ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, August 16, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, August 16, 2011

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Measurements reveal extent of leakage from Japan's damaged Fukushima reactor (August 16, 2011) -- From distance of 5,800 miles, researchers calculated how much radiation leaked from damaged fuel at the Fukushima nuclear reactor after an earthquake and tsunami disabled normal cooling systems. Nuclear reactions in the seawater used to douse overheating fuel created a pulse of radioactive sulfur dioxide gas and sulfate particles that revealed the magnitude of the leak. This labeled sulfur will also help researchers to trace sulfur in the atmosphere, an important factor for understanding climate change. ... > full story

Researchers discover freshwater mussel species thought to be extinct (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered fresh remains of a freshwater mussel species thought to be extinct in Texas. ... > full story

Biologists confirm sunflower domesticated in eastern North America (August 16, 2011) -- New genetic evidence confirms what is now the eastern United States as the single geographic domestication site of modern sunflowers. ... > full story

Salmonella stays deadly with a 'beta' version of cell behavior (August 16, 2011) -- Salmonella cells have hijacked the protein-building process to maintain their ability to cause illness, new research suggests. Scientists say that these bacteria have modified what has long been considered typical cell behavior by using a beta form of an amino acid -- as opposed to an alpha form -- during the act of making proteins. ... > full story

Pathogen research inspires robotics design for medicine and military (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have made significant findings about the swimming and attachment of the microorganism Giardia. The findings can aid in designs for drug discovery and underwater vehicles. ... > full story

E. coli, Salmonella may lurk in unwashable places in produce (August 15, 2011) -- Sanitizing the outside of produce may not be enough to remove harmful food pathogens, according to a new study that demonstrated that Salmonella and E. coli can live inside plant tissues. ... > full story

How excess alcohol depresses immune function (August 15, 2011) -- Alcoholism suppresses the immune system, resulting in a high risk of serious, and even life-threatening infections. A new study shows that this effect stems largely from alcohol's toxicity to immune system cells called dendritic cells. These cells play a critical role in immune function, responding to danger signals by searching for unfamiliar antigens within the body that would be coming from invading microbes, and presenting such antigens to T cells, thus activating them to seek and destroy cells containing these antigens. ... > full story

Assessing global status of tuna and billfish stocks (August 15, 2011) -- A global study quantifies the threat to tuna and billfish populations around the world. The seven threatened species are southern bluefin tuna, Atlantic bluefin tuna, bigeye tuna, blue marlin, white marlin, and two species of Spanish mackerels. Researchers says two main factors contribute to these fishes' troubled status: the tunas' high dollar value leads to heavy fishing pressure, and all the species are slow to reach sexual maturity, prolonging any recovery from over-fishing. ... > full story

Rapid evolution within single crop-growing season increases insect pest numbers (August 15, 2011) -- New research shows that evolution can occur so rapidly in organisms that its impact on population numbers and other aspects of biology can be seen within just a few generations. Working on aphids, the researchers found that even without human interference natural selection acting on aphid populations caused rapid evolution. The research can improve scientists' ability to predict the growth and spread of endangered species, invasive species, and disease epidemics. ... > full story

Increased tropical forest growth could release carbon from the soil (August 15, 2011) -- A new study shows that as climate change enhances tree growth in tropical forests, the resulting increase in litterfall could stimulate soil microorganisms leading to a release of stored soil carbon. ... > full story

New nanostructured glass for imaging and recording (August 15, 2011) -- Researchers have developed new nano-structured glass optical elements, which have applications in optical manipulation and will significantly reduce the cost of medical imaging. ... > full story

Mysterious fossils provide new clues to insect evolution (August 15, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a new insect order from the Lower Cretaceous of South America. The spectacular fossils were named Coxoplectoptera by their discoverers and represent extinct relatives of modern mayflies. ... > full story

