still a big challenge for them. Insect In many Asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia… insects are an indispensable part of culinary culture. Here, insects such as spiders, scorpions, locusts… are often piled high and ready to be used as snacks. Many people who eat insects will find the food very delicious and nutritious. However, for many people, trying dishes made with insects still requires a lot of courage. Fresh octopus This is a famous Korean dish. The tentacles of the octopus are chopped and eaten as soon as they are grabbed on the plate, or if you are braver, you can eat the whole one. However, eating the whole octopus is quite dangerous because the suckers on the tentacles can stick very tightly and cause suffocation.

The scientific experiments were led by Leibniz Institute of Animal and Wildlife (Leibniz-IZW) and chaired by Professor Richard A. Holland (Bangor University, UK) and Dr. Gunārs P ē tersons (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technology). It shows that now the cornea of ​​the eye is the site of an important sense in bat migration. A bat’s directional sense is its eyes. If the cornea is anesthetized, the otherwise reliable sense of orientation will be disturbed while the ability to detect light remains unaffected. The paper was published in the scientific journal Communications Biology. In the bats of one experimental group, the scientists locally anesthetized the cornea with a drop of oxybuprocaine. This surfactant is widely used in ophthalmology, where it is used to temporarily desensitize the cornea when the human or animal eye is over-irritated. However, an effect on orientation has not been noted before. In another experimental group of bats, the team anesthetized the cornea of ​​one eye. Individuals in the control group were not given anesthesia, but were instead given isotonic saline as eye drops. All animals in this scientific experiment were captured in a migratory corridor on the Baltic coast and released individually in the open field 11 km from the place of capture. First, the scientists used bat detectors to ensure that no other bats were in the field at the time of releasing the test animals. The direction of movement of the released bats was observed without knowing how the bats were treated experimentally. Dr. Oliver Lindecke, first author of the paper, explains: “The control group and the anesthetized group with unilateral corneas clearly oriented to the expected south, while the bats with corneas were anesthetized. both sides fly in random directions.” He added: “This clear difference in behavior suggests that corneal anesthesia has disrupted the sense of direction, but orientation seems to still work well with one eye. The corneal treatment wore off after a short time, and the bats were able to continue their journey south after the trial.” To rule out the possibility that an irritated cornea also affects visual sensation and that the scientists could therefore draw erroneous conclusions, they performed an additional test. Again, they examined whether the bats’ response to light changed after anesthetizing the corneas on one or both sides. “We know from previous research that bats prefer a illuminated exit when leaving a simple Y-shaped maze,” explains PD Dr Christian Voigt, head of the Leibniz-IZW Department of Evolutionary Ecology . “In our experiment, animals that were anesthetized either unilaterally or bilaterally also showed this preference; we can therefore rule out that light vision has been altered after corneal treatment. The ability to see light will of course also affect long-distance navigation. ” For instance, many vertebrates such as bats, dolphins, whales, fish and turtles can safely navigate in the dark, whether it’s under the open night sky, when it’s cloudy at night or in caves and tunnels as well as in the depths of the ocean. For decades, scientists have searched for a sense or a sensory organ that enables animals to perform navigational and orientation tasks that seemed unimaginable to humans. Magnetic sensation, so far only demonstrated in certain mammalian species. Experiments show that iron oxide particles in cells can act as “microcompass needles”, as is the case with some species of bacteria. The team’s experiments on Lindecke and Voigt provide for the first time reliable data for determining sensory orientation in migratory, free-migrating mammals. Exactly what a bat’s cornea looks like, how it works, and whether it is a long-sought magnetic sense need to be pointed out in future scientific investigations.

