Well I can’t foresee anything going wrong with this

[sangria]

www.sciencealert.com/scientists-are-reawakening-a-giant-virus-frozen-in-the-siberian-wilderness

[debatethis]

"But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned about the possibility of frozen prehistoric viruses thawing out all by themselves in the future. “The fact that two different viruses retain their infectivity in prehistorical permafrost layers should be of concern in a context of global warming,” the scientists warn in their study.

"Intentionally infecting an amoeba in a controlled laboratory setting is one thing, but with permafrost thawing as the world gets hotter – and mining companies look to explore new, icy territories to tap hidden mineral deposits underground – the risks of accidentally uncovering a prehistoric pathogen are very real.

“A few viral particles that are still infectious may be enough, in the presence of a vulnerable host, to revive potentially pathogenic viruses,” Jean-Michel Claverie, one of the researchers, told AFP. “If we are not careful, and we industrialise these areas without putting safeguards in place, we run the risk of one day waking up viruses such as small pox that we thought were eradicated.”

[sangria]

Sept 9, 2015 13:25:21 GMT -5 debatethis said:

"But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned about the possibility of frozen prehistoric viruses thawing out all by themselves in the future. “The fact that two different viruses retain their infectivity in prehistorical permafrost layers should be of concern in a context of global warming,” the scientists warn in their study.

"Intentionally infecting an amoeba in a controlled laboratory setting is one thing, but with permafrost thawing as the world gets hotter – and mining companies look to explore new, icy territories to tap hidden mineral deposits underground – the risks of accidentally uncovering a prehistoric pathogen are very real.

“A few viral particles that are still infectious may be enough, in the presence of a vulnerable host, to revive potentially pathogenic viruses,” Jean-Michel Claverie, one of the researchers, told AFP. “If we are not careful, and we industrialise these areas without putting safeguards in place, we run the risk of one day waking up viruses such as small pox that we thought were eradicated.”

Fun times ahead! 

[IIOY]

[janegold]

A recent Radio Lab podcast was about these mega viruses they've been finding. Pretty interesting.

[eclaires]

I haven't read the article but could this start the zombie apocalypse?

I need a tank.

[sangria]

Sept 9, 2015 13:34:42 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I haven't read the article but could this start the zombie apocalypse?

I need a tank.

Reanimating prehistoric mega-viruses that have been dormant in permafrost for thousands of years?

Nah. We're safe. 

[sporky]

I'm not worried. I'm pretty sure Mulder and Scully handled this scenario years ago. A few people may have died, but those two came out all right.

[debatethis]

Sept 9, 2015 13:42:58 GMT -5 sporky said:

I'm not worried. I'm pretty sure Mulder and Scully handled this scenario years ago. A few people may have died, but those two came out all right.

Just like with smallpox, lol.

[bugandbibs]

Have people learned nothing from Jurassic Park?!!!!

[pixy0stix]

Sept 9, 2015 13:34:42 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I haven't read the article but could this start the zombie apocalypse?

I need a tank.

I'm guessing the scenario will be more like The Stand. Since I seem to catch every single virus I'm not too hopeful about my survival.

[ttt]

WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS??

[eclaires]

Sept 9, 2015 13:56:41 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Sept 9, 2015 13:34:42 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I haven't read the article but could this start the zombie apocalypse?

I need a tank.

I'm guessing the scenario will be more like The Stand. Since I seem to catch every single virus I'm not too hopeful about my survival.

I'll remember you fondly when I am hanging in my tank!!!

I figure a tank is a good option for any end of civilization scenario.

[pixy0stix]

Sept 9, 2015 14:15:47 GMT -5 eclaires said:

Sept 9, 2015 13:56:41 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I'm guessing the scenario will be more like The Stand. Since I seem to catch every single virus I'm not too hopeful about my survival.

I'll remember you fondly when I am hanging in my tank!!!

I figure a tank is a good option for any end of civilization scenario.

::kicks rocks:: But I want a tank too!

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 9, 2015 13:53:37 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

Have people learned nothing from Jurassic Park?!!!!

We make allllll these movies about dinosaurs eating us and aliens obliterating us but we STILL try to do these things.

[mominatrix]

Sept 9, 2015 13:42:58 GMT -5 sporky said:

I'm not worried. I'm pretty sure Mulder and Scully handled this scenario years ago. A few people may have died, but those two came out all right.

There was an X Files... I think there was a Doctor Who... And more than one feature film, all about the bad shit that happens when you thaw out an ancient virus.

Shit, it's been done so many times it's pretty much a scary movie trope...

DO THESE PEOPLE NOT CONSUME MEDIA? Nothing good can come off this at all.

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 9, 2015 14:25:18 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Sept 9, 2015 14:15:47 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I'll remember you fondly when I am hanging in my tank!!!

I figure a tank is a good option for any end of civilization scenario.

::kicks rocks:: But I want a tank too!

Well, she might be driving it to Colorado. I'm sure she'll stop by.

[orriskitten]

Sept 9, 2015 14:40:08 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

Sept 9, 2015 13:42:58 GMT -5 sporky said:

I'm not worried. I'm pretty sure Mulder and Scully handled this scenario years ago. A few people may have died, but those two came out all right.

There was an X Files... I think there was a Doctor Who... And more than one feature film, all about the bad shit that happens when you thaw out an ancient virus.

Shit, it's been done so many times it's pretty much a scary movie trope...

DO THESE PEOPLE NOT CONSUME MEDIA? Nothing good can come off this at all.

This made me lol because there is always a minor character in movies saying just that. Then they all die and we get to say "see, told you so!"

I bet we're being watched by aliens and they're having this moment.

[summer]

Sept 9, 2015 14:00:03 GMT -5 ttt said:

WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS??

Because we can! We're awesome!

[partiallysunny]

Well this just screams summer blockbuster movie idea to me.