Worldwide map identifies important coral reefs exposed to stress (August 15, 2011) -- Marine researchers have created a map of the world's corals and their exposure to stress factors, including high temperatures, ultra-violet radiation, weather systems, sedimentation, as well as stress-reducing factors such as temperature variability and tidal dynamics. ... > full story

Bolstering genetic diversity among cheetahs (August 15, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered why older females are rarely able to reproduce -- and hope to use this information to introduce vital new genes into the pool. Scientists analyzed hormones, eggs and the uteri of 34 cheetahs at eight institutions, and determined that while the hormones and eggs of cheetahs older than 8 years appear normal, the animals' uterine tracks tend to suffer from abnormal cell growth, infections and cysts that prevent pregnancy. ... > full story

Shifting Atlantic mackerel distribution linked to environmental factors, changing climate (August 15, 2011) -- Scientists have found that environmental factors have changed the distribution patterns of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), a marine species found in waters from Cape Hatteras to Newfoundland, shifting the stock northeastward and into shallower waters. Atlantic mackerel migrate great distances on a seasonal basis to feed and spawn, and are sensitive to changes in water temperature. These findings could have significant implications for US commercial and recreational mackerel fisheries that mostly occur during late winter and early spring. ... > full story

How butterflies copy their neighbors to fool birds (August 15, 2011) -- The mystery of how a butterfly changes its wing patterns to mimic neighboring species and avoid being eaten by birds has been solved. Scientists located and sequenced the chromosomal region responsible for the wing patterns in an Amazonian butterfly. They found that three versions of the same chromosome coexist in this species, each version controlling distinct wing-pattern forms. This has resulted in butterflies that look completely different from one another, despite having the same DNA. ... > full story

Rural road maintenance may accidentally push spread of invasive plants (August 15, 2011) -- Road maintenance may accidentally spread the seeds of invasive plants, according to new research. ... > full story

Like humans, chimps are born with immature forebrains (August 14, 2011) -- In both chimpanzees and humans, portions of the brain that are critical for complex cognitive functions, including decision-making, self-awareness and creativity, are immature at birth. But there are important differences, too. Baby chimpanzees don't show the same dramatic increase in the volume of prefrontal white matter in the brain that human infants do. ... > full story

Catalyst that makes hydrogen gas breaks speed record (August 14, 2011) -- Looking to nature for their muse, researchers have used a common protein to guide the design of a material that can make energy-storing hydrogen gas. The synthetic material works 10 times faster than the original protein found in water-dwelling microbes, the researchers clocking in at 100,000 molecules of hydrogen gas every second. ... > full story

Biodiversity key to Earth's life-support functions in a changing world (August 14, 2011) -- The biological diversity of organisms on Earth is not just something we enjoy when taking a walk through a blossoming meadow in spring; it is also the basis for countless products and services provided by nature, including food, building materials, and medicines as well as the self-purifying qualities of water and protection against erosion. New findings indicate that much more biodiversity is necessary to keep ecosystems functioning in a world that is changing ever faster. The protection of diversity is thus a crucial factor in maintaining Earth's life-support functions. ... > full story

Virtual rats to help researchers study disease (August 14, 2011) -- Most lab rats have to be housed, fed and bred. But not the group one researcher has in mind for his new systems biology center. They'll be virtual. ... > full story

Hidden Baja undersea park is the world's most robust marine reserve (August 13, 2011) -- A thriving undersea wildlife park tucked away near the southern tip of Mexico's Baja peninsula has proven to be the world's most robust marine reserve in the world, according to a new study. The most striking finding is that fish communities at a depleted site can recover up to a level comparable to remote, pristine sites that have never been fished by humans. ... > full story

Arctic ice melt could pause for several years, then resume again (August 12, 2011) -- Although Arctic sea ice appears fated to melt as the climate continues to warm, the ice may temporarily stabilize or somewhat expand at times over the next few decades, new research indicates. ... > full story

