Posted on 06/21/2024 11:26:07 AM PDT by Red Badger
The idea of a giant virus lurking on a vast ice sheet might sound like the plot to the latest science fiction blockbuster.
Giant viruses were first discovered in 1981, when researchers found them in the ocean.
These viruses had specialised in infecting green algae in the sea.
Later, giant viruses were found in soil on land and even in humans. But it's become a reality, after researchers discovered giant viruses while exploring the Greenland ice sheet.
Before you panic that the viruses could spark the next pandemic, there's good news.
Scientists from Aarhus University say the viruses could actually be a good thing.
'We don't know a lot about the viruses, but I think they could be useful as a way of alleviating ice melting caused by algal blooms,' said Laura Perini, who led the study.
On the Greenland Ice Sheet, algae lay dormant on the ice until the springtime, when they start to bloom and blacken large areas of the ice.
When the ice blackens, its ability to reflect the sun diminishes and this accelerates the melting of the ice, thereby exacerbating global warming.
But researchers believe the newly discovered giant viruses might help with the snow algae growth - and maybe in the long run reduce some of the ice from melting.
'How specific [the viruses] are and how efficient it would be, we do not know yet,' Ms Perini said.
'But by exploring them further, we hope to answer some of those questions.'
However, the new discovery marks the first time that giant viruses have been found living on the surface ice and snow dominated by microalgae, according to Ms Perini.
'We analysed samples from dark ice, red snow and melting holes (cryoconite),' she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
What could possibly go wrong...Like we know all about viruses....and climate, too.
I don’t know why I clicked on the post, it didn’t state anywhere that the scientists were baffled.
Western science has turned into a pagan religion and we are headed for a new dark age.
There are viruses that parasite on giant viruses. It’s a jungle out there.
Or they could not be.
Not only that, but it IS NOT SHOCKING!! The DM is slipping.
The giant viruses in the United States are called “DeepStaters.”
We really need experts to chime in and explain it to us, not mere scientists. ;-)
Guess they never saw “The last ship”
“Scientists” never saw a virus they didn’t fall in love with!!
More stuff for Fauci and Gates to weaponize.
Maybe it was a BOMBSHELL!
I was told once that in Denmark, Aarhus is the butt of jokes (of the “Texas Aggie” type).
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