How malaria has shaped the path of human settlements

NPR | By Ari Daniel

Published April 22, 2026 at 4:30 PM EDT

A new study looks at thousands of years worth of data and finds that malaria hot spots have played a critical role in shaping where humans settled and either thrived or failed to thrive.

Ari Daniel

Ari Daniel is a reporter for NPR's Science desk where he covers global health and development.

See stories by Ari Daniel

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