It seems unthinkable that anything could live after tens of thousands of years in hibernation. The discovery of a tiny creature in the Siberian permafrost has sparked conversations about how resilient life can be.
In a recent breakthrough, researchers determined that a worm which had been frozen for about 46,000 years had survived and remained alive.
Dr. Philipp Schiffer, a group leader in the Institute of Zoology at the University of Cologne, and his colleagues, have been studying how this creature managed to survive well beyond its usual lifespan.
Extreme environment in Siberian permafrost
Siberia has vast stretches of permafrost, which is soil or sediment that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years.
The frozen ground can extend hundreds of feet below the surface in certain regions, with the cold temperatures preserving anything trapped within its layers.
Conditions in these areas can be challenging for people, but the permafrost forms perfect vaults for preserving animal remains. Thick ice and frigid temperatures keep organic material fresh enough to study thousands of years later.
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https://www.earth.com/news/frozen-worm-comes-back-to-life-after-46000-years/