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Ancient Microbes Revived: New Climate Threats Uncovered

10/17/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers revived 40,000-year-old microbes from permafrost in Alaska, revealing potential climate implications.
The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, shows thawing permafrost enables ancient microbes to emit methane and carbon dioxide.
Initially the microbes reawaken slowly, but after six months they become highly active, forming biofilms.
The findings imply that longer summer seasons, not brief heatwaves, will drive microbial activity and emissions, complicating climate predictions.

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Story summary

Researchers revived 40,000-year-old microbes from permafrost in Alaska, revealing potential climate implications.
The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, shows thawing permafrost enables ancient microbes to emit methane and carbon dioxide.
Initially the microbes reawaken slowly, but after six months they become highly active, forming biofilms.
The findings imply that longer summer seasons, not brief heatwaves, will drive microbial activity and emissions, complicating climate predictions.