Scientists warn melting ice could release 5,000-year-old superbug that resists 10 modern antibiotics

Romanian scientists have revived a 5,000-year-old bacterium, Psychrobacter SC65A.3, from Scărișoara Ice Cave, revealing resistance to 10 modern antibiotics. The discovery highlights natural, ancient origins of antibiotic resistance and warns that melting ice could release genes into contemporary bacteria. At the same time, these cold-adapted microbes hold potential for new antibiotics, enzymes, and biotechnological innovations, underscoring both risk and opportunity.