ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Monday, August 8, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Monday, August 8, 2011

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Finding about cell division and metabolism may provide insight into neurodegenerative disorders (August 8, 2011) -- A new finding points to new avenues for investigation of cell metabolism that may provide insights into diseases ranging from neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease to certain types of cancers. ... > full story

Stress protection: How blue-green algae hoard energy (August 8, 2011) -- Under normal conditions, cyanobacteria, also termed blue-green algae, build up energy reserves that allow them to survive under stress such as long periods of darkness. They do this by means of a molecular switch in an enzyme. By removing this switch, researchers now show that it is possible to use the excess energy of the bacteria for biotechnological purposes such as hydrogen production, without the bacteria suffering. ... > full story

How yeast chromosomes avoid the bad breaks (August 8, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered how yeast cells protect themselves against a novel type of chromosome fragility that occurs in repeated DNA during meiosis -- the cell division that produces spores in fungi or eggs and sperm in plants and animals. ... > full story

It's no sweat for salt marsh sparrows to beat the heat if they have a larger bill (August 8, 2011) -- Birds use their bills largely to forage and eat, and these behaviors strongly influence the bill's shape and size. But the bill can play an important role in regulating the bird's body temperature by acting as a radiator for excess heat. A team of scientists have found that because of this, high summer temperatures have been a strong influence in determining bill size in some birds, particularly species of sparrows that favor salt marshes. ... > full story

Why plant 'clones' aren't identical (August 8, 2011) -- A new study of plants that are reproduced by 'cloning' has shown why cloned plants are not identical. Scientists have known for some time that 'clonal' (regenerant) organisms are not always identical. Now researchers believe they have found out why this is the case in plants: the genomes of regenerant plants carry relatively high frequencies of new DNA sequence mutations that were not present in the genome of the donor plant. ... > full story

Human influence on the 21st century climate: One possible future for the atmosphere (August 8, 2011) -- New computer modeling work in the journal Climatic Change shows that by 2100, if society wants to limit carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to less than 40 percent higher than it is today, the lowest cost option is to use every available means of reducing emissions. This includes more nuclear and renewable energy, choosing electricity over fossil fuels, reducing emissions through technologies that capture and store carbon dioxide, and even using forests to store carbon. ... > full story

Did past climate change encourage tree-killing fungi? (August 7, 2011) -- The Permian extinction 250 million years ago was the largest mass extinction on record, and among the losers were conifers that originally blanketed the arid interior of the supercontinent Pangaea. Now researchers say that climate change led to the proliferation of tree-killing soil fungi that helped destroy the forests -- something that could happen as a consequence of global warming today. ... > full story

What parasites eat provides key to better drug design (August 7, 2011) -- A new study has revealed in unprecedented detail how parasites use different nutrients needed for growth, providing researchers with unique drug targets against Leishmania, a tropical parasite that infects 12 million people worldwide and causes 500,000 deaths annually. ... > full story

What shapes a bone? Diet and genetics dictate adult jaw shape (August 6, 2011) -- Researchers found that use over time and not just genetics informs the structure of jaw bones in human populations. The researchers say these findings may be used to predict the diet of an ancient population, even if little evidence exists in the fossil record. It can also make it easier for scientists to pinpoint the genetic relationship between fossils. ... > full story

Sea lampreys fear the smell of death: Repellant could be key to better controlling destructive invasive species (August 6, 2011) -- A repellant for sea lampreys could be the key to better controlling one of the most destructive invasive species in the Great Lakes, according to new research. Scientists have seen the effect alarm cues have on lampreys. When scents from dead sea lampreys are poured into a tank of live ones, the lampreys' efforts to escape are dramatic. In the past, these reactions were simply dismissed as novel. But researchers now see this reaction as a potential game changer. ... > full story

Ocean probes to help refine climate change forecasting (August 6, 2011) -- A researcher has opened a new window to understanding how the ocean impacts climate change. She spent four years collecting samples from floating sediment traps in the San Pedro Basin off the Los Angeles coast, giving scientists a peek at how much carbon is locked up in the ocean and where it comes from. ... > full story

