ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, June 23, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, June 23, 2011

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Evolution to the rescue: Species may adapt quickly to rapid environmental change, yeast study shows (June 23, 2011) -- Evolution is usually thought to be a slow process, something that happens over generations, thanks to adaptive mutations. But environmental change is happening very fast. So, according to a biology professor, the question arises, "Can evolution happen quickly enough to help a species survive?" The answer, according to his most recent study, is a resounding yes. ... > full story

Electrical water detection (June 23, 2011) -- A quick and easy way to detect groundwater in semi-arid hard rock areas that is also economical could improve the siting of borewells to improve clean water supply in the developing world. ... > full story

Discovery offers molecular insights into link between Parkinson's and pesticides (June 23, 2011) -- Scientists have taken some of the first steps toward unraveling the molecular dysfunction that occurs when proteins are exposed to environmental toxins. Their discovery helps further explain recent findings that demonstrate the link between Parkinson's disease and two particular pesticides -- rotenone and paraquat. ... > full story

Teeming with life, Pacific's California current likened to Africa's Serengeti Plain (June 22, 2011) -- Like the vast African plains, two huge expanses of the North Pacific Ocean are major corridors of life, attracting an array of marine predators in predictable seasonal patterns, according to final results from the Census of Marine Life Tagging of Pacific Predators. ... > full story

Economic cost of weather may total 5 billion in US (June 22, 2011) -- Routine weather events such as rain and cooler-than-average days can add up to an annual economic impact of as much as 3.4 percent of the nation's GDP. New research finds that every sector of the economy is sensitive to changes in the weather. ... > full story

Caribou in Alberta's oil sands stressed by human activity, not wolves, research suggests (June 22, 2011) -- New research suggests that, in the petroleum-rich Athabaska Oil Sands in northern Alberta, human activity related to oil production and the timber industry could be more important than wolves in the decline of the caribou population. ... > full story

Wild Cuban crocodiles hybridize with American crocs (June 22, 2011) -- A new genetic study confirms that American crocodiles are hybridizing with wild populations of critically endangered Cuban crocodiles, which may cause a population decline of this species found only in the Cuban Archipelago. ... > full story

Researchers create tool to put the lid on solar power fluctuations (June 22, 2011) -- How does the power output from solar panels fluctuate when the clouds roll in? And can researchers predict these fluctuations? Researchers in California have found the answer to these questions. They also have developed a software program that allows power grid managers to easily predict fluctuations in the solar grid caused by changes in the cloud cover. ... > full story

Oldest Eurasian hominoids lived in Swabia: Molar tooth dated at 17 million years old (June 22, 2011) -- Africa is regarded as the center of evolution of humans and their precursors. Yet long before modern humans left Africa some 125,000 years ago, their antecedents migrated from Africa to Eurasia many times, as is documented in the fossil record. How often, when and why hominoids went "out of Africa" is still a hotly debated field of intense research. Possibly, the first wave of emigration occurred 17 million years before the present, as documented by finds in the Swabian northern Alpine foreland basin. Researchers have now successfully pinpointed the age of a molar tooth at 17 million years old, making it the oldest known Eurasian hominoid found to date. ... > full story

Picky pollinators: Native U.S. bees are selective about where they live and feed (June 22, 2011) -- Native bees -- often small, stingless, solitary and unnoticed in the flashier world of stinging honeybees -- are quite discriminating about where they live, according to new research. ... > full story

Cutting edge training developed the human brain 80,000 years ago (June 22, 2011) -- Advanced crafting of stone spearheads contributed to the development of new ways of human thinking and behaving. The technology took a long time to acquire, required step by step planning and increased social interaction across the generations. This led to the human brain developing new abilities, according to archeologists. ... > full story

Self-cleaning anodes could facilitate cost-effective coal-powered fuel cells (June 22, 2011) -- Using barium oxide nanoparticles, researchers have developed a self-cleaning technique that could allow solid oxide fuel cells to be powered directly by coal gas at operating temperatures as low as 750 degrees Celsius. The technique could provide an alternative for generating electricity from the nation's vast coal reserves. ... > full story

