17 June 2026
Analysis shows evidence of deadly outbreaks 5,500 years ago — plus, a prototype dark-matter detector.
By
Benjamin Thompson &
Nick Petrić Howe
Hear the biggest stories from the world of science | 17 June 2026
17 June 2026
Analysis shows evidence of deadly outbreaks 5,500 years ago — plus, a prototype dark-matter detector.
By
Benjamin Thompson &
Nick Petrić Howe

Ancient DNA rewrites plague history after deadly outbreaks found 5,500 years ago

Ancient teeth rewrite what we know about plague’s timeline

Our ancient enemy: scientists discover oldest-known plague outbreak

Ancient teeth rewrite the plague's timeline, dating back to over 5,500 years ago

Ancient DNA provides evidence of earliest known plague outbreak

Ancient teeth from Siberia rewrite the plague’s timeline, dating back to over 5,500 years ago

Hunter-gatherer cemeteries reveal an ancient plague’s earliest known victims | CNN

Study: Oldest signs of plague outbreaks found in prehistoric graves - UPI.com

How did plague evolve? 5,500-year-old DNA points to a far more ancient origin

DNA Reveals an Ancient Killer Was Already Deadly 5,500 Years Ago