ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, September 20, 2011 ~ techdeck

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, September 20, 2011

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New technique fills gaps in fossil record (September 20, 2011) -- Evolutionary biologists have resolved a long-standing paleontological problem by reconciling the fossil record of species diversity with modern DNA samples. ... > full story

Understanding methane's seabed escape (September 20, 2011) -- A shipboard expedition off Norway to determine how methane escapes from beneath the Arctic seabed has discovered widespread pockets of the gas and numerous channels that allow it to reach the seafloor. ... > full story

Researchers reinforce gas hydrate strategy: New study goes deeper in proving simple technique to pinpoint valuable energy source (September 20, 2011) -- A new study expands upon previous research to locate and quantify the amount of methane hydrates -- a potentially vast source of energy -- that may be trapped under the seabed by analyzing shallow core samples. The paper should silence the skeptics, the researchers said. ... > full story

Experts discover oldest DNA regulatory region known to date in vertebrates and invertebrates (September 20, 2011) -- A team of scientists has discovered the oldest known DNA regulatory region. The team identified a small DNA fragment, with a deeply conserved noncoding sequence region (CNR), in the vicinity of soxB2 regulatory genes, which plays a role in gene regulation. ... > full story

Think locally when treating individually (September 20, 2011) -- By taking local biosurveillance data into account when assessing patients for communicable diseases, doctors may be able to make better diagnostic decisions, according to researchers. ... > full story

Deep oceans can mask global warming for decade-long periods (September 19, 2011) -- The planet's deep oceans at times may absorb enough heat to flatten the rate of global warming for periods of as long as a decade even in the midst of longer-term warming, according to a new analysis. ... > full story

Scientists solve long-standing plant biochemistry mystery (September 19, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered how an enzyme "knows" where to insert a double bond when desaturating plant fatty acids. Understanding the mechanism may lead to new ways to engineer plant oils as a renewable replacement for petrochemicals. ... > full story

Unzipping DNA mysteries: Physicists discover how a vital enzyme works (September 19, 2011) -- With an eye toward understanding DNA replication, researchers have learned how a helicase enzyme works to actually unzip the two strands of DNA. ... > full story

For kids with ADHD, regular 'green time' is linked to milder symptoms (September 19, 2011) -- A study of more than 400 children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has found a link between the children's routine play settings and the severity of their symptoms, researchers report. Those who regularly play in outdoor settings with lots of green (grass and trees, for example) have milder ADHD symptoms than those who play indoors or in built outdoor environments, the researchers found. The association holds even when the researchers controlled for income and other variables. ... > full story

Self-steering automated tractor offers more precision in the field (September 19, 2011) -- A farmer rising at the crack of dawn to till his fields in a tractor all day? This could soon become a thing of the past. Scientists have now engineered a fully automated, self-steering robotic tractor. ... > full story

Breast milk antibody fights HIV but needs boost, study finds (September 19, 2011) -- Breast milk antibody both neutralizes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and kills HIV-infected cells, according to a new study. Nonetheless, the statistics indicate that breast milk antibodies are doing an incomplete job of protecting babies from HIV transmission. ... > full story

Soy peptide plus chemo drug block colon cancer's spread to liver, study finds (September 19, 2011) -- A new study reports a promising new weapon in treating metastatic colon cancer, particularly in patients who have developed resistance to chemotherapy. The research finds that the soy peptide lunasin binds to a specific receptor in highly metastatic colon cancer cells, preventing them from attaching to the liver. ... > full story

Volcanic ash and aircraft safety (September 19, 2011) -- A pioneering technology to study volcanic ash will help advise the aircraft industry as to whether it is safe to fly following an explosive volcanic eruption. ... > full story

Causes of Gulf War Illness are complex and vary by deployment area, study finds (September 19, 2011) -- Gulf War Illness -- the chronic health condition that affects about one in four military veterans of the 1991 Gulf War -- appears to be the result of several factors, which differed in importance depending upon the locations where veterans served during the war, according to a new study. ... > full story

'Inexhaustible' source of hydrogen may be unlocked by salt water, engineers say (September 19, 2011) -- A grain of salt or two may be all that microbial electrolysis cells need to produce hydrogen from wastewater or organic byproducts, without adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere or using grid electricity, according to engineers. ... > full story

Why carbon nanotubes spell trouble for cells (September 19, 2011) -- Carbon nanotubes and other long nanomaterials can spell trouble for cells. The reason: Cells mistake them for spheres and try to engulf them. Once they start, cells cannot reverse course, and complete ingestion never occurs. Researchers detail for the first time how cells interact with carbon nanotubes, gold nanowires and asbestos fibers. ... > full story