Livestock manure and agricultural by-products to produce biogas (June 22, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a project that combines pig slurry and agricultural by-products to optimize biogas production. Thus, it manages to add value to farms’ excess slurry and offers a sustainable use to some of the by-products from the fruit and vegetable processing industry. ... > full story

Surprises from the ocean: Marine plankton and ocean pH (June 22, 2011) -- Oceans support vast populations of single-celled phytoplankton which, through photosynthesis, remove about half the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels. One group of phytoplankton, the coccolithophores, are known for their ability to build chalk scales inside their cells and secrete them, forming a protective armor. A new study has revealed the mechanism which achieves this, and that this process may be directly affected by the increasing levels of dissolved carbon dioxide in the oceans. ... > full story

Lyme disease tick adapts to life on the (fragmented) prairie (June 22, 2011) -- A new study offers a detailed look at the status of Lyme disease in Central Illinois and suggests that deer ticks and the Lyme disease bacteria they host are more adaptable to new habitats than previously appreciated. ... > full story

Consumer views on eating cloned animals: Americans more accepting than Europeans, study suggests (June 22, 2011) -- Not all consumers share the same attitudes toward animal cloning, but the latest research shows that Americans may be more accepting of consuming cloned animal products than Europeans. ... > full story

How dense is a cell? Combining ancient principle with new technology, researchers devise new way to answer question (June 22, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a way to measure the density of a single cell. The new method involves measuring the buoyant mass of each cell in two fluids of different densities. Measuring cell density could allow researchers to gain biophysical insight into fundamental cellular processes such as adaptations for survival, and might also be useful for identifying diseased cells. ... > full story

Strawberries boost red blood cells, study finds (June 22, 2011) -- A group of volunteers ate half a kilo of strawberries every day for two weeks to demonstrate that eating this fruit improves the antioxidant capacity of blood. The study, carried out by Italian and Spanish researchers, showed that strawberries boost red blood cells' response to oxidative stress, an imbalance that is associated with various diseases. ... > full story

Where will grizzly bears roam? Conservation value of roadless public land in Montana's Crown of the Continent Ecosystem (June 22, 2011) -- A new report highlights the critical importance of 1.3 million acres of roadless, public lands in Montana's spectacular Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. The report recommends that most of these lands be preserved to protect wolverines, bighorn sheep, westslope cutthroat and bull trout, grizzly bears and other vulnerable species in the face of climate change and other threats. ... > full story

'Lover's lane' for birds found in Arctic (June 22, 2011) -- A new study reveals the critical importance of western Arctic Alaska's Teshekpuk Lake region to tens of thousands of birds that breed in the area during the brief, but productive arctic summers, and makes clearer the case for permanent protection of the area. ... > full story

Yeast genomes: Genetic codes for species of yeasts identified and compared (June 22, 2011) -- A team of US researchers has identified and compared the genetic codes for all known species of yeasts closely related to bakers' and brewers' yeast (the former used in pizza dough, the latter in beer), which lays the foundation for future understanding of mutation and disease, as studies of yeasts often identify key genes and mechanisms of disease. ... > full story

Birds of a feather display only a fraction of possible colors (June 22, 2011) -- Contrary to our human perception of bird coloration as extraordinarily diverse, a new study reports that bird plumages exhibit only a small fraction (less than a third) of the possible colors birds can observe. ... > full story

Early-season strawberry tested in high elevation conditions (June 22, 2011) -- Researchers investigated the use of high tunnels to lengthen the growing season for June-bearing strawberries. The study compared vertical and in-ground high tunnel strawberry production when planting dates were optimized for each system. Results indicated that high tunnels can provide an effective and economical system for extending the season for strawberries in the Intermountain West region in the United States. The study contains production and market data to help growers maximize strawberry yields. ... > full story

Artificial light quality affects herbivore preference for seedlings (June 22, 2011) -- Researchers evaluated the preference of adult sweet potato whitefly to cucumber seedlings grown under fluorescent lamps or metal-halide lamps that provided a spectrum similar to that of natural light. They observed significantly fewer whitefly adults on the fluorescent cucumber treated seedlings than on the metal-halide treated seedlings 24 hours after release. The scientists recommended that growers consider light quality when selecting light sources for transplant production. ... > full story

