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A man drank 2 million-year-old glacial water, thinking it was pure, but ancient microbes quickly turned his stomach against him.
Health experts warn that icy water can contain harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. (Instagram/@doctormyro)
The videos often go viral on social media for their fun or adventurous appeal, but sometimes they hide serious danger. Recently, one video surfaced showing a man drinking crystal clear glacial water said to be millions of years old.
The clip shows the man filling a cup with water straight from a glacier and swallowing it. Although it looked clean, health experts were quick to warn that this water could contain ancient bacteria that are harmful to modern humans.
Shortly after drinking the alcohol, the man experienced stomach rumbling, a sign that can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
What seems pure can turn into risky
The video was shared on Instagram by a health expert Dr. Mirowho urged viewers: “Please don’t drink old microbes!” He explained that the water, likely from a glacier in Alaska, may have trapped viruses, parasites and bacteria that have survived for thousands or even millions of years.
According to studies, glaciers like Julia in Tibet contain microbes that are more than 15,000 years old, while Taylor Glacier in Antarctica contains bacteria dating back 2 million years that are still alive, surviving without oxygen.
A deadly “time capsule.”
Dr. Miro The researchers described the icy water as a “time capsule” – deceptively pure but full of organisms that our immune systems cannot cope with. Experts say drinking such water can cause diarrhea, stomach pain and dehydration due to parasites such as giardia or cryptosporidium, which are often found in animal waste or ancient pollutants frozen within glaciers.
So, while the idea of tasting ancient water may seem adventurous, experts agree that some things are best admired from a distance.
06 Nov 2025 at 3:14 PM IST
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