                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2020 June 2

                     Novel Coronavirus Attacks Humanity
                        Image Credit & License: NIAID

   Explanation: Humanity is under attack. The attack is not from large
   tentacle-flailing aliens, but from invaders so small they can barely be
   seen, and so strange they are not even clearly alive. All over planet
   Earth, the human home world, DNA-based humans are being invaded by the
   RNA-based SARS-CoV2. The virus, which creates a disease known as
   COVID-19, specializes in reprogramming human cells into zombies that
   manufacture and release copies of itself. Pictured here is a high
   magnification image of a human cell covered by attacking novel
   coronavirus SARS-CoV2 (orange). Epic battles where two species square
   off in a fight to the death are not unusual on Earth, with several just
   involving humans typically ongoing at any time. Even so, most humans
   are predicted to survive. After several years, humanity expects to win
   this war -- but only after millions of humans have died and trillions
   of coronaviruses have been destroyed.

      Wash your hands: Tips for humans on how to survive this SARS-CoV2
                                   assault
                      Tomorrow's picture: venus nearest
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

