Tue. 12/8 - Can We Pre-Design Vaccines For Future Pandemics?

<p><strong><em>The COVID vaccines headed for distribution were developed on the fastest timeline in the history of vaccines. But could we do it even quicker next time? Or even make the vaccine before an outbreak? Speaking of vaccines, William Shakespeare officially got vaccinated for COVID-19 today. Yep, you heard that right. And in other weird news, Mount Everest is taller than we thought. Plus, a website to help you stop judging books by their covers.</em></strong></p><p>Sponsors:</p><ul><li>Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at <a href="https://fundrise.com/affiliates/no-fees?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=kottkeridehome&amp;utm_campaign=podcast-kottke-2020&amp;utm_content=text-script-nofees" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fundrise.com/kottke</a></li><li>NordVPN, Get 68% off––only $3.71/month, plus an additional free month––at <a href="https://nordvpn.com/creator/?coupon=kottke&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_term&amp;utm_content&amp;utm_campaign=off568&amp;utm_source=aff48086" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nordvpn.com/kottke</a> or use coupon KOTTKE</li></ul><p>Links:</p><ul><li><a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-design.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">We Had the COVID-19 Vaccine the Whole Time</a> (NY Mag)</li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55227325" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Covid-19 vaccine: First person receives Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in UK</a> (BBC)</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/world/william-shakespeare-covid-vaccine.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">William Shakespeare Gets the Covid Vaccine</a> (NY Times)&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/runwithskizzers/status/1336308714433863681?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shakespeare jokes</a> (Preeti Chhibber, Twitter)&nbsp; </li><li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/mount-everest-height-nepal-china/2020/12/08/a7b3ad1e-389a-11eb-aad9-89592