Not tonight deer: A new birth control vaccine helps reduce urban deer damage (September 19, 2011) -- A new birth control vaccine for white-tailed deer -- a growing nuisance in urban areas for gardens and landscaping -- eliminates the dangerous reproductive behavior behind the annual autumn surge in automobile-deer collisions. The vaccine is just becoming commercially available in some U.S. states. ... > full story

Sequencing 'dark matter' of life: Elusive genomes of thousands of bacteria species can now be decoded (September 19, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new method to sequence and analyze the 'dark matter' of life -- the genomes of thousands of bacteria species previously beyond scientists' reach, from microorganisms that produce antibiotics and biofuels to microbes living in the human body. ... > full story

Virus as a potential future cancer medicine? (September 19, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that the vesicular stomatitis virus plays a previously unknown dual role in the prevention of a number of cancers. ... > full story

Some like it hot: European fish stocks changing with warming seas (September 19, 2011) -- The first 'big picture' study of the effects of rapidly rising temperatures in the northeast Atlantic Ocean shows that a major shift in fish stocks is already well underway. But it isn't all bad news. The research shows that some fishes' losses are other fishes' gain. ... > full story

Researchers demonstrate antibiotic sensing event central to MSRA antibiotic resistance (September 19, 2011) -- A new study describes a unique process that is central to induction of antibiotic resistance in the problematic bacterium methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. ... > full story

Gamers succeed where scientists fail: Molecular structure of retrovirus enzyme solved, doors open to new AIDS drug design (September 19, 2011) -- Online gamers have solved the structure of a retrovirus enzyme whose configuration had stumped scientists for over a decade. This is the first instance that researchers are aware of in which gamers solved a longstanding scientific problem. The discovery was achieved through Foldit, which allows players to collaborate and compete in predicting protein molecule structures. Foldit is an example of engaging the public in scientific discovery by using games to solve hard problems that can't be solved by either people or computers alone. ... > full story

Previously unknown ocean bacteria lead scientists to entirely new theories (September 19, 2011) -- Earth's most successful bacteria are found in the oceans and belong to the group SAR11. Researchers have now provide an explanation for their success and at the same time call into question generally accepted theories about these bacteria. In their analysis they have also identified a rare and hitherto unknown relative of mitochondria, the power stations inside cells. ... > full story

Amateur botanists in Brazil discover a genuflexing plant (September 19, 2011) -- A new plant species that buries its seeds -- the first in its family -- was discovered in the Atlantic forest of Bahia, Brazil, by an international team of amateur and professional scientists. ... > full story

Ground glass solution for cleaner water (September 19, 2011) -- British science has led to a use for waste glass that cannot be recycled that could help clean up polluted waterways by acting as an ion-exchange filter to remove lead, cadmium and other toxic metals. ... > full story

Desert beetles shelter broods from attacking parasitic wasps under stacks of dummy eggs (September 18, 2011) -- Seed beetles often will stack their eggs, using them as shields to protect the bottom egg from attacks by parasitic wasps, reveals new research. ... > full story

New light on detection of bacterial infection: Polymers fluoresce in the presence of bacteria (September 18, 2011) -- Researchers have developed polymers that fluoresce in the presence of bacteria, paving the way for the rapid detection and assessment of wound infection using ultra-violet light. ... > full story

Low-fat yogurt intake when pregnant linked to increased risk of child asthma and hay fever, study suggests (September 18, 2011) -- Eating low-fat yogurt while pregnant can increase the risk of your child developing asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever), according to recent findings. Researchers suggest that non-fat related nutrient components in the yogurt may play a part in increasing this risk. They are also looking at the possibility that low-fat yogurt intake may serve as a marker for other dietary and lifestyle factors. ... > full story

Restoring reefs: Study underway in underwater lab may help manage seaweed-eating fish that protect coral reefs (September 18, 2011) -- A team of researchers is using the Aquarius underwater laboratory off the coast of Florida to study how the diversity of seaweed-eating fish affects endangered coral reefs. ... > full story

Mother tongue comes from your prehistoric father (September 17, 2011) -- Language change among our prehistoric ancestors came about via the arrival of immigrant men -- rather than women -- into new settlements, according to new research. ... > full story

Invasive amphibians, reptiles in Florida outnumber world, study finds (September 17, 2011) -- Florida has the world's worst invasive amphibian and reptile problem, and a new 20-year study verifies the pet trade as the No. 1 cause of the species' introductions. ... > full story

Are genes our destiny? Scientists discover 'hidden' code in DNA evolves more rapidly than genetic code (September 17, 2011) -- A 'hidden' code linked to the DNA of plants allows them to develop and pass down new biological traits far more rapidly than previously thought, according to new findings. ... > full story

New threat closes in on iconic Galápagos wildlife (September 17, 2011) -- Renewed vigilance over the biosecurity of the Galápagos Islands is needed, based on new research on the risk posed by West Nile virus. ... > full story

