Chinese researchers are claiming to have found proof that Japan tried to make biological weapons during the Second World War and carried out horrifying medical tests on captives. Researchers trying to unravel the mysteries of the dark period claim they have found Bacillus anthracis at a Japanese World War II-era laboratory in northeastern China.

The bacteria, known to cause anthrax, was discovered at Unit 731, a place where scientists are said to have intentionally infected prisoners with pathogens to develop biological weapons, as per historical accounts. Another study at the site had earlier detected B. anthracis in three soil samples, Gizmodo reported.

Researchers from the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing analysed the site and presented their findings about the said atrocities carried out at Unit 731 in a research letter published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases on November 20.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/are-we-living-in-a-simulation-physicist-suggests-master-ai-is-controlling-an-advanced-ai-world-781064">Are humans trapped in a simulation? Physicist suggests 'master AI' is controlling an 'advanced AI world'</a>

“B. anthracis is considered one of the most serious and threatening agents for conducting biowarfare or bioterrorism,” the researchers wrote in the letter.&nbsp;

They said that while there have been records of the use of Bacillus anthracis in biowarfare during World War II, evidence for it has been limited.&nbsp;

<h2>Scientists warn of similar remains in other WWII sites</h2>

Anthrax can prove fatal, with the infected person experiencing black sores, swollen neck, fever, nausea, and trouble breathing.&nbsp;

The scientists confirmed the presence of the anthrax-causing bacteria by isolating its genetic material from the samples. Its physical, biochemical, and genetic properties were then analysed, after which the researchers sequenced the genome of the isolated strain and identified the key genes.&nbsp;

“By analysing the distribution of the positive samples, qualities of the isolated strain, and historical documents, we established a chain of evidence supporting the hypothesis that B. anthracis was misused in inhumane medical experiments and likely for developing biological weapons during WWII,” the researchers wrote.

Samples were also taken from 12 other locations near the lab, but none of them had any traces of B. anthracis. This led the scientists to conclude that the bacteria in the positive samples did not naturally occur in the local environment.&nbsp;

They have warned that not only humans but animals and nature are at risk of being infected by similar remains at other World War II sites, if not dealt with properly.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Chinese researchers are claiming to have found proof that Japan tried to make biological weapons during the Second World War and carried out horrifying medical tests on captives.

Chinese researchers are claiming to have found proof that Japan tried to make biological weapons during the Second World War and carried out horrifying medical tests on captives. Researchers trying to unravel the mysteries of the dark period claim they have found Bacillus anthracis at a Japanese World War II-era laboratory in northeastern China. The bacteria, known to cause anthrax, was discovered at Unit 731, a place where scientists are said to have intentionally infected prisoners with pathogens to develop biological weapons, as per historical accounts. Another study at the site had earlier detected B. anthracis in three soil samples, Gizmodo reported. Researchers from the Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing analysed the site and presented their findings about the said atrocities carried out at Unit 731 in a research letter published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases on November 20. Also Read: Are humans trapped in a simulation? Physicist suggests 'master AI' is controlling an 'advanced AI world' “B. anthracis is considered one of the most serious and threatening agents for conducting biowarfare or bioterrorism,” the researchers wrote in the letter. They said that while there have been records of the use of Bacillus anthracis in biowarfare during World War II, evidence for it has been limited. Scientists warn of similar remains in other WWII sites Anthrax can prove fatal, with the infected person experiencing black sores, swollen neck, fever, nausea, and trouble breathing. The scientists confirmed the presence of the anthrax-causing bacteria by isolating its genetic material from the samples. Its physical, biochemical, and genetic properties were then analysed, after which the researchers sequenced the genome of the isolated strain and identified the key genes. “By analysing the distribution of the positive samples, qualities of the isolated strain, and historical documents, we established a chain of evidence supporting the hypothesis that B. anthracis was misused in inhumane medical experiments and likely for developing biological weapons during WWII,” the researchers wrote. Samples were also taken from 12 other locations near the lab, but none of them had any traces of B. anthracis. This led the scientists to conclude that the bacteria in the positive samples did not naturally occur in the local environment. They have warned that not only humans but animals and nature are at risk of being infected by similar remains at other World War II sites, if not dealt with properly. (With inputs from agencies)

Biowarfare in WWII? Chinese scientists say Japan injected prisoners with pathogens

2020 was not just the year of pandemic, it was also an infodemic, which mainstreamed conspiracy theories.

It amplified hard-to-digest narratives. With the new year, we thought we had left all this behind. But, just like the virus, the conspiracy theories are back too.

The person to set the conspiracy ball rolling this year is the Brazil&nbsp;President&nbsp;Jair Bolsonaro. Throughout 2020, downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 virus, he refused to wear a mask in public, rejected calls for a lockdown, questioned the efficacy of vaccines and advised his supporters to do the same.

The result of this today&nbsp;is that Brazil, a country with just a quarter of India’s population, is the third-worst Covid-hit country in the world. Brazil now has more than 14 million cases and more than 400,000 deaths to date.

