ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Monday, August 22, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Monday, August 22, 2011

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Imaging probe allows noninvasive detection of dangerous heart-valve infection (August 22, 2011) -- A novel imaging probe may make it possible to diagnose accurately a dangerous infection of the heart valves. Scientists have now shown how the presence of Staphylococcus aureus-associated endocarditis in a mouse model was revealed by PET imaging with a radiolabeled version of a protein involved in a process that usually conceals infecting bacteria from the immune system. ... > full story

Plants and fungi play the 'underground market' (August 22, 2011) -- Plants and fungi co-operate and trade with each other on a biological 'underground market', changing their trading partners if they don't get a fair deal. ... > full story

Student turns paper mill waste into ‘green’ material for industrial applications (August 22, 2011) -- A student in Israel has developed a method to use paper mill waste to produce ecologically friendly, industrial foams from renewable resources. ... > full story

Nitrogen in the soil cleans the air: Nitrogen-containing soil is a source of hydroxyl radicals that remove pollutants from the atmosphere (August 22, 2011) -- Eutrophication harms the environment in many ways. Unexpectedly, nitrogen fertilizer may also be positive for the environment. And even acidic soils, promoting the destruction of forests, can have a positive effect. Researchers in Germany have discovered that nitrogen fertilizer indirectly strengthens the self-cleaning capacity of the atmosphere. Their study shows that nitrous acid is formed in fertilized soil and released to the atmosphere, whereby the amount increases with increasing soil acidity. In the air, nitrous acid leads to the formation of hydroxyl radicals oxidizing pollutants that then can be washed out. ... > full story

Researchers on the trail of a treatment for cancer of the immune system (August 22, 2011) -- Danish researchers have become the first in the world to regulate a special receptor or bio-antenna that plays a vital part when the Epstein Barr herpes virus infects us and when this infection appears to be mutating into cancer of the immune system. Using a biochemical blueprint and a tiny bio-molecule researchers have succeeded in blocking the receptor concerned. This will make it possible to adjust and regulate the memory cells of the immune system. ... > full story

B chromosomes affect sex determination in cichlid fishes (August 22, 2011) -- B chromosomes have a functional effect on sex determination in a species of cichlid fishes from Lake Victoria, according to a study by Japanese researchers. The researchers found sex-ratio distortions caused by B chromosomes in the breeding line of the cichlids, as well as several protein-coding genes in the B chromosomes. The resultant ratio was female biased, suggesting a role for B chromosomes in female sex determination. ... > full story

Making a bee-line for the best rewards (August 21, 2011) -- Bumble bees use complex problem-solving skills to minimize the energy they use when flying to collect food, according to new research. ... > full story

Three waves of evolutionary innovation shaped diversity of vertebrates, genome analysis reveals (August 21, 2011) -- Over the past 530 million years, the vertebrate lineage branched out from a primitive jawless fish wriggling through Cambrian seas to encompass all the diverse forms of fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Now researchers combing through the DNA sequences of vertebrate genomes have identified three distinct periods of evolutionary innovation that accompanied this remarkable diversification. ... > full story

Neuroscientists show activity patterns in fly brain are optimized for memory storage (August 21, 2011) -- A research team has shown large populations of neurons in the brains of living fruit flies responding simultaneously to a variety of odors. Results reveal a portion of the fly brain important in learning and memory responds in a characteristic fashion that helps explain how an association is made between an odor and an experience -- the basis of a memory. ... > full story

New mechanism of genomic instability revealed (August 21, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered the cellular mechanisms that normally generate chromosomal breaks in bacteria such as E. coli. ... > full story

New defense discovered against common hospital-acquired infection (August 21, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a key mechanism used by intestinal cells to defend themselves against one of the world's most common hospital-acquired bacterial infections -- a mechanism they think they can exploit to produce a therapy to protect against the effects of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. ... > full story

