Noga Wies talks to us about Are Viruses Alive?
Could you tell us a little about your background and where your interest in unraveling biological mysteries began?
I read my first popular science book at the ripe old age of 15, and was instantly hooked. Devouring popular science books set me on the path to getting my MSc in biomedical science and microbiology, and, ultimately, to writing my own popular science book. I love reading new scientific articles and reveling in their mind-blowing insights, but nothing beats writing about biology!
What was the impetus behind Are Viruses Alive?
I was inspired to write Are Viruses Alive? by one of my many brilliant students. I had just explained that contrary to popular belief, the Allies didn't win World War I due to their military might – it was bacteria that saved the day! My student pointed out that I only view wars through a bacterial lens (as opposed to a historical lens) because I live and breathe microbiology. That got me thinking: there are actually several scientific lenses through which we can view life. Wouldn’t it be great to read a book exploring them all? I couldn’t find such a book, so I decided to write one.
What kind of research was involved in the creation of the book?
I read lots and lots of articles, which cited countless more articles that I couldn’t resist reading. As you can imagine, this took a very long time, but I enjoyed every minute of it!
What was the most surprising thing that you learnt whilst working on the book?
I used to think that I’m very open-minded, scientifically speaking. But researching this book has taught me that I have a ridiculously human perspective on life. As it turns out, I’m surprisingly attached to concepts like species and individuals. Who knew that I could be so old-fashioned?
Who is the target audience for Are Viruses Alive? And what do you hope readers will take away from the experience?
Everyone who wants to understand what life is all about should read this book. I also secretly hope that people who had terrible science teachers in school will read it and realize how fascinating and fun science can be!
The book delves into cutting edge research on everything from mycology to molecular biology. What questions are you most interested in finding the answers to?
I think the most intriguing questions revolve around our origins. How did life start? What were the earliest life forms like? How did the cellular components we take for granted arise? I doubt we’ll ever know for sure, but new research is constantly shedding light on our humble-yet-extraordinary beginnings.
Learn more about Are Viruses Alive? here.
