The Scientist Who Saved the World

November 7, 2021 4:48 AM

Dr. Katalin Karikó devoted her career to understanding—and evangelizing—the possibilities of mRNA. When the pandemic struck, her unheralded work became the basis for the world’s most effective vaccines. [Glamour / Women of the Year]
posted by ellieBOA (12 comments total)

She saved the world. This story is such a great reminder that academic positions are basically a lottery, with far too many brilliant people than there will ever be positions. Many other folks unable to obtain a tenure track position have just given up and left science. We are so lucky that Dr. Karikó did not.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:21 AM on November 7, 2021 [16 favorites]

Granted, her gender made her anomalous. So did the fact that she’s an immigrant.

On the whole, this is a good article about a great woman. But I'm not sure where someone would get the impression that immigrants are anomalous in American research labs.
posted by Slothrup at 6:43 AM on November 7, 2021 [19 favorites]

I missed a recent talk by her and am so mad at myself for missing it.
posted by sepviva at 6:58 AM on November 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

Kati Kariko Helped Shield the World From the Coronavirus [ungated] - "Collaborating with devoted colleagues, Dr. Kariko laid the groundwork for the mRNA vaccines turning the tide of the pandemic."[1,2]
posted by kliuless at 7:35 AM on November 7, 2021 [2 favorites]

I don't understand how she wasn't a shoe in for a Nobel this year or last.
posted by being_quiet at 8:28 AM on November 7, 2021 [8 favorites]

They didn't save the world. mRNA technology has been hoarded by rich countries. In the South, we're mostly vaccinated with traditional methods from China and India.

mRNA is also sadly how the West betrayed the world.
posted by indica at 9:11 AM on November 7, 2021 [8 favorites]

So does anyone know of a good Popular Science-style primer for how the Pfizer vaccine works? In all of this endless debate, it has been tempting to say "these dumbasses don't even know what a vaccine is!" But then I realized, well, I don't *really* know how it works either, it's obviously not like the smallpox vaccine or what-have-you.
posted by anhedonic at 12:32 PM on November 7, 2021

She saved the world. This story is such a great reminder that academic positions are basically a lottery, with far too many brilliant people than there will ever be positions. Many other folks unable to obtain a tenure track position have just given up and left science. We are so lucky that Dr. Karikó did not.

A lottery rigged with egotistical gatekeeping sexist assholes in the way of collecting the prize in this particular case.
posted by srboisvert at 2:51 PM on November 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

They didn't save the world. mRNA technology has been hoarded by rich countries. In the South, we're mostly vaccinated with traditional methods from China and India.

mRNA is also sadly how the West betrayed the world.

They haven't even saved the West (particularly the US). We are plateaued at 75% of last November's case numbers right now after a mild October in the Northern United States. Seasonal changes may be about to drop a covid-19 bomb on a psychologically unprepared Midwest and Northeast. 10K people are going to die every week for at least the next three weeks at the current case rate (with the 30 day CFR of 1.9%).

The only positive indicator I see is that in person schooling didn't result in an obvious surge (which I 100% expected). I just hope it isn't that cases are filtering through age groups that easily handle covid-19 infections so they don't get tested and thus a wave is actually rippling outward towards the vulnerable undetected. The much higher UK case numbers with their 5X better testing rate suggests this may in fact be what is going on.

Regardless I am getting my damn mRNA booster because fuck this shit and mRNA vaccines are super cool.

Advanced tech doesn't save the day if your too dumb to take it and your too dumb to take easy additional measures to protect you, the ones you loves, the ones you are indifferent about and the ones you actively hate.
posted by srboisvert at 3:04 PM on November 7, 2021 [5 favorites]

Scientists can't fix blockheadedness.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:16 PM on November 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

So does anyone know of a good Popular Science-style primer for how the Pfizer vaccine works?

The CDC has a good explainer with lots of links to more details
posted by hydropsyche at 3:56 AM on November 8, 2021 [1 favorite]

I just saw this video and it's really really good for those who prefer video explanations.
posted by hydropsyche at 8:09 AM on November 12, 2021