Just what 2025

As the Arctic continues to thaw due to climate change, scientists are warning about a hidden threat: ancient viruses buried in permafrost and glaciers. Dubbed “zombie viruses,” these microbes have been sealed in ice for tens of thousands of years and are now being uncovered. Researchers have already revived several of them in labs, like Pithovirus sibericum and Pacmanvirus lupus. While these aren’t currently harmful to humans, past incidents—such as the 2016 anthrax outbreak from a thawed reindeer carcass—highlight the real danger of dormant pathogens becoming active again.

The concern is that our immune systems aren’t equipped to handle such ancient viruses, and modern medicine may be equally unprepared. Many of these viruses could also be zoonotic, capable of jumping from animals to humans, like COVID-19. Adding to the risk, the Arctic lacks strong healthcare infrastructure, making outbreak response difficult. As global travel resumes, these pathogens could spread quickly if released. Scientists are working on containment and research strategies, but the possibility of a pandemic emerging from melting ice makes climate change a far more urgent and complex issue.