Rabu, 17 Agustus 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Wednesday, August 17, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Wednesday, August 17, 2011

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Breathing new life into Earth: Evidence of early oxygen in the oceans of our planet (August 17, 2011) -- New research suggests oxygen may have been made on Earth hundreds of millions of years before its debut in the atmosphere, keeping a low profile in "oxygen oases" in the oceans. Researchers found evidence that tiny aerobic organisms may have evolved to survive on extremely low levels of the gas in these undersea oases. ... > full story

Major breakthrough on how viruses infect plants (August 17, 2011) -- Plant scientists have shed light on a problem that has puzzled researchers since the first virus was discovered in 1892 -- how exactly do they cause disease? ... > full story

Rediscovery of disappeared species: Truly back from the brink? (August 17, 2011) -- Extinction is a focal issue among scientists, policy makers and the general public. Each year, numerous species which are thought to have disappeared are rediscovered. Yet, these rediscoveries remain on the brink of extinction. ... > full story

Dark beer has more iron than pale beer or non-alcoholic beer (August 17, 2011) -- Researchers have analyzed 40 brands of beer, discovering that dark beer has more free iron than pale and non-alcoholic beers. Iron is essential to the human diet, but also helps oxidize the organic compounds that give these beverages stability and flavor. ... > full story

Key mechanism that regulates shape and growth of plants discovered (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a key mechanism that -- much like a construction site foreperson -- controls the direction of plant growth as well as the physical properties of the biopolymers that plants produce. ... > full story

Tsunami observed by radar, may lead to better early warning systems (August 16, 2011) -- The tsunami that devastated Japan on March 11 was picked up by high-frequency radar in California and Japan as it swept toward their coasts, according to US and Japanese scientists. This is the first time that a tsunami has been observed by radar, raising the possibility of new early warning systems. ... > full story

A tool to measure stress hormone in birds: Feathers (August 16, 2011) -- Traditionally, researchers have analyzed blood samples to detect corticosterone levels in wild birds. But recently, scientists have shown that corticosterone spikes can also be detected by analyzing bird feathers. ... > full story

Climate change could drive native fish out of Wisconsin waters (August 16, 2011) -- The cisco, a key forage fish found in Wisconsin's deepest and coldest bodies of water, could become a climate change casualty and disappear from most of the Wisconsin lakes it now inhabits by the year 2100, according to a new study. ... > full story

Scientists expand knowledge of cell process involved in many diseases (August 16, 2011) -- Scientists have for the first time defined the structure of one of the cell's most basic engines, which is required for cell growth, as it assembles from its components. ... > full story

Soft coral builds strong reefs (August 16, 2011) -- Marine scientists have shown that soft corals are one of the central building blocks of reefs. An in-depth analysis of reefs in the South China Sea challenges conventional thinking about soft corals and makes their preservation a priority, researchers say. ... > full story

Researchers unravel the magic of flocks of starlings (August 16, 2011) -- Do fish swimming in schools or birds flying in flocks have a collective spirit that enables them to move as one? Are they animals with highly developed cognition, a complex instinct or a telepathic gift? A recent study conducted researchers in the Netherlands points in another direction. Mathematical models of self-organization show that complicated collective behavior can be the consequence of a few simple behavioral rules. ... > full story

Influence of breast milk vs. formula and genetics on gut microbiota composition could help prevent celiac disease (August 16, 2011) -- The autoimmune condition, Celiac disease, afflicts roughly one in 133 Americans. It is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Now a team of investigators from Spain shows that the level of genetic risk of celiac disease influences the composition of infants' gut microbiota, and confirms earlier studies showing that the type of milk feeding -- breast vs. formula -- also influences the species distribution. Their hypothesis is that these changes in the intestinal microbiota may directly influence the risk of celiac disease, and that if this is so, changes in diet -- particularly breast feeding -- could reduce that risk. ... > full story

Garlic doesn't just repel vampires (August 16, 2011) -- The folk wisdom that eating garlic fights illness is ancient. In these more modern times, fruit and vegetable extracts that can inhibit the growth of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms are actually being evaluated as food preservatives, in part because consumers are demanding fewer synthetic chemical food preservatives. Now, researchers have found, contrary to expectations, that a group of garlic-derived organosulfur compounds has greater antimicrobial activity than garlic-derived phenolic compounds. ... > full story

'Paranoia' about rivals alters insect mating behavior (August 16, 2011) -- Scientists have found that male fruit flies experience a type of "paranoia" in the presence of another male, which doubles the length of time they mate with a female, despite the female of the species only ever mating with one male. ... > full story

Single, key gene discovery could streamline production of biofuels (August 16, 2011) -- Researchers have pinpointed the exact, single gene that controls ethanol production capacity in a microorganism. This discovery could be the missing link in developing biomass crops that produce higher concentrations of ethanol at lower costs. ... > full story

Fruit bats navigate with internal maps: Scientists fit bats with world's smallest GPS devices (August 16, 2011) -- Egyptian fruit bats fly dozens of kilometers each night to feed on specific fruit trees, making the return trip the same night. To understand how the bats locate individual trees night after night, scientists attached tiny GPS devices to the bats in the first-ever comprehensive GPS-based field study of mammal navigation. ... > full story

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


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