Kamis, 25 Agustus 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, August 25, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, August 25, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.


Cod’s surprising immune system (August 25, 2011) -- Norwegian research has revealed that the immune system of cod is very different from other fish and from mammals -- a discovery that may shed light on the human immune system as well. ... > full story

Caffeine lowers risk of skin cancer: Coffee-based sunscreen might work best (August 25, 2011) -- Researchers strengthen their theory that caffeine guards against skin cancer. Based on research on mice, scientists believe that caffeine applied directly to the skin may ultimately be effective as a topical sunscreeen. ... > full story

NASA satellites detect pothole on road to higher seas (August 25, 2011) -- Like mercury in a thermometer, ocean waters expand as they warm. This, along with melting glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, drives sea levels higher over the long term. For the past 18 years, the U.S./French Jason-1, Jason-2 and Topex/Poseidon spacecraft have been monitoring the gradual rise of the world's ocean in response to global warming. While the rise of the global ocean has been remarkably steady for most of this time, every once in a while, sea level rise hits a speed bump. This past year, it's been more like a pothole: between last summer and this one, global sea level actually fell by about a quarter of an inch, or half a centimeter. ... > full story

Gene study sheds new light on origins of British men (August 25, 2011) -- New genetic evidence reveals that most British men are not descended from immigrant farmers who migrated east 5,000-10,000 years ago -- contrary to previous research. ... > full story

DNA cages 'can survive inside living cells' (August 25, 2011) -- Scientists have shown for the first time that molecular cages made from DNA can enter and survive inside living cells. ... > full story

Pacific walruses studied as sea ice melts (August 25, 2011) -- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center researchers, in cooperation with the Native Village of Point Lay, will attempt to attach 35 satellite radio-tags to walruses on the northwestern Alaska coast in August as part of their ongoing study of how the Pacific walrus are responding to reduced sea ice conditions in late summer and fall. ... > full story

Global warming may cause higher loss of biodiversity than previously thought (August 24, 2011) -- If global warming continues as expected, it is estimated that almost a third of all flora and fauna species worldwide could become extinct. Scientists have now discovered that the proportion of actual biodiversity loss should quite clearly be revised upwards: by 2080, more than 80 % of genetic diversity within species may disappear in certain groups of organisms. ... > full story

Researchers identify protein essential in transmission of Ebola virus (August 24, 2011) -- Researchers have used a robotic method to screen tens of thousands of compounds and identified a novel small molecule derived from benzylpiperazine adamantyl diamide that inhibits EboV entry into cells by more than 99 percent. They used the inhibitor as a probe to investigate the EboV infection pathway and found that the target of the inhibitor is the cell protein Niemann-Pick C1. ... > full story

New theory may shed light on dynamics of large-polymer liquids (August 24, 2011) -- A new physics-based theory predicts why entangled polymers are confined to a tube-like region of space and how they respond to applied forces. This advance provides insight into behavior of both synthetic polymers used in plastics and bioploymers like the filaments that gives cells structure. ... > full story

Scientists identify point of entry for deadly Ebola virus (August 24, 2011) -- Using an unusual human cell line, researchers have performed a genetic screen and identified a protein used by the Ebola virus to gain entry into cells and begin replicating. The discovery may offer a new approach for the development of antiviral therapeutics. Ebola virus, the cause of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is one of the deadliest known viruses affecting humans. ... > full story

Climate cycles are driving wars: When El Nino warmth hits, tropical conflicts double (August 24, 2011) -- In the first study of its kind, researchers have linked a natural global climate cycle to periodic increases in warfare. The arrival of El Nino, which every three to seven years boosts temperatures and cuts rainfall, doubles the risk of civil wars across 90 affected tropical countries, and may help account for a fifth of worldwide conflicts during the past half-century, say the authors. ... > full story

A better test for a potato pest (August 24, 2011) -- Scientist have created a new weapon in the war being waged against the potato cyst nematode -- a diagnostic test that identifies the type of nematode infesting a grower's field. ... > full story

Discovery of a 160-million-year-old fossil represents a new milestone in early mammal evolution (August 24, 2011) -- A remarkably well-preserved fossil discovered in northeast China provides new information about the earliest ancestors of most of today's mammal species -- the placental mammals. This fossil represents a new milestone in mammal evolution that was reached 35 million years earlier than previously thought, filling an important gap in the fossil record and helping to calibrate modern, DNA-based methods of dating the evolution. ... > full story

Scented laundry products emit hazardous chemicals through dryer vents (August 24, 2011) -- The researcher who used chemical sleuthing to uncover what's in scented products now has turned her attention to the air wafting from household laundry vents. Air from laundry machines using the top-selling scented liquid detergent and dryer sheet contains hazardous chemicals, including two that are classified as carcinogens. ... > full story

Gene silencing: Researchers have paved the way for functional analysis of non-protein-coding genes (August 24, 2011) -- Our genome contains numerous genes which do not code for the production of proteins. Many of them are transcribed particularly frequently in cancer cells. Scientists have now found a way to study the function of such genes. ... > full story

