The social history of viruses describes the influence of viruses and
viral infections on human history. Epidemics caused by viruses began
during the Neolithic period. Having been hunter-gatherers, humans
developed more densely populated agricultural communities, which allowed
viruses to spread rapidly and subsequently to become endemic. Smallpox
and measles viruses are among the oldest that infect humans. Having
evolved from viruses that infected animals, they first appeared in
humans in Europe and North Africa thousands of years ago. Louis Pasteur
and Edward Jenner were the first to develop vaccines to protect against
viral infections. The nature of viruses remained unknown until the
invention of the electron microscope in the 1930s, when the science of
virology gained momentum. In the 20th century many diseases both old and
new were found to be caused by viruses. HIV is the most pathogenic new
virus to have emerged in centuries. Although scientific interest in
viruses arose because of the diseases they cause, most viruses are
beneficial. They drive evolution by transferring genes across species,
play important roles in ecosystems and are essential to life.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_history_of_viruses>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
684:
Second Fitna: Umayyad partisans defeated the supporters of Ibn
al-Zubayr and cemented Umayyad control of Syria.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marj_Rahit_(684)>
1487:
Reconquista: After a four-month siege, the Catholic Monarchs
conquered the city of Málaga from the Muslims.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_M%C3%A1laga_(1487)>
1877:
Asaph Hall discovered Phobos (pictured), the larger of Mars'
two moons, six days after discovering Deimos, the other one.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobos_(moon)>
1948:
Australia completed a 4–0 Ashes series win, earning them the
nickname of "The Invincibles" for being the first Test cricket match
side to play an entire tour of England without losing a match.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Test,_1948_Ashes_series>
1983:
Hurricane Alicia made landfall near Galveston, Texas, US,
causing $2.6 billion in damages and 21 deaths.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Alicia>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
social contract:
(philosophy, politics) An implicit agreement or contract among members
of a society that dictates things such as submission of individuals to
rule of law and acceptable conduct.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/social_contract>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
In Balder's hand Christ placed His own, And it was golden
weather, And on that berg as on a throne The Brethren stood together!
And countless voices far and wide Sang sweet beneath the sky — "All
that is beautiful shall abide, All that is base shall die."
--Robert Williams Buchanan
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Robert_Williams_Buchanan>