The Microscopic Guardians of Peatlands

Scientists just discovered that viruses living in peatlands are actually storing carbon and keeping these

ecosystems healthy. These aren't the viruses that make us sick. They infect soil

bacteria, controlling which microbes thrive and which ones don't. When these viruses

kill certain bacteria, they release nutrients that feed others, creating a delicate balance.

Peatlands hold twice as much carbon as all the world's forests combined. The viruses act

like invisible gardeners, maintaining the microbial communities that lock this carbon away. Without them,

these ancient landscapes could release massive amounts of greenhouse gases. The smallest life

forms are doing some of the heaviest lifting for our planet's climate.