What is zombie virus?

The term "zombie virus" has been used in popular culture to describe a hypothetical virus that could turn individuals into mindless, flesh-eating zombies. While such a virus does not exist in reality, recent scientific discoveries regarding ancient viruses have led to concerns about the potential risks associated with bringing unknown, ancient viruses back to life.

In 2014, scientists managed to revive a 30,000-year-old virus known as Pithovirus sibericum that had been buried deep in the frozen soil of Siberia. The virus was able to infect amoebas, but not humans. However, the discovery highlighted the potential risks and uncertainties associated with bringing these ancient viruses back to life.

More recently, in 2022, scientists documented their discovery of a 48,500-year-old virus that had been preserved in the frozen sediment at the bottom of a remote lake in northeastern Siberia. The virus, called PB1, was found to be able to infect amoebas, and researchers expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with bringing such ancient viruses back to life.

The dangers of reviving ancient viruses are not limited to the potential risks associated with a hypothetical "zombie virus". For example, the thawing of ancient permafrost due to climate change may pose a threat to humans , according to a recent study. As permafrost thaws, it can release previously trapped and potentially harmful microbes into the environment, including bacteria and viruses.

There is also concern that viruses that were previously thought to be extinct could potentially be revived using modern scientific methods. For example, the smallpox virus, which was declared eradicated by the World Health Organization in 1980, could theoretically be revived using genetic engineering techniques, raising concerns about the potential risks associated with doing so.

In conclusion, while there is no such thing as a "zombie virus" in reality, recent scientific discoveries about ancient viruses have raised concerns about the potential risks of bringing unknown, ancient viruses back to life. Reviving viruses that have been dormant for thousands of years carries a range of unknowns and potential risks, and scientists need to ensure that they proceed with caution in their efforts to study these ancient viruses.