Tibetan Glacier Found With Over 1,700 Dormant Viruses

[Touya Kun]

A study that was published on Aug. 26 in the journal "Nature Geoscience" shows and examines preserved genomes of 1,705 virus species dating back to 41,000 years. They were discovered from an ice core collected from Guliya Glacier on the Tibetan Plateau by Ohio State University's Lonnie Thompson and a team of interdisciplinary co-researchers.

 

[Zephyra08]

Wow, that’s mind-blowing! Discovering over 1,700 dormant viruses from such an ancient glacier gives us a glimpse into the distant past. It’s incredible how ice cores can hold so many secrets about Earth's history.

 

[jhope98]

I think this discovery is both fascinating and a bit alarming. Dormant viruses could pose a risk if they become active, though it’s crucial to understand the full implications.

 

[Kaiser]

Whoa! 1,700 dormant viruses in a Tibetan glacier? That's scary. Hope they don't wake up!