Health

Ancient plague mystery cracked after DNA found in 4,000-year-old animal remains

Published

3 months ago

December 20, 2025

Ancient plague mystery cracked after DNA found in 4,000-year-old animal remains

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Long before the Black Death killed millions across Europe in the Middle Ages, an earlier, more elusive version of the plague spread across much of Eurasia.

For years, scientists were unsure how the ancient disease managed to spread so widely during the Bronze Age, which lasted from roughly 3300 to 1200 B.C., and stick around for nearly 2,000 years, especially since it wasn’t spread by fleas like later plagues. Now, researchers say a surprising clue may help explain it, a domesticated sheep that lived more than 4,000 years ago.

Researchers found DNA from the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis in the tooth of a Bronze Age sheep discovered in what is now southern Russia, according to a study recently published in the journal Cell. It is the first known evidence that the ancient plague infected animals, not just people, and offers a missing clue about how the disease spread.

SCIENTISTS CRACK THE CODE ON NEW VACCINE FOR DEADLY PLAGUE BACTERIA

“It was alarm bells for my team,” study co-author Taylor Hermes, a University of Arkansas archaeologist who studies ancient livestock and disease spread, said in a statement. “This was the first time we had recovered the genome from Yersinia pestis in a non-human sample.”

A domesticated sheep, likely similar to this one, lived alongside humans during the Bronze Age. (iStock)

And it was a lucky discovery, according to the researchers.

“When we test livestock DNA in ancient samples, we get a complex genetic soup of contamination,” Hermes said. “This is a large barrier … but it also gives us an opportunity to look for pathogens that infected herds and their handlers.”

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The highly technical and time-consuming work requires researchers to separate tiny, damaged fragments of ancient DNA from contamination left by soil, microbes and even modern humans. The DNA they recover from ancient animals is often broken into tiny pieces sometimes just 50 “letters” long, compared to a full human DNA strand, which contains more than 3 billion of those letters.

Animal remains are especially tough to study because they are often poorly preserved compared to human remains that were carefully buried, the researchers noted.

The finding sheds light on how the plague likely spread through close contact between people, livestock and wild animals as Bronze Age societies began keeping larger herds and traveling farther with horses. The Bronze Age saw more widespread use of bronze tools, large-scale animal herding and increased travel, conditions that may have made it easier for diseases to move between animals and humans.

When the plague returned in the Middle Ages during the 1300s, known as the Black Death, it killed an estimated one-third of Europe’s population.

The discovery was made at Arkaim, a fortified Bronze Age settlement in the Southern Ural Mountains of present-day Russia near the Kazakhstan border. (iStock)

“It had to be more than people moving,” Hermes said. “Our plague sheep gave us a breakthrough. We now see it as a dynamic between people, livestock and some still unidentified ‘natural reservoir’ for it.”

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Researchers believe sheep likely picked up the bacteria from another animal, like rodents or migratory birds, that carried it without getting sick and then passed it to humans. They say the findings highlight how many deadly diseases begin in animals and jump to humans, a risk that continues today as people move into new environments and interact more closely with wildlife and livestock.

“It’s important to have a greater respect for the forces of nature,” Hermes said.

The study is based on a single ancient sheep genome, which limits how much scientists can conclude, they noted, and more samples are needed to fully understand the spread.

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The researchers plan to study more ancient human and animal remains from the region to determine how widespread the plague was and which species may have played a role in spreading it.

Researchers (not pictured) found plague-causing Yersinia pestis DNA in the remains of a Bronze Age sheep. (iStock)

They also hope to identify the wild animal that originally carried the bacteria and better understand how human movement and livestock herding helped the disease travel across vast distances, insights that could help them better anticipate how animal-borne diseases continue to emerge.

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The research was led by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, with senior authors Felix M. Key of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology and Christina Warinner of Harvard University and the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology.

The research was supported by the Max Planck Society, which has also funded follow-up work in the region.

Deirdre Bardolf is a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital.

