Subscribe now

THE idea that a person could be cryogenically frozen and then revived tens or hundreds of years later is still in the realm of science fiction. For some microbes, however, it is reality. Known as psychrophiles – literally, lovers of ice – they can survive at extremely cold temperatures for hundreds of thousands of years. Though frozen parts of the world such as Antarctica and Siberia appear comatose and desolate, they are actually vast reservoirs of creatures in a state of suspended animation, and in some cases they are not suspended at all, but fully functioning living organisms.

In fact, it appears…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop