Burial sites recreate life in ancient Nubia

+ thousands of ocean viruses identified; sharks hunting in pairs US Edition - Today's top story: Archaeological site along the Nile opens a window on the Nubian civilization that flourished in ancient Sudan [View in browser]( US Edition | 13 April 2022 [The Conversation]( An article we published this week by Purdue archaeologist Michele Buzon reminds us that the profession is a lot more than digging for artifacts. Buzon shares details of her years of work uncovering and interpreting items from tomb sites at the Tombos archaeological site in the Nile Valley in what is now northern Sudan. “The remains of the ancient inhabitants of Tombos reveal information about their physical activity, as well as infection and nutrition,” she writes. But equally important is [sharing this heritage with the Sudanese in the area and employing them at the site](, she says. Katelyn Jetelina, who authors the Your Local Epidemiologist newsletter, has been a trusted source of research-based information throughout the pandemic, helping nonscientists make sense of the barrage of pandemic news. Today she picks apart the [question of who should get a second booster](. Having surveyed recent studies, she concludes that a second booster makes sense for people over 60 or those who are immunocompromised. For those who have had a confirmed case of omicron and a single booster, this “hybrid immunity” provides viable protection. Redwood trees – well known for their size and long life – have been studied for decades, but a team of researchers managed to discover something new about these majestic trees. They found there are two types of leaves – one does all the photosynthesis and another is adept at absorbing water. This adaptation not only helps explain their ability to survive in both wet and dry conditions, but also [provides a hopeful sign they have the means to withstand a changing climate](. Also in this week’s science news: - [Researchers examine the epigenetics of ALS in search of treatment]( - [A proposal to protect wildlife from free-roaming cats]( - [Monkeys have a sense of their own heartbeat – here’s what that could mean]( Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters Thousands of years ago, people in this part of Sudan used underground tombs to bury their dead. Michele R. Buzon [Archaeological site along the Nile opens a window on the Nubian civilization that flourished in ancient Sudan]( Michele R. Buzon, Purdue University Promoting and practicing ethical research that includes the people who live in the area today is as important to the archaeological team as learning more about the lives of the ancient inhabitants. The CDC recommends the second booster for those over 50 who received their initial booster shot at least four months earlier. Scott Olson via Getty Images News [Do you need a second booster shot? An epidemiologist scoured the latest research and has some answers]( Katelyn Jetelina, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston New data on the second booster suggests the older you are, the more you need it. Coastal redwoods in Felton, California. Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty Images [Redwood trees have two types of leaves, scientists find – a trait that could help them survive in a changing climate]( Alana Chin, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich New research shows that coast redwood trees have a surprising adaptation that helps then thrive in both wet and dry environments. - [Researchers identified over 5,500 new viruses in the ocean, including a missing link in viral evolution]( Guillermo Dominguez Huerta, The Ohio State University; Ahmed Zayed, The Ohio State University; James Wainaina, The Ohio State University; Matthew Sullivan, The Ohio State University Viruses do more than just cause disease – they also influence ecosystems and the processes that shape the planet. Tracing their evolution could help researchers better understand how viruses work. - [Great white sharks occasionally hunt in pairs - new research sheds light on social behavior of these mysterious predators]( Yannis Papastamatiou, Florida International University Researchers have discovered that great white sharks are more social than previously thought. Using specialized tags, they tracked six sharks and found that some stay close to each other when hunting. - [ALS is only 50% genetic – identifying DNA regions affected by lifestyle and environmental risk factors could help pinpoint avenues for treatment]( Ramona Zwamborn, Utrecht University; Jan Veldink, Utrecht University; Paul J. Hop, Utrecht University Genetic modifications to DNA regions involved in metabolism, cholesterol and immunity may play a role in ALS disease progression. - [To protect wildlife from free-roaming cats, a zone defense may be more effective than trying to get every feline off the street]( Daniel Herrera, George Mason University; Travis Gallo, George Mason University A new study shows that when free-ranging cats are more than a few blocks from forested areas in cities, such as parks, they’re more likely to prey on rats than on native wildlife. - [The cheerful lexicon of the Spanish language may help solve a health mystery called the Hispanic Paradox]( Maria Magdalena Llabre, University of Miami The words that doctors choose during a consultation – and even the verb tense – can help or hurt a patient dealing with a difficult diagnosis. - [Raising cattle on native grasses in the eastern U.S. benefits farmers, wildlife and the soil]( Patrick Keyser, University of Tennessee Growing native grasses as cattle forage is an example of working lands conservation – balancing human use of the land with conservation goals. - [Monkeys can sense their own heartbeats, an ability tied to mental health, consciousness and memory in humans]( - [Bird flu is killing millions of chickens and turkeys across the US]( - [Thawing permafrost is roiling the Arctic landscape, driven by a hidden world of changes beneath the surface as the climate warms]( - Like this newsletter? 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