On Earth, frozen environments such as permafrost and glaciers are known for their ability to preserve items, as they are too cold for ordinary decomposition to take place. This makes them a valuable source of archeological artefacts and prehistoric fossils, yet it also means that there are certain risks once ancient organic matter is finally subject to thaw. The best-studied risk is that of decomposition of such organic matter releasing a substantial quantity of carbon dioxide and methane, and thus acting as a notable climate change feedback. Yet, some scientists have also raised concerns about the possibility that some metabolically dormant bacteria and protists, as well as always metabolically inactive viruses, may both survive the thaw and either threaten humans directly, or affect some of the animal or plant species important for human wellbeing.
As of 2023, there has been at least one recorded reemergence of anthrax, a pathogen long-known for its ability to hibernate in soils. There have also been several cases when truly novel microorganisms discovered in the frozen environments were successfully revived by researchers, or were found live in a recently thawed environment. So far, most only affect amoebas, and none have been known to pose a risk to humans or to crops. Of the already-studied pathogens, at least one anthrax outbreak has been connected to decades-old infected carrion thaw; yet, samples of influenza and smallpox pathogens have failed to survive the thaw even in laboratory conditions. Some researchers have also raised alarm about the potential of horizontal gene transfer between ancient and modern bacteria, and the risk it could exacerbate the challenge of antibiotic resistance. At the same time, other scientists consider these concerns overblown, and argue that ancient microorganisms are unlikely to make a difference today.