The bat’s sense of direction are the eyes. Mammals see with the eyes, hear with the ears, and smell with the nose. But which senses or organs allow them to direct their migration, sometimes beyond their feeding area and thus require extensive orientation? Scientific experiments led by the Leibniz Institute for Animal and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) led by Professor Richard A. Holland (Bangor University, UK) and Dr. Gunārs P ē tersons (Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technology). It shows that the cornea of ​​the eye is now an important sensory site for bat migration. If the cornea is anesthetized, another sense of reliable direction is disturbed while its ability to detect light remains unaffected. The article was published in the scientific journal Communications Biology. In the bats of an experimental group, the scientists localized the cornea with a drop of oxybuprocaine. This surface anesthetic is widely used in ophthalmology, where it is used to temporarily desensitize the cornea when the human or animal eye is overly irritated. However, the influence on the orientation has not been noted before. In another group of experimental bats, the team anesthetized the cornea of ​​one eye. Individuals in the control group received no anesthesia, but instead received an isotonic saline solution as eye drops. All animals in this scientific experiment were caught in a migration corridor on the Baltic coast and released individually in open fields 11 km from the capture site. First, scientists used bat detectors to ensure that there were no other bats in the field at the time of releasing the test animals. One observes the movement of the released bats not knowing how the bats have been treated experimentally. Dr. Oliver Lindecke, the first author of the paper, explains: “The control group and the one-sided corneal anesthetic group had a clear orientation to the expected south, while the bats with the cornea were anesthetized. the two sides fly in random directions. ” “This obvious difference in behavior suggests that corneal anesthesia disrupted the sense of direction, but the ability to orient seems to still work well with one eye,” he added. After a short time the corneal treatment ended, the bats were able to resume their journey south after the test. ” To rule out the possibility that an irritated cornea also affects visual sensations and so scientists could have come to the wrong conclusion, they performed an additional test. Again, they tested to see if a bat’s response to light changed after anesthesia on one or both sides. “We know from previous research that bats prefer a illuminated exit when leaving a simple Y-shaped maze,” explained PD Dr. Christian Voigt, head of the Leibniz-IZW Department of Evolutionary Ecology. . “In our experiment, animals under one or two side anesthesia also showed this preference,” he said; we can therefore rule out that light vision has been altered after corneal treatment. Light visibility will of course affect long-distance navigation as well. ” For example, many vertebrate species such as bats, dolphins, whales, fish and turtles can navigate safely in the dark, whether it is under the open night sky, when it is cloudy at night. or in caves and tunnels as well as in the depths of the ocean. For decades, scientists have been searching for the senses or a sensory organ that makes it possible for animals to perform navigation and navigation tasks that seem unimaginable to humans. The magnetic sensation has so far been demonstrated only in some mammals. Experiments have shown that iron oxide particles in a cell can act as “microscopic compass needles”, as is the case with some species of bacteria. The team’s experiments on Lindecke and Voigt provide, for the first time, reliable data for the determination of sensory orientation in free-migrating, migratory mammals. Exactly what a bat’s cornea looks, how it works, and whether it is a long-sought magnetic sense needs to be pointed out in future scientific investigations.

However, one sense that humans can soon master, is bat-like echolocation. Sixth sense experiment According to the Popular Mechanics Scientists in Japan have tested this ability in a laboratory, proving that humans can use it echolocation , or the ability to sense echoes for navigation. This ability helps people recognize the shape and rotation of many objects. Thanks to that, people can “see” in the dark. When the volunteer presses the tablet, a synthesized echo is emitted from the amplifier speaker (red line). The sounds obtained with the binaural are 1/8 of the original pitch by reducing the sampling frequency, which is transmitted into the volunteer headphones (green line). Photo: Miwa Sumiya. As bats fly around objects, they emit intense sound waves from different angles and bounce off at isolated intervals. Thanks to that, this tiny mammal can determine the topography, texture or movement of an object. According to Dr. Miwa Sumiya, if humans were able to perceive the patterns of time-changing sounds similar to bats, they could see the world in new ways. Dr. Sumiya, a researcher at the Center for Nerve and Information Networks in Osaka, Japan and was the first author of a paper to appear on Plos One on this topic. “Testing that humans are capable of detecting multiple environments via sound waves could add a new step in understanding the complexity of the human brain,” Sumiya said. According to Sumiya, humans have the ability to further understand the perception of other species (such as bats) by comparing with knowledge gained in echolocation studies of humankind. To test this theory, Mrs. Sumiya’s group made a meticulous arrangement. In one room, the researchers gave volunteers a pair of headphones and two tablets, one that produced a calibrated signal using a synthesized echo, the other to listen to pre-recorded echoes. . In room 2, only the strangely shaped 3D axes stand in one place and rotate around themselves. When prompted, 15 volunteers turned on echolocation signals from their tablets. The sound waves emit each beat, travel to room 2 and hit the 3D axes. Participants need a little bit of imagination to convert sound waves into a certain object. Sumiya explained that the synthesized echo-locating signals used in this experiment were high-frequency signals up to 41 kHz, which cannot be heard by humans. Dolphins are also a mammal that uses echolocation to detect and hunt. Photo: Getty Images. Researchers used a humanoid (1/7 the size of a real skull) to “hear” the sound in room 2 before passing it on to volunteers. The fake head is equipped with 2 microphones attached to the two ears and creating a 3D resonance. The sound output is quite similar to the surround sound experienced in movie theaters. Reducing the frequency of the echoes in both ears enabled volunteers to hear “with the feeling of being heard in real space”. Many people like to listen to podcasts or watch videos with headphones to create surround sound and give a tingling sensation in their ears. This is called the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, or ASMR. Result Finally, researchers and volunteers guessed whether echoes were coming from stationary or spinning objects. At the end of the experiment, the volunteers were able to accurately identify two pillars thanks to the time-varying echolocation signals emanating from them. Identifying clue is thanks to the pitch and timbre. However, it was difficult for them to discern the shape of the standing pillars. Sumiya’s group study is not the first to test the ability of human echolocation. Previous studies have shown that blind people can use mouth-clicking sounds to see 2D objects. However, Ms. Sumiya said her experiment was the first to specifically explore the ability of echolocation to change over time. The researchers said their work is evidence that both humans and bats are capable of decoding objects through sound. In the future, engineers could apply this technology to wearable devices such as watches or glasses to improve how visually impaired people can navigate the world, except for headsets.

