ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, August 9, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, August 9, 2011

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Scientist develops virus that targets HIV: Using a virus to kill a virus (August 9, 2011) -- In what represents an important step toward curing HIV, a scientist has created a virus that hunts down HIV-infected cells. ... > full story

Protein unmasks pathogenic fungi to activate immune response (August 9, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered a novel association between two fungal recognition receptors on the surface of certain immune cells, called macrophages. The interaction of these receptors (dectin-1 and galectin-3) sheds new light on how the innate immune system discriminates between non-pathogenic and pathogenic fungi. Invasive fungal infections are a rising source of morbidity and mortality in healthy individuals, as well as in patients suffering from chronic diseases, such as cancer or AIDS. ... > full story

Live from the scene -- biochemistry in action: New microscope follows single molecules by the millisecond (August 9, 2011) -- Researchers can now watch molecules move in living cells, literally millisecond by millisecond, thanks to a new microscope developed by scientists in Germany. The new technique provides insights into processes that were so far invisible. ... > full story

Severe low temperatures devastate coral reefs in Florida Keys (August 8, 2011) -- Increased seawater temperatures are known to be a leading cause of the decline of coral reefs all over the world. Now, researchers have found that extreme low temperatures affect certain corals in much the same way that high temperatures do, with potentially catastrophic consequences for coral ecosystems. ... > full story

Soy tablets not associated with reduction in bone loss or menopausal symptoms in women, study finds (August 8, 2011) -- Soy isoflavone tablets do not appear to be associated with a reduction in bone loss or menopausal symptoms in women within the first five years of menopause, according to a new study. ... > full story

Billion-year-old piece of North America traced back to Antarctica (August 8, 2011) -- An international team of researchers has found the strongest evidence yet that parts of North America and Antarctica were connected 1.1 billion years ago, long before the supercontinent Pangaea formed. ... > full story

Puffins 'scout out' best migration route (August 8, 2011) -- Individual Atlantic puffins 'scout out' their own migration routes rather than relying on genetic 'programming' or learning routes from a parent, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Researchers use neutrons to spy on the elusive hydronium ion: Unprecedented proof of ion's role in enzymatic process (August 8, 2011) -- A research team has harnessed neutrons to view for the first time the critical role that an elusive molecule plays in certain biological reactions. The effort could aid in treatment of peptic ulcers or acid reflux disease, or allow for more efficient conversion of woody waste into transportation fuels. ... > full story

Endangered river turtle's genes reveal ancient influence of Maya Indians (August 8, 2011) -- A genetic study focusing on the Central American river turtle recently turned up surprising results involved in the conservation of this critically endangered species. Small tissue samples collected from 238 wild turtles at 15 different locations across their range in Southern Mexico, Belize and Guatemala revealed a "surprising lack" of genetic structure. ... > full story

'Amino acid time capsule': New way to date the past (August 8, 2011) -- British scientists are using an 'amino acid time capsule' to date the Quaternary period, stretching back nearly three million years. It is the first widespread application of refinements of the 40-year-old technique of amino acid geochronology. The refined method measures the breakdown of a closed system of protein in fossil snail shells, and provides a method of dating archaeological and geological sites. ... > full story

Key molecule that keeps immune cell development on track described (August 8, 2011) -- Researchers have clarified the role of two proteins key to T-cell development. They found that one well-known protein called Notch passes off much of its role during T-cell maturation to another protein called TCF-1. ... > full story

Increase in tornado, hurricane damage brings call for more stringent building standards (August 8, 2011) -- Researchers have examined some of last spring's massive tornado damage and conclude in a new report that more intensive engineering design and more rigorous, localized construction and inspection standards are needed to reduce property damage and loss of life. ... > full story

New conducting properties discovered in bacteria-produced wires (August 8, 2011) -- The discovery of a fundamental, previously unknown property of microbial nanowires in the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens that allows electron transfer across long distances could revolutionize nanotechnology and bioelectronics, says a team of physicists and microbiologists. Their findings may one day lead to cheaper, less toxic nanomaterials for biosensors and solid state electronics that interface with biological systems. ... > full story

Hiding vegetables in kids' foods can increase vegetable intake (August 8, 2011) -- Preschool children consumed nearly twice as many vegetables and 11 percent fewer calories over the course of a day when researchers added pureed vegetables to the children's favorite foods. ... > full story

Montana weather linked to ocean temperatures near Peru (August 8, 2011) -- Researchers analyzed 100 years of data and found a significant link between extreme Montana weather and the ocean temperatures near Peru. ... > full story

Cell-based alternative to animal testing? Genomic biomarker signature can predict skin sensitizers, study finds (August 8, 2011) -- European legislation restricts animal testing within the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries and companies are increasingly looking at alternative systems to ensure that their products are safe to use. New research demonstrates that the response of laboratory grown human cells can now be used to classify chemicals as sensitizing, or non-sensitizing, and can even predict the strength of allergic response, so providing an alternative to animal testing. ... > full story

Bizarre insect inbreeding signals an end to males (August 8, 2011) -- A bizarre form of inbreeding could spell the end of males in one insect species, according to researchers. The research focused on cottony cushion scales, a hermaphroditic bug species in which females appear to fertilize their own eggs. ... > full story

New resource to unlock the role of microRNAs (August 8, 2011) -- The first mammalian microRNA knockout resource -- mirKO -- will soon be released. This research toolbox of mutant mouse ES cells, in which individual or clustered groups of microRNA genes have been deleted, will help researchers define the role of microRNAs in health and disease. Using these tools researchers can create cells or mice lacking specific microRNAs, study expression using fluorescent markers, or inactivate the gene in specific tissues or at specific times in development. ... > full story

U.S. government urged to rule on consumption of genetically engineered salmon (August 8, 2011) -- Scientists are urging federal officials to decide whether genetically engineered salmon would be allowed for US consumption and arguing that not doing so may set back scientific efforts to increase food production. ... > full story

Brain's map of space falls flat when it comes to altitude (August 8, 2011) -- Animal's brains are only roughly aware of how high-up they are in space, meaning that in terms of altitude the brain's 'map' of space is surprisingly flat, according to new research. ... > full story

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

Peak oil and public health: Political common ground? (August 8, 2011) -- In a new article, a communication professor demonstrates that the impact of peak petroleum on public health may be a way to unite conservatives and liberals in an effort to move away from fossil fuels and towards alternative forms of energy. ... > full story

Meteorites: Tool kits for creating life on Earth (August 8, 2011) -- Meteorites hold a record of the chemicals that existed in the early solar system and that may have been a crucial source of the organic compounds that gave rise to life on Earth. Since the 1960s, scientists have been trying to find proof that nucleobases, the building blocks of our genetic material, came to Earth on meteorites. New research indicates that certain nucleobases do reach the Earth from extraterrestrial sources, by way of certain meteorites, and in greater diversity and quantity than previously thought. ... > full story

NASA's NPP satellite completes comprehensive testing (August 8, 2011) -- The NASA National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project has successfully completed its most comprehensive end-to-end compatibility test of the actual satellite and all five scientific instruments. NPP contains a suite of five sensors that will make measurements to continue producing key data products about Earth including, for example, measurements of cloud, vegetation, and ice cover, ocean color, and sea and land surface temperatures. ... > 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