science news 31.10.2019

Today's selection of science news. Links are normally to press releases on EurekAlert (at the bottom end I may also add a couple of newspaper stories). I include quotes from the summary in italics in cases where the title alone doesn't reveal what the story is about. My own thoughts appear without italics if I have any.



climate

Two million-year-old ice provides snapshot of Earth's greenhouse gas history

Drones help map Iceland's disappearing glaciers

Intact forest loss 'six times worse' for climate
The impact of losing intact tropical forests is more devastating on the climate than previously thought, according to University of Queensland-led research. The international study has revealed between 2000 and 2013 the clearance of intact tropical forests resulted in a much higher level of carbon being emitted to the atmosphere than first believed -- resulting in a 626 per cent increase in the calculated impact on climate.


plant physiology

Impact of water droplets on leaves quickly triggers stress responses in plants


conservation

Genetic history of endangered Australian songbird could inspire an encore
The genetic history of a critically endangered songbird shows its best chance of survival is to protect its rapidly disappearing habitat. Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) used DNA samples from museums around the world, dating back to the 1800s, to study the genetic impact of severe population decline on the regent honeyeater.



Regent honeyeater
Credit: David Stowe


nanoworld

News about drug delivery
Nanocontainer for drugs can have their pitfalls: If they are too heavily loaded, they will only dissolve poorly. Why this happens is now reported by a Wüzburg research group in "Angewandte Chemie".


Bundlemers (new polymer units) could transform industries
I'm sure there is a proper Greek word for "bundle" that could have saved us from this mashup.


sustainability

System provides cooling with no electricity
Have a guess before you click through. (My guess was wrong.)


humans

Alongside Ötzi the Iceman: a bounty of ancient mosses and liverworts

Scientists reveal the physics of Jackson Pollock's painting technique
A study finds that Pollock's 'drip' technique was geared to avoid a classic fluid mechanical instability.
I did a piece on dripping recently, so this comes too late, unfortunately.


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From the news media:


Looks like the 25th climate summit might end up in Spain, as Chile withdrew because of the continuing unrest.