The Ubiquity and Mystery of Viruses

Viruses are present in every aspect of our environment, including the air, water, soil, and even our bodies. A significant portion of these viruses, referred to as viral dark matter, remains unknown to science, which raises questions about their roles and impacts. Research indicates that over 90% of viral sequences analyzed from environmental samples do not match any sequences in existing databases, suggesting that humanity has only scratched the surface of viral diversity. This obscurity opens up avenues for research, as scientists seek to understand what these unidentified viruses may be doing within ecosystems and the human microbiome.