science news 6.11.2019

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.


evolution

Jaw-some wombats may be great survivors
Flexible jaws may help wombats better survive in a changing world by adapting to climate change's effect on vegetation and new diets in conservation sanctuaries. An international study, co-led by The University of Queensland's Dr Vera Weisbecker, has revealed that wombat jaws appear to change in relation to their diets.



Wombat skulls seem to be changing to match their diets.
Credit: The University of Queensland


conservation

To save biodiversity, scientists suggest 'mega-conservation'
While the conservation of charismatic creatures like pandas, elephants and snow leopards are important in their own right, there may be no better ecological bang-for-our-buck than a sound, science-based effort to save widespread keystone systems. And the majestic aspens could be a perfect start for such an endeavor.


nanoworld

Scientists probe the limits of ice
The smallest nanodroplet of water in which ice can form is only as big as 90 water molecules -- a tenth the size of the smallest virus. At those small scales, according to University of Utah chemistry professor and study co-author Valeria Molinero, the transition between ice and water gets a little frizzy.


sustainability

Satellite tracking shows how ships affect clouds and climate


humans

Study reveals that humans migrated from Europe to the Levant 40,000 years ago

What we can learn from Indigenous land management


dystopian futures

'Crowd-diagnosis' thousands seek out diagnoses from strangers on social media



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