Scientists have recovered a 24,000-year-old animal from Siberian permafrost

Scientists have successfully revived a 24,000-year-old microscopic organism from Siberian permafrost, providing new insight into how life can endure extreme conditions over long periods of time.

According to a study published in the journal Current Biology, the researchers identified the organism as a rotifer – a small, multicellular animal that is often found in freshwater habitats and is known for its unusual durability.

The specimen had been formed deep within the Siberian glacier since the Late Pleistocene, an era that ended about 11,700 years ago. Scientists say the surrounding icy soil, known as the Yedoma formation, helped preserve the creature in a stable, frozen state for tens of thousands of years.

After carefully thawing the rotifer under controlled laboratory conditions, the researchers noted that it resumed normal biological functions. The body was not only functional but also able to reproduce asexually, suggesting that its cellular structures remained intact over the millennia.

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“Our report is the most compelling evidence to date that multicellular animals can survive for tens of thousands of years in cryptobiosis, a state of almost completely arrested metabolism,” said lead researcher Stas Malavin in an interview with the Indian Defense Review.

The process that allowed the rotifer to survive is known as cryptobiosis, a biological state in which metabolic activity drops to almost zero. This enables certain organisms to withstand extreme conditions, including freezing temperatures, dehydration and lack of oxygen.

Although scientists have recreated life on ice, those examples usually involve single-celled life forms or simple structures. The successful regeneration of a multicellular organism marks an important step forward, as highly complex organisms present significant challenges when it comes to surviving freezing and thawing without injury.

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A 24,000-year-old rotifer was recently discovered in Siberian permafrost, dating back to the Late Pleistocene. (Unknown)

Ancient organisms, including bacteria, are also preserved in permafrost and are often easy to regenerate due to their simple structure. In another experiment, scientists have revived bacteria that remain able to infect host cells after thawing, although none have been linked to human illness.

The researchers say the findings underscore a different concern: as rising global temperatures accelerate the melting of permafrost, long-lived bacteria could be released outside of controlled lab conditions, raising new questions about potential environmental and health risks.

Rotifers, although invisible, have special systems such as digestive tracts and unusual sensory structures, which make their longevity in the frozen environment particularly remarkable.

The researchers say the findings could have broader implications for science, including studies of how cells resist damage from ice crystals and radiation over time. The discovery could also inform fields such as biotechnology and astrobiology, where scientists explore how life might survive in an extreme or extraterrestrial environment.

A rotifer is a rare example of a multicellular organism that regenerates under extreme conditions. (Stock)

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Despite the success, experts caution that the findings do not suggest that larger organisms – such as mammals – can be resurrected after similar periods of freezing. The complexity of higher life forms makes them more vulnerable to cellular damage during freezing and thawing.

Still, the research expands the current understanding of the limits of life on Earth and raises new questions about how long living organisms can survive under the right conditions, which could challenge scientific thinking about life in extreme environments.