© 2026 Boise State Public Radio
NPR in Idaho
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
April 21-22: Free Classical Concerts with the Piatigorsky Foundation

How malaria has shaped the path of human settlements

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.

Copyright 2026 NPR

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

You make stories like this possible.

The biggest portion of Boise State Public Radio's funding comes from readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

Your donation today helps make our local reporting free for our entire community.