Thanks for the reference. Does this article make justice to what you are alluding to?

Indeed, i still remember reading that initial article, strongly shaping my view about the fact it was unlikely to be lab made. It was comforting in a sense as i did not want China to become the scapegoat of it all.

I was pissed as i learnt that in the end it was very likely a lab escape from research funded by the US research agencies. With Fauci putting back trust in scientific research and its institutions back to the way it was in medieval times.

But yeah, i still want to believe not all editors or referees have an agenda when deciding what to publish. It's anyhow better than flat out rejecting anything coming from the sciences. Just need to be extra cautious and critical.

I don't give much credence to rankings. Some of my most meaningful research was done in badly ranked universities.