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Health

GLP-1 drugs linked to higher fracture risk, osteoporosis and gout, new studies suggest

Published

6 hours ago

March 7, 2026

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$GLP-1 drugs linked to higher fracture risk, osteoporosis and gout, new studies suggest$

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GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed treatment for Type 2 diabetes and obesity, but new research suggests doctors may need to pay closer attention to bone health, especially in older patients taking the drugs.

Older adults with Type 2 diabetes who started GLP-1s had an 11% higher risk of fragility fractures compared to those taking other diabetes medications, a study published in February in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found.

Dr. Michal Kasher Meron, an endocrinologist at Meir Medical Center in Israel and lead author of the study, said the relative increase may sound small, but it carries weight for an at-risk population.

“Both older age and Type 2 diabetes are independent risk factors for fragility fractures,” Kasher Meron told Fox News Digital. “This is a population that deserves special attention.”

A new study suggests older adults with Type 2 diabetes taking GLP-1 medications may face increased fracture risk. (iStock)

Fragility fractures are breaks from minor falls or routine activity, often linked to osteoporosis, and can lead to hospitalization, loss of independence and even increased mortality in older adults, Kasher Meron noted.

The study followed more than 46,000 adults 65 and older for nearly three years. After adjustments, GLP-1 users had a modest but statistically significant increase in fracture risk.

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Previous research in younger patients using older GLP-1s did not show increased fracture risk, but newer, more potent versions are now widely prescribed to older adults, Kasher Meron noted.

“In older adults treated with contemporary medications, the fracture risk picture looks different and warrants close attention,” she said.

Separate research found slightly higher rates of osteoporosis and gout among adults using GLP-1s. (iStock)

The study, however, was observational, meaning it shows an association but not causation. Researchers were unable to determine whether the risk was driven by weight loss, changes in diet, muscle loss or a direct effect on bone.

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Nonetheless, Kasher Meron says, “Bone health should be assessed before starting these medications in older patients — not as an afterthought.”

The findings come as separate research presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ annual meeting this month raised additional bone health concerns.

In an analysis of more than 146,000 adults with obesity and Type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 users were found to have a 29% higher relative risk of osteoporosis over five years compared to nonusers, according to reports.

STUDY REVEALS HOW RAPIDLY WEIGHT COMES BACK AFTER QUITTING OBESITY MEDICATIONS

Rates of gout were also slightly higher, affecting 7.4% of GLP-1 users compared to 6.6% of nonusers — about a 12% relative increase.

Experts recommend bone density screening for older adults taking GLP-1 medications. (iStock)

Osteomalacia, a softening of the bones, was rare but occurred about twice as often in GLP-1 users, according to the study, which has not yet been peer reviewed. It was also observational, showing only an association. Fox News Digital has reached out to the researcher for comment.

Several mechanisms could be at play, experts say. GLP-1 medications suppress appetite and can lead to rapid weight loss. Significant weight loss is known to reduce bone density, partly because less mechanical load is placed on the skeleton.

“It’s the same idea as when we always hear about astronauts going up into space, and they’re in a gravity-zero environment for too long,” lead author Dr. John Horneff, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, told NBC News.

“There’s nothing forcing their bones to kind of hold their weight anymore. And a lot of those astronauts come back with low bone density.”

Additionally, eating fewer calories may also mean lower intake of calcium, vitamin D and protein, nutrients critical for bone strength.

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are widely used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity. (iStock)

Rapid weight loss can also temporarily increase uric acid levels, a byproduct of tissue breakdown, which may explain the uptick in gout cases.

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Despite the findings, experts say the results should not discourage appropriate use of GLP-1 medications, which have proven benefits for blood sugar control, weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction.

In addition to bone density screening, experts say patients should ensure adequate nutrition and resistance training to help preserve muscle and bone during weight loss.

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A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk, which manufactures GLP-1 medications, said the company prioritizes patient safety, works closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and welcomes independent research into its products.

Experts also recommend proper nutrition and resistance training to help preserve muscle and bone health during weight loss. (iStock)

The known risks and benefits of the drugs are reflected in the current FDA-approved labeling, Liz Skrbkova, head of U.S. media relations for Novo Nordisk, told Fox News Digital. She emphasized that semaglutide has demonstrated cardiovascular, kidney and liver benefits when used under medical supervision.

