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https://www.wsj.com/articles/its-alive-worms-revived-after-46-000-years-in-siberian-permafrost-96ea3922

It’s Alive! Worms Revived After 46,000 Years in Siberian Permafrost

New nematode could reveal secrets of cryptobiosis process organisms use to stay dormant

By

Dominique Mosbergen

Updated July 27, 2023 2:45 pm ET

Researchers have discovered the third-ever tardigrade fossil on record. Understanding the tiny creature’s developmental history is critical for unpacking important evolutionary milestones that have shaped thousands of species across the planet. WSJ’s Daniela Hernandez explains. Illustration: Rafael Garcia

Talk about a long nap. Scientists said they have revived worms buried in Siberian permafrost for 46,000 years.

The half-dozen creatures, a type of nematode or roundworm, were last awake when Neanderthals and woolly mammoths roamed the Earth. They survived for millennia in permafrost by entering a state of suspended animation, according to a paper published Thursday in the journal PLOS Genetics. Genetic testing suggests the worms are a new and possibly extinct species, researchers said.

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