Scientists revive 'zombie' virus after 50,000 years trapped in Siberian permafrost: report

Now why in the blue hell would scientists want to revive a virus that's been trapped for 50K years ?

Do they want to get punched in the throat because this sounds like a perfect way for them to get punched in the throat ?

ETA: I think humanity would much rather see the scientific community find a way to bring a wooly mammoth or other prehistoric animal back to life instead of a virus.

This reminds me a little of when they build the CERN Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.  As it was nearing completion, some in the scientific community theorized the possibility it could create a quantum black hole and instantaneously annhilate all life on Earth.  The consensus was that that outcome had a low probability of occuring.  

So they went ahead and flipped the switch.  Why, you ask?  Because they could. 

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on November 27, 2022, 02:56:34 PMNow why in the blue hell would scientists want to revive a virus that's been trapped for 50K years ?

Do they want to get punched in the throat because this sounds like a perfect way for them to get punched in the throat ?

ETA: I think humanity would much rather see the scientific community find a way to bring a wooly mammoth or other prehistoric animal back to life instead of a virus.

Probably to try to get ahead of anything nasty that might be defrosting out there on its own.  Finding it and realizing that there's something dangerous there before it pops up and starts tearing through the human population would at least give us a leg up on stopping it. 

Has anyone seen 'Fortitude'? 

Quote from: EBuff75 on November 27, 2022, 06:20:56 PM

Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on November 27, 2022, 02:56:34 PMNow why in the blue hell would scientists want to revive a virus that's been trapped for 50K years ?

Do they want to get punched in the throat because this sounds like a perfect way for them to get punched in the throat ?

ETA: I think humanity would much rather see the scientific community find a way to bring a wooly mammoth or other prehistoric animal back to life instead of a virus.

Probably to try to get ahead of anything nasty that might be defrosting out there on its own.  Finding it and realizing that there's something dangerous there before it pops up and starts tearing through the human population would at least give us a leg up on stopping it. 

Has anyone seen 'Fortitude'? 

You know, that's a good point. Better to get a head start on the research rather than being caught with our collective pants down again.

Quote from: majorhavoc on November 27, 2022, 04:39:21 PMThis reminds me a little of when they build the CERN Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.  As it was nearing completion, some in the scientific community theorized the possibility it could create a quantum black hole and instantaneously annhilate all life on Earth.  The consensus was that that outcome had a low probability of occuring. 

So they went ahead and flipped the switch.  Why, you ask?  Because they could.

Again?  Sheesh, third time this century and we're only in the 20s. 

Can anyone make a 2023 bingo card to post on a thread?
If so, my nominees are:
Death of Keith Richards (c'mon, it's gotta happen eventually)
Nuclear *incident* in Ukraine/Eastern European country
New pandemic (possibly related to that zombie virus)
China initiates military action against Taiwan, but withdraws almost immediately

Any other nominees?

Quote from: majorhavoc on November 27, 2022, 04:39:21 PMThis reminds me a little of when they build the CERN Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.  As it was nearing completion, some in the scientific community theorized the possibility it could create a quantum black hole and instantaneously annhilate all life on Earth.  The consensus was that that outcome had a low probability of occuring. 

So they went ahead and flipped the switch.  Why, you ask?  Because they could.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading that scientists working on the Manhattan Project were concerned that there was a small risk that their nuclear test could ignite the entire atmosphere.  Fortunately, like CERN, nothing like that happened.  As far as we know.

Quote from: Lambykins on November 27, 2022, 09:19:28 PMCan anyone make a 2023 bingo card to post on a thread?
If so, my nominees are:
Death of Keith Richards (c'mon, it's gotta happen eventually)
Nuclear *incident* in Ukraine/Eastern European country
New pandemic (possibly related to that zombie virus)
China initiates military action against Taiwan, but withdraws almost immediately

Any other nominees?

I'm still betting on extremely large fire breathing lizards. Oh and giant angry bee's

Quote from: Lambykins on November 27, 2022, 09:19:28 PMCan anyone make a 2023 bingo card to post on a thread?
If so, my nominees are:
Death of Keith Richards (c'mon, it's gotta happen eventually)
Nuclear *incident* in Ukraine/Eastern European country
New pandemic (possibly related to that zombie virus)
China initiates military action against Taiwan, but withdraws almost immediately

Any other nominees?

North Korea fires an ICBM over Japan that gets shot down

India and Pakistan threaten each other with nukes

Toby Keith releases a hip-hop single that goes to #1 on the C&W; Hip-Hop; and Rock charts.

Quote from: NT2C on November 28, 2022, 08:09:27 PMToby Keith releases a hip-hop single that goes to #1 on the C&W; Hip-Hop; and Rock charts.

Daggum, just going straight up nuclear apocalypse.  Criminy.

Catastrophic west coast tsunami

Florida and Texas actively attempt secession. 

Elon Musk announces Presidential bid, riots ensue when it's pointed out that he isn't eligible.

Another midwest locality discovers serious problems with its municipal water source and ensuing cover-up.

A rare species of bear is discovered with a mutation that shows preference for bipedal locomotion.  Some yeti searchers refuse to believe this is their yeti while others insist, "told you they were real!". 

Bird pandemic decimates bird populations.  Media fearmongers potential bird to human transmission among other related issues and fails to report the real issues with so many dead birds.  Australians no longer suffering magpie attacks have mixed feelings.  Populations once kept in check by bird predation grow out of control.  Insects and spiders invade our homes in massive numbers.

Continued droughts displace desert residents, eventually close desert golf courses.

Those little deadly blue-ring octopuses show up in waters far away from Australia and thrive. 

Assassin bugs decide they've had enough of our shit and live up to their name.

The sound.  Nobody knows what it is or where it comes from, but we can all hear it.  The sale of noise-cancelling headphones and soundproofing materials soar.  Success metrics decline globally as people are generally unable to focus.  Many people and animals are driven insane.  We contemplate multiple classifications of suicide as some people probably didn't want to actually kill themselves, but succumbed to confusion that resulted in self-inflicted death.  Conspiracy theories abound in the absence of any real information while researchers from a myriad of fields desperately search for answers.

More catastrophic floods. 

Parasitic mycelium capable of preying on mammals.  All mammals.

Quote from: Anianna on November 28, 2022, 09:12:04 PMBird pandemic decimates bird populations.  Media fearmongers potential bird to human transmission among other related issues and fails to report the real issues with so many dead birds.  Australians no longer suffering magpie attacks have mixed feelings.  Populations once kept in check by bird predation grow out of control.  Insects and spiders invade our homes in massive numbers.

That's almost as scary as the Toby Keith thing. 


Oh, we can't leave out meteor strikes.  Bonus points if it's the one they impacted this year, and it just so happens that they accidentally knocked it into an intercept trajectory...

Here's mine.

OK, got it. But since I can't reply to the PM...

Do those rules apply to all?  There are a couple on the site that openly support an oligarchy government which is a very politcal topic and that's acceptable?  Not trying to be combative, genuinely confused on that though.

Quote from: NapalmMan67 on December 01, 2022, 02:57:39 PMOK, got it. But since I can't reply to the PM...

Do those rules apply to all?  There are a couple on the site that openly support an oligarchy government which is a very politcal topic and that's acceptable?  Not trying to be combative, genuinely confused on that though.

You're welcome to report any posts that you feel are inappropriate or that conflict with site rules.  And yes, site rules apply to all.

OK. I'm revising my bingo card to remove the giant killer bees. And adding Large NON fire  breathing lizards and raptorchickens


https://youtu.be/xbY1VkNXAsE

Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.