ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, June 21, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, June 21, 2011

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Fighting massive declines in frog populations with bacteria and fungicides (June 21, 2011) -- A microscopic chytrid fungus is causing massive declines in frog populations all over the world and even the extinction of certain species. Researchers have now developed methods for combating the chytrid fungus with bacteria and fungicides. The possibility of vaccinating frogs is also being considered. ... > full story

Madagascar marine resources plundered by international seafood markets (June 21, 2011) -- Fish catches in Madagascar over the last half-century are double the official reports, and much of that fish is being caught by unregulated traditional fishers or accessed cheaply by foreign fishing vessels. Seafood exports from Madagascar often end up in a European recipe, but are a recipe for political unrest at home, where two-thirds of the population face hunger. ... > full story

Unexpected function of dyslexia-linked gene: Controlling cilia of cells (June 21, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that a gene linked to dyslexia has a surprising biological function: it controls cilia, the antenna-like projections that cells use to communicate. ... > full story

Mimicking nature at the nanoscale: Selective transport across a biomimetic nanopore (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers have established a biomimetic nanopore that provides a unique test and measurement platform for the way that proteins move into a cell's nucleus. In a new study, they report an artificial nanopore that is functionalized with key proteins which mimics the natural nuclear pore. ... > full story

How the immune system responds to hepatitis A virus (June 21, 2011) -- A surprising finding in a study comparing hepatitis C virus (HCV) with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections in chimpanzees sheds new light on the nature of the body's immune response to these viruses. ... > full story

Horse blind date could lead to loss of foal (June 20, 2011) -- Fetal loss is a common phenomenon in domestic horses after away-mating, according to researchers. When mares return home after mating with a foreign stallion, they either engage in promiscuous mating with the home males to confuse paternity, or, failing that, the mares abort the foal to avoid the likely future infanticide by the dominant home male. ... > full story

Production of mustard oils: On the origin of an enzyme (June 20, 2011) -- In the evolutionary arms race, small changes can be sufficient to gain advantage. Scientists found that the ancestor of a gene involved in making chemical defenses in plants of the mustard family, such as rapeseed, originally had a completely different function, playing a part in the formation of leucine, an amino acid. Small changes in the enzyme structure enabled it to take over new tasks that could increase the survival advantage of the plants. ... > full story

Fat substitutes linked to weight gain: Rats on high-fat diet gained more weight after eating low-calorie potato chips made with fat substitutes (June 20, 2011) -- Synthetic fat substitutes used in low-calorie potato chips and other foods could backfire and contribute to weight gain and obesity, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Enzymes will play a key role in development of sustainable society, expert says (June 20, 2011) -- Enzymes play a central role in the chemistry of living nature. They facilitate our digestion, for example, and often determine the difference between sick or healthy organisms. One expert now says he expects enzymes to play a key role in the development of a sustainable society. ... > full story

Atmospheric carbon dioxide buildup unlikely to spark abrupt climate change, scientists find (June 20, 2011) -- New research lends support to recent studies that suggest abrupt climate change is the result of alterations in ocean circulation uniquely associated with ice ages, not from atmospheric carbon dioxide. ... > full story

'My dishwasher is trying to kill me': New research finds harmful fungal pathogens living in dishwasher seals (June 20, 2011) -- A potentially pathogenic fungus has found a home living in extreme conditions in some of the most common household appliances, researchers have found. A new paper shows that these sites make perfect habitats for extremotolerant fungi (which includes black yeasts). Some of these are potentially dangerous to human health. ... > full story

Ancient Mycenaean fortress uncovered (June 20, 2011) -- New research in Cyprus reveals the remnants of a Late Bronze Age (1500-750 B.C.) fortress that may have functioned to protect an important urban economic center in the ancient world. ... > full story

Did climate change cause Greenland's ancient Viking community to collapse? (June 20, 2011) -- Our changing climate usually appears to be a very modern problem, yet new research from Greenland published in Boreas, suggests that the AD 1350 collapse of a centuries old colony established by Viking settlers may have been caused by declining temperatures and a rise in sea-ice. The authors suggest the collapse of the Greenland Norse presents a historical example of a society which failed to adapt to climate change. ... > full story

