Melting Permafrost Unleashes Ancient Bacteria and Viruses

As permafrost in the Arctic thaws due to climate change, ancient bacteria and viruses trapped inside are being released. While most of these cells are dead, some can survive and potentially infect susceptible hosts, causing damage to ecosystems. Scientists have simulated the release of ancient pathogens and found that about one in every 100 released viruses can find a susceptible host. However, the likelihood of this happening is considered extremely low, as the virus would need to encounter a susceptible host quickly and be able to spread. Other sources of viruses, such as wild animals, pose a greater risk.