science news 23.5.2019

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.


astrobiology

18 Earth-sized exoplanets discovered

Detecting bacteria in space
"A new genomic approach provides a glimpse into the diverse bacterial ecosystem on the International Space Station."


conservation

Chimpanzees at the crossroads: Adapt to living outside protected areas


bio-inspired

Octopus-inspired wearable sensor
inspired by the suckers' adhesion though, not involving 8 arms, sadly.


sustainable tech

Ancient toy inspires tool for state-of-the-art science
spoiler alert: a spinning-toy inspired an off-grid centrifuge for under $1.



A sample vial is placed into the disk of a 3D-Fuge for separation.
Credit: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech


food and drink

Cocktails with Cleopatra?
"A team of scientists [...] create ancient alcohol from ancient yeast."