Zits in tubeworms: Part of growing up

Young tubeworms in the deep ocean break out with skin infections as a rite of passage to adulthood, according to a new notion of their growth.

As the youngsters settle down in their permanent homes, they lose their mouths and digestive systems. To survive, each young tubeworm must acquire a new energy source, a live-in colony of bacteria that capture energy from sulfur-spewing vents and other deep-sea chemical bonanzas.