Ancient Viruses Found in Tibetan Glacier Ice

Scientists have discovered approximately 1,700 previously unknown ancient viruses in a 41,000-year-old ice core from the Guliya Glacier on the Tibetan Plateau. These viruses, which pose no threat to humans, have provided significant insights into viral adaptation to climate changes over millennia. The study, led by Ohio State University and involving a 60-person team, highlights the importance of glacial ice for understanding historical climate patterns. Climate change-induced melting of glaciers raises concerns about potential release of dormant pathogens, although the newly found viruses are believed to infect only single-celled organisms. The findings, published in Nature Geoscience, underscore the urgent need to study and preserve these ancient viral records as glaciers continue to disappear.