Nature Briefing: Smallpox DNA Confirms Colonial Arrival, Lithium Extraction Advances

July 31, 2026 at 05:00 AM1 min

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Today's Nature daily briefing reports that viral DNA from mummified remains in Chile confirms smallpox was introduced to the Americas by European colonizers. The briefing also covers advances in greener lithium extraction methods and a shift in southern Europe's wildfire patterns driven by climate change.

Smallpox DNA Discovery

Viral DNA extracted from two mummified individuals in Chile confirms that Orthopoxvirus variola arrived in the Americas with European colonization. The genome represents an unknown variant that diverged from European strains around the 13th century. Compared to 7th-century Viking samples, the Chilean variant possesses fewer genes, suggesting the virus shed genetic material as it adapted to human hosts. Researchers note this mechanism may also be used by related viruses today.

Lithium Extraction Innovation

Global lithium demand has surged due to the boom in rechargeable batteries, but conventional extraction in Chile and Argentina is inefficient, damages ecosystems, and affects Indigenous communities. New methods using electrochemical processes or heat to extract lithium from brine promise higher yields and use less fresh water. Scaling these techniques, however, will require significant investment.

European Wildfire Patterns

Wildfires in France and Spain signal a potential shift in southern Europe's fire regime toward conditions resembling California's. Despite successful fire-suppression efforts that reduced overall wildfire activity since the 1980s, hot and dry fire weather is increasingly prevalent, according to meteorologist Raúl Cordero. The trend is attributed to human-induced climate change.