Females can place limits on evolution of attractive features in males, research shows (August 5, 2011) -- Female cognitive ability can limit how melodious or handsome males become over evolutionary time, biologists have observed. Males across the animal world have evolved elaborate traits to attract females, from huge peacock tails to complex bird songs and frog calls. But what keeps them from getting more colorful feathers, longer tails, or more melodious songs? ... > full story

New field of hydrothermal vents discovered along the mid-Atlantic ridge (August 5, 2011) -- Oceanographers have discovered a previously uncharted field of hydrothermal vents along the mid-Atlantic ridge – the first to be explored north of the Azores. Researchers studied an area 3,000 meters below the surface of the sea using a remotely operated vehicle. ... > full story

Small molecules hit it big: New therapeutic approaches against viruses, bacteria, and cancer (August 5, 2011) -- Scientists have developed small molecules that inhibit the internalization of important signaling molecules but also of pathogenic organisms such as the immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and bacteria into cells. These compounds inhibit the function of the cellular scaffold protein clathrin und could thereby serve as a starting point for novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer, viral or bacterial infections, or neurological disorders. ... > full story

Innate cells shown to form immunological 'memory' and protect against viral infection (August 5, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated that cells of the innate immune system are capable of "memory", and of mounting rapid protection to an otherwise lethal dose of live vaccinia virus. The study challenges previous thought that only B cells and T cells can store memory to ward off future infection. The finding has potentially significant consequences for the design of future vaccines, particularly for HIV. ... > full story

Better desalination technology key to solving world's water shortage (August 5, 2011) -- Over one-third of the world's population already lives in areas struggling to keep up with the demand for fresh water. By 2025, that number will nearly double. A new Yale University study argues that seawater desalination should play an important role in helping combat worldwide fresh water shortages -- once conservation, reuse and other methods have been exhausted -- and provides insight into how desalination technology can be made more affordable and energy efficient. ... > full story

Gazpacho ingredients lose vitamin C during preparation (August 5, 2011) -- In summer, more dishes like gazpacho –- a cold soup containing raw vegetables, bread, olive oil and vinegar –- are consumed. A new study has revealed that ingredients’ vitamin C content as well as other organic acids is lower in the resulting mixture, meaning that it should be eaten immediately after preparation. ... > full story

Light shed on South Pole dinosaurs (August 5, 2011) -- Bones of South Pole dinosaurs grew like the bones of other dinosaurs, helping explain why dinosaurs were able to dominate the planet for 160 million years, new research shows. ... > full story

Researchers discover natural food preservative that kills food-borne bacteria (August 5, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered and received a patent for a naturally occurring lantibiotic -- a peptide produced by a harmless bacteria -- that could be added to food to kill harmful bacteria like salmonella, E. coli and listeria. ... > full story

Northern humans had bigger brains, to cope with the low light levels, study finds (August 5, 2011) -- The farther that human populations live from the equator, the bigger their brains, according to a new study. But it turns out that this is not because they are smarter, but because they need bigger vision areas in the brain to cope with the low light levels experienced at high latitudes. ... > full story

Screening effort turns up multiple potential anti-malaria compounds; Possible resistance-proof drug pairs found (August 5, 2011) -- Numerous potential anti-malarial candidate drugs have been uncovered by researchers. Researchers used robotic, ultra-high-throughput screening technology to test more than 2,800 chemical compounds for activity against 61 genetically diverse strains of lab-grown malaria parasites. They found 32 compounds that were highly effective at killing at least 45 of the 61 strains. ... > full story

Targeting innate immunity in malaria: Novel DNA sensing pathway linked to increased susceptibility to malaria (August 5, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered a novel DNA-sensing pathway important to the triggering of an innate immune response for malaria. Activation of this pathway appears to stimulate production of an overabundance of type-1 interferon by the immune system that may contribute to inflammation and fever in malaria patients and could play a part in susceptibility for the most common and lethal form of malaria known as plasmodium falciparum. ... > full story

