science news 6.3.2019

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 (using quotation marks) in cases where the title alone doesn't reveal what the story is about. My own thoughts appear without quotation marks, if I have any.


evolution

Dingoes should remain a distinct species in Australia
looks like they don't descend from feral dogs after all ...


ecology

Rethinking old-growth forests using lichens as an indicator of conservation value



Sphaerophorus globosus (coral lichen), a readily identifiable lichen, on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador. This lichen has been demonstrated to usefully discriminate between old-growth and second-growth forests in Nova Scotia, Canada).
Credit: Troy McMullin

Capturing bacteria that eat and breathe electricity


food & drink

Modern beer yeast emerged from mix of European grape wine, Asian rice wine yeast

Source of citrus' sour taste is identified


humans


Analysis of billions of Wikipedia searches reveals biodiversity secrets
and seasonal patterns etc. - loving this!



A silver lining like no other
New technology from the University of South Australia is revolutionizing safe vaccination practices through antibacterial, silver-loaded dissolvable microneedle patches, which not only sterilize the injection site to inhibit the growth of bacteria, but also physically dissolve after administration.


The grassroots revolution making it normal for children to 'play out' again


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From the news media

Machines reading our emotions, in the Guardian