science news 21.5.2020

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

ESO telescope sees signs of planet birth
Observations made with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) have revealed the telltale signs of a star system being born. Around the young star AB Aurigae lies a dense disc of dust and gas in which astronomers have spotted a prominent spiral structure with a 'twist' that marks the site where a planet may be forming. The observed feature could be the first direct evidence of a baby planet coming into existence.



This image shows the disc around the young AB Aurigae star, where ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) has spotted signs of planet birth. Close to the centre of the image, in the inner region of the disc, we see the 'twist' (in very bright yellow) that scientists believe marks the spot where a planet is forming. This twist lies at about the same distance from the AB Aurigae star as Neptune from the Sun. The image was obtained with the VLT's SPHERE instrument in polarised light.
Credit: ESO/Boccaletti et al.


evolution

Researchers reveal origins of complex hemoglobin by resurrecting ancient proteins


ecology

Grasshoppers are perfectly aware of their own coloration when trying to camouflage
Not sure how much they're aware of anything, but I guess that is a philosophical question ...


conservation

Hunting threatens one of the world's most amazing wildlife migrations
As the world looks to tighten up the illegal capture of wildlife, migratory birds are being threatened by widespread and unsustainable hunting across the Asia-Pacific region. University of Queensland-led research has revealed that three quarters of migratory shorebird species in the region have been hunted since the 1970s.


food and drink

Heating poppy seeds, but not baking them in muffins, reduces opiate levels
Oooh, morphine muffins, that has a ring to it ...


humans

Supercomputer model simulations reveal cause of Neanderthal extinction
Competition of our ancestors sufficed to drive them out of business, according to modelling study.

Oldest connection with Native Americans identified near Lake Baikal in Siberia

Birth control pills affect the love hormone
... women who take birth control pills have a much higher level of the hormone oxytocin, also called the love hormone, in their blood compared to non-users.



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