Switch that controls stem cell pluripotency discovered (September 16, 2011) -- Scientists have found a control switch that regulates stem cell "pluripotency," the capacity of stem cells to develop into any type of cell in the human body. The discovery reveals that pluripotency is regulated by a single event in a process called alternative splicing. ... > full story

It’s all in the head: Songbirds with bigger brains have benefited from the end of communism (September 16, 2011) -- The abundance of songbirds with relatively large brains in Eastern Germany and the Czech Republic has increased since 1989/1990. The increase in large-brained songbirds is attributed to the better cognitive abilities of the species enabling them better adaption to the socio-economic changes affecting habitats after the end of communism. ... > full story

Biochemical cell signals quantified: Data capacity much lower than expected, scientists find (September 16, 2011) -- Just as cell phones and computers transmit data through electronic networks, the cells of your body send and receive chemical messages through molecular pathways. The term "cell signaling" was coined more than 30 years ago to describe this process. For the first time, scientists have quantified the data capacity of a biochemical signaling pathway and found a surprise -- it's lower than a dial-up modem. ... > full story

Resistance to antibiotics is ancient (September 16, 2011) -- New research findings show antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon that predates the modern clinical antibiotic use. The breakthrough will have important impact on the understanding of antibiotic resistance. ... > full story

Cities to grab lands equaling size of Mongolia In next 20 years, study predicts (September 16, 2011) -- In the next 20 years, more than 590,000 square miles of land globally -- more than twice the size of Texas -- will be gobbled up by cities, a trend that shows no signs of stopping and one that could pose threats on several levels, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Tree resin captures evolution of feathers on dinosaurs and birds (September 16, 2011) -- A researcher found treasure trove of Cretaceous feathers trapped in tree resin. The resin turned to resilient amber, preserving some 80 million-year-old protofeathers, possibly from non-avian dinosaurs, as well as plumage that is very similar to modern birds, including those that can swim under water. ... > full story

Carbon nanoparticles break barriers -- and that may not be good (September 16, 2011) -- In a new study, researchers studied cellular alterations in the urine-blood barrier in the kidney caused by repeated exposure to low concentrations of carbon nanoparticles. Among the first to study concentrations of these tiny particles that are low enough to mimic the actual exposure of an ordinary individual, researchers say this is the initial step to understanding the assault on the human body of accidental exposure to CNPs. ... > full story

Ancient crocodile competed with Titanoboa, world's largest snake, for food, paleontologists discover (September 16, 2011) -- Did an ancient crocodile relative give the world's largest snake a run for its money? In a new study, researchers describe a new 20-foot extinct species discovered in the same Colombian coal mine with Titanoboa, the world's largest snake. The findings help scientists better understand the diversity of animals that occupied the oldest known rainforest ecosystem, which had higher temperatures than today, and could be useful for understanding the impacts of a warmer climate in the future. ... > full story

An apple or pear a day may keep strokes away (September 16, 2011) -- Eating apples and pears may help prevent stroke, according to a new study. While high consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with lower stroke risk, a Dutch study found that eating fruit and vegetables with white edible portions was associated with a 52 percent lower stroke risk. Apples and pears were the majority of the white fruits and vegetables consumed in the study. ... > full story

New method for detecting lung cancer unveiled (September 16, 2011) -- When lung cancer strikes, it often spreads silently into more advanced stages before being detected. In a new article, biological engineers and medical scientists reveal how their discovery could provide a much earlier warning signal. ... > full story

New rapid test tells difference between bacterial and viral infections (September 16, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development and successful testing of a rapid and accurate test to tell the difference between bacterial and viral infections. Those common afflictions often have similar symptoms but vastly different treatments -- antibiotics work for bacterial infections but not for viruses. ... > full story

A wild and woolly discovery: Tibetan expedition ends with prehistoric find (September 16, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered the oldest known species of woolly rhino. They found the complete skull and lower jaw of a previously unknown and long-extinct animal. ... > full story

International innovation needed for efficient nitrogen management (September 16, 2011) -- The use of nitrogen in chemical fertilizers has had enormous benefits: feeding the ever-increasing world population. But there is a downside: the huge burden to the environment, public health and climate say experts. It is essential that we maximize efficiency in our use of nitrogen and pool resources, they say. ... > full story

Producer responsibility solution to electronic waste in developing countries (September 16, 2011) -- How can legislation be used to avoid hazardous waste being dumped where it could poison people and the environment in developing countries? Introducing producer responsibility could be one solution, say researchers. ... > full story

NASA Mars research helps find buried water on Earth (September 15, 2011) -- A NASA-led team has used radar sounding technology developed to explore the subsurface of Mars to create high-resolution maps of freshwater aquifers buried deep beneath an Earth desert, in the first use of airborne sounding radar for aquifer mapping. ... > full story