ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Wednesday, June 29, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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Tiny ring laser accurately detects and counts nanoparticles (June 29, 2011) -- A ring-shaped laser no bigger than a pinprick can accurately detect and count individual viruses, the particles that jumpstart cloud formation or those that contaminate the air we breathe. A particle disturbs the light circulating in the ring, splitting the lasing frequency. This split is a measure of the particle's size. ... > full story

Surgeon shows simple cotton swab slashes post-surgical wound infections (June 29, 2011) -- A simple item found in almost every medicine cabinet -- a cotton swab -- may be a key tool in the fight against post-surgical wound infections. ... > full story

Conservation dollars and sense: A case for shark conservation through ecotourism (June 29, 2011) -- New article examines the impact of sharks on coastal economies and the importance of including conservation efforts in long term management plans. ... > full story

BPA-exposed male deer mice are demasculinized and undesirable to females, new study finds (June 29, 2011) -- The latest research shows that BPA causes male deer mice to become demasculinized and behave more like females in their spatial navigational abilities, leading scientists to conclude that exposure to BPA during human development could be damaging to behavioral and cognitive traits that are unique to each sex and important in reproduction. ... > full story

Female mate choice enhances offspring fitness in an annual herb (June 29, 2011) -- Mate choice and sexual selection in plants is more complex in some ways than in animals because plants are sessile organisms and often must rely on external vectors, e.g. animals, for pollen transport. Plants can only do so much to affect the timing of pollen arrival, or the size and diversity of deposited pollen. But can a plant control which pollen grains, of the hundreds that land on their stigmas, make it to the ovules? ... > full story

Peat wildfire smoke linked to heart failure risk (June 29, 2011) -- The 2008 peat bog wildfires in North Carolina led to an increase in emergency room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular effects, records show. ... > full story

Mystery ingredient in coffee boosts protection against Alzheimer's disease, study finds (June 28, 2011) -- An unidentified coffee component combined with caffeine increases a growth factor that counters Alzheimer's pathology in mice, according to new research. ... > full story

High levels of toxic compounds found on coasts of West Africa (June 28, 2011) -- Scientists have found very high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) along the coasts of West Africa. Production of these extremely toxic compounds has been banned in Europe and the United States for years. These harmful substances could come from the illegal dumping of waste or from an enormous ship breaking yard in Mauritania. ... > full story

Natural sequence farming could affect global climate change (June 28, 2011) -- Improving land management and farming practices in Australia could have an effect on global climate change, according to a new study. ... > full story

Does grilling kill E. coli O157:H7? (June 28, 2011) -- Top sirloin steaks have been getting a grilling in food safety studies. Microbiologists are conducting experiments to help make sure that neither the food-borne pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 nor any of its pathogenic relatives will ruin the pleasure of eating this popular entree. ... > full story

Starch-controlling gene fuels more protein in soybean plants (June 28, 2011) -- A newly discovered gene introduced into soybean plants has increased the amount of protein in the plant's seed by 30 to 60 percent. People with protein-starved diets around the world could benefit. ... > full story

Inkjet printing could change the face of solar energy industry (June 28, 2011) -- Inkjet printers, a low-cost technology that in recent decades has revolutionized home and small office printing, may soon offer similar benefits for the future of solar energy. Engineers have discovered a way for the first time to create successful solar devices with inkjet printing, in work that reduces raw material waste by 90 percent and will significantly lower the cost of producing solar energy cells with some very promising compounds. ... > full story

Tropical birds return to harvested rainforest areas in Brazil (June 28, 2011) -- Bird species in rainforest fragments in Brazil that were isolated by deforestation disappeared then reappeared over a quarter-century, according to new research. ... > full story

Ancient symbiosis between animals and bacteria discovered (June 28, 2011) -- Marine shallow water sandy bottoms on the surface appear desert-like and empty, but in the interstitial space between the sand grains a diverse fauna flourishes. One of the strangest members of this interstitial fauna is Paracatenula, a several millimeters long, mouth and gut-less flatworm, which is found from tropical oceans to the Mediterranean. ... > full story

Will new drugs block hepatitis C virus in its tracks? (June 28, 2011) -- Targeted multi-drug treatments for hepatitis C patients that could stop the virus in its tracks have come a step closer, thanks to new research. ... > full story

Scientists sequence endangered Tasmanian devil's genome (June 28, 2011) -- To prevent extinction of the Tasmanian devil, a revolutionary project has sequenced and analyzed the entire genome of one healthy individual and one that died of a contagious cancer known as devil facial tumor disease. The research helps to formulate a plan to prevent the extinction of the animal -- a marsupial found in the wild exclusively in the Australian island-state of Tasmania. The new research model also may be extended to other endangered species. ... > full story

Microbe vs. microbe: Meta-analysis reveals patterns of bacteria-virus infection networks (June 28, 2011) -- A meta-analysis of bacteria-virus infections reveals a nested structure, with hard-to-infect bacteria infected by generalist viruses and easy-to-infect bacteria attacked by generalist and specialist viruses. These findings could provide insights into strategies for viral-based antimicrobial therapies. ... > full story

Synthetic collagen from maize has human properties (June 28, 2011) -- Synthetic collagen has a wide range of applications in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery and in the food industry. For proper function in animals a certain number of prolines within the protein need to be hydroxylated. Researchers report that for the first time the alpha 1 chain of type 1 collagen has been produced in maize with similar levels of proline hydroxylation to human collagen. ... > full story

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

Body temperature of dinosaurs measured for the first time (June 28, 2011) -- When dinosaurs were first discovered in the mid-19th century, paleontologists thought they were plodding beasts that relied on their environment to keep warm, like modern-day reptiles. ... > 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

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