By: Puter Kang
Two worms discovered in a 130-foot-deep Siberian permafrost have been “revived” by scientists. These worms were revived simply by being dipped into the water, according to a Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics news release. This is a huge scientific finding, and the revival is a huge surprise.
The revived Panagrolaimus kolymaensis worms have been sent to Germany for further research. Their lifespans are only counted in days.
Radiocarbon dating shows that their lives occurred between 45,839 and 47,769 years ago. That time period dates back to the late Pleistocene era.
Being roughly a millimeter long, the worms have been able to endure the strong cold by entering their cryptobiosis state, like a sleeping and resting stage. Researchers are still learning more about them. This could lead to a huge outbreak of scientific research on the topic.
Source:
https://www.npr.org/2023/07/30/1190950660/nematode-worm-permafrost-discovery-frozen