Scientists discover viruses that could cause apocalypse

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In a dark scenario that looks like it was taken from a science fiction film, scientists led by French virologist Jean-Michel Claverie warn of a threat that has long slept in the Siberian ice. “Giant” viruses, dormant for almost 50,000 years, may be on the verge of a sinister awakening, all due to global warming and melting ice caps. A real concern that echoes parallels with the problems that global warming can bring.

These viruses were found in Siberia’s permafrost layers, a permanently frozen part of the ground. Some of them have the ability to infect amoebas, making the situation even more mysterious and disturbing. It’s as if a virus unknown for millennia is about to be resurrected.

What is even more alarming is that more than a dozen giant viruses, visible only under a powerful microscope, have been identified. “Pandoravirus yedoma”, the oldest member of the Pandoraviridae family, was frozen deep in a lake in eastern Africa. Russia more than 48,500 years ago. This makes us think of a nightmare that seems to have come out of a “walking Dead“, with ancient viruses ready to resurface from the depths.

The viruses don’t stop there, their origins range from prehistoric mammoth wool samples to the frozen intestinal remains of a Siberian wolf. Science has proven, for the first time, that these viruses can be extracted from the Siberian ice sheets and revived, an impressive feat, but not without concerns. To ensure safety and avoid any human contamination, the study focused on viruses that can only infect amoebas.

Although Jean-Michel Claverie warned that the risk to public health was underestimated, he also reassures, stating that there is no reason to panic. The likelihood of human exposure to these viruses is low, and the Arctic region is sparsely populated. Still, uncertainty looms over what would happen if these viruses, after a millennia-long slumber, found their way into a human host or were exposed to current conditions.

Amid this science fiction scenario, the scientists’ warning is a call to action, reminding us that global warming can not only trigger environmental disasters, but also bring to light ancient and unknown threats. It is a grim reminder that our actions can have unpredictable consequences and that it is crucial to tackle climate change sooner rather than later.”zombies” of ice awaken, threatening our security and our future.