As the global temperature rises, glaciers and permafrost thaw, unleashing bacteria that had been locked in the icy grasp for years. Among these is a 50,000-year-old zombie virus’ that has been resurrected.
As global temperatures rise due to climate change, permafrost that has been frozen for thousands of years is thawing and releasing elements that have been held in its icy grip. These materials include bacteria that, in some cases, have been dormant for hundreds of millennia.
Scientists have resurrected some of these zombie viruses from Serbian permafrost in order to study the emerging microbes that may result from it, according to Science Alert. They discovered 13 previously unknown viruses, including Pandoravirus yedoma, a 48,500-year-old amoeba virus.
Table of Contents
What is Zombie Virus
An archaic virus found buried in frozen ice and resurrected by scientists may be hazardous to the public’s health.
As global temperatures increase, a number of glaciers and permafrost melt, releasing germs that had been trapped in the icy grip for millennia. One of them is a “zombie virus” that has been revived and dates back 48,500 years.
The researchers’ discovery of an ancient amoeba virus has been dubbed a “zombie virus.”
In the preliminary study, zombie viruses are characterized as “viruses that have been dormant since the start of time” but have just sprung to life after getting unfrozen.
Causes
The researchers unfroze an amoeba virus that had been dormant for over 50,000 years, transforming it into a zombie virus.
According to the unpublished study, if the permafrost melts due to climate change, ancient viruses that have been frozen for thousands of years might pose a hazard to public health.
After studying live cultures, scientists determined that all “zombie viruses” have the potential to be contagious and hence pose a “health risk.”
“Permafrost, or perennially frozen ground, underpins one-quarter of the Northern Hemisphere.”
“As a result of climate change, permanently thawing permafrost is releasing organic stuff that has been frozen for up to a million years, the majority of which decomposes into carbon dioxide and methane, amplifying the greenhouse effect.”
Risk factors of Zombie virus
Along with the “zombie virus,” Siberian wolf guts and mammoth wool have been discovered beneath the permafrost.
According to experts, the increased rate at which big swathes of ice melt is increasing the number of germs released into the ecosystem. They have warned that these germs might contain dangerous illnesses.
Conclusion
The virus was discovered beneath a lake, while others were detected in mammoth wool and the guts of a Siberian wolf buried beneath the permafrost. Aside from zombie viruses, the scientists saw massive amounts of microorganisms being discharged into the atmosphere when temperatures rose. Although scientists are cautiously optimistic that current medicines can help address possible concerns, unlike viruses, which might be far more dangerous to public health.
They pointed out that it would be much more terrible if plants, animals, or humans become afflicted as a result of the resurgence of an ancient undiscovered virus. That is why it is critical to investigate zombie viruses now before they are thawed and released into the environment due to high temperatures.