Welcome to virosphere

Viruses may seem alien, but they are the most abundant and, arguably, the most important organisms on Earth. They are found just about everywhere, from oceans and forests to the people around you and, of course, in and on you as well. This world of strange, quasi-living things has been dubbed the virosphere, and it is a mysterious one – we know less about viruses than any other life form. But that is changing rapidly. Viruses are alive or not is still up for grabs. We do know, however, that the length of time viruses can remain viable outside their host varies hugely. Some survive only seconds while others can persist for decades. Once inside a host, viruses spring into action. Hosts can be any kind of living thing, or even another virus. Become clear this subject a decade ago with the discovery of a virus called Sputnik living within a giant, complex virus known as Mamavirus. Despite our preconceptions, the interactions between virus and host aren’t all one sided: viruses can be beneficial as well as harmful. We need a greater understanding of what viruses actually are, where they come from and how they continue to affect every aspect of life on Earth. Opening our eyes to this weird world will do everything from helping us to prevent disease to understanding life’s origins. It could even give us insights into how the natural world is likely to change in the future.