Much to the chagrin of major media figures and scientific bureaucrats, a group of epidemiological experts is calling for a thorough investigation into the lab-leak theory, or the hypothesis that COVID-19 escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

In a letter published in Science magazine last week, 18 scientists said the lab-leak theory has more merit than many in the scientific world are willing to admit. Indeed, dozens of researchers dismissed the theory as a deranged conspiracy theory as soon as it popped up last year, and they’ve done their best to discredit it ever since. But as more evidence about COVID-19 and how it spreads has emerged, it has become clear that the lab-leak theory is not just viable but likely.