Meaningful Birthdays, Mummies in Literature, and Various Other Stories!

 

This week's science news includes a variety of stories, such as the 100th birthday of legendary naturalist David Attenborough, the discovery of a mummy wrapped in a previously unseen substance, and a tiny frozen planet discovered in the outer reaches of the solar system!

In a new first, a 1,600-year-old Egyptian mummy has been found wrapped in an excerpt from the 2,700-year-old Greek poem, the Iliad.

While the papyrus is in poor condition, the team has determined that it contains an extract from Book 2 of the Iliad, comprising a catalog of ships. It's a novel finding that sheds more light on the funeral and mummification processes of the time.

Read the full story here.

Scientists Develop New Antibody For Virus That Infects 95% of People

Researchers have developed antibodies against the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which infects about 95% of adults and can cause serious complications.

"We not only identified important antibodies against the Epstein-Barr virus, but we also validated an innovative new approach to discovering protective antibodies against other pathogens," said pathologist Crystal Chan.

You can read the full article here.

Sir David Attenborough Is 100 Years Old! This Could Be The Secret of His Longevity.

Beloved natural historian Sir David Attenborough celebrated his 100th birthday on Friday 8 May. He chalks his longevity up to sheer luck.

That's not just cynicism; increasingly, evidence suggests he might be right, at least to a certain extent.