University of Pisa

Researchers analyzed DNA from the remains of Grand Duke Francesco I de' Medici and his brother Giovanni de' Medici, finding genetic traces of Plasmodium falciparum, which debunked the theory that Francesco was poisoned. The study, led by Yale University and the University of Pisa, confirmed malaria caused their deaths, aligning with historical accounts of symptoms consistent with the disease.

Yale researchers and University of Pisa paleopathologists analyzed DNA from the Medici brothers' skeletal remains to investigate foul play, solving the murder mystery by ruling out poison as a cause.

Scientists discovered a deep, ancient whale graveyard in the southeastern Indian Ocean, home to unique marine life including jellyfish and tubeworms. The site, 23,000 feet deep and 5.3 million years old, was explored by researchers including Xikun Song, revealing new species and insights into extreme environments.

Scientists discovered a deep whale graveyard in the southeastern Indian Ocean, 23,000 feet below the surface, containing marine life thriving on 5.3-million-year-old whale remains. The site, the deepest and oldest found, hosts unique ecosystems with jellyfish, tubeworms, and brittle stars, offering insights into life in extreme deep-sea conditions.