"Reviving 46,000-Year-Old Worms: Scientists Unlock Frozen Secrets in Siberian Permafrost"

A species of nematodes, or roundworms, has been revived after being frozen in Siberian permafrost for 46,000 years. The microscopic worms, belonging to a previously unknown species called Panagrolaimus kolymaensis, were recovered from permafrost samples on the banks of the Kolyma River in northeastern Siberia. Nematodes are known for their ability to enter a state of cryptobiosis, where all metabolic processes shut down until environmental conditions improve. The study of these ancient worms could provide insights into the mechanisms of cryptobiosis and have implications for understanding evolutionary processes and long-term survival.