Humans are leaving behind a 'frozen signature' of microbes on Mount Everest

University of Colorado Boulder-led research finds hardy microbes can withstand harsh conditions at high elevations and lie dormant in the soil for decades or even centuries.

Microorganisms are everywhere, even in the air, and can easily blow around and land some distance away from nearby camps or trails.

The research highlights an invisible impact of tourism on the world's highest mountain, and could lead to a better understanding of environmental limits to life on Earth.

Additional authors on this publication include: Anton Seimon, Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University; and Tracie Seimon, Wildlife Conservation Society, Zoological Health Program, Bronx, New York. This work was supported by the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition, the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries Open Access Fund Story Source: Journal Reference: Cite This Page:.