The oldest remnants of human viruses discovered to date are about 20,000 years older than a common-cold virus that was previously the oldest known human virus.
The Discovery
- Ancient Viral Traces: These newly discovered viral traces are the oldest human viruses found, as reported by New Scientist. The exact type of virus has not been specified.
- Previous Record Holder: Before this finding, the oldest known human virus was a common-cold virus found in 31,000-year-old baby teeth from Siberia.
Timeline Comparison
| Virus Description | Age (Years) | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newly discovered oldest human virus traces | ~51,000+ | Unspecified | New Scientist |
| Common-cold virus | 31,000 | Siberia | Baby Teeth |
Key Points
- The newly discovered viral traces predate the previously known oldest human virus by roughly 20,000 years.
- This finding extends our understanding of human viral evolution.
- The discovery of ancient viruses is helping scientists to learn more about viral history.