The lizard has the ability to run on the super ‘top’ water The Central American lizard spends most of its time in trees or shrubs watching small insects or vertebrates pass close enough to grab it. But when it is threatened, it can plunge into the water and escape. The reason is that lizards have the ability to walk on water thanks to their skillful “rowing” rear legs with the support of a long tail. This talent for walking on water like doing a circus earned it the nickname “the lizard of Jesus.” Not only that, it is also capable of running on water at speeds of more than 11km / h and diving under water for 30 minutes. Hound’s sense of smell Under the sleeping hound’s sleepy eyes was his super sharp nose. This nose is 1 million times more audible than a human nose. That is why the police used to hunt for missing people or fugitives. A hound’s nose has more than 200 million olfactory cells, so it can store the odor and follow it for days despite the presence of other odors on its way to its target. Thanks to this super-sensitive sense of smell, the hounds become famous “experts” in solving cases in the world. The eagle’s eyesight All birds of prey have sharp eyes. And this is a powerful “weapon” to find food. But eagles have special eyesight above all else. According to calculations by scientists, eagles can see target details at least 8 times better than the most pure human eye. This is due to the fact that the sunshade in each eye blocks sunlight and has a high concentration of cone cells in the vision. As a result, it positioned its prey with incredible accuracy. The eagle can see a hare several kilometers away. That is why they are symbols of sharp eyesight. Find your way in the moonlight of the beetle Scientists have observed that beetles routinely move the dung ball that is many times larger than its body by “planting a banana tree” and using its hind legs to push the ball away. But further research they discovered that this insect also possesses a talent that has never been known in the animal kingdom: navigating paths by moonlight. It can move in a straight line despite obstacles they may encounter along the way. The beetle’s competition for food (other animal droppings) is fierce, so as soon as a colony forms a dung ball, it tries to hide this dung ball to do ” dry wages ”later. The fastest way to escape from another stumbler is the straight path. The miracle is that this species can trace a straight path just thanks to the moonlight. It seems that the insect relied on a pattern created when moonlight interacts with molecules in the air (polarization) to move in a straight line. On days without moonlight, beetles tend to change directions, take a detour to keep them safe and have less trouble. The lion dance Thanks to its incredible power and speed, the leopard leopard is one of the most terrible predators on the planet. But the lion’s leopard high jump and long jump skills are admirable. His muscular hind legs and large claws are designed for a powerful jump. The lion leopard can jump up to 15 meters (50 feet) away and jump up to 6.6 meters, which is quite a big difference compared to humans. It is the advantage of this long jump and high jump skill that makes it easy to catch up with prey even after a long distance. Navigating with the sound of the bat Bats are animals that possess many unique things and have very interesting adaptations. Many species of bats often turn upside down to sleep and live on the blood of other animals. They are also the only flying mammals. But the most impressive feature of the bat is its ability to hunt with echolocation. Accordingly, the bats send high-frequency clicks as they fly, then they hear the oscillation from the echoes bounce back and that indicates the prey position is not far away. With this system, they can catch and eat about 1000 insects per night. The ability of sharks to receive electricity Sharks are one of the most successfully evolved animals on earth. Thanks to the diversity of adaptations, sharks have many advantages in the wild. One of these adaptations is the ability to receive electromagnetic waves, making the electrical impulses in the shark’s body extremely sharp. As the prey swims, this movement sends tiny electromagnetic signals through the water. Sharks receive these signals as the water travels through the jelly-filled pores of the head. Connected to the internal compost, signal reception allows the sharks to find prey quickly and they can kill the prey with great precision even in cloudy water. This hearing organ also makes it possible for sharks to detect the smell of prey blood, even a drop, from miles away. Swimming speed of squid and octopus Squid and octopus are the fastest invertebrates in the ocean. This is in part due to the body’s extraordinary ability to use jet boosts. When water flows into their outer cavity, it is held under pressure and the mouth closes. As the muscles of the wall contract and press, pressurize the full water back through the cartridge and allow it to run at a speed of 40 km / h. These cephalopods can also control the direction and speed of movement, allowing them to escape from a threat or to quickly advance to prey they want. The magic wings of hummingbirds Not only are the hummingbirds one of the most beautiful birds on earth, hummingbirds are also the most impressive flying birds. The joints between the upper and lower wings are located very close to the body so they are agile and have a surprisingly leveraging effect in the air. Hummingbirds flap their wings at a frightening speed-80 times per second. They are also the only birds capable of flying forwards, backwards, upwards and downwards. Hummingbirds can float in the air, which makes it easier for them to absorb nectar while in flight. The running speed of the leopard At a speed of 110 km / h, the leopard is the fastest running animal on the planet. This is thanks to the long limbs, small head, and slim body, the spines will curl and stretch with each stride, helping to push the body forward faster. Thanks to this movement that it has increased speed more than 30 km / h. But the surprising thing is that this species can not speed fast for more than 10-15 seconds, longer it will cause their body to overheat. This is also understandable because leopards mainly live in deserts and steppes where there is very little chance of hiding in the shade.

