Favorite 2021 (Non-Covid) Science Stories

January 4, 2022 Dennis D. McDonald

The December 17 issue of SCIENCE published Our favorite science news stories of 2021 (non–COVID-19 edition) which lists a series of fascinating and sometimes weird topics. (It’s also the source of the bear picture at the top of this post.)

The weirdest, in my opinion, is How do wombats poop cubes? Scientists get to the bottom of the mystery.

The most interesting scientifically, in my opinion, is August 13’s ‘Mind blowing’: Grizzly bear DNA maps onto Indigenous language families. Here is the lead paragraph of that report:

The bears and Indigenous humans of coastal British Columbia have more in common than meets the eye. The two have lived side by side for millennia in this densely forested region on the west coast of Canada. But it’s the DNA that really stands out: A new analysis has found that the grizzlies here form three distinct genetic groups, and these groups align closely with the region’s three Indigenous language families.

My first reaction was, so? Why be surprised that different species that share the same environment evolve in interrelated ways? We should not be surprised that the interrelatedness of local resources — salmon availability, for example — shapes evolution in nearby areas.

The final paragraph summarizes the implications:

Lauren Eckert, a conservation scientist at the University of Victoria who was not involved with the study, agrees that the findings could have important implications for managing the area’s bears. It’s “fascinating” and “really shocking” work, she says. The resources that shaped grizzly bear distribution in the region clearly also shaped humans, Eckert says, “which I think reinforces the idea that local knowledge and localized management are really critical.”

Put more simply: understanding how species interrelate in a given region, even those that seem very very different physically, would appear to be a high priority goal for research and study. (If you have ever wondered about the earthworms in your yard you will understand this.)