ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, June 28, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, June 28, 2011

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It's not an apple a day after all -- it's strawberries: Flavonoids could represent two-fisted assault on diabetes and nervous system disorders (June 28, 2011) -- A recent study suggests that a strawberry a day (or more accurately, 37 of them) could keep not just one doctor away, but an entire fleet of them, including the neurologist, the endocrinologist, and maybe even the oncologist. The report explains that fisetin, a naturally-occurring flavonoid found most abundantly in strawberries and to a lesser extent in other fruits and vegetables, lessens complications of diabetes. ... > full story

Waistlines in people, glucose levels in mice hint at sweeteners' effects: Related studies point to the illusion of the artificial (June 28, 2011) -- In the constant battle to lose inches or at least stay the same, we reach for the diet soda. Two studies suggest this might be self-defeating behavior. Epidemiologists report data showing that diet soft drink consumption is associated with increased waist circumference in humans, and a second study that found aspartame raised fasting glucose (blood sugar) in diabetes-prone mice. ... > full story

Landsat satellite images reveal extent of historic North Dakota flooding (June 28, 2011) -- Heavy rains in Canada caused historic flooding in Minot, N.D. Landsat satellite images taken before and during the flooding reveal the water's extent. ... > full story

Fossilized pollen reveals climate history of northern Antarctica: Tundra persisted until 12 million years ago (June 28, 2011) -- A painstaking examination of the first direct and detailed climate record from the continental shelves surrounding Antarctica reveals that the last remnant of Antarctic vegetation existed 12 million years ago. ... > full story

Nanowire-based sensors offer improved detection of volatile organic compounds (June 28, 2011) -- A team of researchers has made nano-sized sensors that detect volatile organic compounds -- harmful pollutants released from paints, cleaners, pesticides and other products -- that offer several advantages over today's commercial gas sensors, including low-power, room-temperature operation and the ability to detect one or several compounds over a wide range of concentrations. ... > full story

Student publishes case for faster, less expensive DNA analysis (June 28, 2011) -- A student's undergraduate research is challenging a widely held assumption on the best way to analyze old DNA in anthropological and forensic investigations. At issue is the best way to sequence "ancient" DNA, bits of genetic code pulled from remains up to 800,000 years old. ... > full story

Flooding of ancient Salton Sea linked to San Andreas earthquakes (June 27, 2011) -- Southern California's Salton Sea, once a large natural lake fed by the Colorado River, may play an important role in the earthquake cycle of the southern San Andreas Fault and may have triggered large earthquakes in the past. ... > full story

Cooling system may build eggs' natural defenses against salmonella (June 27, 2011) -- Once eggs are laid, their natural resistance to pathogens begins to wear down, but a scientist believes he knows how to rearm those defenses. ... > full story

Brain rhythm associated with learning also linked to running speed, study shows (June 27, 2011) -- Rhythms in the brain that are associated with learning become stronger as the body moves faster, neurophysicists report in a new study. The research team used specialized microelectrodes to monitor an electrical signal known as the gamma rhythm in the brains of mice. This signal is typically produced in a brain region called the hippocampus, which is critical for learning and memory, during periods of concentration and learning. ... > full story

Fighting back from extinction, New Zealand right whale is returning home (June 27, 2011) -- After being hunted to local extinction more than a century ago and unable to remember their ancestral calving grounds, the southern right whales of mainland New Zealand are coming home. A new study has shown for the first time that whales from a small surviving population around remote, sub-Antarctic islands have found their way back to the New Zealand mainland. ... > full story

Golden window electrodes developed for organic solar cells (June 27, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a gold plated window as the transparent electrode for organic solar cells. Contrary to what one might expect, these electrodes have the potential to be relatively cheap since the thickness of gold used is only 8 billionths of a meter. ... > full story

Most parents unaware of teen workplace risks, study finds (June 27, 2011) -- Most parents are unaware of the risks their teenagers face in the workplace and could do more to help them understand and prepare for those hazards, according to a new study. ... > full story

Wildlife surviving conflict in Afghanistan (June 27, 2011) -- A new survey reveals that large mammals, including Asiatic black bears, gray wolves, markhor goats and leopard cats are surviving in parts of Afghanistan after years of conflict. ... > full story

How humpback whales catch prey with bubble nets (June 27, 2011) -- Marine biologist explain how humpback whales in the Gulf of Maine catch prey with advanced water technology. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are large baleen whales (up to 14 m long) that feed on a small prey in dense concentrations, such as krill or herrings. ... > full story

Unique lab seeks drought-tolerant traits in cotton, other plants (June 27, 2011) -- As billion-dollar agricultural losses continue to mount in the withering Texas heat, scientists in Corpus Christi are taking a closer look at why some cotton varieties do better than others in drought conditions. ... > full story

