Microbes are indispensable to Earth’s ecosystems, fuelling global biogeochemical cycles and governing greenhouse gas fluxes, yet remain underestimated in climate policy and assessments. This article explores the profound influence of anthropogenic climate change on Earth’s cryosphere, emphasizing how rising temperatures not only accelerate the thawing of glaciers and permafrost but also resurrect long-dormant microbes and pathogens trapped under the ice for millennia. By reviewing recent scientific findings, the article highlights the ecological, climatic, and public health risks posed by these revived organisms, from altered carbon cycling and methane emissions to the potential emergence of ancient infectious agents, including viruses with unknown consequences for modern hosts. Integrative approaches combining metagenomics, ecological measurements, and climate modelling are crucial for understanding and mitigating the cascading effects of microbial dynamics in a warming world.
