Coronavirus virus particles are too small to be seen by the human eye, but most of us know what they look like thanks to the many large-scale digital images put forth by the media.

Possessing an alien-like shape, the particles are spherical balls covered with bumps that look almost like armor or a shield. One research paper described the virus’ instantly recognizable shape as having “club-like spikes that project from their surface.”

Across the boards, people have accepted this shape as the face of COVID-19.