Scientists have made a surprising discovery in their exploration of Arctic Sea Ice in Alaska. In the depths of the permafrost runin runnel research – a research area that shepherds more than 350 meters long and meters underground – scientists have opened creatures that are more than tens of thousands of years old.
Scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder removed the permafrost and found bacteria inside ‘awakened’ and could pose a serious threat to the environment, according to finding wildlife. Their findings were published in JGR biogeoscience.
What’s going on?
Microbes preserved in Arctic Permafrost Dating back tens of thousands of years. Some of them come from the last years. Today, global temperatures are rising in the world causing long, hot summers, permafrost is melting at an unprecedented rate, in a matter of months.
To test microbial activity, scientists take samples of thawed permafrost and expose them to warmer temperatures to simulate what temperatures would be if warming continued at its current rate. At first, growth was slow, but by the six-month mark, colonies were formed and growth took off. A thin, thin layer called a biofilm is formed, improving its durability as they return to health.
Scientist Tristan Caro, lead author of the study, said: “These are not dead samples by any means.
Why is the reduction of permafrost to stimulate bacteria important?
The reason this worries scientists is that the rapid melting of permafrost exposes the ability of microbes to release dangerous levels of pollutant gases that make the planet happy.
Since the permafrost contains about 1.5 trillion metric tons of carbon and organic matter that has not decomposed, according to Cu Boulder today, the impact of the climate would have been present in the atmosphere. This increase in heat blanket pollution will enhance the Planet’s Natural Weather Systems, leading to more frequent weather events, rising seas and disruption of agriculture.
Some even worry that the resurgence of silent viruses risks reviving ancient viruses that have been frozen for thousands of years.
What is being done about the melting permafrost layer?
While this urgent issue may seem very worrying, it opens the door for immediate action and research to preserve the deep layer of permafrost.
The research caused by these scientists is very important to help us understand the creatures that sleep in the permafrost, and now it is more important than ever that there is more money allocated for these researchers.
At the individual level, they are involved in supporting science and participating in research by sharing what is being discovered and highlighting its urgency.
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