Living antibiotic effective against Salmonella, study suggests (June 27, 2011) -- Scientists have tested a predatory bacterium -- Bdellovibrio -- against Salmonella in the guts of live chickens. They found that it significantly reduced the numbers of Salmonella bacteria and, importantly, showed that Bdellovibrio are safe when ingested, researchers say. ... > full story

Mechanics of speciation: Model examines factors that contribute to emergence of new species (June 27, 2011) -- Mate choice, competition, and the variety of resources available are the key factors influencing how a species evolves into separate species, according to a new mathematical model that integrates all three factors to reveal the dynamics at play in a process called sympatric speciation. ... > full story

Genome editing -- a next step in genetic therapy -- corrects hemophilia in animals (June 27, 2011) -- Using an innovative gene therapy technique called genome editing that hones in on the precise location of mutated DNA, scientists have treated the blood clotting disorder hemophilia in mice. This is the first time that genome editing, which precisely targets and repairs a genetic defect, has been done in a living animal and achieved clinically meaningful results. ... > full story

Hitting moving RNA drug targets: New way to search for novel drugs (June 27, 2011) -- By accounting for the floppy, fickle nature of RNA, researchers have developed a new way to search for drugs that target this important molecule. ... > full story

Ocean currents speed melting of Antarctic ice: A major glacier is undermined from below (June 27, 2011) -- Stronger ocean currents beneath West Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier Ice Shelf are eroding the ice from below, speeding the melting of the glacier as a whole, according to a new study. ... > full story

Scientists expose cancer cells' universal 'dark matter'; Findings reveal chaos in biochemical alterations of cancer cells (June 27, 2011) -- Using the latest gene sequencing tools to examine so-called epigenetic influences on the DNA makeup of colon cancer, a team of researchers says its results suggest cancer treatment might eventually be more tolerable and successful if therapies could focus on helping cancer cells get back to normal in addition to strategies for killing them. ... > full story

What top predators can tell us about ocean ecosystems (June 27, 2011) -- It just takes a pinch. But from a sample of animal fat, a researcher can determine what predators at the top of the food chain are eating, and by extension, how their diet has changed due to changes in ecosystems. ... > full story

Generating 'green' electricity: Waste heat converted to electricity using new alloy (June 27, 2011) -- Engineering researchers have recently discovered a new alloy material that converts heat directly into electricity. This revolutionary energy conversion method is in the early stages of development, but it could have wide-sweeping impact on creating environmentally friendly electricity from waste heat sources. ... > full story

Studies track protein relevant to stem cells, cancer (June 27, 2011) -- Scientists have taken a broad look at the Tet 1 protein's location in the mouse genome, and found a surprising dual function. They are offering the first genome-wide location of the protein and its product, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine -- dubbed the "sixth base" of DNA. ... > full story

New data reveals how storms are triggered in the Sahel (June 27, 2011) -- In the Sahel, the frequency of storms increases when soil moisture varies over a few kilometers. Such contrasts cause air circulation between dry and humid areas, contributing to the development of storms. For the first time, these contrasts have been studied on a small scale. The new data that should help researchers to address the issue of drought in the Sahel. ... > full story

More than 300 new species discovered in the Philippines (June 26, 2011) -- This spring, scientists conducted the most comprehensive scientific survey effort ever conducted in the Philippines, documenting both terrestrial and marine life forms from the tops of the highest mountains to the depths of the sea. The scientists discovered more than 300 likely new species, including dozens of new insects and spiders, deep-sea armored corals, bizarre new sea urchins, a shrimp-eating swell shark, and over 50 colorful new sea slugs. ... > full story

Are the French becoming bored with wine? (June 26, 2011) -- One of the most familiar aspects of French culture -- its love of wine -- might be lost as successive generations abandon the imaginative representations of wine linked to national identity, according to a new study. The findings suggest that the transmission of French wine heritage to future generations is in terminal decline. ... > full story

Ancient species of mayfly had short, tragic life (June 26, 2011) -- A tiny mayfly that died 100 million years ago, but was preserved for perpetuity in amber, is helping to shed light on ancient ecosystems. ... > full story

Sand drift in Norway caused by sea-level changes and human activity (June 26, 2011) -- The sand along the south-western coastal rim of Norway has drifted for more than 9000 calendar years. This was triggered by sea-level changes and human activities, new research has found. ... > full story

Modern fish communities live fast and die young (June 25, 2011) -- Fish communities in the 21st century live fast and die young. That's the main finding of a recent study that compared fish recently caught in coastal Kenya with the bones of fish contained in ancient Swahili refuse heaps. ... > full story

Chemist solves riddle of killer diseases (June 25, 2011) -- Using the tools of synthetic chemistry, a Copenhagen chemist has copied the endotoxin of bacteria causing diseases such as anthrax. This paves the way for new and efficient antibiotics. ... > full story