Scientists develop new approaches to predict the environmental safety of chemicals (August 24, 2011) -- Environmental researchers have proposed in a new study a different approach to predict the environmental safety of chemicals by using data from other similar chemicals. ... > full story

How many species on Earth? About 8.7 million, new estimate says (August 24, 2011) -- About 8.7 million (give or take 1.3 million) is the new, estimated total number of species on Earth -- the most precise calculation ever offered -- with 6.5 million species on land and 2.2 million in oceans. Announced by the Census of Marine Life, the figure is based on a new analytical technique. The number of species on Earth had been estimated previously at 3 million to 100 million. ... > full story

Newfound hijacked proteins linked to salmonella virulence (August 24, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella have a sneaky way of making minor alterations to their genes to boost their chances for infection. ... > full story

Magnitude-5.8 earthquake strikes U.S. National Capital Area (August 24, 2011) -- A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the National Capital Area on Tuesday, August 23, at 1:51p.m. (EDT), causing moderate shaking and potentially significant damage, and was felt throughout Northern Virginia and neighboring areas. No casualties are expected. The earthquake occurred near Louisa and Mineral, Va., approximately 100 miles southwest of Washington, DC. It was a shallow earthquake, and shaking was recorded all along the Appalachians, from Georgia to New England. ... > full story

Afghan patients a common source of drug-resistant bacteria, study finds (August 24, 2011) -- Afghan patients treated at a US military hospital in Afghanistan often carry multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, according to a new report. The findings underscore the need for effective infection control measures at deployed hospitals where both soldiers and local patients are treated, the study's authors say. ... > full story

Human gait could soon power portable electronics (August 24, 2011) -- In a new paper, researchers describe a new energy-harvesting technology that promises to dramatically reduce our dependence on batteries and instead capture the energy of human motion to power portable electronics. ... > full story

Diet that combines cholesterol-lowering foods results in greater decrease in LDL than low-saturated fat diet, study finds (August 24, 2011) -- Persons with high cholesterol who received counseling regarding a diet that combined cholesterol-lowering foods such as soy protein, nuts and plant sterols over six months experienced a greater reduction in their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels than individuals who received advice on a low-saturated fat diet, according to a new study. ... > full story

Permafrost could release vast amounts of carbon and accelerate climate change by end of century (August 24, 2011) -- Billions of tons of carbon trapped in permafrost may be released into the atmosphere by the end of this century as the Earth's climate changes, further accelerating global warming, a new computer modeling study. The study also found that soil in high-latitude regions could shift from being a sink to a source of carbon dioxide by the end of the 21st century as the soil warms in response to climate change. ... > full story

Coriander oil could tackle food poisoning and drug-resistant infections (August 24, 2011) -- Coriander oil has been shown to be toxic to a broad range of harmful bacteria. Its use in foods and in clinical agents could prevent food-borne illnesses and even treat antibiotic-resistant infections, according to a new study. ... > full story

Hake population has withstood overfishing, thanks to the warming of the sea (August 24, 2011) -- Hake is constantly being fished in the waters of the European Atlantic Ocean and, nevertheless, resists stock depletion relatively well. At times nature is capable of correcting the mistakes made by humans, new research suggests. The environment has favored the hake fish since the 1990s: The sea has turned milder, and so larvae have grown better and faster. ... > full story

Poverty and national parks: Decade-long study finds surprising relationship (August 24, 2011) -- If so many poor people live around national parks in developing countries, does that mean that these parks are contributing to their poverty? Yes, according to the conventional wisdom, but no, according to a 10-year study of people living around Kibale National Park in Uganda. ... > full story

Ancient 'daddy long legs' revealed in 3-D models (August 24, 2011) -- Two ancient types of harvestmen, or 'daddy long legs,' which skittered around forests more than 300 million years ago, are revealed in new three-dimensional virtual fossil models. ... > full story

Research vessel Polarstern at North Pole (August 24, 2011) -- On Aug. 22, 2011, the research icebreaker Polarstern reached the North Pole. The aim of the current expedition is to document changes in the far north. The researchers on board are conducting an investigation of water, ice and air at the North Pole. The little sea ice cover makes the route via the pole to the investigational area in the Canadian Arctic possible. ... > full story

Single protein, key to Ebola virus infection, could aid in drug design (August 24, 2011) -- New research has identified a cellular protein that plays a critical role in Ebola virus infection. The findings suggest a possible strategy for combating one of the world's most deadly viruses. ... > full story

Protein essential for Ebola virus infection is a promising antiviral target (August 24, 2011) -- Two research teams report identifying a critical protein that Ebola virus exploits to cause deadly infections. The protein target is an essential element through which the virus enters living cells to cause disease. ... > full story

Researchers find 'key' used by Ebola virus to unlock cells and spread deadly infection (August 24, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a cellular protein that is critical for infection by the deadly Ebola virus. The findings suggest a possible strategy for blocking infection due to Ebola virus, one of the world's most lethal viruses and a potential bioterrorism agent. ... > full story

