GoKawiilMore than 160 fractures are evidence of a fast, grisly cause of death. Plus, the health risks of the mummy trade and a controversial new type of surgery for Alzheimer’s disease.
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English armies used the trebuchet as a weapon during the siege of Stirling Castle in 1304, the battle during which researchers think ‘skeleton 150’ was killed. (Frank Bach/Alamy)
Serious damage to an approximately 700-year-old skeleton is the first confirmed archaeological evidence of trauma caused by a trebuchet projectile. ‘Skeleton 150’, found beneath the chapel of Stirling Castle, Scotland, was fractured in more than 160 places, which indicates “a high-velocity, high-force, high-speed impact in a short amount of time”, says forensic osteologist Lukas Waltenberger. The shape and placement of the injuries rules out other, more obvious causes such as falling from the castle’s walls or being trampled by a horse, researchers say. The results were presented at the European meeting of the Paleopathology Association in Berlin last week.
Science | 5 min read
Reference: European meeting of the Paleopathology Association abstract
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has begun turning away research grant applications for which the “primary function” is informing policymakers and legislators, according to internal documents seen by Nature. This means that the agency will likely fund fewer projects assessing how public policies — such as firearm regulations and environmental protections — affect human health. The documents say “NIH-funded research must empower decision-making by NIH mission-relevant stakeholder groups”, including patients, health-care workers and scientists, and state explicitly that policymakers don’t fall into this group.
Nature | 6 min read
A rise in global trading of mummified remains could pose a serious health risk to buyers and postal workers, researchers say. A team of archaeologists analysed more than 100 social-media and auction-house posts advertising the sale of mummified remains. They found that many items showed signs of biodeterioration, but the posts rarely included any safety information on how to properly ship or store the remains. Mummified remains can harbour dormant microorganisms such as fungal spores, which can become airborne when disturbed and cause serious infections, the team warns.
The Guardian | 4 min read
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