Considering how academia has acted so far in regard to the SARS-CoV-2 origin question—most ardently anti-lab-leak scientists ridiculing alternative viewpoints, then turning out to work or have friends working for an organization pulling millions of USD in grant money on related research—it is difficult for me to take its publications on the topic at face value anymore.

For a take published outside of academia, there’s been a thought-provoking write-up featured here not long ago[0]. It touches upon the funding aspect that this article focuses on, as well as the contrived web of misinformation around the issue, WIV virus sample mislabeling, the apparent PLA’s involvement in US-funded research, and a lot more.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27388587