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 the year 2023 has the air of a science fiction film. After the incredible boom in Artificial Intelligence become real allies on a daily basis, now a group of scientists has reactivated a 50,000-year-old “zombie” virus!
The group of experts reported their discovery in the journal “Viruses” in February 2023. They found this “zombie” virus locked in the Siberian permafrost.
This frozen layer of soil located under the earth is melting faster and faster because of global warming. This brings out a multitude of ancient remains on the surface. Like the viruses, bacteria, woolly mammoths and incredibly well-preserved bears.
If it was known that thousands of bacteria existed under the permafrost for thousands of years, global warming causes their release! Enough to worry the scientific world? Probably.
For example, this famous “zombie” virus was taken from an underground lake 16 meters below the surface of a layer of ice, in Siberia. He stayed imprisoned for 48,500 years! Moreover, other younger samples, 27,000 years old, have also been discovered in the stomach and fur of the remains of a woolly mammoth!
Before understanding what are the consequences of this “zombie” virus first you have to understand its name. Indeed, the term “zombie” refers to the fact that these are viruses that are supposed to be dead but which are therefore resurrected. Do not panic, we will therefore not live an episode of The Walking Dead!
A disturbing discovery?
In the scientific world, the discovery of old viruses is not so surprising. However, being able to reactivate a zombie virus so old is a real feat!
On the other hand, this means that this “zombie” virus has retained its infectious power and its ability to contaminate. Although it remained frozen for tens of thousands of years!
This fascinating discovery is still worrying! “The fact that microbes so old remain infectious thousands of years later is a worrying phenomenon. explains Jean-Michel Claverie, director of the study, in an interview for CNN.
“We see the traces of many, many, many other viruses. » adds the scientist. “So we know they are there. We are not sure if they are still alive. » he specifies.
“But our reasoning is that if the amoeba viruses are still alive, there is no reason why the other viruses should not be and not be. capable of infecting their own hosts. he continues.
For the moment, it is therefore impossible to know with certainty whether or not this zombie virus will infect animals and humans. But researchers believe that permafrost viruses would be a real threat. Eh yes !
“There are a lot of worrying things happening in the permafrost. It is essential to keep the permafrost frozen” explains NASA climatologist Kimberley Miner. But the damage caused by global warming already seems irreversible.
Indeed, in the best of IPCC scenarios, permafrost could lose nearly 40% of its surface at the end of the 21st century, explains France Culture. Just that ! Case to follow very closely.
