Viruses are incredibly simple, arguably the most simple living organisms on the planet. They have no brains, no metabolism, and they can’t reproduce on their own. Yet they are able to wreak incredible havoc on our bodies and to outwit the scientifically advanced weapons that humans have invented to fight their spread.

Ebola continues to ravage Sierra Leone and other parts of West Africa. Meanwhile, here in the US, a particularly virulent strain of Influenza is currently widespread in 46 states.

What makes viruses so potent? How do they keep surviving? Dr. Otto Yang, a UCLA infectious disease expert, and Professor Bill Gelbart, a physical chemistry-trained scientist who studies viruses, suggest their genius may be their ruthless efficiency.

To see five of the most intriguing traits of viruses visit: