Scientists awakened 50,000-year-old zombie virus in Siberian permafrost. Read here

Researchers have resurrected a 50,000-year-old zombie virus that had remained dormant in Siberian permafrost.

Scientists from the French National Centre for Scientific Research uncovered over a dozen archaic viruses. The gloomy finding was uncovered among ice cores far down in Siberia, according to a report by Mirror.

The preprint investigation discovered 13 previously unseen viruses that had been latent in the ice for thousands of years and are currently being resurrected. Pandoravirus yedoma, a 48,500-year-old virus, was resurrected by researchers. However, this isn't the first-time scientists have discovered ancient viruses locked beneath the ice.

Have such been discovered before? And if so, what impact does it have?

Yes. The same researchers discovered a 30,000-year-old virus frozen in permafrost in 2014 and confirmed that it could still infect creatures after all that time. Researchers are now thawing the 13 new viruses in order to analyse their influence on public health.



However, the discovery presents a very serious and concerning potential threat to the planet. The chemicals and bacteria locked in permafrost, or permanently frozen earth, are released when the ice melts and thaws. This is becoming more common as a result of climate change, and it may entail the release of more ancient viruses that we are unaware of.

FAQs:

1. Is it possible that 'zombie viruses' are dangerous?
   The experts cautioned that these 'zombie viruses' might be deadly to people and that some had already claimed lives. Following an anthrax outbreak in Siberia in 2016, one kid died, and scores more people were hospitalized.
2. How do 'zombie viruses' spread?
   The chemicals and bacteria locked in permafrost are released when the ice melts and thaws. This is due to climate change and may include the release of more ancient viruses.