Medival Justice. Rats are absolved. Hallelujah! (“Squeek! Squeek!”)

[telemann.livejournal.com]

All you lovers of pet rats can rest more easy this afternoon, with the good news that rats have been absolved in the spread of the Black Plague in Europe.

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, climate data dating back to the 14th century contradicts the commonly held notion that European plague outbreaks were caused by a reservoir of disease-carrying fleas hosted by the continent’s rat population.

The findings absolve Europe’s black rats of responsibility for the deaths of more than 100 million people in the “second plague pandemic,” which began with the Black Death in the mid-14th century and recurred until the 1800s [Some countries did not recover their population losses until the 18th century (e.g. Italy)]. They also explain why the disease popped up intermittently century after century, rather than lingering on the continent as long as rats were around to carry it.

How have the scientists determined this? The use of climate records (e.g. tree rings) showing weather patterns at the time of the outbreaks made it unlikely those "dirty rats" did it. researchers examining plague DNA found in 25 14th-century skeletons said they found evidence that the disease was airborne rather than distributed via flea bites.

Hey I admit I'm the first one to freak out when I see a NYC subway rat waddling down the platform towards me. But some New York City humans have the same effect on me! Seriously, rats have a unjustified bad reputation, and they are really remarkable creatures, they're wonderful pets, and have a remarkable sense of morality, as shown in experiments. Rats also love to laugh, well, they do when tickled silly!

They also taste good if you get lost on a deserted island.Eeek!! for real! OMG!?! Did I really just type this?!

So who is the likely candidate to blame for the Black Plague? It’s always the cute ones you have to watch out for!
The Gerbil!



Source at the Washington Post

Comments

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Frankly, that gerbil thingy still looks kinda rat-ish to me.

Now that they've been found to be totally safe, I wonder how they'd taste with lettuce and radishes. Argh, forget that I said that!

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Mice are cute. Rats, too. I really don't know why so many people freak out when a little mouse dashes through the floor. As if it is going to eat them or something?