http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/08/30/Black-Death-confirmed-as-bubonic-plague/UPI-40421314745623/
Quotehe Black Death that decimated the population of Europe in the 14th century was definitely caused by bubonic plague, a DNA analysis of medieval bones has shown.
While some researchers have suggested the epidemic was in fact caused by a virus such as Ebola, the analysis of DNA from a London plague burial has confirmed the "plague" bacterium Yersinia pestis was responsible, NewScientist.com reported Tuesday.
Researchers from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, looked for Yersinia DNA in the bones of Black Death victims, a task complicated by possibility of contamination, they said.
"When we extract DNA from the skeletons, we also get DNA from their environment," researcher Hendirk Poinar said.
But careful sampling of bones and teeth using a molecular "probe" found DNA belonging to a strain of Y. pestis unlike any known today, and not found in skeletons buried elsewhere in London before the Black Death.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/08/30/Black-Death-confirmed-as-bubonic-plague/UPI-40421314745623/#ixzz1Wc0HRJbk
"Unlike any known today."
What bet some shithead decides to try to revive this shit and get a live strain of it...
Not entirely confirmed, though. A number of scientists and historians are calling for further tests on graves from before the Black Death, as a test group.
There are so many anomalies between the medieval accounts of the Black Death and the bubonic plauge outbreak in the Third Pandemic, which western dotors meticulously documented, it would have to be a remarkably different strain. It'd have to be like pneumonic plague, but much more lethal and virulent.
I found another article too. They said that this particular strain could be extinct (thankfully).
Quote from: Luna on August 31, 2011, 02:17:56 PM
"Unlike any known today."
What bet some shithead decides to try to revive this shit and get a live strain of it...
People die of plague every year.
I think you told me that it runs rampant in the desert.
Quote from: Her Royal Suuness on August 31, 2011, 02:44:14 PM
I think you told me that it runs rampant in the desert.
The entire Southwest is a plague zone, particularly in animals.
It just doesn't turn into an epidemic, for a multitude of reasons.
But it does kill people:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no3_supp/ruiz.htm
There are also still periodic outbreaks in India. Probably in Xinjiang too, though you don't hear about that as much, for obvious reasons.
Quote from: Cain on August 31, 2011, 02:47:27 PM
There are also still periodic outbreaks in India. Probably in Xinjiang too, though you don't hear about that as much, for obvious reasons.
Oh, you hear about it some...It's just that nobody cares.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/world/asia/04china.html
Funnily enough, I do recall that one...I think the only reason it got international play is because it was pneumonic though.
And even the article notes outbreaks are more common in Africa. Which, lets face it, never gets media attention, unless we're waging a war there.
Doesn't the South also have those amoeba that turns your brain into jelly?
Ah, yes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naegleria_fowleri#United_States
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on August 31, 2011, 02:58:59 PM
Doesn't the South also have those amoeba that turns your brain into jelly?
Ah, yes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naegleria_fowleri#United_States
Turns out that's far more widespread than people thought. It's in the Colorado River, for example.
Ewg. And people wonder why I don't swim...
Quote from: Luna on August 31, 2011, 03:15:38 PM
Ewg. And people wonder why I don't swim...
At least we don't have guinea worms. America isn't ready for that, no matter how many times they show
Alien on the SciFi channel.
This kid is being prepared by responsible parents
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5KPZ45ZLrcA/S9W1z9j3OHI/AAAAAAAABPE/DHD6x2fEIA0/s640/alien-baby-costume.jpg)
Quote from: Cain on August 31, 2011, 03:19:11 PM
This kid is being prepared by responsible parents
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5KPZ45ZLrcA/S9W1z9j3OHI/AAAAAAAABPE/DHD6x2fEIA0/s640/alien-baby-costume.jpg)
christ that poor kid. Not that it isn't hilarious, but damn, who would put that kind of thing on a kid that small? He's completely spazzed. Who wouldn't be? There is a part of me thinking that putting that costume on a child borders on child abuse. I mean would you let a kid that age watch Aliens?
I can think of half a dozen more traumatizing things for a kid to see on last night's news, to be perfectly honest.
Ohh, Awesome!
:lulz:
I have got to get me one of those for next time I babysit...