Database of water, wastewater pipeline infrastructure systems (August 24, 2011) -- A national database on technologies to assess the conditions and rehabilitation of the underground pipes will be available to utilities and the general public, starting on Sept. 1, 2011. ... > full story

Magnitude-5.3 earthquake rattles southern Colorado (August 24, 2011) -- A magnitude-5.3 earthquake rattled southern Colorado Monday, August 22, at 11:46 p.m. MDT, causing strong shaking, but minor damage, and was felt throughout the state of Colorado and neighboring states. The USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) system issued a Green Alert, indicating a low probability for fatalities or significant economic losses. ... > full story

Ancient wild horses help unlock past (August 23, 2011) -- An international team of researchers has used ancient DNA to produce compelling evidence that the lack of genetic diversity in modern stallions is the result of the domestication process. The team has carried out the first study on Y chromosomal DNA sequences from extinct ancient wild horses and found an abundance of diversity. ... > full story

Scientists define cellular pathway essential to removing damaged mitochondria (August 23, 2011) -- Researchers have defined a specific protein complex that allows cells to rid themselves of damaged mitochondria, which are the energy producing machines of the cell. ... > full story

New set of building blocks for simple synthesis of complex molecules (August 23, 2011) -- Assembling chemicals can be like putting together a puzzle. Chemists have developed a way of fitting the pieces together to more efficiently build complex molecules, beginning with a powerful and promising antioxidant. ... > full story

Melanin's 'trick' for maintaining radioprotection studied (August 23, 2011) -- Researchers have made new insights into the electrochemical mechanism that gives the complex polymer known as melanin its long-term ability to protect some species from ionizing radiation, with a goal of using that knowledge to develop materials that mimic those natural properties. ... > full story

Food security helps wildlife (August 23, 2011) -- A new study documents the success of a Wildlife Conservation Society program that uses an innovative business model to improve rural livelihoods while restoring local wildlife populations. ... > full story

Low oxygen triggers moth molt: Caterpillars have a respiratory system that is fixed in size (August 23, 2011) -- A new explanation for one of nature's most mysterious processes, the transformation of caterpillars into moths or butterflies, might best be described as breathless. The research shows that a baby moth's respiratory system is fixed in size at each stage of development, which limits its oxygen intake. ... > full story

Southern South American wildfires expected to increase (August 23, 2011) -- A new study indicates a major climate oscillation in the Southern Hemisphere that is expected to intensify in the coming decades will likely cause increased wildfire activity in the southern half of South America. ... > full story

Saffron shows promise in preventing liver cancer, study suggests (August 23, 2011) -- New research suggests that saffron provides a significant chemopreventive effect against liver cancer in animal models. When saffron was administered to rats with diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer an inhibition of cell proliferation and stimulation of apoptosis was observed. ... > full story

Regenerative powers in the animal kingdom explored (August 23, 2011) -- Why can one animal re-grow tissues and recover function after injury, while another animal (such as a human being) cannot? This is a central question of regenerative biology, a field that has captured the imagination of scientists and the public since the 18th century, and one that is finally gaining traction and momentum through modern methods of analysis. ... > full story

Genetic markers show something fishy with certified Chilean sea bass sales (August 23, 2011) -- A population biologist has found that not all certified Chilean sea bass are what they are claimed to be. Some fish sold in stores are not from the fishing grounds certified as sustainable, and some are not Chilean sea bass at all. ... > full story

Not so fast: Lasting evolutionary change takes about one million years, researchers find (August 23, 2011) -- In research that will help address a long-running debate and apparent contradiction between short- and long-term evolutionary change, scientists have discovered that although evolution is a constant and sometimes rapid process, the changes that hit and stick tend to take a long time. Give or take a little, one million years seems to be the magic number. ... > full story

Chemists discover most naturally variable protein in dental plaque bacterium (August 23, 2011) -- Chemists have discovered the most naturally variable protein known to date in a bacterium that is a key player in the formation of dental plaque. ... > full story

When well-known flu strains 'hook up' dangerous progeny can result (August 23, 2011) -- A new study finds that a process called reassortment, a kind of viral sexual reproduction, between the virus responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic (H1N1) and a common type of avian flu virus (H9N2) can produce offspring -- new combined flu viruses -- with the potential for creating a new influenza pandemic. ... > full story

Scale models: How patterns stay in sync with size as an embryo grows and develops (August 23, 2011) -- Scientists have added a significant piece to the puzzle of scaling -- how patterns stay in sync with size as an embryo or organism grows and develops. ... > full story

Ancient whale skulls and directional hearing: A twisted tale (August 23, 2011) -- Skewed skulls may have helped early whales discriminate the direction of sounds in water and are not solely, as previously thought, a later adaptation related to echolocation. ... > full story


Copyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.



This message was sent to ranggomas.techdeck@blogger.com from:

ScienceDaily | 1 Research Court, Suite 450 | Rockville, MD 20850

Email Marketing by iContact - Try It Free!

Update Profile  |  Forward To a Friend

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More