Scientists reactivate a 48,500-year-old “zombie” virus! A first in history. Here’s what we know!
A first in the scientific world. Experts have reactivated a 48,500 year old “zombie” virus. Here’s what we know!
A “zombie” virus reactivated by scientists
This beginning of 2023 has the atmosphere of a science fiction movie. After incredible boom in artificial intelligence are becoming true allies every day, now a group of scientists have reactivated a 50,000 year old “zombie” virus!
The expert group reported on their discovery in February 2023 in the journal Viruses. they found this “zombie” virus trapped in Siberian permafrost.
This frozen layer of earth beneath the earth is melting faster and faster due to global warming. This brings to the surface a multitude of ancient remains. How Viruses, bacteria, woolly mammoths and incredibly well-preserved bears.
If it were known that thousands of years ago thousands of bacteria existed under the permafrost, global warming is causing their release! Enough to worry the scientific world? Probably.
This famous “zombie” virus, for example, was taken from an underground lake 16 meters below the surface of a sheet of ice in Siberia. He stayed Imprisoned for 48,500 years! In addition, other more recent samples, dating back 27,000 years, have also been discovered in the belly and fur of a woolly mammoth’s remains!
Before you understand what are the consequences of this “zombie” virus first you have to understand his name. In fact, the term “zombie” refers to viruses that are supposed to be dead, but that’s why they’ve resurrected. Don’t panic, so we won’t be seeing any episodes of The Walking Dead live!
A disturbing discovery?
In the scientific world, the discovery of ancient viruses is not that surprising. However, to be able to reactivate a zombie virus so old is a real achievement!
On the other hand, it means that this “zombie” virus has retained its power of infection and ability to contaminate. Although it stayed for frozen Tens of thousands of years!
This fascinating discovery is still worrying! “The fact that microbes that old are still infectious thousands of years later is a worrying phenomenon. explains Jean-Michel Claverie, head of the study, in an interview for CNN.
“We see the tracks many, many, many other viruses. » adds the scientist. “So we know they’re there. We are not sure if they are still alive. he says.
“But our reasoning is that if the amoebaviruses are still alive, there’s no reason why the other viruses shouldn’t and shouldn’t be.” able to infect their own hosts. he continues.
It is therefore currently not possible to say with certainty whether this zombie virus will infect animals and humans. But researchers believe so Permafrost viruses would be a real threat. Uh yes!
“A lot of worrying things are happening in the permafrost. It’s important to keep the permafrost frozen,” said NASA climate scientist Kimberley Miner. But the damage caused by global warming already seems irreversible.
In fact, in the IPCC best-case scenario, permafrost could lose nearly 40% of its surface by the end of the 21st century, explains France Culture. only that ! to follow the case very closely.
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