Illustration. In the old days, there was a saying that “Cats are difficult to come in, dogs come in”, people think that when someone gives you a dog or a dog gets lost, the owner runs into your house. It often brings a lot of luck and fortune to the homeowner. During this time, your family is likely to have a lot of luck and success, because this is a very good sign that the owner is about to reap a lot of success, the road of fortune is rising and the road of love will have many changes. Well, your family will have good faith. The house has bats to nest The appearance of the bat makes many people not very fond of them. However, bats flying into the house symbolize wealth and wealth. This implies that your family will be lucky in money and finances. In Southeast Asian culture, the bat is a symbol of happiness and longevity. The symbol of the bat is often stylized in a circle with the implication of the five blessings. According to feng-shui, bats are very hearing animals that they can smell good luck and good luck. Therefore, if the bat nest somewhere, there is a good omen, so the owner sooner or later thrives, money flows into the house rushing like a flood. Bats are also a symbol of good fortune, prosperity, even in places where good air is “good land”. Therefore, if you find that there are bat nests in your home, don’t panic and scare them away. Bird droppings fall on the head When you hear this, you will find it extremely ridiculous and ridiculous, but it is completely true because this is an extremely lucky omen for you. If you accidentally get bird droppings on your head, that’s a good sign of good news, bringing good things to your family. Bird manure is a lucky fortune that will come to your family in the near future, the homeowner prepares a safe to store money! Turtle The turtle is a mascot of longevity. If a family has a sick person and the tortoise comes home by himself, soon after the sick person recovers from the illness, the tribulation will be gone. Turtles are also considered as restraining animals that prevent death, chase away bad luck and bring good luck. The turtles come to their house by themselves, also signaling that they will soon have their helpers, good jobs, and successful careers. Snakes crawl into your house When you see a snake crawling into your house, you will be very frightened. But you should not try to destroy it because snakes are a good omen. When a snake crawls into your house, the owner is about to have luck in his work, finance, and prepare for a fortune promotion. Therefore, you should not banish your family’s god of wealth. Use a tree to chase the snakes out of the house, you should not kill them. Honey bees build hives Honey bees often nest in places with a good environment. If it builds a nest in the house, this signals that the fortunes of our homeowners are not very bad, with satisfactory fortune. According to Buddhism, if the honey bee builds a nest in the house, it means that the family has made good conditions with them. Bees come to pay tribute, symbolizing perfect happiness, good crops and always having good luck. If you are a business person, this shows that your job will be favorable, and your family life is also very warm. Butterflies fly into the house If you see a butterfly flying into the house, this is a sign that you are about to get a lot of joy in work and life. If the butterfly that flies into your home is a dark colored butterfly, the person you meet will bring good news about your career or business. On the other hand, if the butterfly is bright colored, you are going to have good news about the love of children. * Note: Information in the article is for reference only, for contemplation!

