As global temperatures rise, the world faces the new issue of melting glaciers. These glaciers are unveiling a hidden world of bacteria that could pose a risk to human and animal health. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have discovered 968 unique species of bacteria in snow and ice samples collected from Tibetan glaciers. Around 98% of the bacteria found has never been seen before.

As the glaciers melt, the bacteria is released into water sources, such as rivers and streams that flow into the densely populated areas of China and India. This could potentially lead to the spread of infectious diseases, as these long forgotten microbes are unfamiliar to our immune systems and challenging to treat. This entire situation puts citizens of China and India on high alert.

This discovery has big consequences, showing how climate change and our health are closely connected. While the melting of glaciers may seem like a distant issue, its consequences can affect us more directly than we might expect.This discovery reminds us how important it is to study these new microbes, and know the risks they bring as our planet gets warmer. Many people and students around the globe are beginning to address this issue.