'Time-traveling' pathogens trapped for thousands of years in melting permafrost could spark next pandemic and wipe out microbes crucial to our planet

Scientists fear'time-traveling' pathogens could be leaked into the world as their icy prison in permafrost is melting - and they could spark the next planet and destroy the environment. Ancient viruses, sealed in permafrost for thousands of years, could survive and evolve to become the dominant free-living species- killing up to one-third of bacteria-like hosts. The stark revelation was made by researchers at the European Commission Joint Research Center, who used computer simulations to find about three percent of virus-like pathogens became dominant after being released from the ice. The new findings suggest that the risks posed by time-traveling pathogens – so far confined to science fiction stories – could be powerful drivers of ecological change and threats to human health. Scientists fear'time-traveling' pathogens could be leaked into the world as their icy prison in permafrost is melting - and their escape would be detrimental to the environment.