How smallpox reached the Americas: first genomic evidence points to Europeans0

• SCIENCE, Science / Health, Science Mission Directorate, scientists, Space, Space Communications & Navigation Program, Space Launch System (SLS), Space Telescope, space-x-ipo, SpaceX
• August 3, 2026

Atahualpa, the last Incan emperor, was seized by troops in 1532 during the Spanish Conquest, but smallpox had already devastated the Inca Empire around 1524–1528.Credit: Florilegius/Alamy More than 400 years ago, two people living in modern day Chile died while infected with the smallpox virus. Viral DNA found in their mummified remains has now yielded