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
Dense cities do not seem to have been necessary for outbreaks of the disease
Our podcast on science and technology. Genetic material from prehistoric bones is illuminating the relationship between humans…
Scientists say the find could provide clues on how pathogens may emerge in the future
Scientists say the find could provide clues on how pathogens may emerge in the future
Researchers found that this type of ancient plague evolved long before bubonic plague
Ancient DNA from Siberian burials reveals prehistoric outbreaks struck hunter-gatherers long before the Black Death.
Ancient DNA is rewriting the history of plague
Ancient DNA rewrites plague history after deadly outbreaks found 5,500 years ago
Ancient teeth rewrite what we know about plague’s timeline
Ancient Teeth Push the Plague's Timeline Back to Over 5,500 Years Ago
Our ancient enemy: scientists discover oldest-known plague outbreak
Ancient teeth rewrite the plague's timeline, dating back to over 5,500 years ago
A new study rewrites the history of the plague
The deadly secret locked inside ancient Siberian remains for 5500 years has finally been unearthed
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
