Saving, preserving and protecting: this week's science news

These days show how science and perseverance can save things that would otherwise be lost. From ancient treasures to bees, and from peace to young talent: everywhere people are stepping up to keep something precious safe. A new study reveals how archaeologists in Syria risked their lives to rescue some 30,000 irreplaceable pieces from the Deir ez-Zor Museum, just before ISIS threatened to take the city [1]. The collection contained artefacts from ancient sites such as Halaf, Dura-Europos and Mari, and the rescue operation went through a narrow, dangerous passage to the airport. Under the leadership of Maamoun Abdulkarim, ultimately...