Christoph Mohr/picture allianceEvery year, hundreds of tourists attempt to climb the highest Mount Everest in the world. Each time they stop at the South Col, they leave behind a frozen trail of microbes, said scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Here, the microorganisms are able to withstand harsh conditions at high altitudes and can lie dormant in the soil for many decades. The study of scientists not only highlighted the invisible influence of tourists on Everest, but provided insight into the ecological limitation of life on Earth. planet today .
“There is a fixed human signature in Everest’s microbiome, even at this altitude,” said Steve Schmidt, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.
For several decades, scientists were unable to identify microbes associated with humans in samples found atop Everest. The study, carried out using genetic sequencing technology, provided a more accurate picture of what is stored in the ground at 8,000 meters above sea level. What surprised the experts the most was that the microbes were tough enough to survive under such harsh conditions.