Rats control appetite for poison: How rodents survive arms race with toxic plants they eat (August 12, 2011) -- Life is tough for woodrats in deserts of the US Southwest. There are few plants for food, and those plants produce poison to deter rodents, insects and other animals. A new study shows how certain woodrats put themselves on a diet to avoid poisoning: They sample a smorgasbord of toxic plants, eat smaller meals, increase time between meals and drink more water if it is available. ... > full story

Polar climate change may lead to ecological change (August 12, 2011) -- Ice and frozen ground at the North and South Poles are affected by climate change induced warming, but the consequences of thawing at each pole differ due to the geography and geology, according to a hydrologist. ... > full story

Engineered bacteria mop up mercury spills (August 12, 2011) -- Thousands of tons of toxic mercury are released into the environment every year. Much of this collects in sediment where it is converted into toxic methyl mercury, and enters the food chain ending up in the fish we eat. New research showcases genetically engineered bacteria which are not only able to withstand high levels of mercury but are also able to mop up mercury from their surroundings. ... > full story

Fossilized pregnant plesiosaur: 78-million-year-old fossils of adult and its embryo provide first evidence of live birth (August 12, 2011) -- Archeologists have determined that a unique specimen now displayed in a museum is the fossil of an embryonic marine reptile contained within the fossil of its mother. ... > full story

The flight of the bumble bee: Why are they disappearing? (August 12, 2011) -- Scientists are trying to learn exactly what is causing the decline in bumble bee populations and are also searching for a species that can serve as the next generation of greenhouse pollinators. ... > full story

Scientists copy the ways viruses deliver genes (August 12, 2011) -- Scientists have mimicked the ways viruses infect human cells and deliver their genetic material. The research hopes to apply the approach to gene therapy -- a therapeutic strategy to correct defective genes such as those that cause cancer. ... > full story

Flatworms provide new insight into organ regeneration and the evolution of mammalian kidneys (August 12, 2011) -- Our bodies are perfectly capable of renewing billions of cells every day but fail miserably when it comes to replacing damaged organs such as kidneys. Using the flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea -- famous for its capacity to regrow complete animals from minuscule flecks of tissue -- as an eloquent example, researchers have demonstrated how our distant evolutionary cousins regenerate their excretory systems from scratch. ... > full story

El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake was simple on surface, complicated at depth, new data show (August 12, 2011) -- Like scars that remain on the skin long after a wound has healed, earthquake fault lines can be traced on Earth's surface long after their initial rupture. Typically, this line of intersection between the area where the fault slips and the ground is more complicated at the surface than at depth. But a new study of the April 4, 2010, El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake in Mexico reveals a reversal of this trend. ... > full story

Route for eliciting HIV-neutralizing antibodies mapped (August 12, 2011) -- Researchers have traced in detail how certain powerful HIV neutralizing antibodies evolve, a finding that generates vital clues to guide the design of a preventive HIV vaccine, according to a new study. ... > full story

New approach to sustain 'forage' fishing (August 12, 2011) -- Reduced catches of small oceanic "forage" fish like sardines and anchovies may be required in some ocean areas in order to protect the larger predators that rely on these species for food. ... > full story

Researchers fight cholera with computer forecasting (August 12, 2011) -- Just as the rainy season is driving a new surge of cholera cases in Haiti, a new computational model could forecast where outbreaks are likely to occur. Researchers hope to target anti-cholera efforts where they are most needed in the earthquake-ravaged country. ... > full story

Unusual fault pattern surfaces in earthquake study (August 12, 2011) -- Like scars that remain on the skin long after a wound has healed, earthquake fault lines can be traced on Earth's surface long after their initial rupture. Typically, this line of intersection is more complicated at the surface than at depth. But a new study of the April 4, 2010, El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake in Baja California, Mexico, reveals a reversal of this trend. Superficially, the fault involved in the magnitude 7.2 earthquake appeared to be straight, but at depth, it's warped and complicated. ... > full story

