In a scientific first, strange 'vampire viruses' have cropped up in soil samples in US’s Maryland and Missouri. Though the existence of “vampire viruses” has been known to the researchers for decades, this is the first instance of it cropping up in soil samples. 'Vampire Viruses' Found for the First Time in US; What Is Vampire Virus? Should You Be Worried? Here's All You Need to Know.
Viruses are somehow even weirder than we thought. In a recent study published last month, scientists say they’ve discovered two new viruses that hijack the machinery of other bacteria-infecting viruses in order to replicate themselves. One of these vampiric viruses even acts the part, appearing to “bite” and latch onto their helper virus so that they can enter the bacteria at the same time.