A team of scientists has unearthed over 1,700 ancient viruses trapped deep within the Guliya Glacier in western China, most of which have never been observed before, Daily Mail reports.
This discovery has sparked concerns about the potential release of unknown pathogens as global temperatures rise and ice melts, possibly leading to a new pandemic.
The viruses were extracted from a 1,000-foot-long ice core from the Guliya Glacier, located on the Tibetan Plateau at the meeting point of Central, South, and East Asia. Dating back as far as 41,000 years, these viruses have survived through three significant climate shifts from cold to warm temperatures.
Health Risks and Celebrity Video Raises Concerns
The announcement of this research coincided with a viral video posted by rapper-turned-actor Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, who showcased himself drinking meltwater from an Alaskan glacier. The video garnered millions of views on TikTok and Instagram, raising alarm among viewers worried about the risks associated with drinking untreated glacier water. However, a glaciologist confirmed that “he’s totally fine,” adding that meltwater from glacial streams is “about the cleanest water you’ll ever get.”
While Ludacris’s actions brought attention to glacial water safety, public concerns are not entirely unfounded. Instances of deadly pathogens emerging from melting permafrost elsewhere in the world have heightened fears of outbreaks. Notably, an anthrax outbreak in 2016 occurred when spores released from a long-frozen animal carcass in Siberia led to dozens of hospitalizations, including one child fatality.
No Immediate Threat to Human Health
Fortunately, researchers have confirmed that the 1,700 viruses identified in this study do not pose any threat to human health. The viruses are specific to archaea—single-celled organisms—and bacteria, and cannot infect humans, animals, or plants. Despite this, studying these ancient viruses is crucial for understanding Earth’s climatic history and predicting future microbial communities.
Deep Dive into the Guliya Glacier
Led by researchers from The Ohio State University, the team drilled more than 1,000 feet into the Guliya Glacier, producing an ice core divided into nine segments, each representing different climatic periods ranging from 160 to 41,000 years old. The team utilized metagenomic analysis to extract DNA from each segment and cataloged approximately 50 times more viral information than has previously been collected from glaciers.
The analysis revealed distinct viral communities shaped by the climatic conditions at the time they were frozen. According to Matthew Sullivan, co-author of the study, “We saw clear shifts in the viruses that existed under colder climates versus warmer climates.” For example, a unique community of viruses emerged around 11,500 years ago, coinciding with the transition from the cold Last Glacial Stage to the warmer Holocene Epoch, which we continue to experience today.
“This at least indicates the potential connection between viruses and climate change,” said study co-author ZhiPing Zhong, a microbiology research associate at The Ohio State University.
The findings of the research were published in the journal Nature Geosciences.
