2022 – The Pandoravirus Unleashed

An unusual virus discovered in melting permafrost excites the scientific community. It has a massive genome, and only 1% of its genes match anything in existing databases.

“What the hell is going on with the other genes?” asks researcher Jean-Michel Moreau. “This opens a Pandora’s box. What kinds of discoveries are going to come from studying the contents?”

Later in the decade, the seas transform into something totally alien. Then the mutagens begin to invade the land via an airborne microbial mist.