Scientists warn melting permafrost could unleash ancient ‘zombie viruses’

The effects of disturbing millennia-old viruses could be ‘calamitous’, scientists warn

The Independent
Scientists warn melting permafrost could unleash ancient ‘zombie viruses’

The effects of disturbing millennia-old viruses could be ‘calamitous’, scientists warn

The Independent

Scientists believe that #permafrost – at its deepest levels – may contain #viruses that are up to a million years old and so will be far older than our own species, which is thought to have emerged about 300,000 years ago.

Because of the disappearance of #Arctic #SeaIce, huge mining operations are being planned to extract #oil and #ores in Siberia's #DeepPermafrost. #ClimateChange

Arctic #ZombieViruses in Siberia could spark terrifying new #pandemic, scientists warn
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/21/arctic-zombie-viruses-in-siberia-could-spark-terrifying-new-pandemic-scientists-warn

Arctic zombie viruses in Siberia could spark terrifying new pandemic, scientists warn

Threat of outbreak from microbes trapped in permafrost for millennia raised by increased Siberian shipping activity

The Guardian

WRITER FUEL: Scientists are discovering and resurrecting ancient viruses trapped in permafrost and frozen remains. Here are 8 'zombie' viruses that scientists have pulled from the permafrost.

https://www.limfic.com/2023/09/09/writer-fuel-how-much-of-a-rosk-are-zombie-viruses/

#LimFic #LiminalFiction #WriterFuel #Writers #Authors #WritersofMastodon #StoryIdeas #ZombieViruses #ClimateChange

Writer Fuel: How Much of a Risk Are “Zombie Viruses”?

Locked away in frigid Arctic soils and riverbeds is a world teeming with ancient microbes. Bacteria and viruses that existed thousands of years ago are frozen in time inside prehistoric layers of permafrost. Warming temperatures could cause much of the ice to melt and unleash these microbes from their frosty prisons. Once free, unknown pathogens...

Liminal Fiction
Scientists find 48,500-year-old ‘zombie virus’ in Arctic permafrost

Researchers have revived ancient viruses trapped in the Arctic’s permafrost. They warn dangerous ones might resurface because of climate change.

euronews