Could bacterial predator be harnessed to mop up biofilms? (June 20, 2011) -- Some new research on a bacterial predator that feeds on other bacteria may lead to new ammunition against biofilms. ... > full story

Cholesterol boosts antibiotic resistance in H. pylori (June 20, 2011) -- New research suggests that cholesterol boosts resistance in Helicobacter pylori both to many antibiotics and to the endogenous antimicrobial peptide, LL-37. A complete understanding of the pathway of cholesterol uptake might lead to novel strategies thwarting H. pylori by blocking that pathway. ... > full story

Surroundings matter: Researchers engineer the environment for stem cell development to control differentiation (June 20, 2011) -- New research shows that systematically controlling the local and global environments during stem cell development helps to effectively direct the process of differentiation. In the future, these findings could be used to develop manufacturing procedures for producing large quantities of stem cells for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. ... > full story

Arctic snow can harbor deadly assassin: Killer fungal strains (June 20, 2011) -- Heavy and prolonged snowfall can bring about unexpected conditions that encourage fungal growth, leading to the death of plants in the Arctic, according to experts. A new international study confirms that while snow has an insulating effect which helps plants to grow bigger, heavy and prolonged snow can, in certain circumstances, also encourage the rapid and extensive growth of killer fungal strains. ... > full story

From seawater to freshwater with a nanotechnology filter (June 20, 2011) -- In a new article, researchers describe the role that carbon nanotubes could play in the desalination of water, providing a possible solution to the problem of the world's ever-growing population demanding more and more fresh drinking water. ... > full story

Finding reserves on the electrical grid (June 20, 2011) -- The weather determines how much energy wind turbine systems provide. The same applies to power line capacity. On cold and stormy days, this capacity is higher than on days with no wind and high mid-summer temperatures. An autonomously powered sensor network monitors power lines to find the reserves in the lines. ... > full story

Grab the leash: Dog walkers more likely to reach exercise benchmarks (June 20, 2011) -- Man's best friend may provide more than just faithful companionship: A new study shows people who owned and walked their dogs were 34 percent more likely to meet federal benchmarks on physical activity. The results show that promoting dog ownership and dog walking could help many Americans -- of which fewer than half meet recommended levels of leisure-time physical activity -- become healthier. ... > full story

Salt marsh sediments help gauge climate-change-induced sea level rise (June 20, 2011) -- A newly constructed, 2,000-year history of sea level elevations will help scientists refine the models used to predict climate-change-induced sea level rise, according to an international team of climate researchers. The record also shows that the past century had the fastest recorded rate of sea level rise. ... > full story

Researchers link fastest sea-level rise in two millennia to increasing temperatures (June 20, 2011) -- An international research team has shown that the rate of sea-level rise along the US Atlantic coast is greater now than at any time in the past 2,000 years and that there is a consistent link between changes in global mean surface temperature and sea level. ... > full story

Hybrid lab combines technologies to make biorenewable fuels and products (June 20, 2011) -- The Hybrid Processing Laboratory located just inside the front door of Iowa State University's new Biorenewables Research Laboratory is increasingly busy. It's a place where researchers in biochemical and thermochemical sciences work together to develop technologies that produce biorenewable fuels and chemicals. And it's a showcase for the multidisciplinary work promoted by Iowa State's Bioeconomy Institute. ... > full story

Cave researchers explore stream-filled cavern at entrance to Jerusalem (June 19, 2011) -- Researchers have conducted an initial survey of what appears to be an important, ancient water source in a cave that was been discovered during excavation work for a new train station being constructed at the entrance to Jerusalem. ... > full story

Molecular movements could lead to new way to treat cancer (June 19, 2011) -- New research could point to a new way to treat aggressive types of cancer. Scientists have found that a molecule called Met is responsible for stimulating the growth and spread of cancer because it is relocating to the wrong part of the cell. Experiments in the lab suggest that moving Met molecules from the inside of the cell to the cell surface could halt the growth of cancer cells and even cause tumors to shrink. ... > full story

