science news 5.11.2019

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.


astrobiology

Deep sea vents had ideal conditions for origin of life


ecology and behaviour

Shark skin microbiome resists infection

Complex society discovered in birds
The guineafowl study I mentioned in my recent feature on collective behaviour is now out.


conservation

Extinction of lowland tapir and white-lipped peccary would impair forest diversity



Study suggests these two species of large herbivores have complementary ecological functions, favoring seed dispersal and growth of adult trees.
Credit: Mauro Galetti


light and life

What drives circadian rhythms at the poles?


biomedical

From cone snail venom to pain relief
Conotoxins are bioactive peptides found in the venom that marine cone snails produce for prey capture and defense. They are used as pharmacological tools to study pain signalling and have the potential to become a new class of analgesics. Scientists from the University of Vienna and the University of Queensland in Australia are experts in the field of venom drug discovery and have now provided an overview on the status quo of conotoxin research.


sustainable technology

Scientists create 'artificial leaf' that turns carbon into fuel For a bit of background, see my feature (open access) Closing the carbon cycle (2014).



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From the news media:

Voyager 2 has phoned home from interstellar space, reports the Guardian (with link to a photo gallery).