Over Brazil’s current state of affairs, Bolsonaro faces a criminal investigation and a possible impeachment. With this, the Brazilian president has suddenly come to the realisation that this virus, i.e.&nbsp;coronavirus, is in fact quite lethal, and according to him can very well be part of a biological war.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-brazils-president-calls-covid-19-biological-warfare-383340/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“It's a new virus, nobody knows if it was born in a lab or because a human ate some animal they shouldn't have. But it is there. And the military knows all about this chemical, biological and radiological warfare. Could we be fighting a new war? I guess. Which country's GDP has grown the most? I am not going to tell you,” said Bolsonaro.

There have been similar conspiracy theories earlier as well. Theories that this virus is not natural and was made in a lab, or that it is a bio-weapon or that 5G can be used to spread this virus.

While entertaining, these theories remain to be merely theories. According to scientists, there is no evidence to back these claims. While trying to counter scientists, some theories claim that thanks to China’s control on the flow of information, maybe these scientists just haven’t come across the evidence yet. 
 
Scientists addressing the lab and biowarfare theory say that if the virus was indeed engineered, there would have been the evidence of any additions or deletions in the virus’s original genetic code or DNA.

Last year, at the onset of this pandemic, there were numerous reports on supposedly how the virus escaped from The Wuhan Institute of Virology. To address these rumours and to probe the origins of COVID-19, a team from WHO travelled to China but were unable to find any proof backing these claims.

Was this because they didn’t get there in time? &nbsp;The team went to China in January this year, more than 13 months after the first case of coronavirus was reported. Instead of answering some of the long-standing questions, this team by WHO came back with more questions. According to them, while the institute at Wuhan had many strains of coronavirus, SARS-COV-2, which has at times been referred to as “Wuhan Virus,” is not among them.

However on March 31, calling for a deeper probe into the lab theory, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said that he does not believe his team's assessment of the lab leak possibility was extensive enough.

It’s been a month since Dr Tedros’s statement, and WHO is still evaluating how to move forward with its probe.

Now, President Bolsonaro can do two things; either ask his military to show the world whatever proof they have to support his claims, or wait for WHO to once again travel to China, and conduct another probe.

But whether this would solve the mystery or not, remains doubtful.

2020 was not just the year of pandemic, it was also an infodemic, which mainstreamed conspiracy theories. It amplified hard-to-digest narratives. With the new year, we thought we had left all this behind.

2020 was not just the year of pandemic, it was also an infodemic, which mainstreamed conspiracy theories. It amplified hard-to-digest narratives. With the new year, we thought we had left all this behind. But, just like the virus, the conspiracy theories are back too. The person to set the conspiracy ball rolling this year is the Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro. Throughout 2020, downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 virus, he refused to wear a mask in public, rejected calls for a lockdown, questioned the efficacy of vaccines and advised his supporters to do the same. The result of this today is that Brazil, a country with just a quarter of India’s population, is the third-worst Covid-hit country in the world. Brazil now has more than 14 million cases and more than 400,000 deaths to date. Over Brazil’s current state of affairs, Bolsonaro faces a criminal investigation and a possible impeachment. With this, the Brazilian president has suddenly come to the realisation that this virus, i.e. coronavirus, is in fact quite lethal, and according to him can very well be part of a biological war. “It's a new virus, nobody knows if it was born in a lab or because a human ate some animal they shouldn't have. But it is there. And the military knows all about this chemical, biological and radiological warfare. Could we be fighting a new war? I guess. Which country's GDP has grown the most? I am not going to tell you,” said Bolsonaro. There have been similar conspiracy theories earlier as well. Theories that this virus is not natural and was made in a lab, or that it is a bio-weapon or that 5G can be used to spread this virus. While entertaining, these theories remain to be merely theories. According to scientists, there is no evidence to back these claims. While trying to counter scientists, some theories claim that thanks to China’s control on the flow of information, maybe these scientists just haven’t come across the evidence yet. Scientists addressing the lab and biowarfare theory say that if the virus was indeed engineered, there would have been the evidence of any additions or deletions in the virus’s original genetic code or DNA. Last year, at the onset of this pandemic, there were numerous reports on supposedly how the virus escaped from The Wuhan Institute of Virology. To address these rumours and to probe the origins of COVID-19, a team from WHO travelled to China but were unable to find any proof backing these claims. Was this because they didn’t get there in time? The team went to China in January this year, more than 13 months after the first case of coronavirus was reported. Instead of answering some of the long-standing questions, this team by WHO came back with more questions. According to them, while the institute at Wuhan had many strains of coronavirus, SARS-COV-2, which has at times been referred to as “Wuhan Virus,” is not among them. However on March 31, calling for a deeper probe into the lab theory, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said that he does not believe his team's assessment of the lab leak possibility was extensive enough. It’s been a month since Dr Tedros’s statement, and WHO is still evaluating how to move forward with its probe. Now, President Bolsonaro can do two things; either ask his military to show the world whatever proof they have to support his claims, or wait for WHO to once again travel to China, and conduct another probe. But whether this would solve the mystery or not, remains doubtful.

Faced with the possibility of impeachment, Brazil President calls COVID-19 a bio-weapon

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