Chat message

Slack / Private Message Drop, p.19 [SLACK_000233] · slack_pm:msg:00194

Date: 2020-05-10 16:09
Type: chat message · slack
recipient: Kristian G. Andersen, Edward C. Holmes, Andrew Rambaut
speaker: Robert F. Garry
Topics: Natural origin / zoonotic spillover

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I like the idea of stealth pangolins. Maybe add in a little genetic engineering to turn them into a more effectiveweapon? Relatively simple to do if you have the scientific resources of the whole Red Army at your disposal.Substitute the keratin in the scales with spider dragline silk, which is more durable than Kevlar - then load then upwith exotic coronaviruses. We all should just surrender now.

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2020-05-10 15:32 Edward C. Holmes open

Spectacular. Badge of honour to be attacked by the Murdoch press. I'm just going to ignore it.
2020-05-10 15:35 Kristian G. Andersen open

They have absolutely nothing. It's really, really, dumb - as in something seen in the Fox News comments.
2020-05-10 15:39 Edward C. Holmes open

They read the Acknowledgements. There are strong links between The Tele and Fox News. The lead journo - Sharri Markson - was on the Tucker Carlson thing
2020-05-10 15:41 Kristian G. Andersen open

Yeah - they keep talking about the Acknowledgements - I mean, do they actually understand what they are? How garbage like this can actually end up in a 'newspaper' these days is beyond me. Concentrated stupidity.
2020-05-10 16:09 Robert F. Garry

I like the idea of stealth pangolins. Maybe add in a little genetic engineering to turn them into a more effectiveweapon? Relatively simple to do if you have the scientific resources of the whole Red Army at your disposal.Substitute the keratin in the scales with spider dragline silk, which is more durable than Kevlar - then load then upwith exotic coronaviruses. We all should just surrender now.
2020-05-10 16:12 Edward C. Holmes open

I agree Bob. Did you see that Singapore robodog? I think they missed a brilliant opportunity to use pangolins instead. Not even Black Mirror have thought of that. https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/roaming-robodog-tells-singapore-park-goers-to-keep-their-distance-20200509-p54rcs.html
2020-05-10 16:16 Robert F. Garry open

Does it have offensive capabilities? Jeez - are we only a few years from sentinels? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel_%28comics%29
2020-05-10 16:18 Edward C. Holmes open

It is genuinely spooky.
2020-05-10 16:22 Edward C. Holmes open

Did you see this paper? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32373995/?dopt=Abstract

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