Parasite uses the power of attraction to trick rats into becoming cat food (August 20, 2011) -- Rats infected with the parasite Toxoplasma seem to lose their fear of cats -- or at least cat urine. Now researchers have discovered the brains of those infected, fearless male rats show activity in the region that normally triggers a mating response when encountering a female rat. But that does not mean it's love, as Toxoplasma just wants the rat to be eaten by a cat, so the parasite can reproduce in the cat's intestines. ... > full story

Under-reported greenhouse gas statistics? Sketchy emission reports revealed by Swiss measurements (August 20, 2011) -- Fluorinated hydrocarbons are potent greenhouse gases, emission of which must be reduced under the Kyoto Protocol. If you rely on the official reports of the participating countries, the output of trifluoromethane (HFC-23) in Western Europe is indeed significantly decreasing. However, pollutant measurements carried out by researchers in Switzerland now reveal that several countries under-report their emissions. For instance, Italy emits 10 to 20 times more HFC-23 than it officially reports. ... > full story

Kinder, gentler cell capture method could aid medical research (August 20, 2011) -- A research team has come up with a potential solution to a two-pronged problem in medical research: How to capture cells on a particular spot on a surface using electric fields and keep them alive long enough to run experiments on them. ... > full story

Growth of cities endangers global environment, according to new analysis (August 20, 2011) -- The explosive growth of cities worldwide over the next two decades poses significant risks to people and the global environment, according to a new meta-analysis. ... > full story

Spoilt food soon a thing of the past? (August 20, 2011) -- Unwanted bacteria, yeasts and molds can cause major problems for the food industry as well as consumers. Researchers have now developed new methods to identify potential sources of contamination. Using a spectrometer, the researchers are able to detect undesirable microorganisms in finished products and trace them back to the various steps in the production process. ... > full story

Lessons learned from the two worst oils spills in US history: Microbes matter (August 19, 2011) -- One year after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and two decades after the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound, the scientific lesson is clear -- microbes matter! Despite vast differences in the ecosystems and circumstances of these two worst oil spills in US history, oil-degrading microorganisms played a significant role in reducing the overall environmental impact of both spills, scientists report. ... > full story

Education leaders call for radical transformation in graduate biomedical curriculum (August 19, 2011) -- Leaders in biomedical education are calling for a radical new approach to post-graduate training in the life sciences to address significant challenges, including an avalanche of new discoveries in the last decade and the need to transcend traditional departmental boundaries to understand biological processes at multiple levels. ... > full story

Molecular scientists develop color-changing stress sensor (August 19, 2011) -- It is helpful -- even life-saving -- to have a warning sign before a structural system fails, but, when the system is only a few nanometers in size, having a sign that's easy to read is a challenge. Now, thanks to a clever bit of molecular design by bioengineers and chemists, such warning can come in the form of a simple color change. ... > full story

Micro-organisms are 'invisible' to the immune system (August 19, 2011) -- That micro-organisms have a great capacity to vary their surface structure is well known. It is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to develop vaccines against HIV and malaria, and why new influenza vaccines have to be produced every year. But it seems that these micro-organisms are also able to completely avoid activating a strong immune response in the person attacked. ... > full story

Realistic simulation of ion flux through membrane sheds light on antibiotic resistance (August 19, 2011) -- A new study describes an innovative new computational model that realistically simulates the complex conditions found in biological systems and allows for a more accurate look at ion channel function at the level of individual atoms. The research provides a remarkably detailed look at the function of a bacterial channel that kills brain cells in people with bacterial meningitis and provides insight into mechanisms that underlie deadly antibiotic resistance. ... > full story

First kangaroo genome sequence reveals possible gene responsible for characteristic hop (August 19, 2011) -- Kangaroos form an important niche in the tree of life, but until now their DNA had never been sequenced. In a new article, an international consortium of researchers present the first kangaroo genome sequence -- that of the tammar wallaby species -- and find hidden in their data the gene that may well be responsible for the kangaroo's characteristic hop. ... > full story

College students not eating enough fruits and veggies, study finds (August 19, 2011) -- College students aren't eating enough fruits and vegetables -- in fact, a new study shows students aren't even eating one serving per day, far from the recommended five daily servings. The study, which surveyed the eating habits of 582 college students, compares male and female students, but found that both were not getting the proper amount of fruits and vegetables. ... > full story

