Viruses and Us

Rhino Cold
The virus that causes many of the common colds is known as a rhinovirus for the same reason that rhinos are called so: because in Greek (an ancient human language) rhin means nose. Precisely, Greek and Latin were the languages spoken by a Roman sage named Pliny the Elder who recommended rubbing your nose with a mouse to cure colds! What a crazy idea! Well, not so crazy if we replace a mouse with disposable tissues.

Without much exaggeration, it could be said that there are more viruses on our planet than numbers to count in the universe. Millions and more millions of viruses fall on our heads within half an hour of being outdoors. Being the true owners of our planet Earth, viruses are central to climate regulation, to making living beings fascinating, and even to making it possible for us to be born. Human history changes over and over thanks to viruses. So, isn’t it better to befriend and get to know them?

Key points

• This book seeks to demonstrate how viruses have changed human history.
• Since viruses are a central part of our ecosystem, understanding them only as diseases is wrong.
• Through virus Biology, we will learn the basic concepts of evolution and genetics.
• This is a work that includes the latest discoveries (giant viruses) and innovative concepts such as “Viral Dark Matter”.
• The world wouldn’t be different without viruses, it would simply not exist. This is a book that will fill us with wonder and smiles as we become friends with them.

Rodrigo Lara Serrano

2021 – IBBY Chile Award, Best Collection, Conscious Citizen (La Bonita Ediciones)
2014 – Short Story Contest, Paula Magazine (Chile)