French scientists have revived a 48,500-year-old zombie virus buried under a frozen lake in Russia. The scientists have long warned that the thawing of permafrost due to atmospheric warming will worsen climate change scenario by freeing previously trapped greenhouse gases like methane.
The zombie viruses are the viruses that have been frozen in ice. While in deep freeze, they are like in hibernation that makes deactivates them because of extremely low temperature. As the ice melts and the temperatures rise, the virus C, which has been dormant for years being trapped inside the ice, comes to life.
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The scientists from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, who have found the virus that was buried under a frozen lake in Russia, said this one is 48,500 years old and that it has the potential to infect other animals and even humans. They named the virus Pandora-virus.
So, why everyone is worried about these frozen viruses?
As we all know the environment is changing drastically because of Global Warming and the temperature of the world is increasing due to increased pollution levels. Due this, snow-clad mountains are melting under which many viruses and germs are frozen. Once freed, the scientists say these viruses will come to life and can spread around the world like Caronavirus.
Nearly two dozen ancient viruses have been revived by the scientists, the oldest of them being very dangerous. Despite being frozen for a millennia, the virus remains infectious.
According to researchers who revived these viruses, including the one that was frozen under a lake for more than 48,500 years, examined ancient samples collected from Burma Frost in the Siberia region of Russia characterised 13 new pathogens.
