COVID-19: The Virus That Brought the World to its Knees

How big is the COVID-19 virus? 

Yep. That tiny virus, just a little bigger than a particle of dust is creating a huge commotion around the world.  Scientists believe that viruses are very smart, but they are not living organisms.  So how does that work?

Viruses depend on living things to survive. Some biologists think of viruses like a parasite.  The creepy part is, the virus will enter a body through the nose or mouth and inside is a tiny "key" that they can insert into the body and it unlocks your bodies cells.  Your cells infected by the virus begin doing crazy things, like making more viruses! 

https://news.usc.edu/9791/researcher-teases-out-secrets-from-surprisingly-intelligent-viruses/

The tiny virus contains RNA, once the key has opened your cells, the RNA is shared with the cell DNA, and replication begins.  Can we see this happening?

This type of virus uses bacteria to replicate.  Remember, the virus is not living, the RNA inside the virus is waiting to be injected into the bacteria.  (I think we should research the "not living" idea about viruses.) 

This is how the virus works:

The virus creates many more of itself and destroys the bacteria.  Doesn't this sound like some kind of zombie apocalypse movie?

The corona virus doesn't look like a bacteria-killing-virus.  It has a different function, and a different structure.  That's why scientists believe viruses are so smart...

The corona virus enters your body through your nose or mouth.  It attaches itself to your throat, your body immediately knows something is not right.  You start coughing.  This virus knows when you cough, it can travel out your mouth, or into your lungs.  This is one reason why the virus is as powerful as it is.  It doesn't die right away when your body attacks it with white blood cells.  Once in the lungs, those little suckers on the tips of those spikes attach to your lung tissues and get to work making as many little viruses as possible before you cough again and the little viruses can make their big exit and search for another surface that they can inject their RNA into. 

You know how even Superman has a weak spot?

The corona-virus has a weak spot too!  It's soap!  The walls of the virus melt when exposed to soap and the whole virus kind of "pops" and dies, or deactivates, because viruses aren't alive... That's why everyone has been saying "Wash your hands! Wash your hands!"  If you can stop the virus before it gets into your nose and mouth, soap is, the. best. defense!  

Don't be afraid, remember to be vigilant in washing your hands after doing an activity outside, or in a store, restaurant or library.  Feeling anxious?  Wash your hands.  This will soon pass.