Decade-long study of Pacific predators shows importance of biological 'hotspots' (June 22, 2011) -- An unprecedented decade-long study of apex predators in the Pacific Ocean found a wider range of distribution among some species than previously thought, unknown relationships between other species, and the importance of biological "hotspots" to the survival of most of these sea creatures. ... > full story

Plant growth rate, stem length unaffected by rice hull, peat substrate (June 22, 2011) -- Scientists identified the impact of a substrate containing parboiled rice hulls on plant growth retardant (PGR) applications for controlling plant height or stem length of containerized greenhouse crops. Results showed that PGR drench strategies can be effective for plants grown in substrate containing peat and rice hulls. ... > full story

Multiple ocean stresses threaten 'globally significant' marine extinction, experts warn (June 21, 2011) -- An international panel of marine experts warns in a new report that the world's ocean is at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history. The preliminary report arises from the first ever interdisciplinary international workshop to consider the cumulative impact of all stressors affecting the ocean. Considering the latest research across all areas of marine science, the workshop examined the combined effects of pollution, acidification, ocean warming, overfishing and hypoxia (deoxygenation). ... > full story

Forklift trucks that run on a green charge (June 21, 2011) -- The first forklift trucks in Europe that will run on fuel cells and with hydrogen in their tanks are on the way to the market. No fewer than 30 demonstration units are to be tested, and Norway is among the countries potentially involved in the trials. ... > full story

Survival of the weakest? Bacteria develop restraint for survival in a rock-paper-scissors community (June 21, 2011) -- New research shows that in some structured communities, organisms increase their chances of survival if they evolve some level of restraint that allows competitors to survive as well, a sort of "survival of the weakest." ... > full story

Earliest art in the Americas: Ice Age image of mammoth or mastodon found in Florida (June 21, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a bone fragment, approximately 13,000 years old, in Florida with an incised image of a mammoth or mastodon. This engraving is the oldest and only known example of Ice Age art to depict a proboscidean (the order of animals with trunks) in the Americas. ... > full story

Blueberries help lab rats build strong bones (June 21, 2011) -- Compounds in blueberries might turn out to have a powerful effect on formation of strong, healthy bones, if results from studies with laboratory rats turn out to hold true for humans. ... > full story

Adulterated cocaine causing serious skin reactions; With up to 70 percent contaminated, doctors warn of potential public health epidemic (June 21, 2011) -- Doctors warn of a potential public health epidemic in a recent report on patients who developed serious skin reactions after smoking or snorting cocaine believed to be contaminated with a veterinary medication. ... > full story

Shipwrecks no more: Recycling old boats (June 21, 2011) -- Nearly 5,000 recreational boats are retired and disposed of every year in Norway -- either sunk to the bottom of the sea or burned in a bonfire. Now, researchers have developed a new method for recycling these vessels. ... > full story

Can humans sense Earth's magnetism? Human retina protein can function as light-sensitive magnetic sensor (June 21, 2011) -- New research shows that a protein expressed in the human retina can sense magnetic fields when implanted into Drosophila, reopening an area of sensory biology in humans for further exploration. ... > full story

Resveratrol studies confirms potential health boost (June 21, 2011) -- A review of research finds the polyphenol compound known as resveratrol found in red wine, grapes and other fruits may not prevent old age, but it might make it more tolerable. ... > full story

Causes of melting tropical glaciers over past 10,000 years identified (June 21, 2011) -- The causes of melting of tropical glaciers over the past 10,000 years have at last been revealed. Researchers have shown that the retreat of the Telata glacier in Bolivia over that period is mainly linked to a 3°C rise in air temperature and to the warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean. ... > full story

Seven new species of mammals discovered in Philippines (June 21, 2011) -- Biologists have discovered seven previously unknown species of mammals in the Philippines, increasing the number of native mammals known from Luzon Island (excluding bats) from 42 to 49 (17 percent). All of the species are forest mice, and each species lives only in a small part of Luzon. ... > full story

Fastest sea-level rise in 2,000 years linked to increasing global temperatures (June 21, 2011) -- The rate of sea level rise along the U.S. Atlantic coast is greater now than at any time in the past 2,000 years -- and has shown a consistent link between changes in global mean surface temperature and sea level. ... > full story

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