click on the image for a larger version The Mother of All Influenza Viruses. This graph indicates that all the H1N1 viruses that circulated since 1918 were mutations of the Spanish Flu. (From Taubenberger and Reid, Influenza, ed. C. W. Potter, p. 118.) Nothing says dual-use like biology. And, seemingly, nothing worries some policymakers more …
Gates to Triad: Drop Dead
by | 2009-04-30 | 30 Comments
Is the Triad a Cold War relic, like Ice Station Zebra? I have long thought that a significant reduction in nuclear weapons — say 1000 or fewer deployed warheads — would require not merely downloading of warheads, but cuts to force structure and a possible end to the triad (see page 93). One reason for …
Reader Comments in the NY Times
by | 2009-04-29 | 7 Comments
Congratulations Rick, you made the New York Times! In the New York Times Magazine, Bill Broad playfully detailed how North Korea’s rocket launch was used in the policy debate over missile defense. For a witty opening, he linked to a quote by reader “Rick” — posted on the blog — who noted: Pacific plankton will …
Pandemic: Response depends on Virulence
by | 2009-04-28 | 6 Comments
click on the image for a larger version R is the number of secondary cases caused by each infected person; thus R=1.1 means for each ten people sick, one more person will come down with the disease they will transmit it to 11 other people; R=3 means that each infected person transmits it to three …