Standing water and mosquito breeding in cities (August 12, 2011) -- Reducing mosquito populations, and the diseases they sometimes carry, in cities can be as simple as dumping out standing water on private property. However, not everyone is aware that standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes -- and some urban residents are unmotivated to dump the water even if they are aware. ... > full story

Genomes sequenced: Bugs within mealybugs; and bugs within bugs within mealybugs (August 11, 2011) -- In the case of sap-feeding insects, intimate associations with microbes offer a source for essential nutrients that their sugary diets just don't include. Now, researchers have new insight into organisms that have taken this symbiotic lifestyle to the extreme; they have sequenced the genomes of two species of bacteria that live together, one inside of the other, inside mealybugs. ... > full story

Software predicted risk in California West Nile virus epidemic (August 11, 2011) -- A computer model of the spread of West Nile virus was able to predict areas where human cases would be concentrated, especially around Sacramento in 2005. The success of the model, say researchers, depended on its focus on biological factors and on a high volume of reports from members of the public. ... > full story

Hidden soil fungus, now revealed, is in a class all its own (August 11, 2011) -- A type of fungus that's been lurking underground for millions of years, previously known to science only through its DNA, has been cultured, photographed, named and assigned a place on the tree of life. ... > full story

Urban impacts on phosphorus in streams (August 11, 2011) -- Scientists have investigated the link between human sources of phosphorus and phosphorus concentrations in rivers draining into California's Central Valley. ... > full story

Scientists discover how molecular motors go into 'energy save mode' (August 11, 2011) -- The transport system inside living cells is a well-oiled machine with tiny protein motors hauling vital cargo around the cell. A new study describes how the motors save energy, when their transport services aren't required. The solution to this molecular puzzle provides new insight into how molecular motor proteins are regulated, and may open new avenues for the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's. ... > full story

Researchers decode workings of mysterious, but critical TB drug (August 11, 2011) -- A new study suggests that PZA binds to a specific protein named RpsA and inhibits trans-translation, a process that enables the TB bacteria to survive under stressful conditions. ... > full story

New technology could capture ammonia from liquid manure (August 11, 2011) -- A new method of extracting ammonium from liquid animal manure could be exciting news for both confined animal operations and environmental groups, according to an engineer. The method uses gas-permeable membrane technology that tests have shown could remove 50 percent of the dissolved ammonium in liquid manure in 20 days. ... > full story

Eating protein throughout the day preserves muscle and physical function in dieting postmenopausal women, study suggests (August 11, 2011) -- Dieting postmenopausal women who want to avoid losing muscle as they lose fat should pay attention to a new study. Adding protein throughout the day not only holds hunger pangs at bay so that dieters lose more weight, it keeps body composition -- the amount of fat relative to muscle -- in better proportion. ... > full story

Hydrogen-powered symbiotic bacteria found in deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussels (August 11, 2011) -- While intensive research efforts have gone into developing ways to harness hydrogen energy to fuel our everyday lives, a natural example of a living hydrogen-powered 'fuel cell' has gone unnoticed. Researchers have now discovered hydrogen-powered symbiotic bacteria in deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussels. ... > full story

How a particular gene makes night vision possible (August 11, 2011) -- Scientists have determined how a particular gene makes night vision possible. The study focuses on a gene called nyctalopin. Mutations in the gene result in inherited "night blindness," a loss of vision in low-light environments. ... > full story

Genetically engineered spider silk for gene therapy (August 11, 2011) -- Genetically engineered spider silk could help overcome a major barrier to the use of gene therapy in everyday medicine, according to a new study. ... > full story

Red meat linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes (August 11, 2011) -- Researchers have found a strong association between the consumption of red meat -- particularly when the meat is processed -- and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The study also shows that replacing red meat with healthier proteins, such as low-fat dairy, nuts, or whole grains, can significantly lower the risk. ... > full story

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