Viruses aren’t all bad: In the ocean, some help fuel the food web – a new study shows how

Marine viruses attack cells, but the material that spills out helps fuels marine life around the world.

By: Steven Wilhelm, University of Tennessee and Joshua Weitz, University of Maryland, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 13, 2026

Words: 908

Last Updated: 2 months, 1 week ago

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By Steven Wilhelm, University of Tennessee and Joshua Weitz, University of Maryland

Virus. The word evokes images of illness and fears of outbreaks. Yet, in the oceans, not all viruses are bad news.

Some play a helpful, even critical, role in sustaining marine life.

In a new study, we and an international team of scientists examined the behavior of marine viruses in a large band of oxygen-rich water just under the surface of the Atlantic …

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