Defrosting Ancient ‘Killer' Microbes From the Permafrost? What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

The permafrost isn’t permanent. For the last hundred years, Earth’s average surface temperature has climbed. That means the active layer has gotten slightly warmer, which can melt off the top layer of permafrost. Rising temps mean more melting ice. But when ancient ice melts it can release trapped organisms – interrupting centuries of sleep. Since 2005, humans have found and revived a number of frosty microbes dating from as far back as 100 million years - the age of the T-Rex.