After about 50 millennia of deep freezing, ancient, still contagious viruses were discovered in the permafrost in Siberia. They are capable of infecting living single-celled amoebas.
Researchers have identified and resuscitated a total of 13 new viruses ranging in age from 27,000 to 48,500 years. Some of them were found inside the frozen intestines of a wolf, others – in a permafrost sample containing a large amount of mammoth wool.
Recently, the melting of glaciers and permafrost has brought a number of exciting discoveries to science, including the oldest DNA on the planet and a well-preserved bear carcass 3.5 thousand years old. However, as you can see, this process is also fraught with many sinister surprises. In addition to “zombie viruses”, thawing soil also contains dangerous bacteria.
As the climate crisis deepens, new microbial threats are to be expected. So melting glaciers and permafrost can promise humanity some next pandemic.