Earliest image of Egyptian ruler wearing 'white crown' of royalty brought to light (August 5, 2011) -- The earliest known image of an Egyptian ruler wearing the "White Crown" associated with Egyptian dynastic power has been brought to light by archaeologists. ... > full story

Tools to imagine the forest of the future (August 5, 2011) -- Can we predict the future regeneration of a forest given that at time T, a volume V of wood is extracted? What effects will the cut have on the competition between young and old trees in their efforts to gain access to light? Researchers are developing simulation models to anticipate the impact of future management decisions over different time scales in order to ensure the long-term balance between wood-production systems and other forest functions. ... > full story

Large variations in Arctic sea ice: Polar ice much less stable than previously thought, study finds (August 4, 2011) -- For the last 10,000 years, summer sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has been far from constant. For several thousand years, there was much less sea ice in The Arctic Ocean -- probably less than half of current amounts, according to a new study. ... > full story

Surprising condition occurs in lungs after an invasion of mold, study shows (August 4, 2011) -- Researchers have found a surprising condition that occurs in the lungs after an invasion of a common, but potentially dangerous, mold. ... > full story

Are pet owners healthier and happier? Maybe not (August 4, 2011) -- For many people, Fido and Fluffy are more than just pets, they're true and equal members of the family. And it's not hard to see why. Our pets greet us at the door after a long day of work, settle in our laps while we're watching TV, or 'sing' along when we hum a tune. They provide companionship and even a sense of comfort. Yet according to new research there simply isn't strong evidence for the general claim that living with a pet makes for a happier, healthier or longer life. ... > full story

Fossils of forest rodents found in highland desert (August 4, 2011) -- Two new rodent fossils were discovered in the arid highlands of southern Bolivia. An online article describes the new species, a possible third, and two known species that are new inhabitants to that location. ... > full story

La Nina's distant effects in East Africa: Droughts and floods are remote-controlled climate effects (August 4, 2011) -- For 20,000 years, climate variability in East Africa has been following a pattern that is evidently a remote effect of the ENSO phenomenon (El Nino Southern Oscillation) known as El Nino/La Nina. During the cold phase of La Nina, there is marginal rainfall and stronger winds in East Africa, while the El Nino warm phase leads to weak wind conditions with frequent rain. ... > full story

Cells die so defensive organs can live (August 4, 2011) -- A new study demonstrates the trade-off between the development of defensive organs and the regression of mouth parts during termite evolution. Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that programmed cell death - a process by which cells deliberately destroy themselves - is involved in mandibular regression in termites. And it appears this regression may be the price to pay for the formation of termites' defensive organs. ... > full story

Bellybutton microbiomes: Ecological research on the human biome (August 4, 2011) -- Human skin is teeming with microbes -- communities of bacteria, many of which are harmless, live alongside the more infamous microbes sometimes found on the skin. Researchers recently set out to dispel the myth that all bacteria on the skin are disease-causing germs. ... > full story

Aggressive drug therapy aids superbug evolution, research finds (August 4, 2011) -- New research raises troubling concerns about the use of aggressive drug therapies to treat a wide range of diseases such as MRSA, C. difficile, malaria and even cancer. ... > full story

Researchers develop fully cooked food-aid product (August 4, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a fully cooked food-aid product called Instant Corn Soy Blend that supplements meals, particularly for young children. ... > full story

Mold exposure during infancy increases asthma risk, study finds (August 4, 2011) -- Infants who live in "moldy" homes are three times more likely to develop asthma by age 7 -- an age that children can be accurately diagnosed with the condition, according to a new study. ... > full story

A wise man's treatment for arthritis: Frankincense? (August 4, 2011) -- The answer to treating painful arthritis could lie in an age old herbal remedy -- frankincense, according to scientists. They have been examining the potential benefits of frankincense to help relieve and alleviate the symptoms of the condition. ... > full story

