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Worms frozen in permafrost for up to 42,000 years come back to life

By 0 and 0 and 0
26 July 2018

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Awake after 42,000 years... Picture: The Siberian Times

The roundworms from two areas of Siberia came back to life in Petri dishes, says a new scientific study. 

‘We have obtained the first data demonstrating the capability of multicellular organisms for longterm cryobiosis in permafrost deposits of the Arctic,’ states a report from Russian scientists from four institutions in collaboration with Princetown University.

Some 300 prehistoric worms were analysed - and two ‘were shown to contain viable nematodes’.

‘After being defrosted, the nematodes showed signs of life,’ said a report today from Yakutia, the area where the worms were found.

‘They started moving and eating.’ 

Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years come back to life


Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years come back to life


Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years come back to life
Duvanny Yar and (in the middle) the nematodes. Pictures: Nikita Zimov, Doklady Biological Sciences/Pleiades Publishing


One worm came from an ancient squirrel burrow in a permafrost wall of the Duvanny Yar outcrop in the lower reaches of the Kolyma River - close to the site of Pleistocene Park which is seeking to recreate the Arctic habitat of the extinct woolly mammoth, according to the scientific article published in Doklady Biological Sciences this week. 

This is around 32,000 years old. 

Another was found in permafrost near Alazeya River in 2015, and is around 41,700 years old. 

Currently the nematodes are the oldest living animals on the planet.  

They are both believed to be female. 

Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years come back to life


Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years come back to life


Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years come back to life


Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years come back to life


Worms frozen in permafrost for 42,000 years come back to life

Duvanny Yar and Alazeya river marked on the map, Alazeya River, specialists of the Institite of Psycico-Chemical and Biological Problems and Soil Science in Moscow region


The worms came back to life in a laboratory at The Institute of Physico-Chemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science in Moscow region. 

The scientists say: “Our data demonstrate the ability of multicellular organisms to survive long-term (tens of thousands of years) cryobiosis under the conditions of natural cryoconservation. 

'It is obvious that this ability suggests that the Pleistocene nematodes have some adaptive mechanisms that may be of scientific and practical importance for the related fields of science, such as cryomedicine, cryobiology, and astrobiology.”

The Russian institutions involved in the pioneering research were: The Institute of Physico-Chemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science; Moscow State University; Pertsov White Sea Biological Station, part of Moscow State University; and the Higher School of Economics in Moscow.

The Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, was also involved. 

Comments (91)

Why are we bringing things back that was Extinct ? Why are we doing what the fallen Angel's did? And what was there lot ? The Great flood. We're screwed.
Dobbie James Wilson, United States
27/07/2018 19:39
7
88
Just leaving a comment so that people would know that islanders like me read news like this too. We're not all uncivilized!
Sumakwel, Iloilo, Philippines
27/07/2018 18:21
20
4
Zombie Apocalypse is soon to start
Younes, Russia moscow
27/07/2018 16:46
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This is great news. The scientists can now look into our past at the same time the should be very cautious not spreding any unknown virus or prehistoric diseases to the environment. I hope it reveals lot of information about the planet.
Hossain , Bonn, Germany
27/07/2018 16:41
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Genesis11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Revelation9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
A ndrew Z entz, U.S.A.
27/07/2018 16:06
16
203
I saw the movie. This doesn't end well...
Throwslikeagirl, Los Angeles/USA
27/07/2018 15:55
35
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This is a similar premise to the TV series Fortitude
Simon, UK
27/07/2018 15:50
7
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Amazing 41700 years old. Female.. oldest living animal is a Female..
Randolph Tecza, Canton N.Y. USA
27/07/2018 15:18
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Wasn't this in season 6 of The X Files?
Lili, USA
27/07/2018 14:53
9
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It's not just possible, it's guaranteed.
All of you Earthlings are doomed.
DOOMED!
Monkey Boy, Here, usa
27/07/2018 14:40
11
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Oh yeah totally agree about the viruses etc. AND This discovery will no doubt spur a host of zombie movie rehashes with thawed viruses or some scary creatures awakening! lol
D Barker, USA
27/07/2018 14:28
10
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Amazing
Dank, Kenya
27/07/2018 14:05
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The worm should be named: illidan stormrage
Felipe, Ecuador
27/07/2018 13:46
9
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With the temperature rising and ancient ice melting all over the Earth it is possible that unknown viruses and diseases could be released
D Moore, USA
27/07/2018 13:25
39
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wow - pay homage top great thinking lads... Its great news.
Ld Elon, Home of the Wise.
26/07/2018 23:32
2
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