Ancient Dormant Viruses Revived from Permafrost: What Does it Mean for Our Future?
Scientists have recently discovered that ancient viruses frozen in permafrost for thousands of years can be revived when exposed to warmer temperatures. This has prompted a lot of concern over the potential implications of global warming on our planet.
The research team, led by Jean-Michel Claverie and Chantal Abergel at Aix-Marseille University in France, studied samples of permafrost that were over 30,000 years old. After thawing the samples and exposing them to warmer temperatures, the team was surprised to find that some of the viruses were still alive.
What this means is that if permafrost continues to thaw due to global warming, ancient viruses that have been dormant for thousands of years could be released into our environment. This could have serious implications for global health, as these viruses may have evolved over time and could have the potential to cause disease in humans.
source: Phys.org