What steers vampire bats to blood: Heat-detecting molecules on noses discovered (August 4, 2011) -- Scientists have known for years that when vampire bats tear through an animal's skin with their razor-sharp teeth, their noses guide them to the best spots -- where a precise bite will strike a vein and spill forth nourishing blood. But nobody knew exactly how bats knew where to bite. ... > full story

Human hearts respond differently than mouse hearts to two cardiovascular drugs (August 4, 2011) -- Two recent research studies have found differences between the distribution of potassium-ion-channel variants in the mouse heart and in the human heart. In the mouse, the ion channels in the atria are different from those in the ventricles. In people there is no such chamber specificity. The difference is crucially important for the development of safe and effective cardiovascular drugs. ... > full story

Rising carbon dioxide could reverse drying effects of higher temperatures on rangelands (August 4, 2011) -- Rising carbon dioxide levels can reverse the drying effects of predicted higher temperatures on semi-arid rangelands, according to a new study by a team of US Department of Agriculture and university scientists. ... > full story

Slowing climate change by targeting gases other than carbon dioxide (August 4, 2011) -- Carbon dioxide remains the undisputed king of recent climate change, but other greenhouse gases measurably contribute to the problem. A new study shows that cutting emissions of those other gases could slow changes in climate that are expected in the future. ... > full story

New paper examines future of seawater desalinization (August 4, 2011) -- Researchers have made a critical review of the state of seawater desalination technology. ... > full story

East Africa's climate under the spell of El Niño since the last Ice Age (August 4, 2011) -- The current severe drought in East Africa is being attributed to La Niña conditions that prevailed in the Pacific until May 2011. The waxing and waning of rainfall in eastern tropical Africa in unison with El Niño-Southern Oscillation is not unusual and existed already 20,000 years ago, though the region's last 3,000 years have seen a less stable climate, according to a study published by an international group of scientists on August 5 in Science. ... > full story

Potato trials and research provide grower information (August 4, 2011) -- Whether it is a purple potato to fit a niche market or finding varieties resistant or at least tolerant to psyllid infestations, one researcher has a potato plant aimed at meeting a grower's need. ... > full story

Learning to live with fire (August 4, 2011) -- European forests are regularly attacked by fire with often disastrous ecological, economic and social consequences. The most common reaction has been to fight fires at all costs. Today, a new concept for managing fire is emerging, taking into account its positive aspects. ... > full story

Protection against falling rock (August 4, 2011) -- In the mountains, rock falls occur at the end of fall and beginning of spring, when thermal variation is the greatest. Rockfall nets and other types of structures can be installed to protect the buildings and roads below. However, field observations have revealed that mountain forests play a protective role. They slow and can even stop the downward progression of rocks, thus constituting an ecological and economic alternative to man-made structures. ... > full story

Better flood forecasting is possible (August 4, 2011) -- A number of disasters are there to remind us of the vulnerability of life and property to floods. Scientists have now developed better forecasting tools to warn the public and the authorities and enable zones at risk to prepare. ... > full story

Six million years of savanna: Grasslands, wooded grasslands accompanied human evolution (August 3, 2011) -- Scientists have used chemical isotopes in ancient soil to measure prehistoric tree cover -- in effect, shade -- and found that grassy, tree-dotted savannas prevailed at most East African sites where human ancestors and their ape relatives evolved during the past 6 million years. ... > full story

Scientists find way to identify synthetic biofuels in atmosphere (August 3, 2011) -- Chemists have discovered a technique to track urban atmospheric plumes, thanks to a unique isotopic signature found in vehicle emissions. ... > full story

One species of pathogen can produce two distinct biofilms (August 3, 2011) -- Many medical devices, ranging from artificial hip joints to dentures and catheters, can come with unwelcome guests -- complex communities of microbial pathogens called biofilms that are resistant to the human immune system and antibiotics, thus proving a serious threat to human health. However, researchers may have a new way of looking at biofilms, thanks to a new study. ... > full story

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