Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years have come back to life and are eating

Slash Gear ^ | Jul 27, 2018 | Shane McGlaun

[Heartlander]

Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years have come back to life and are eating

Shane McGlaun - Jul 27, 2018

Scientists have made a discovery that is quite mind-blowing. Roundworms found in the permafrost in two areas of Siberia have come back to life in Petri dishes. These worms had been frozen in the permafrost for tens of thousands of years, since the Pleistocene age. Scientists working on the research say that 300 prehistoric worms were analyzed and that these two were shown to contain viable nematodes.

The nematodes showed signs of life after being defrosted. Scientists say the worms started moving and then eating again. One of the worms was discovered in an ancient squirrel burrow in the wall of the Duvanny Yar outcrop in the lower reaches of the Kolyma River. That worm is 32,000 years old.

The other worm was found in the permafrost near Alazeya River in 2015 and is about 41,700 years old. These two nematodes are the oldest living animals on the planet and both are believed to be female. The worms came back to life in a lab at The Institute of Physico-Chemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science.

Scientists say that the ability of the worms to survive tens of thousands of years in cryobiosis under natural conditions of cryoconservation could be a boon to science. These nematodes could have adaptive mechanisms that could be of value in science for things like cryomedicine, cryobiology, and astrobiology.

There were multiple institutions involved in the research including The Institute of Physico-Chemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science; Moscow State University; Pertsov White Sea Biological Station, part of Moscow State University; the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, and Princeton University Department of Geosciences. This reminds me of John Carpenter’s movie “The Thing.”

[texas booster]

Each time I have passed this thread I have only seen:

Woman frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years have come back to life and are eating

And I am thinking, “ Would BJ Clinton have hit on it?”

[The Truth Will Make You Free]

Hmmm... Could there be revived bacteria lurking in the revived nematode?

[Buckeye McFrog]

This one was actually the inspiration for Count Floyd.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Heartlander, and ETL for the similar topic. Good one for the weekly "digest". Mmmm.

[ETL]

Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years have come back to life...

[Califreak]

Am I the only one who thought of "The Strain"?

[bert]

Careful observation of the mouth parts will reveal the blue stains resulting from spice consumption.

[Salamander]

What could possibly go wrong?

[Salamander]

All in all...

[Salamander]

My dad [rip] was named Nathan and I often have the mad desire to get a sign made up for our little dirt road “Nathan Lane”.

:)

[Rebelbase]

So once the worm mystery is solved we’ll be able to reanimate Ted Williams frozen head?

[SunkenCiv]

That looks like a lame assed movie that Tim Hutton would star in.

[ETL]

It wasn’t bad. Saw it a few times over the years.

[ETL]

[SunkenCiv]

One of my favorite TV shows (it didn't last) was "The Second Hundred Years" starring Monte Markham in two roles. Given that no one has an original idea in showbiz, I've wondered that it wasn't brought back these past 50 years.

[PLMerite]

"Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years have come back to life and are eating"

I know how this movie ends...