ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, June 30, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, June 30, 2011

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Average U.S. temperature increases by 0.5 degrees F (June 30, 2011) -- According to the 1981-2010 normals to be released by the U.S. National Climatic Data Center, temperatures across the United States were on average, approximately 0.5 degree F warmer than the 1971-2000 time period. Normals serve as a 30 year baseline average of important climate variables that are used to understand average climate conditions at any location and serve as a consistent point of reference. The new normals update the 30-year averages of climatological variables, including average temperature and precipitation for more than 7,500 locations across the United States. ... > full story

2010 one of two warmest years on record; El Niño-Southern Oscillation and other climate patterns play major role (June 30, 2011) -- Worldwide, 2010 was one of the two warmest years on record, according to a new report by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The peer-reviewed report, compiled by 368 scientists from 45 countries, provides a detailed, yearly update on global climate indicators, notable climate events and other climate information from every continent. ... > full story

Rockin' tortoises: A 150-year-old new species (June 29, 2011) -- Researchers investigated a desert tortoise from the United States Southwest and northwestern Mexico. What was thought to be a simple problem in species identification turned out to be a very complex matter. Their investigations required forensic genetics and several other methods. In the end, they found it necessary to describe a new species. More than that, the discovery has very important implications for conservation and the development of the deserts of southern California. ... > full story

New malaria protein structure upends theory of how cells grow and move (June 29, 2011) -- Researchers have now overturned conventional wisdom on how cell movement across all species is controlled, solving the structure of a protein that cuts power to the cell "motor". The protein could be a potential drug target for future malaria and anti-cancer treatments. ... > full story

Multiple sclerosis-like disease discovered in monkeys (June 29, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a naturally occurring disease in monkeys that is very much like multiple sclerosis in humans -- a discovery that could have a major impact on efforts to understand the cause of multiple sclerosis. ... > full story

SIV-resistant monkeys close the gates to viral infection (June 29, 2011) -- Sooty mangabeys, a type of African monkey, can survive infection by SIV, a relative of HIV, and not succumb to AIDS. Researchers have now identified a way some of sooty mangabeys' immune cells resist infection: they close the gates that SIV and HIV use to get into the cell. The findings may lead to strategies to help HIV-infected individuals cope better with infection. ... > full story

Growing plants on oil contaminated land (June 29, 2011) -- What happens when there is an oil spill on land? Who cleans it up and how do they do it? By optimizing the use of naturally occurring bacteria, a group of scientists was able to clean contaminated soil without using either chemicals or GMOs. ... > full story

New method for imaging molecules inside cells (June 29, 2011) -- Using a new sample holder, researchers have further developed a new method for imaging individual cells. This makes it possible to produce snapshots that not only show the outline of the cell's contours but also the various molecules inside or on the surface of the cell, and exactly where they are located, something which is impossible with a normal microscope. ... > full story

Prodigal plankton species makes first known migration from Pacific to Atlantic via Pole (June 29, 2011) -- Scientists say the melting Arctic has opened a Northwest Passage for Pacific species to enter the Atlantic, including a tiny plankton, unseen in the Atlantic for 800,000 years -- a return unwelcome due to its impact on the marine food web. ... > full story

A happy life is a long one for orangutans (June 29, 2011) -- New research has shown that happier orangutans live longer which may provide insight into the evolution of happiness in humans. Researchers asked keepers who work with orangutans to answer questions about happiness on the animals' behalf. Orangutans which were scored as happier by their keepers were more likely to live longer. ... > full story

Farm animal disease to increase with climate change, scientists say (June 29, 2011) -- Scientists have shown that recent climate change could have caused a serious infectious disease in farm animals to spread through Europe. ... > full story

Domed dinosaur was king of the head butt (June 29, 2011) -- Researchers surveyed the heads of a large number of modern animals as well as one of the world's best dinosaur fossils and they found that the bony anatomy of some pachycephalosaur domes are better at protecting the brain than in any modern head butter. ... > full story

How bumblebees tackle the traveling salesman problem (June 29, 2011) -- New research reveals how bumblebees effectively plan their route between the most rewarding flowers while traveling the shortest distances. ... > full story

Gene flow may help plants adapt to climate change (June 29, 2011) -- The traffic of genes among populations may help living things better adapt to climate change, especially when genes flow among groups most affected by warming, according to a new study. ... > full story

Bacterium engineered with DNA in which thymine is replaced by synthetic building block (June 29, 2011) -- The genetic information of all living cells is stored in the DNA composed of the four canonical bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). An international team of researchers has now succeeded in generating a bacterium possessing a DNA in which thymine is replaced by the synthetic building block 5-Chlorouracil (c), a substance toxic for other organisms. ... > full story

Climate change makes some chemicals more toxic to aquatic life, study finds (June 29, 2011) -- Some areas of the southern United States are suffering from the longest dry spell since 1887, and a new study shows that could prove problematic for aquatic organisms. ... > full story

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

GOES satellites see ash still spewing from Chilean volcano (June 29, 2011) -- The Puyehue-Cordon volcano in Chile continues to spew ash that is still disrupting travel as far as Australia and New Zealand this week. ... > full story

Researchers contribute to global plant database, expanding ecosystems research (June 29, 2011) -- A new database of plants' traits will help scientists around the world learn more about how climate change is affecting ecosystems. The availability of plant trait data in the unified global database promises to support a paradigm shift in Earth system sciences. ... > full story

Understanding impacts of aerosols and trace gases on climate and air quality (June 29, 2011) -- Atmospheric aerosol particles (otherwise known as particulate matter) have been masking the true rate of greenhouse gas induced global warming during the industrial period. New investigations show that the aerosol cooling effect will be strongly reduced by 2030, as air pollution abatements are implemented worldwide and the presently available advanced control technologies are utilized. These actions would increase the global mean temperature by roughly 1 degree Celsius. ... > 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