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GIANTmicrobes Plush - Zombie Virus (Pithovirus Sibericum)

GIANTmicrobes Plush - Zombie Virus (Pithovirus Sibericum)

Regular price $11.49
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  • 30-day money-back guarantee on sealed items.
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GIANTmicrobes Plush - Zombie Virus (Pithovirus Sibericum)

These Giant Microbes Dolls are a Million times their Actual Size! GIANT microbes are health and science products for humorous, educational, collectible, and Smart fun! Products include printed cards with fun fascinating facts. Unique gifts for students, scientists, teachers, health professionals & anyone with a healthy sense of humor!

All About the Zombie Virus (Pithovirus Sibericum)

FACTS: When French scientists Jean-Michel Claverie and Chantal Abergel learned that plants had been revived from 30,000 year old seeds found in squirrel hoards buried deep in the Siberian permafrost, they requested frost samples from the Russian team. They then tempted the samples with fresh amoeba, and were able to lure dormant viruses hiding in the frost into action. The viruses attacked the amoeba, bent them to their will, and started using them as replication laboratories.

When the scientists investigated, they discovered that, on the microscopic scale, the viruses were absolutely enormous. Over a micrometer in size, they are as large as many bacteria, even larger than some of the smallest known free-living eukaryotic cells, and are readily visible using standard microscopes. (The scientists named the virus Pithovirus sibericum because its shape resembled the ancient Greek wine jars called "pithos.")

Fortunately, it appears that the primary threat that this zombie virus poses is to the microscopic amoeba population. Nevertheless, the scientists have also discovered other large viruses, including Pandoraviruses and the "microbe mimicking" virus, or Mimivirus. Although the pathology of these viruses is as yet unknown, antibodies to giant viruses have been detected in humans – which means giant viruses can make us their hosts.

The genetic material of these viruses is unusual and overlaps known lifeforms to a very limited degree, which has the scientific community very intrigued about the possibilities for new discoveries. But only time will tell what else is lurking deep under the frost, waiting to be brought back from the dead...

Shipping & returns

Shipping

  • Free US shipping on orders over $100. Under $100, you'll see the exact rate at checkout.
  • Fast dispatch. In-stock orders leave within 1 to 2 business days. We'll email you tracking the moment it ships.
  • US delivery is usually 3 to 6 days after shipping via USPS or UPS.
  • International delivery is usually 12 to 26 days. We ship to Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia and many other countries. Customs duties and import taxes, if any, are charged by your country and are not included in our prices.
  • Pre-orders ship when the item arrives; the expected date is on the product page. If you order a pre-order with in-stock items, everything ships together.
  • Package protection. You can add Route protection at checkout to cover loss, damage or theft in transit.

Returns & our 30-day guarantee

If a sealed, unopened item isn't right, send it back within 30 days of delivery and we'll refund the purchase price (less original shipping) to your original payment method within 14 days of receiving it.

Not returnable: opened blind boxes, mystery packs, capsules and mixed lots (the surprise is the product), sale and clearance items, and gift cards.

Damaged or wrong item? That's on us. Email a photo and your order number to info@knickknacktoyshack.com within 7 days of delivery and we'll replace it or refund you, shipping included.

How to return

  1. Email info@knickknacktoyshack.com with your order number.
  2. We'll reply with your return address and instructions.
  3. Pack the item in its original, unopened packaging and send it with a tracked service. Return postage is on you.

The full legal versions are here: Shipping policy · Refund policy.

How mystery packs work

Blind boxes, capsules and mystery packs are sealed by the manufacturer, so the character inside is a surprise to us too. Unless a listing says "choose your favorite", the one you get is random. Because the surprise is the product, opened mystery items can't be returned.

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