Giant viruses discovered living in Greenland's dark ice and red snow
www.livescience.com
The giant viruses might infect algae that are increasing Greenland's ice melt. These viruses could help kill off the damaging algal blooms, helping to reduce some of the impacts of climate change.

The giant viruses might infect algae that are increasing Greenland’s ice melt. These viruses could help kill off the damaging algal blooms, helping to reduce some of the impacts of climate change.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    6·
    5 months ago

    The giant viruses, which can be up to around 1,500 times larger than regular viruses, might be attacking microscopic algae that turn Greenland’s ice a darker color and cause it to melt faster.

    Which is how big? They could have told us.

    • treefrog@lemm.ee
      21·
      5 months ago

      Regular viruses are 1500 times smaller than giant viruses.

      Hopefully that clears it up.

    • CaptPretentious@lemmy.world
      10·
      5 months ago

      So… Based on some quick searches, this translates to 0.15 millimeter. Which based on some other quick searches… It’s visible to the human eye.

      So that’s terrifying.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        1·
        5 months ago

        I don’t find it terrifying because it isn’t a direct threat to humans, but that’s certainly crazy huge.