science news 22.1.2020

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


The salt of the comet
Under the leadership of astrophysicist Kathrin Altwegg, Bernese researchers have found an explanation for why very little nitrogen could previously be accounted for in the nebulous covering of comets: the building block for life predominantly occurs in the form of ammonium salts, the occurrence of which could not previously be measured. The salts may be a further indication that comet impacts may have made life on Earth possible in the first place.

Mars' water was mineral-rich and salty


earth

Arctic sea ice can't 'bounce back'
based on analysis of past climate shifts.


evolution

Walking sharks discovered in the tropics
see also my feature about evolution gaining and losing legs, out this week.



ecology

Caterpillar loss in tropical forest linked to extreme rain, temperature events
slightly more complex story than the headline suggests:
Using a 22-year dataset of plant-caterpillar-parasitoid interactions collected within a patch of protected Costa Rican lowland Caribbean forest, scientists report declines in caterpillar and parasitoid diversity and density that are paralleled by losses in an important ecosystem service: biocontrol of herbivores by parasitoids.


Vomiting bumblebees show that sweeter is not necessarily better

Mosquitoes are drawn to flowers as much as people -- and now scientists know why


conservation

Platypus on brink of extinction



UNSW Sydney's Centre for Ecosystem Science leads new research into the extinction risk of the platypus.
Credit: Tahnael Hawke



nanoworld

Let the europium shine brighter
A stacked nanocarbon antenna makes a rare earth element shine 5 times more brightly than previous designs, with applications in molecular light-emitting devices.


light and life

Blue light triggers memory and emphatic fear in mice via a non-invasive approach

Fat cells can sense sunlight -- not getting enough increases metabolic syndrome risk


health

University of Barcelona study links weekend eating jet lag to obesity


sustainability

Plants absorb lead from perovskite solar cells more than expected

Feeding the world without wrecking the planet is possible


humans

'Love hormone' improves attachment issues in people with autism



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From the news media:

I have a news story about huge aromatics out in Chemistry World today.