wow. in 24-hours the *public* discussion on twitter of "lab leak" hypothesis has gotten much closer in nature and substance to the *private* conservations i've been privy to among many scientists.

what happened?

this is not to say that ppl think that "lab leak" is assumed to have happened. it's just that "only conspiracy theorists would entertain the idea" was just a public lie and lying bothers me a lot. unless a lot of academic biologists are conspiracy theorists...

and just to be clear: i'm talking discussion from normie scientists who don't normally "get ahead of consensus." in 24-hours ppl are talking on public like i hear them talk in private (not the specific people, just the general way to weighing alternative hypotheses).