Accelerated Thawing of Arctic Permafrost Releases Viruses and Greenhouse Gases

On October 21, scientists discovered in an Alaskan permafrost tunnel that microbial communities from 40,000 years ago rapidly formed biofilms upon reactivation, with some viruses retaining infectious properties. The Arctic is warming at four times the global average rate. Thawing permafrost has already released significant amounts of methane and carbon dioxide. In the summer of 2025, methane emissions from Siberia’s permafrost regions equaled 12% of global annual emissions. This process not only accelerates climate change but may also trigger a chain reaction of “virus revival – disease transmission.”