The New York Post has quoted a viral study which is yet to be peer-reviewed. "The situation would be much more disastrous in the case of plant, animal, or human diseases caused by the revival of an ancient unknown virus," reads the study.
According to the preliminary report, global warming is irrevocably thawing enormous swathes of permafrost -- permanently frozen ground that covers a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere. This has had the unsettling effect of "releasing organic materials frozen for up to a million years" - possibly deadly germs included.
"Part of this organic matter also consists of revived cellular microbes (prokaryotes, unicellular eukaryotes) as well as viruses that remained dormant since prehistorical times," the researchers write.
According to the New York Post, scientists have, perhaps strangely, revived some of these so-called "zombie viruses" from the Siberian permafrost in order to investigate the awakening critters.
The record age for a frozen virus returning to a form where it may infect other creatures. This breaks the previous record of a 30,000-year-old virus identified in Siberia by the same scientists in 2013.
Scientists have revived a 48,000-year-old ‘zombie virus’ found in the permafrost region of Siberia, Russia. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the news of a virus stirs panic and triggers memes on Twitter. To no one’s surprise, the zombie virus quickly emerged as a Twitter trend.
Scientists have revived a 48,000-year-old ‘zombie virus’ found in the permafrost region of Siberia, Russia. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the news of a virus stirs panic and triggers memes on Twitter. To no one’s surprise, the zombie virus quickly emerged as a Twitter trend.
"It is therefore legitimate to ponder the risk of ancient viral particles remaining infectious and getting back into circulation by the thawing of ancient permafrost layers," they write.
Unfortunately, it's a vicious cycle as organic matter released by the thawing ice decomposes into carbon dioxide and methane, further enhancing the greenhouse effect and accelerating the melt.
Glaciers and permafrost are melting due to the global temperature rise, freeing up bacteria and viruses that have been stuck inside the ice for years. One such amoeba virus that scientists have revived from the melted ice is the Zombie Virus.
Zombie viruses have been dormant for many years due to being trapped inside the ice and have come to life after the ice melted. Researchers recently unfroze the dormant amoeba virus that had turned into a Zombie virus after being trapped for 48,500 years.
As per studies, ancient frozen viruses that come to life after being dormant for years can threaten public health. Scientists say that all zombie viruses can potentially cause infection in people, which can be a huge threat to human beings. He also mentioned that these microorganisms may cause hazardous diseases in living beings.
Along with zombie virus, scientists have also discovered Siberian wolf intestine and mammoth wool beneath the permafrost.
Scientists alert that almost one-fourth of the Northern Hemisphere is laden with permafrost, which contains permanently frozen bacteria and viruses. As the climate is warming, permafrost is thawing irreversibly, releasing organic matter frozen for millions of years. The organic matter also decomposes into methane and carbon dioxide, causing a greenhouse.
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