Unearthed: Enigmatic Giant Viruses with Tentacles and Star-like Shells Found in New England Forest
Scientists have discovered never-before-seen giant viruses in the soils of a New England forest, exhibiting unique traits such as star-like outer shells and tubular appendages. These giant viruses, which are larger than most viruses and primarily infect single-cell organisms, have complex genomes and play important roles in the ecosystem, particularly in carbon cycling. The researchers believe that similar giant viruses could be found in other hardwood forests worldwide, highlighting the diverse and previously unknown structures of soil viruses.