Ancient Viruses in Tibetan Glacier Reveal Climate History

Study of 1,700 virus species from Guliya Glacier offers insights into past climate shifts and microbial evolution.

Researchers discovered 1,705 virus genomes in ice cores from the Guliya Glacier, dating back 41,000 years.
The viruses, mostly infecting bacteria and archaea, show significant changes corresponding to climate variations.
About 70% of the viruses are unique to the glacier, with only a small fraction found elsewhere on Earth.
The study emphasizes the urgency of collecting ice cores as glaciers melt due to global warming.
Findings could enhance climate models and help predict microbial responses to future climate changes.