A new study warns of one of the many devastating consequences of melting glaciers: trapped in them, there are nearly 1000 species of bacteria ready to enter the world.
Of global warming we hear a lot about it, just as we know the many consequences of the climate crisis. Yet you don’t think exactly how much devastating may be the changes occurred to the climate and ecosystems, which are occurring at an ever-increasing rate.
A new study published Nature Biotechnology clarifies how in addition to the many damage it is doing and will bring it melting glaciersthere are also “invisible” dangers that actually have the power to really change human life.
Trapped in the glaciers in fact, there are thousands of species of bacteria. With global warming taking place, these could easily spread to populated areas, because i glaciers in which they are found are, in fact, melting. Specifically, the study analyzed samples from glaciers found in Tibetwith negative surprising results.
Melting glaciers and new species of bacteria previously unknown
I glaciers they are of unimaginable importance and are the largest source of fresh water there is, but they are dissolving at a worrying pace. In addition to the various consequences negative now known, another was found danger relating to the increasing disappearance of the glaciers.
The team of researchers who participated in the aforementioned study analyzed samples taken from 21 Tibetan glaciers. What resulted from the analyzes was that they exist at least 968 different species of bacteria. And most of them (well the 98 percent) belongs to still unknown species.
It is still unclear whether the microorganisms found could be a real risk for humans, but it is certain that if i glaciers melt consequently bacteria will spread throughout the world, and the reaction of the human body or other living organisms cannot be known. In a nutshell, it cannot be ruled out that when the previously frozen water flows full of the new “finally” free bacteria, new epidemics could spread. Considering then some previous studies that have found viruses of even 15,000 years ago always in the ice of the Tibetan plateau, it is clear how various concerns have arisen.