Factor X (Advanced)

Scientists are sounding the alarm about a potential Pandora's box lurking beneath the frozen ground, harboring a cocktail of deadly diseases. For eons, ancient microbes have been on ice, entombed in the permafrost that blankets vast stretches of our planet. Permafrost, that rock-hard ground that remains frosty for at least two years, is a regular feature in lofty mountains and around the chilly North and South Poles. According to the scientists, this icy fortress is thawing due to climate change, setting the stage for the unleashing of enigmatic and perilous viruses, aptly labeled 'Factor X.' Birgitta Evengard, a savvy professor specializing in infectious diseases from a Swedish university, emphasizes our limited knowledge about Factor X and the lurking biological hazards buried in Earth's frozen grasp.

Virologist Jean-Michel Claverie paints a chilling picture, revealing ancient viruses entombed in the permafrost for over 50,000 years. He posits that these viral relics could pose a threat to humanity. Professor Claverie raises the stakes, deeming "ancient viruses up to a million years old" the most nightmarish, considering our utter lack of familiarity with them. He goes on to underscore the potential for large-scale havoc, with deadly bacterial diseases such as smallpox and anthrax possibly making a grand and unwelcome entrance. While Factor X presents its own set of challenges, a consensus among scientists is that the real ogre emerging from the melting permafrost is methane – a greenhouse gas that packs an 80-fold punch compared to the notorious CO2.