Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed ancient coffins in the desert near the Saqqara necropolis in Egypt in September 2020. According to information, they were buried more than 2,500 years ago, and those coffins are well-protected naturally.
Further, archaeologists believe that those haven’t been opened since their burial thousands of years ago. Since these are well-protected, some viruses that belong to that era could be found in the coffins.
I would like to discuss the possibility of activation of 2500-year-old sleeping viruses from such ancient coffins.
[ Photo credit: The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities/Handout via Reuters]
This is a serious problem with many risks. In our country there are closed cemeteries, ancient burials of those who died during plague epidemics. Has long been banned from exhumation. Although our specialized institutes want to take a sample of the plague microbe.
Regards, Sergey Viktorovich Pushkin
Thanks a lot for your insert! This is explosive stuff! Actually looking at the development of remedies/vaccines against COVID-19, I really wonder: What do we know about viruses ??! As soon as possible, pump cubic meters of liquid chloroquinine over the archeologic site, ha-ha!!!! (Proposal by Donald Trump - our new father Stalin who knows better than scientists).
In my opinion, viruses are very protected, dead chemicals which may come to life in case all environmentally features are well met. But those elements we humans still don't know - what does a virus need to live? Is it adsorbed and surviving at/in surfaces? Are they airborne? Do they exist in the oceans (resistant to high saline concentrations)?
If that possible, then it will be so easy to preserve any living beings after any period of time.
Dear jasim,
Except viruses, other organism
need energy for their metabolic activities. Therefore, it is not possible to stay such orgnisms for a long period like 2500 years. But viruses no need such energy. That is the only possibility to stay viruses for a longer period, if other condisions are remainin unchanged.
Very right, dear A. G. Piyal Aravinna , and what is more puzzling to me is the fact, virus need bacteria to live on them as "parasites" (fetching energy). But not randomly or generally. There are specific virus for plants, trees, shrubs; other for animals ... How far are we scientists to know what we actually are dealing with ??! Are virus eventually the "GOD's particles for life" ?
Kindly check https://www.sciencealert.com/at-least-13-completely-sealed-2-500-year-old-coffins-have-been-found-in-egypt/amp
Also check https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/trove-2500-year-old-human-coffins-unearthed-egypt-180975755/
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