A horrific discovery has taken place where scientist  scientists have revived an ancient virus that was frozen in Arctic ice for nearly 40,000 years. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder thawed samples of ancient permafrost, a mix of frozen soil, rock, and ice. The samples were collected from Alaska’s Permafrost Research Tunnel near Fairbanks, an underground passage sometimes called an “icy graveyard.”

When the frozen samples were warmed to temperatures between 3°C and 12°C, the microbes slowly came back to life. At first, nothing happened, but within months, the long-frozen microorganisms started growing and forming slimy layers of bacteria called biofilms, which are hard to get rid of. Although invisible to the naked eye, these ancient microbes could be dangerous and might even cause a new pandemic if they spread as the Arctic continues to melt.

Dr Tristan Caro, a geoscientist leading the study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, said, “These are not dead samples by any means.” While the revived microbes likely cannot infect humans, scientists warn they could still cause serious problems. As these microorganisms become active, they release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, which can contribute to climate change. Dr Caro noted that longer, warmer Arctic summers are a bigger concern than single hot days, as extended warmth could accelerate the revival of these ancient microbes.

Experts also fear that melting permafrost could expose ancient bacteria or viruses that might infect modern hosts. Dr Brigitta Evengård, an infectious disease expert from Sweden, said some ancient pathogens, like anthrax and pox viruses, could potentially be released, while other unknown microbes from permafrost are like a “Pandora’s box.”

Research has also shown that melting glaciers increase the risk of viral spillover, which is when a virus jumps from one species to another. As meltwater flows into Arctic lakes, ancient viruses or bacteria could find new hosts, potentially spreading to animals or even humans. This discovery highlights the hidden dangers of permafrost thawing and reminds the world that climate change may release threats that have been frozen for tens of thousands of years.