Scientist found 200 000 viruses hidden in Earths oceans

Scients found nearly 200000 viruses hidden in earths oceans

Nearly 20000 viruses were discovered in earths oceans by a team of scientist who dedicates four years to travel the world on a research boat.

This vastly exceeds the previous number of virus found in the ocean, 15000 marine viruses were found. Not a lot is known about these marine viruses and researchers say that learning about them could actually help humans combat climate change.

In the report researchers provided, they do not say where these new viruses could be hidden in the oceans and how they could affect different ecosystem in the water and land. 

"In the last 20 years or so, we've learned that half of the oxygen that we breathe comes from marine organisms," Sullivan said. "Additionally, the oceans soak up half of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere."

"However, if carbon dioxide instead is converted to organic carbon and biomass, then it can become particulate and sink into the deep oceans,” the Ohio State University professor explained. “That's a good result for helping mitigate human-induced climate change -- and we're learning that viruses can help facilitate this sinking.”