Quote from: Luna on August 31, 2011, 03:15:38 PM
Ewg. And people wonder why I don't swim...
Meh. I've been scraped by barnacles, stung by a stingray, stalked by sharks, slimed by jellyfish, stepped on a whale/dolphin placenta (gross) and I turned out alright.
Quote from: Khara on August 31, 2011, 03:39:41 PM
Quote from: Cain on August 31, 2011, 03:19:11 PM
This kid is being prepared by responsible parents
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5KPZ45ZLrcA/S9W1z9j3OHI/AAAAAAAABPE/DHD6x2fEIA0/s640/alien-baby-costume.jpg)
christ that poor kid. Not that it isn't hilarious, but damn, who would put that kind of thing on a kid that small? He's completely spazzed. Who wouldn't be? There is a part of me thinking that putting that costume on a child borders on child abuse. I mean would you let a kid that age watch Aliens?
Personally, I laughed my ass off.
Quote from: Her Royal Suuness on August 31, 2011, 03:45:12 PM
Quote from: Luna on August 31, 2011, 03:15:38 PM
Ewg. And people wonder why I don't swim...
Meh. I've been scraped by barnacles, stung by a stingray, stalked by sharks, slimed by jellyfish, stepped on a whale/dolphin placenta (gross) and I turned out alright.
I've been swallowed by a whale and shit back out into a shark feeding frenzy.
Quote from: Pancho on August 31, 2011, 03:47:09 PM
Quote from: Her Royal Suuness on August 31, 2011, 03:45:12 PM
Quote from: Luna on August 31, 2011, 03:15:38 PM
Ewg. And people wonder why I don't swim...
Meh. I've been scraped by barnacles, stung by a stingray, stalked by sharks, slimed by jellyfish, stepped on a whale/dolphin placenta (gross) and I turned out alright.
I've been swallowed by a whale and shit back out into a shark feeding frenzy.
Hence your epic immortality, of course.
Quote from: Her Royal Suuness on August 31, 2011, 03:48:27 PM
Quote from: Pancho on August 31, 2011, 03:47:09 PM
Quote from: Her Royal Suuness on August 31, 2011, 03:45:12 PM
Quote from: Luna on August 31, 2011, 03:15:38 PM
Ewg. And people wonder why I don't swim...
Meh. I've been scraped by barnacles, stung by a stingray, stalked by sharks, slimed by jellyfish, stepped on a whale/dolphin placenta (gross) and I turned out alright.
I've been swallowed by a whale and shit back out into a shark feeding frenzy.
Hence your epic immortality, of course.
Well, admittedly it did happen 5 million years ago.
Quote from: Pancho on August 31, 2011, 03:49:31 PM
Quote from: Her Royal Suuness on August 31, 2011, 03:48:27 PM
Quote from: Pancho on August 31, 2011, 03:47:09 PM
Quote from: Her Royal Suuness on August 31, 2011, 03:45:12 PM
Quote from: Luna on August 31, 2011, 03:15:38 PM
Ewg. And people wonder why I don't swim...
Meh. I've been scraped by barnacles, stung by a stingray, stalked by sharks, slimed by jellyfish, stepped on a whale/dolphin placenta (gross) and I turned out alright.
I've been swallowed by a whale and shit back out into a shark feeding frenzy.
Hence your epic immortality, of course.
Well, admittedly it did happen 5 million years ago.
And everything was bigger 5 million years ago, with bigger teefs.
Quote from: Cain on August 31, 2011, 03:44:07 PM
I can think of half a dozen more traumatizing things for a kid to see on last night's news, to be perfectly honest.
I can agree with that, I don't know it's just the poor kid's face. I've seen that look. It's the scarred for life look. :sad:
Quote from: Pancho on August 31, 2011, 03:45:31 PM
Personally, I laughed my ass off.
I can see the humor. I just... :x To a kid that little. Sorry took this off tangent.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on August 31, 2011, 03:10:30 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on August 31, 2011, 02:58:59 PM
Doesn't the South also have those amoeba that turns your brain into jelly?
Ah, yes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naegleria_fowleri#United_States
Turns out that's far more widespread than people thought. It's in the Colorado River, for example.
Well, that explains a few things.