The findings are largely as expected but still have many unanswered questions. This report has provided more in-depth details on the explanation behind the team’s conclusions. The report’s authors also propose further research on this except for the laboratory leak theory. The publication of the WHO report on the origin of the COVID-19 epidemic has been repeatedly delayed and raises questions about whether the Chinese side is falsifying the conclusion, to avoid accepting accusations that China is the place the origin of the pandemic. An official from the World Health Organization said over the weekend that the report is expected to be released “within the next few days”. The AP news agency said it had received what appeared to be the final version on March 29 from a WHO diplomat. It is not clear if the report will still be changed prior to publication. The diplomat does not want to be identified because they are not allowed to release the report before the final release is made public. The publication of a joint report between WHO and China on the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic has been repeatedly delayed. Photo: Reuters Researchers have listed four possible scenarios for the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Topping the list is transmission by an animal, which is most likely to occur. Researchers believe that the possibility of transmission through “frozen” food is also possible, but not high. The closest animal found to carry the corona virus, believed to be the source of COVID-19, is the bat. However, the report said, “the evolutionary gap between bat viruses and SARS-CoV-2 is estimated to be several decades, which suggests an uncertain association.” Viruses are also found in pangolins, the report says, and animals like weasels and cats are also susceptible to COVID-19. This shows that all of the above animals can be carriers. This report is based on the visit of an international team of WHO experts to the city of Wuhan, China where COVID-19 was first discovered. The group has worked from late mid-January to mid-February. Mr. Peter Ben Embarek, WHO expert who led the investigation team in Wuhan, said the report has been finalized and is being checked and translated. “I hope that in the next few days, the whole process will be completed and we can make this report publicly available,” said Peter Ben Embarek. The draft of the report does not conclude that the outbreak began at a seafood market in Wuhan – where the first outbreak was discovered in December 2019. Previous discovery of other infections has suggested that epidemics could have started elsewhere. The report notes that there can be milder cases that go undetected. As the pandemic spread globally, China found virus samples on frozen food packages introduced into the country, and it tracked the link between single outbreaks and these products. Frozen foods can be the cause of cross-border spread of viruses, the report confirms, but are unlikely to cause an outbreak, much less contagious than through transmission. Human-to-human respiration. “Although there is some evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be revived through contaminated frozen products imported into China since the beginning of the pandemic, this would be very unreasonable. usually in 2019 because then the virus is not widely circulated, ”the study said. sea ​​oats ( According to AP )

On March 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) and China released a joint report on the results of investigating the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing pandemic COVID-19, radio ABC (USA) reported. The report summarizes the results of the survey from January 14 to February 10 by the WHO expert group in China – an effort seen as the first step in the work that could take many years to find the source. COVID-19. Some members of the WHO investigation team (sitting in the car) surveyed at the Wuhan Virus Research Institute on February 3. Photo: REUTERS The report repeated many of the conclusions discussed by the expert group at the end of the mission in China and drew a clearer picture of the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four hypotheses about the source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to humans ABC has pointed out four hypotheses about the source of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection to humans are mentioned in a report published by WHO and China on March 30. 1. Is the virus transmitted directly from animals to humans? According to the WHO report, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can or is highly likely to have been transmitted directly from animals (most likely from bats) to humans through farming, hunting or close contact. difference between human and animal. 2. Is the virus transmitted to humans through an vector of an vector? According to WHO, there is a very high possibility that the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the original pathogen (bat) has been transmitted through mediators such as weasels, pangolins, rabbits … and humans are infected by exposure to secondary pathogens. this level. 3. Can people get a virus through frozen food products? According to WHO, this could happen. This means that people can become infected when they come into contact with frozen food contaminated with the bio-waste of animals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (without the need to come into contact with the original pathogen). 4. Is there a virus leak from the lab? This so-called “highly political” hypothesis has been repeatedly rejected by experts from China and the WHO. According to the latest WHO report, it is extremely unlikely that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is a product from a certain laboratory in China. Although assessing the SARS-CoV-2 virus leak hypothesis from the laboratory as unlikely, WHO Director-General Tedros noted that the experts have considered all the hypotheses and need further research to bring to make more certain conclusions. Hoa Nam Seafood Market is the “super infectious” nest, not the place where the epidemic begins According to WHO data, the first case of COVID-19 infection has been linked to the Hainan Seafood Market in Wuhan City, Hubei Province (China). WHO experts have taken large-scale samples at the Hoa Nam market – including samples from the environment, food and animals in the market. A total of 718 environmental samples were collected at Hoa Nam market and 14 samples were collected from warehouses related to Hoa Nam market. Some samples from the environment showed traces of the nucleic acid of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and some even showed virus isolation results. However, no trace of SARS-CoV-2 virus was found in market animals. Some members of the WHO investigation team came to investigate at Hoa Nam market in late January. Photo: REUTERS Meanwhile, the genomic sequences of several (human) cases related to the region are identical, leading scientists to speculate that the Hoa Nam market is a “super infectious” nest. Along with some analysis of the distribution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants, experts are continuing to examine the possibility that the SARS-CoV-2 virus appeared in the Hoa Nam market due to frozen products. The way to find the origin of COVID-19 is still very long WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that “this report is a very important start but it is not the end point”. “We have yet to find the origin of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) and we must continue to follow the scientific recommendations and find out all possibilities as we are doing,” Tedros said in press conference on 30-3. Although many argue that the WHO March 30 report is nothing new, Dr. Ian Lipkin – Director of the Center for Infections and Immunology at Columbia University (USA) – describes it as a “extreme report. detailed and complete period “. Mr. Lipkin noted that what the scientists are trying to do is “re-enact events from a year and a half without the complete data and biological samples” so it could take years, or even never before. Now, find the exact conclusion. However, Mr. Lipkin reiterated that before the WHO expert group came to China, several routes of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus were envisioned and the WHO report provided possible data. prove those hypotheses. Meanwhile, Professor Vincent Racaniello – an expert in microbiology and immunology also at Columbia University – said that scientists were “lucky” to find clues about the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Mr. Racaniello reiterated that after many years, scientists have yet to find the origin of the Ebola virus.

