Lake sampling work is conducted at a proglacial lake in front of a glacier. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

The team also reconstructed high-resolution microbial records from ice cores for the first time, revealing the diversity of DNA viruses in glaciers across the Third Pole and their mechanisms for assisting host adaptation to extreme environments. These findings were published in international top-tier journals such as Sci-ence and Bulletin. The research has significantly advanced China's efforts in glacier microbiology, climate change studies, and the biogeochemical cycles of the cryosphere, offering new insights and solutions for addressing major global challenges in environment, energy, and public health.