Research team achieves first two-color STED microscopy of living cells (August 19, 2011) -- Current applications of STED microscopy have been limited to single color imaging of living cells and multicolor imaging in "fixed" or preserved cells. However, to study active processes, such as protein interactions, a two-color STED imaging technique is needed in living cells. This has now been achieved for the first time. ... > full story

New images reveal structures of the solar wind as it travels toward and impacts Earth (August 19, 2011) -- Using data collected by NASA's STEREO spacecraft, researchers have developed the first detailed images of solar wind structures as plasma and other particles from a coronal mass ejection traveled 93 million miles and impacted Earth. ... > full story

Climate change and ozone destruction hastened with nitrous oxide used in agriculture (August 19, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a new binding site for nitrous oxide (N2O). Nitrous oxide reductase, an enzyme containing copper, plays a key role in the biochemical process by reducing N2O to N2. This enzyme is highly sensitive to oxygen and is often precipitated in the reaction chain, meaning large amounts of N2O are released by fertilized fields in the farming industry. ... > full story

Further, faster, higher: Wildlife responds increasingly rapidly to climate change (August 19, 2011) -- New research shows that species have responded to climate change up to three times faster than previously appreciated. ... > full story

DNA construction software saves time, resources and money (August 19, 2011) -- Scientists have developed the first software package for automating DNA construction that not only makes the process faster and more efficient but -- with an eye on the economics of scientific discovery -- also identifies which construction strategy would be the most cost-effective. ... > full story

Researchers chart long-shrouded glacial reaches of Antarctica: Huge rivers of ice are found flowing seaward from continent's deep interior (August 19, 2011) -- A vast network of previously unmapped glaciers on the move from thousands of miles inland to the Antarctic coast has been charted for the first time by scientists. The findings will be critical to tracking future sea rise from climate change. ... > full story

A faster, cheaper way to diagnose tuberculosis (August 19, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a faster, cheaper method for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). A major barrier in TB prevention, especially in developing countries, is that diagnosis is slow and costly. Researchers have developed a method which could potentially decrease the time taken to make a diagnosis. Their method is also cheaper than the current fastest methods. ... > full story

Biodiversity critical for maintaining multiple 'ecosystem services' (August 19, 2011) -- By combining data from 17 of the largest and longest-running biodiversity experiments, scientists from universities across North America and Europe have found that previous studies have underestimated the importance of biodiversity for maintaining multiple ecosystem services across many years and places. ... > full story

How sticky egg captures sperm: Discovery could help explain infertility causes and provide new contraceptive targets (August 18, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered exactly how a human egg captures an incoming sperm to begin the fertilization process. The research identifies the sugar molecule that makes the outer coat of the egg 'sticky', which is vital for enabling the sperm and egg to bind together. The scientists behind this study believe their work could help address some of the previously unexplained causes of human infertility and sub-fertility and be very useful for diagnosing this problem in couples who are unable to have children. It could also provide a new target for the development of natural contraceptive agents. ... > full story

Bacteria from dog feces present in outdoor air in urban areas (August 18, 2011) -- Bacteria from fecal material -- in particular, dog fecal material -- may constitute the dominant source of airborne bacteria in Cleveland's and Detroit's wintertime air. ... > full story

Physicists uncover new data on adenine, a crucial building block of life (August 18, 2011) -- Physicists have shown that one of the building blocks of DNA and RNA, adenine, has an unexpectedly variable range of ionization energies along its reaction pathways. ... > full story

Calcifying microalgae are witnesses of increasing ocean acidification (August 18, 2011) -- For the first time researchers have examined on a global scale how calcified algae in their natural habitat react to increasing acidification due to higher marine uptake of carbon dioxide. ... > full story

Biologists' discovery may force revision of biology textbooks: Novel chromatin particle halfway between DNA and a nucleosome (August 18, 2011) -- Basic biology textbooks may need a bit of revising now that biologists have discovered a never-before-noticed component of our basic genetic material. ... > full story