Wuhan Institute of Virology – which is hypothesized to be the source of Covid-19 infection. (Source: Reuters) According to a report published on 30/3, a joint investigation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and China conducted on the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing acute respiratory infections (Covid- 19) concluded that it was “extremely unlikely” that the virus had escaped a laboratory in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. The origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still questionable The report concludes that the virus is most likely transmitted to humans from an unknown animal, while contradicting the theory made by former US President Donald Trump that the Chinese lab may be the birthplace. virus. While China praised the report, 14 countries including Japan, the US, Australia, the UK, Canada and South Korea have expressed “common concern” about the study and claim that the investigation has was “delayed a long time and lacked access to complete data and originals”, and called for “a fast, efficient, transparent, science-based and independent process” to produce international assessments in case of future outbreaks. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “All theories are still being discussed. Although the team has concluded that the laboratory leak is the least likely hypothesis, it requires requiring further investigation, it is likely that additional missions including many experts will have to be deployed. According to WHO Director-General, the inspection team should have access to full data including biological samples from at least September 2019. He asserted that this report is a very important beginning and not the end. “We have not found the origin of the virus yet, and must continue to follow the science without missing any details”, Mr. Tedros Ghebreyesus stressed. While the majority of the report focuses on molecular studies, viral evolution, and potentially host animals, the report on potential laboratory leaks does. Very sketchy presentation. Although the host origin of SARS-CoV-2 is widely recognized, some scientists still maintain the view that this virus may have been collected and stored in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, despite the fact that Chinese scientists have rejected this claim. Viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2 were reported to have been found in bats and pangolins, but an intermediate host for transmission to humans has yet to be identified. This report is based on a study conducted by an international team of experts that mink and cats, which are known to be susceptible animals, may be one of the potential hosts. Need more information The Trump administration once hypothesized that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could have come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology and claimed that some researchers there had already had Covid-19-like symptoms in the fall. year 2019. However, the team said they found no evidence to support this claim during a January-February 2021 field trip to Wuhan City to investigate the source of the virus. The Chinese authorities have stated that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could have been introduced into the country through imported frozen food. Such transmission is possible but cannot be verified as imported frozen products are not considered a potential path of infection during early spread, the team report said. viruses and there were no tests for them at the time. Matthew Kavanagh, a researcher at Georgetown University, said the report said more in-depth information about the origin of the virus, but more information is needed. “Obviously, the Chinese government does not provide all the necessary data, and until they do this, the conclusions will be very difficult,” said researcher Matthew Kavanagh. The reporting team included experts from many different countries and officials from WHO, World Veterinary Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The team, after being quarantined for two weeks in Wuhan in mid-January 2021, inspected the research institute and other places believed to be related to the virus such as seafood markets. They also had discussions with Chinese experts. Representatives of the WHO and China expert group at a joint press conference in Wuhan on February 9. (Source: Reuters) “Opposite” views Jesse Bloom, an expert on evolutionary biology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle (USA), said he does not believe that a lab leak is unlikely. The expert agrees that the virus naturally evolved to spread to humans, but he did not see any explanation in the report disproving the possibility that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could catch. source from a laboratory. Meanwhile, Mr. Peter Daszak, a member of the WHO expert group, a British ecologist in infectious diseases, and the executive director of the Ecological Health Coalition – a disease prevention organization in New York. , has voiced opposition to the flow of comments criticizing the research results and the degree of cooperation of China. Mr. Peter Daszak said that the lab leak hypothesis “has political purposes from the very beginning”. Dr. Daszak added that the WHO team of experts was not prohibited from participating in interviews with scientists who were on the ground during the early stages of the pandemic. Mr. Daszak himself has also been accused of a conflict of interest due to collaborating research on the virus with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which he thinks an infectious disease ecologist should do. “We were in the right place because we knew there was a risk of disease outbreaks. We were working there with this exact team and it happened,” said Dr Daszak. A group of scientists not affiliated with WHO is calling for a new investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. They argue that such an investigation needs to consider the possibility of the virus spreading from a laboratory in Wuhan or infecting people inside it. (synthetic)

