In my backyard, there is an onion grown over four foot high. We planted it last year, and it didn’t do much. It made it through our admittedly mild winter though, and in spring I wanted to see how it would fare if I let it go. It’s thriving.
My basil, on the other hand, not good. I tried some old seeds first. Not the tiniest break of soil. So I bit the bullet and bought a flat from a garden center I’d never been to before. The sprigs were happy when I brought them home, but the soil in the garden box doesn’t seem to be to their taste. Or maybe they aren’t getting enough sun. Or too much. Or too much water. Or not enough. Or they’re just stubborn, unwilling to raise themselves to the sun. Whatever the reason, they’re languishing, curling their leaves together like so many tongues.
Turns out, tongue rolling itself is as inexplicable as my basil. Myths and speculation as to why 60-80ish percent of humans can tongue roll and why the others can’t roll have circulated for ages: language acquisition, genes, the excessive brilliance of those of us who can, the discerning tastes or general indifference of those of you who can’t. For a long time, it was thought to be genetics, but now it’s known that genetics is, at best, only part of the answer. After all, plenty of identical twins can/can’t roll. A few determined folks have taught themselves to roll, but not many because, well, why bother?
What’s any of this got to do with COVID-19? Well, at times it seems to me inexplicable and random how this virus spreads, who gets it, how to deal with it, and now that things are opening up, where to go, where to avoid, what’s safe, what’s stupid.
But really, the virus isn’t as random as it seems, just as the reasons why my onion is skyrocketing and my basil is withering aren’t random. With some effort and a little more knowledge and method than I currently have, I could figure out why. And although scientists have been studying tongue rolling for a considerable time now without certainty of the cause, if they continue to study it, they’ll figure it out.
And when they do, the myths will still circulate.
So too with COVID-19. We already know some things about it. Scientists will continue to study it and learn more. Hopefully they’ll find treatments and vaccines in a shorter time than the tongue-rolling research has taken.
But when they do, the myths will still circulate.(STOP drinking bleach cocktails, folks. Try a nice greyhound or gin fizz, very refreshing, and did you hear the one about bat soup?)
Until then, stay safe. And grow.
–KLB
Today’s postings, selections from students in Anthony Comella’s Arts and Culture class at Atlantis Charter High School in Fall River, MA. Congratulations 2020 grads!
*For more info on tongue rolling, check out Claudia Hammond’s “BBC Future” blog post here:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180130-do-you-inherit-the-ability-to-roll-your-tongue