The Latest Breaking News from Black Death

Scientists make surprising discovery about the Black Death’s impact on nature

IN FULL

The Independent UK · Mar 6

The Black Death’s counterintuitive effect: as human numbers fell, so did plant diversity

Between 1347 and 1353, Europe was gripped by the most catastrophic pandemic in its history: the Black Death. Killing many millions, the plague wiped out between one-third and a half of Europe’s population.

The Conversation · Mar 5

Medieval mass grave unearthed in Germany may contain remains of Black Death victims

Find marks first systematically identified burial site associated with plague burials in Europe, scientists say

The Independent UK · Jan 14

How Black Death survivors gave their descendants an edge during pandemics

Up to 50% of Europeans died from the plague. Now a new study shows that those who lived had a protective gene mutation they passed on to bolster immunity — but it comes at a cost.

WEKU · Oct 19, 2022

Black Death shaped the evolution of immune system genes and modern autoimmune disorders

Survivors of the Black Death pandemic were more likely to carry a gene variant that protected against the plague, but may have increased the risk of autoimmune disorders such as Crohn's disease in their descendants, a new study has found.

ABC News · Oct 19, 2022

The Black Death changed our immune systems — here’s how

The plague left an indelible mark on its survivors and their descendants — an evolutionary struggle encoded deep within our DNA.

Inverse · Oct 19, 2022

Black Death may have fuelled rise in diabetes and arthritis, study says OLD

Research is based on plague corpses in London and Denmark

The Independent UK · Oct 19, 2022

Genetic twist: Medieval plague may have molded our immunity

Our Medieval ancestors left us with a biological legacy: Genes that helped them survive the Black Death likely make us more susceptible to certain diseases today

The Independent UK · Oct 19, 2022

Genetic traits of Black Death survivors linked to autoimmune diseases today

Scientists find people with ERAP2 variant survived 14th-century plague at much higher rates

The Guardian - UK · Oct 19, 2022

Scientists reveal how Black Death may have influenced evolution of human genes

Variants linked to protection against the 14th century bubonic plague are also associated with an increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.

The Independent UK · Oct 19, 2022