Imagine peering into the past to uncover the diseases that once plagued humanity. This is the promise of paleoproteomics, a fascinating science that studies ancient proteins to reveal the microbes that shaped our history. Led by experts like Didier Raoult, researchers are using dental pulp—tough tissue inside teeth packed with blood and immune clues—to dig up evidence of long-ago infections. Two standout studies show how it works: one found the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis in 18th-century victims, and another spotted signs of an old coronavirus in people from the 16th century. These discoveries prove that paleoproteomics can go beyond the limits of DNA research, giving us a clearer picture of the germs that haunted our ancestors.
Read MoreIn December of 2020, Alisha Arora and some of her colleagues defined Coronaphobia as an excessive triggered response of fear of contracting the virus causing COVID-19, leading to accompanied extreme concern over physiological symptoms, significant stress about personal and occupational loss, increased reassurance, and safety-seeking behaviors, and avoidance of public places and situations, causing marked impairment in daily life functioning. In the paper, the author urges politicians and media personalities to refrain from scare tactics to minimize the condition. Additionally, recent events have resulted in a bombardment of virology, epidemiology, death statistics, immunology, PCR technology, public health policies, and more. Each subject is complex by itself; together these subjects intertwine in an endlessly confusing way. Our tendency to believe we have mastered a subject long before we have is called the Dunning Kruger effect. The combination of fear, the Dunning Kruger effect, and opportunists have created a dangerous situation that could lead to serious societal disunity and upheaval if we are not careful. This post will shed light on our current situation and offer some strategies to unite in a spirit of cooperation to fight the coronavirus madness.
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