We hope you're saying safe, practicing good social distancing and hopefully not hoarding all the toilet paper!

This week, we've got another Coronavirus-related WHAT THE IF for some self isolation edutainment: What The IF… We could go inside a VIRUS?!

GABY PANICCIA, a graduate student in Molecular Virology at the world famous Rockefeller University, uses her imagination to shrink us all down to nanometer scale and she takes us on a FANTASIC VOYAGE! We swim into cells to see how a coronavirus works, up front and all too personal! How big are those spikes really?

So put on your innerspace suits, and get ready for a ride of a lifetime!

MORE ON THE IF THIS WEEK

Welcome aboard! Thank you for choosing the INTERCELLULAR CRUISE LINE. For your safety and knowledge, please reading the manual below before we depart. Thank you again, and we wish you a pleasant journey!

1.     What do Viruses Look Like?

We know that biological entities are extremely small, but how small exactly? Check out this helpful scale comparison with all kinds of cells and bacteria to get an idea of the views on this trip.

2.     What Exactly is a Virus?

Is a Virus alive? Should the study of viruses fit under biology or biochemistry? Scientists have struggled with these questions for a long time. Take a closer look at the strange features of viruses that sparked this debate and how they pertain to the novel Coronavirus.   

3.     How do Viruses Work?

How does a virus infect cells? Here is a Virian attack plan to gives you an idea of the tactics used. In particular, CORVID-19 attacks have been frequent in recent times. Here is an outline of their hijacking techniques. In the case of an unexpected emergency, please follow the official instruction and standardized health conduct for the safety of you and other passengers onboard.

4.     Meet the Crew

The cells of your body work hard to defend against viral threats. Here is how your immune system adapts to external threats to keep you healthy, or, in the case of an illness, set you on the path to recovery. For a closer encounter with the crew members, check out this show to find out more about the work they do on a daily basis.

Special thanks to Illia Zheng, Kyle Crichton and Howard Zheng and for their help with the show.

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Keep On IFFin',
Philip & Matt