Scientists Discover A Volcano Caused the Black Plague

The Black Plague killed up to 200 million people starting in 1347. But why then? Europe had rats and fleas before that. Scientists finally solved the 700-year mystery and like any good apocalyptic moment in history it starts with a volcanic eruption.

The volcano triggered crop failures, forcing Italian merchants to import grain from the Black Sea. But that grain was infested with plague-carrying fleas, and the rest is history.

Read more here: Bauch, M., Büntgen, U. Climate-driven changes in M