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Researchers: Rats Didn't Spread Black Death, Humans Did

concertina226 (2447056) writes "Scientists studying the human remains of plague victims found during excavations for London's new Crossrail train line have concluded that humans spread the Black Death rather than rats, a fact that could rewrite history books. University of Keele scientists, working together with Crossrail's lead archaeologist Jay Carver and osteologists from the Museum of London, analyzed the bones and teeth of 25 skeletons dug up by Crossrail. They found DNA of Yersinia pestis, which is responsible for the Black Death, on the teeth of some of the victims."

5 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. From the "Blame Humans for Everything" Movement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    That's all this is - anti-Human propaganda from the self-loathing, guilt-ridden left.

  2. Re:Zombies? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Phooey! Where's the Climate Change connection /slash/ insinuation?? You can't just put out science articles without a CCAGWPAB (people are bad) connection! C'mon... it could be anything! "Due to medieval humans' increasing burning of wood" or "methane generated by pet rats" or "blacksmith emissions"... Citation: Yersinia pestis polaris ursus sepsis migration to higher or lower latitudes (whichever is worse) due to the (insert human causation factor) as a function of (something that loses the data in the statistical noise).

    I'm koo koo for Climate Change!
    Help! I'm not Catholic! It's the only guilt I have

    ~This Climate Troll paid for by (insert evil corporation)

  3. Re:Old News by knightghost · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have neither rats nor cockroaches where I live. Well, at least not counting the politicians.

  4. Re:Virus? Plague? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cut the researchers some slack - it's a simple misunderstanding. One of these guys went to the dentist and was told they had plaque on their teeth.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  5. Re:Old News by letherial · · Score: 5, Funny

    We know you wont google it in a house with a mouse, but would you google it in a car, or a plane? how about in a box, with a fox? You may like it you will see, how about in a tree?