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“Osteoporosis is a complex condition that develops over many years as a result of interdependent risk factors,” Skrbkova added.

Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed reporting.

Deirdre Bardolf is a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital.

Health

What’s healthier to drink: cold or hot water? Here’s what an expert says

Published

18 hours ago

March 7, 2026

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What’s healthier to drink: cold or hot water? Here’s what an expert says

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A viral wellness trend asks a simple question — is warm or cold water healthier? — but the science behind it is more nuanced.

Previous research shows that food and beverage temperature has a measurable effect on things like anxiety and gut discomfort.

One of the most long-standing health claims is that ice-cold water boosts calorie burn by forcing the body to heat it up. While this is grounded in science, the actual impact may be minimal.

Ultimately, experts say, the health impact of water temperature depends on the goal — weight loss, athletic performance, digestion or comfort.

Does cold water boost weight loss?

“As per research, in the 90 minutes after consuming cold or room temperature water, energy expenditure increases minimally by 2.9% (cold water) and 2.3% (room temperature),” Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian and diabetes expert in North Carolina, told Fox News Digital.

Extra water may suppress the appetite or may play a part in energy production and expenditure, experts say. (iStock)

While the body does expend energy to warm up cold water, Freirich noted that it’s “not significant enough to make it worthwhile” for weight loss. Hot water doesn’t exactly melt fat, however, she added.

For those looking to lose or manage weight, Freirich suggests focusing on “how much” rather than “how cold.” She pointed to research involving overweight women who added an extra 1.5 liters of water to their daily intake. Over eight weeks, the participants saw measurable weight loss.

YOUR BEDROOM TEMPERATURE COULD BE PUTTING YOUR HEART IN SERIOUS DANGER, STUDY WARNS

“The extra water may suppress the appetite or may play a part in energy production and expenditure,” Freirich said. The temperature of drinking water should not affect how well the body utilizes nutrients, she added, noting that more research is needed.

For those exercising in heat and humidity, the goal should be to rehydrate without excessive fluid loss through sweat. Research on thermoregulation suggests there is an ideal water temperature for athletes.

The temperature of drinking water should not affect how well the body utilizes nutrients, according to an expert. (iStock)

While drinking water can trigger sweating as the body regulates its temperature, 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit was associated with the least amount of perspiration.

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“Cool, but not cold,” Freirich emphasized. Drinking water in this specific range helps the body rehydrate efficiently without causing gastrointestinal distress.

Warm water and digestion

There are several reasons someone might opt for warm water, including its effect on relaxation and digestion. Studies have found that warmer liquids can accelerate gastric emptying, effectively waking up the gut.

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The benefits may be mental as well. Freirich points to research showing that hot black tea leads to lower levels of cortisol — the body’s primary stress hormone — and greater subjective relaxation after stressful tasks.

The preference for warm water often stems from its effect on the rest and digestion. Studies have found that warmer liquids can accelerate gastric emptying, effectively waking up the gut. (iStock)

Medical triggers

Freirich warns that very cold water can cause difficulty for those with swallowing disorders, or can trigger migraines and “brain freeze” in people with sensitive nerves.

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Furthermore, those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may find that ice-cold drinks trigger digestive discomfort.

Ultimately, the best temperature is the one that encourages people to drink, the dietitian said. The general recommendation for adults is to consume seven to eight glasses of water per day.

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“Most importantly, it is important for everyone to stay adequately hydrated,” Freirich said.

Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.

Health

Alarming report reveals what’s driving deadly cancer surge in young adults

Published

1 day ago

March 6, 2026

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Alarming report reveals what’s driving deadly cancer surge in young adults

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On the lookout

→ Brain aging may accelerate after cancer treatment

→ Ozempic-style drugs could slash complication risks after heart attacks

→ Aging process could accelerate due to ‘forever chemicals’ exposure

Weight-loss drugs may prevent deadly heart complications by opening blocked blood vessels after heart attacks, groundbreaking new research reveals. (iStock)