Greenland glacier melting faster than expected (August 18, 2011) -- A key glacier in Greenland is melting faster than previously expected, according to new findings. Researchers found that Greenland's longest-observed glacier, Mittivakkat Glacier, made two consecutive record losses in mass observations for 2010 and 2011. ... > full story

Moon younger than previously thought, analysis of lunar rock reveals (August 18, 2011) -- Analysis of a piece of lunar rock brought back to Earth by the Apollo 16 mission in 1972 has shown that the Moon may be much younger than previously believed. This is concluded in new research conducted by an international team of scientists that includes James Connelly from the Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen. Their work has just been published in Nature. ... > full story

Virus uses 'Swiss Army knife' protein to cause infection (August 18, 2011) -- In an advance in understanding Mother Nature's copy machines, motors, assembly lines and other biological nano-machines, scientists are describing how a multipurpose protein on the tail of a virus bores into bacteria like a drill bit, clears the shavings out of the hole and enlarges the hole. They report on the "Swiss Army knife" protein, which enables the virus to pump its genetic material into and thus infect bacteria. ... > full story

Polar ice caps can recover from warmer climate-induced melting, study shows (August 18, 2011) -- New research indicates that even if Earth warmed enough to melt all polar sea ice, the ice could recover if the planet cooled again. ... > full story

Improved method for capturing proteins holds promise for biomedical research (August 18, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new way of producing antibody-like binding agents and rapidly optimizing their affinity for their target proteins. Such capture reagents are vital for revealing the subtleties of protein function, and may pave the way for improved methods of detecting and treating a broad range of diseases. ... > full story

How microbes travel around Earth: Models show bacteria sized microbes carried between Mexico and Australia (August 18, 2011) -- Scientists from the UK and Switzerland have investigated the remarkable distance that microorganisms may be able to blow between continents, raising questions about their potential to colonize new lands and also potentially to spread diseases. ... > full story

Sniffer dogs can be used to detect lung cancer, research suggests (August 18, 2011) -- Sniffer dogs could be used for the early detection of lung cancer, according to new research. The study, carried out by researchers in Germany, is the first to find that sniffer dogs can reliably detect lung cancer. ... > full story

Nature reaches for the high-hanging fruit: Tools of paleontology shed new light on diversity of natural plant chemicals (August 18, 2011) -- In the first study of its kind, researchers have used tools of paleontology to gain new insights into the diversity of natural plant chemicals. They have shown that during the evolution of these compounds nature doesn't settle for the "low-hanging fruit" but favors rarer, harder to synthesize forms, giving pointers that will help in the search for potent new drugs. ... > full story

Human pathogen killing corals in the Florida Keys (August 18, 2011) -- A research team has identified human sewage as the source of the coral-killing pathogen that causes white pox disease of Caribbean elkhorn coral. Once the most common coral in the Caribbean, elkhorn coral was listed for protection under the United States Endangered Species Act in 2006, largely due to white pox disease. ... > full story

Cellular laser microsurgery illuminates research in vertebrate biology (August 18, 2011) -- Using an ultrafast femtosecond laser, researchers were able to label, draw patterns on, and remove individual melanocytes cells from a species of frog tadpole (Xenopus) without damaging surrounding cells and tissues. Melanocytes are the cells responsible for skin pigment; they also are descendants of a specific type of stem cell that has regenerative potential and other characteristics similar to some cancer cells. ... > full story

First major survey of amphibian fungus in Asia completed (August 17, 2011) -- Researchers have completed the first major survey in Asia of the deadly chytridiomycosis fungus that has wiped out more than 200 species of amphibians worldwide. The massive survey could help scientists zero in on why the fungus has been unusually devastating in many parts of the globe -- and why Asian amphibians have so far been spared the same dramatic declines. ... > full story

Getting inside the mind (and up the nose) of our ancient ancestors (August 17, 2011) -- Reorganization of the brain and sense organs could be the key to the evolutionary success of vertebrates, one of the great puzzles in evolutionary biology, according to a new article. ... > full story