The Stupidity Virus

Ecclesiastes 10:3
“Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.”

As we’ve mentioned on previous Creation Moments programs, our bodies contain trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi, most of which are harmless. But researchers have now discovered a virus that infects human brains and makes us more stupid. No, we’re not making this up.

The ATCV-1 virus is ordinarily found in green algae that inhabit rivers and lakes. So far, scientists have no idea how the micoorganism gets inside the throats of some humans. But this much they do know – it is not contagious and does not adversely affect a person’s health. It just makes them 10 percent more stupid.

The irony is that the scientists at Johns Hopkins Medical School and the University of Nebraska stumbled upon this discovery by sheer dumb luck. They were actually working on an unrelated study into throat microbes. Virologist Dr. Robert Yolken tells us: “This is a striking example showing that the ‘innocuous’ microorganisms we carry can affect behavior and cognition.”

Of the 90 participants in the study, 40 tested positive for the algae virus. Those who tested positive performed worse on tests designed to measure the speed and accuracy of visual processing. They also achieved lower scores in tasks designed to measure attention.

Like a virus that affects our behavior, the sin nature we’re all born with, makes us “stupid” in the knowledge of God. But God has overcome our fallen sin nature and makes us righteous through the blood of Jesus, poured out for us on the cross.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the Holy Spirit who helps me avoid stupid actions and stupid thinking. Help me follow His leading so I may behave in a way worthy of my calling. Amen.

Author: Steven J. Schwartz
Ref: “Virus that ‘makes humans more stupid’ discovered”, The Independent, 11/9/14. http://www.cnet.com/news/theres-a-virus-that-makes-you-stupid-scientists-say/. “American Researchers Discover ‘Stupidity Virus’, Newsweek, 11/10/14. Photo: Stigeoclonium, a chlorophyte green alga genus. Courtesy of Kristian Peters. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)

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