In the heart of Siberia, a team of Russian scientists is working to reawaken ancient viruses, sparking concerns that a mishap could trigger a new pandemic.
Scientists at the Vector research centre in Russia’s Novosibirsk region are analysing the remains of mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses and other Ice Age animals to identify and revive prehistoric viruses, also known as paleoviruses. The animals were almost perfectly preserved in the frozen earth of Yakutia, a vast region in northeast Siberia where winter temperatures can plunge as low as minus 55C. The research, which began last year, is aimed at researching how viruses evolve.