'Lost' bats found breeding on UK's Isles of Scilly (June 19, 2011) -- A biologist has discovered a "lost" species of bat breeding on the Isles of Scilly (UK). A pregnant female brown long-eared bat is the first of its species to be found on the islands for at least 40 years. ... > full story

Mimivirus isolated, genome amputated (June 19, 2011) -- In the absence of competition with other microorganisms, Mimivirus, the largest known DNA virus, loses 17% of its genome. ... > full story

More evidence vitamin D boosts immune response (June 18, 2011) -- Laboratory-grown gingival cells treated with vitamin D boosted their production of an endogenous antibiotic, and killed more bacteria than untreated cells, according to a new study. The research suggests that vitamin D can help protect the gums from bacterial infections that lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontitis affects up to 50 percent of the US population, is a major cause of tooth loss, and can also contribute to heart disease. Most Americans are deficient in vitamin D. ... > full story

New clues about protein linked to Parkinson's disease: Structural biologists measure energy difference between protein variants (June 18, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered structural clues about the protein linked to Parkinson's disease, which ultimately could lead to finding a cure for the degenerative neurological disorder. ... > full story

Dawn of agriculture took toll on health (June 18, 2011) -- When populations around the globe started turning to agriculture around 10,000 years ago, regardless of their locations and type of crops, a similar trend occurred: the height and health of the people declined. The pattern holds up across standardized studies of whole skeletons in populations, say researchers in the first comprehensive, global review of the literature regarding stature and health during the agriculture transition. ... > full story

Ocean's harmful low-oxygen zones growing, are sensitive to small changes in climate (June 18, 2011) -- Scientists report a connection between climate fluctuations and the habitability of marine ecosystems by modeling the expansion and contraction of low-oxygen zones that are dangerous for ocean life. The team found that the size of low-oxygen ocean regions is extremely sensitive to changes in their depth caused by oscillations in climate. ... > full story

Tapeworm drug inhibits colon cancer metastasis (June 17, 2011) -- A compound that for about 60 years has been used as a drug against tapeworm infection is also apparently effective against colon cancer metastasis, as studies using mice have shown. The compound silences a gene that triggers the formation of metastases in colon cancer. Researchers in Germany made this discovery in collaboration with researchers in the U.S. Plans are already underway to conduct a clinical trial. ... > full story

Size matters -- in virulent fungal spores -- and suggests ways to stop a killer (June 17, 2011) -- Scientists have found that larger fungal spores can be more lethal. Their findings about two different spore sizes of the fungus Mucor circinelloides, a pathogen that kills half or more of its victims, could help to develop new treatments and fight other types of fungal infections. Mucor infection is in the news as an environmental fungus contracted by people who had trauma in the wake of tornadoes in Joplin, Mo. ... > full story

Nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbiont promises trove of natural products (June 17, 2011) -- Soil-dwelling bacteria of the genus Frankia have the potential to produce a multitude of natural products, including antibiotics, herbicides, pigments, anticancer agents, and other useful products, according to new research. ... > full story

How the immune system fights back against anthrax infections (June 17, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered how the body's immune system launches its survival response to the notorious and deadly bacterium anthrax. The findings describe key emergency signals the body sends out when challenged by a life-threatening infection. ... > full story

Gatekeepers: How microbes make it past tight spaces between cells (June 17, 2011) -- There are ten microbial cells for every one human cell in the body, and microbiology dogma holds that there is a tight barrier protecting the inside of the body from outside invaders, in this case bacteria. Bacterial pathogens can break this barrier to cause infection and researchers wondered how microbes get inside the host and circulate in the first place. They tested to see if microbes somehow weaken host cell defenses to enter tissues. ... > full story

Where have all the flowers gone? High-mountain wildflower season reduced, affecting pollinators like bees, hummingbirds (June 17, 2011) -- It's summer wildflower season in the Rocky Mountains, a time when high-peaks meadows are dotted with riotous color. But for how long? Once, wildflower season in montane meadow ecosystems extended throughout the summer months. But now scientists have found a fall-off in wildflowers at mid-season. ... > full story

