Ohio state scientists uncover ancient viruses on Tibetan glacier

Scientists from Ohio State University discovered the Guliya Glacier on the Tibetan Plateau in western China. They found over 1700 previously unknown ancient viruses there.

Permafrost hides many secrets. Viruses located in glaciers can pose a threat to humans if they get "released." Global warming may accelerate this process; nevertheless, the glaciers are of particular interest to scientists – including those from Ohio State University, who discovered 1700 ancient viruses in China.

The discovered viruses survived in the ice for over 40,000 years. Samples were isolated from an ice core over 300 metres deep, providing valuable historical information.

The study analyzed viruses trapped in nine stratified segments of the glacier, representing different epochs and climatic periods—from 160 to 41,000 years ago. An advanced metagenomic technique was used, making it possible to precisely identify and classify each virus. This opens up new possibilities in the study of viral evolution and the potential impact of climate changes on their release.

Significantly, the discovered viruses do not directly threaten humans because, according to research, they only attack unicellular organisms. This is crucial in the context of concerns raised by melting glaciers and the viruses they release. In the past, the release of pathogens from thawing permafrost has already led to tragic events, such as the 2016 anthrax outbreak in Siberia, where a child died and dozens of people were hospitalized.

The threat related to global warming and its impact on the release of ancient viruses from glaciers is becoming increasingly real. Although the discovered pathogens do not directly threaten humans, scientists emphasize the need for further research in this field. The results of these studies could be crucial for understanding how future climate changes may affect public health and our planet's ecosystem.