The WHO report on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic is still not clear enough. (Source: You Gov) The report was made by a group of 34 people made up of Chinese scientists and international experts who were sent to Wuhan, China to investigate a series of politically controversial questions, such as whether the virus could unintentionally emerge from a Chinese laboratory or not. Here are the key takeaways from this report. The results are not satisfactory However, the results of the report do not seem to satisfy much of the world, raising even more doubts. First, there is concern among experts about China refusing to share original data about the first Covid-19 cases. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged those concerns when he released the report on March 30. Mr. Tedros also criticized China for not releasing sufficient data to international experts. Second, for experts, this survey is still limited and has not yielded results that make them satisfied. WHO working group leader to Wuhan, PhD. The experts have only just touched the surface of things and will need a lot more research, says Ben Embarek. This expert noted, the time of discovery of the first cases in December 2019 with all cases worsening. As a result, cases of mild or asymptomatic symptoms may have already appeared in the community. According to Mr. Embarek, Wuhan is one of the central cities of China with direct flights to almost all parts of the world. As a result, the virus could have been quietly moving around the world a few months earlier. Mr. Tedros himself hopes that future studies will be “shared more in a timely and comprehensive manner.” The Wuhan Virus Research Institute, which allegedly leaked the SARS-CoV-2 virus to the world. (Source: AFP) Rebuttal of the laboratory hypothesis For months, scientists, politicians and people outside of China have hypothesized that the virus could have been an accident from a laboratory in China. While there are conflicting opinions on the above hypothesis, they still urge WHO to strictly investigate this possibility. The report has completely rejected the theory of the virus being leaked from the lab and argues that this is “very unlikely”. Experts are mainly based on conversations with scientists in Wuhan. But the WHO Director-General unexpectedly aroused skepticism, saying that this theory needed further investigation and that he was ready to deploy more experts to do so. “I do not believe this assessment is wide enough. We will need more data and more research to come to more certain conclusions” – Mr. Tedros said at the press conference on 30/3. Experts at the Wuhan Virus Research Institute say they have not dealt with any viruses that are closely related to the corona virus that caused this pandemic and say that the staff has been trained on how to ensure that safety. Some critics claim that the WHO investigation team is “controlled” by China and has undergone an investigation of the laboratory in Wuhan. Raina MacIntyre, head of the biosecurity program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales, Australia, expressed skepticism about the results of the investigation: “There is definitely a possibility of an accident in the laboratory. ” The role of Wuhan Seafood Market The team concluded that the corona virus could appear in bats before being spread to humans through an intermediate animal. But the team said there was not enough evidence to determine the spread of the virus from animals. In the early part of the pandemic, Chinese officials theorized that the corona virus outbreak could have originated in the South China seafood market. It was reported more than a year later that the role of animal markets in the story of the pandemic remains unclear. The team of experts, after studying the reports of the vendors at this market, found that many initial infections had absolutely no clear association with Hoa Nam market. A market in Wuhan city. (Source: New York Times) According to the report, of the initial confirmed cases, about 28% were linked to the Huanan market and 23% were linked to other markets in Wuhan, while 45% had no further history. contact with markets. “There are no definitive conclusions about Hoa Nam’s role in the cause of the outbreak, or the cause of the spread of the virus in the markets,” the report said. The report also points out that more in-depth studies on Chinese farms and wildlife are needed, as the truth about the role of markets during the pandemic may be unraveled. Depends on China The team of experts made a long list of recommendations for additional research such as: more testing on wildlife and domestic animals in China and Southeast Asia; further study of the first Covid-19 infections; and continues to hunt down all routes of infection from farms to markets in Wuhan. But it is not clear whether China, which has repeatedly obstructed the WHO investigation, will continue to cooperate. Chinese officials have sought to divert attention to another matter, suggesting that the virus may have appeared in the US or in other countries. The delay in the investigation has affected its ability to prevent further pandemics from happening in the future, experts say. Michael Baker, professor of public health at the University of Otago in New Zealand, said: “This delay has clearly damaged the investigation’s ability to recreate the origins of Covid-19 and identifying ways to reduce future risk of infection. (According to the New York Times)