Heightened immunity to colds makes asthma flare-ups worse, study suggests (June 17, 2011) -- People often talk about "boosting" their immunity to prevent and fight colds. Nutritional supplements, cold remedies and fortified foods claim to stave off colds by augmenting the immune system. But new research suggests that tempering the immune response -- rather than enhancing it -- in asthma patients might be a better strategy when combating cold symptoms. ... > full story

Lyme disease bacteria take cover in lymph nodes (June 17, 2011) -- The bacteria that cause Lyme disease appear to hide out in the lymph nodes, triggering a significant immune response, but one that is not strong enough to rout the infection, report researchers. ... > full story

Landsat 5 satellite helps emergency managers fight largest fire in Arizona history (June 17, 2011) -- The largest fire in the history of the state of Arizona continues to burn and emergency managers and responders are using satellite data from a variety of instruments to plan their firefighting containment strategies and mitigation efforts once the fires are out. ... > full story

Zebra mussel invasion in Spain is irreversible, experts say (June 17, 2011) -- Scientists have characterizes eleven zebra mussel populations in the Ebro and the Júcar River Basin District and concludes that the arrival of this exotic species to Spanish river basins is "virtually irreversible". These research results, however, will help devise specific control strategies. ... > full story

Scientists develop a fatty 'kryptonite' to defeat multidrug-resistant 'super bugs' (June 17, 2011) -- "Super bugs," which can cause wide-spread disease and may be resistant to most, if not all, conventional antibiotics, still have their weaknesses. A team of Canadian scientists discovered that specific mixtures of antimicrobial agents presented in lipid (fatty) mixtures can significantly boost the effectiveness of those agents to kill the resistant bacteria. ... > full story

Plants teach humans a thing or two about fighting diseases (June 17, 2011) -- Avoiding germs to prevent sickness is commonplace for people. Wash hands often. Sneeze into your elbow. Those are among the tips humans learn. But plants, which are also vulnerable to pathogens, have to fend it alone. They grow where planted, in an environment teeming with microbes and other substances ready to attack. Texas scientists have learned from plants' immune response new information that could help understand humans' ability to ward off sickness. ... > full story

Scientists learn how horseweed shrugs off herbicide (June 17, 2011) -- A team of scientists was able to follow molecules of the glyphosate-based Roundup herbicides as they entered a resistant weed and to discover exactly how the plant disarms it. In a new paper, they describe a herbicide application technique that can be used to outfox the resistance mechanism they had discovered. ... > full story

Consumers express their concern about the EHEC bacteria (June 17, 2011) -- The news coverage of the deadly EHEC bacteria outbreak in Europe came as a bombshell. Researchers examined 6132 reactions of Belgian newspaper readers after reading the first news reports. As expected, people are scared and worried, but governmental trust decreases fear and leads to a higher intention to keep on eating fresh produce. ... > full story

Simulation models offer clarity with regard to energy transition decisions (June 17, 2011) -- As a way of eliminating energy-guzzling incandescent light bulbs from our supermarket shelves, a tax on incandescent light bulbs would be just as effective as an outright ban. Subsidizing new technology, such as Led lighting, could actually reduce its sales, as this can lead to a relatively large number of people buying a light with teething problems, giving the new technology a bad name. ... > full story

For third consecutive year, Spanish Institute of Oceanography obtains massive bluefin tuna spawnings in captivity (June 17, 2011) -- Scientists from the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO) have once again obtained viable bluefin tuna spawnings in their facilities in Murcia without the need for hormonal induction. A new opportunity to study the way in which this endangered species reproduces in captivity. The researchers are confident that they will achieve far greater results than those obtained over the past two years wherein survival rates of between 73 and 110 days respectively, were obtained. ... > full story

Important aspects of signaling across cell membranes in plants revealed (June 16, 2011) -- Every living plant cell and animal cell is surrounded by a membrane that helps it communicate with other cells and the outside world. These cellular membranes contain receptor molecules that serve as the cell's eyes and ears. ... > full story