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A study in Current Biology sequenced ancient DNA from 13 teeth recovered at a mass grave near Vilnius, uncovering two unexpected infections among Napoleon’s soldiers in 1812: paratyphoid fever and louse-borne relapsing fever. Led by Nicolás Rascovan at the Pasteur Institute, the research deepens evidence that cold, hunger, and disease helped kill hundreds of thousands during the brutal march home from Russia. Specialists say such work, enabled by improved molecular techniques, clarifies war’s harsh realities and can guide how we understand and contain pathogens today; the bones tell a story of hardship.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.