'Orca ears' inspire researchers to develop ultrasensitive undersea microphone (June 25, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a microphone that can be used at any depth in the ocean, even under crushing pressure, and is sensitive to a wide range of sounds, from a whisper in a library to an explosion of TNT. They modeled their device after the extraordinarily acute hearing of orcas. ... > full story

Lowering the color of crystals in sugar factories (June 25, 2011) -- Like diamonds, sugar crystals ideally are very pure and low in color. Now studies have provided a better understanding of the source of undesirable color in factory sugar. ... > full story

Pollinators make critical contribution to healthy diets (June 25, 2011) -- Fruits and vegetables that provide the highest levels of vitamins and minerals to the human diet globally depend heavily on bees and other pollinating animals, according to a new study. ... > full story

Exposure to parental stress increases pollution-related lung damage in children (June 25, 2011) -- Psychosocial stress appears to enhance the lung-damaging effects of traffic-related pollution in children, according to new research. ... > full story

Biologist discovers key regulators for biofilm development (June 25, 2011) -- Biologists have discovered that a complex cascade of enhancer binding proteins is responsible for turning on genes that initiate the formation of a biofilm in bacteria. ... > full story

Hidden lives of Baltimore's Irish immigrants unearthed for first time (June 25, 2011) -- Archaeologists are unearthing a unique picture of early Irish immigrants in the Baltimore area -- of city children taught at home to read and write before widespread public education or child labor laws, and insular rural communities defying assimilation. ... > full story

Some captive chimpanzees show signs of compromised mental health, research shows (June 24, 2011) -- A new study finds that serious behavioral abnormalities, some of which could be compared to mental illness in humans, are endemic among captive chimpanzees. While most behavior of zoo-living chimpanzees is 'normal' in that it is typical of their wild counterparts, abnormal behavior is endemic in this population despite enrichment efforts such as social housing, say researchers. ... > full story

Sepsis: Leaking blood vessels may be cause of infection-spreading condition, researchers suggest (June 24, 2011) -- Researchers have put forward a new theory as to what causes sepsis, an often fatal condition that occurs when infection spreads throughout the body. Leaking blood vessels may actually be a cause of sepsis, rather than a symptom as previously thought. ... > full story

Mantis shrimp eye could improve high-definition CDs, DVDs (June 24, 2011) -- The eye of the peacock mantis shrimp has led an international team of researchers to develop a two-part waveplate that could improve CD, DVD, blu-ray and holographic technology, creating even higher definition and larger storage density. ... > full story

Deep history of coconuts decoded: Origins of cultivation, ancient trade routes, and colonization of the Americas (June 24, 2011) -- DNA analysis of more than 1,300 coconuts from around the world reveals that the coconut was brought under cultivation in two separate locations, one in the Pacific basin and the other in the Indian Ocean basin. What's more, coconut genetics also preserve a record of prehistoric trade routes and of the colonization of the Americas. ... > full story

Northern Eurasian snowpack could be a predictor of winter weather in US, team from UGA reports (June 24, 2011) -- Every winter, weather forecasters talk about the snow cover in the northern US and into Canada as a factor in how deep the deep-freeze will be in the states. A new study indicates they may be looking, at least partially, in the wrong place. ... > full story

Genes at the flick of a light switch: Human cells fitted with synthetic signaling cascade (June 24, 2011) -- Researchers from Switzerland have fitted human cells with a synthetic signaling cascade that can be used to switch on and regulate genes via blue light. This "gene light switch" makes interesting therapies possible, which could be used to treat type 2 diabetes, for instance. ... > full story

Ovenbirds eavesdrop on chipmunks to protect nests (June 24, 2011) -- Ground-nesting birds face an uphill struggle to successfully rear their young, many eggs and fledglings falling prey to predators. Now, scientists have found that some birds eavesdrop on their enemies, using this information to find safer spots to build their nests. ... > full story

Newspaper archives help to understand coastal flooding along the South of England (June 24, 2011) -- A unique study using over 70 years of information from local newspapers has helped to examine the incidence and location of coastal floods in the Solent region of southern England. ... > full story

Discovering lost salmon at sea (June 24, 2011) -- Where Atlantic salmon feed in the ocean has been a long-standing mystery, but new research shows that marine location can be recovered from the chemistry of fish scales. Surprisingly, salmon from different British rivers migrate to feed in separate places, and may respond differently to environmental change. ... > full story

Protein unique to avian retina contributes to visual acuity by helping eyes 'breathe' (June 24, 2011) -- Say what you will about bird brains, but our feathered friends sure have us -- and all the other animals on the planet -- beat in the vision department, and that has a bit to do with how their brains develop. ... > full story

Physicist's discovery alters conventional understanding of sight (June 24, 2011) -- Physicists shed new light on how the visual process is initiated. For almost 50 years, scientists have believed that light signals could not be initiated unless special light-receptor molecules in the retinal cells first changed their shape in a process called isomerization. However, researchers have now demonstrated that visual signals can be initiated in the absence of isomerization. ... > full story

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