A new scientific study conducted in the Antarctic has revealed that numerous species of viruses exist in the continent's lakes. Some of the new organisms were previously unknown, and researchers say that they are surprised to have discovered such large diversity in a seemingly-harsh place. The thing about Antarctic lakes is that they are unfrozen for about three months each year, and they also hold only very limited amounts of nutrients. Therefore, why something would choose to live there is a mystery.

Very few actual animals exist in these lakes, the science team reports, quoted by LiveScience. The waters are mostly populated by microorganisms, including, next to viruses, algae, bacteria, and protozoans. It is now believed that the microbes play a huge role in controlling the amounts of other nutrients in the lakes. The research team, made up of experts from the Spanish Research Council (SRC), hypothesizes that they ended up with having such important roles because they have no natural predators in this environment.

A modern-day genome sequencing technology is finally allowing researchers to study these microbes without having to grow them in the lab. Until now, it has been notoriously hard to look at Antarctic microorganisms, precisely because they need very specific conditions if they are to grow. “W... (read more)