Genomics
Ancient DNA ties paratyphoid and relapsing fevers to Napoleon’s 1812 retreat
Heather Vogel Image generated by AI Fact checked
Scientists analyzing DNA from 13 soldiers buried in a mass grave in Vilnius, Lithuania, uncovered genetic traces of paratyphoid fever and louse-borne relapsing fever—offering the first direct confirmation of these pathogens in Napoleon’s Grande Armée. The study, published October 24, 2025, in Current Biology, links centuries-old eyewitness reports to modern genomics. ([sciencedaily.com](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251026021727.htm))
Scientists identify specific brain cells linked to depression
Reported by AI
Researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Institute have pinpointed two types of brain cells altered in people with depression. Using advanced genomic analysis on post-mortem brain tissue, they found genetic disruptions in excitatory neurons and microglia. The findings, published in Nature Genetics, could lead to more targeted treatments for the condition affecting over 264 million people worldwide.