Increasing evidence suggests that our species emerged through interactions between populations living in different parts of Africa, rather than from a single birthplace. Until now, however, most explanations for how those populations were distributed across the continent have focused on climate alone. The new research shows that disease—specifically malaria—also played a crucial role.

In a paper published in Science Advances, researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, the University of Cambridge, and colleagues have investigated whether Plasmodium falciparum-induced malaria shaped human habitat choice between 74,000 and 5,000 years ago, the critical period before humans dispersed widely beyond Africa and before agriculture dramatically altered malaria transmission.

The study shows that malaria, one of humanity’s oldest and most persistent pathogens, influenced habitat choice by pushing human groups away from high-risk environments and separating populations across the landscape. Over tens of thousands of years, this fragmentation shaped how populations met, mixed, and exchanged genes, helping create the population structure seen in humans today. The findings suggest that infectious disease was not simply a challenge early humans faced: it was a fundamental factor shaping the deep history of our species.

For years, pomegranates have enjoyed a reputation as a “heart-healthy” fruit. As a cardiovascular researcher, I have often been asked a seemingly simple question: If pomegranates are so good for us, how exactly do they work? Our recent study, published in Antioxidants, set out to answer that question—not by focusing on the fruit itself, but by following what happens after the body and, crucially, the gut microbiome gets involved.

Atherosclerosis—an inflammatory disease that underlies heart attacks and strokes—develops slowly. It begins when low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles become trapped and oxidized in artery walls, triggering immune cell recruitment, chronic inflammation, and eventually plaque formation. Drugs such as statins are effective but not perfect; many patients continue to carry significant “residual risk.” This has driven interest in other preventative and therapeutic agents. These include nutraceuticals—bioactive food components that may potentially complement existing therapies.

Among these, pomegranate polyphenols, especially a compound called punicalagin, have stood out. But there is a catch. Punicalagin itself is poorly absorbed. What actually enters the bloodstream in meaningful amounts are urolithins: small molecules made when the gut bacteria metabolize punicalagin and its breakdown product, ellagic acid.