Bear eat ants for a body length of 150cm but has a tongue up to 60cm long. True to its name, the bear eats ants, this bear eats ants, termites and a long, sticky tongue with small spines is a very effective “tool” in catching prey. With the speed of releasing and retracting the tongue up to 150 times / minute, ant-eating bears can catch up to 30,000 termites per day.

Ants’ stomachs have a special structure that can crush large numbers of ants and termites, helping to facilitate digestion. This stomach produces formic acid instead of the hydrochloric acid commonly found in other mammals.

Bear eat ants have poor eyesight, but the ability to smell very sharp, 40 times more than humans. They use their noses to find food. The body temperature of the ant-eating bear was 32.7 ° C, which is lower than that of other placenta, mammals. If living in the wild, ant-eating bears can last 15 years and 25 years if kept in captivity.

The bear eats pregnant ants for 190 days and gives birth to only one baby per litter. A bear that eats ants will stay with her mother for two years until the bear that eats the ant is pregnant again. In the first year of life, the bear eats the mother ants and will carry the baby on her back.

Bats suck honey

The honey-sucking bat is one of the famous bats for its long tongue. Its long tongue when retracted was hidden in the chest.

A species of bat with a tube-shaped mouth specializing in nectar absorption, or known as Anoura fistulata has the longest tongue of any mammal on the planet. The tongue of this exotic animal is about 8.5 cm long, 1.5 times its body length. According to Iflscience, this particular species of bat broke the record for the first bat species in Ecuado decades ago.

Now, according to the Association for the Conservation of Wildlife, a strange species of bat has been found for the first time in Bolivia’s Madidi National Park. This unusual tongue allows them to easily suck nectar from the ends of a funnel-shaped flower. This is also an effective way to pollinate this elongated flower.

In fact, with a tongue almost twice the length of its body, there is no animal in the natural world that has “overtaken” the long ratio of the tongue to the body of this bats.

Pangolin

Pangolins have a tongue up to 40cm long with a lot of sticky drool to easily catch prey. Its tongue stalks deep in the abdomen. This animal has no feathers, only a hard scaly covering its body, and also has no teeth. The pangolin’s food is mainly ants and termites.

British naturalist David Attenborough chose the Sunda pangolin (a species of pangolin distributed throughout Southeast Asia) as one of the 10 species he wants to rescue from the most endangered.

So what makes pangolins so special? Here are facts to help us understand more about one of the most endangered species on Earth.

Currently in the world there are about 8 species of pangolin in existence, and some species have been extinct during evolution over the past 80 million years. Four of them live in Asia: China, Malaysia, India and Palawan Island (Philippines), while the remaining 4 species are distributed in Africa.

When fully stretched, the pangolin’s tongue can be up to 40cm long and the base of the tongue is deep in the chest cavity. The pangolins use their sticky tongues to catch insects. Because pangolins have no teeth, they crush and digest food with stones in the stomach.

The scales of pangolins are mainly composed of keratin, similar to human nails, rhino horn or bird nails … The horn scales account for 20% of the weight of this animal. The very hard scales can protect pangolins from predators. However, in traditional Chinese medicine, people dry and roast pangolin scales because they believe they can cure polio, stimulate lactation for women … For that reason, the price of pangolin scales on the black market amounted to more than 3,000 USD / kg.