ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Thursday, September 2, 2010
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Metal-mining bacteria are green chemists (September 2, 2010) -- Microbes could soon be used to convert metallic wastes into high-value catalysts for generating clean energy, say scientists. ... > full story
Live imaging puts new light on stem cell division (September 2, 2010) -- A long-held assumption about asymmetrical division of stem cells has cracked. Researchers report that the mitotic spindle does not act alone -- that cortical proteins help to position a cleavage furrow in the right location. ... > full story
New solar prediction system gives time to prepare for the storms ahead (September 2, 2010) -- A new method of predicting solar storms that could help to avoid widespread power and communications blackouts costing billions of pounds has been launched by researchers in the UK. ... > full story
Economic theory suggests symbiosis is driven by simple self-interest, not rewards or punishment (September 2, 2010) -- Applying employment contract theory to symbiosis, a new paper suggests mutually beneficial relationships are maintained by simple self-interest, with partners benefiting from healthy hosts much as employees benefit from robust employers. The new work discounts the theory that host species have evolved to promote symbiosis by promising rewards or threatening punishment. ... > full story
NASA and NOAA's newest GOES satellite ready for action (September 2, 2010) -- NASA and NOAA's latest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, GOES-15, has successfully completed five months of on-orbit testing and has been accepted into service. The satellite has demonstrated operational readiness of its subsystems, spacecraft instruments and communications services. GOES-15 is the third and final spacecraft in the GOES N-P Series of geostationary environmental weather satellites. ... > full story
Less waste with shelf-life indicator for food (September 2, 2010) -- Norwegian food retailers discard over 50,000 tonnes of food annually – much of it of perfectly good quality. New technology the TimeTemp company in cooperation with Norwegian research institutions could substantially reduce this wastefulness. TimeTemp has developed a new method of more precisely measuring the freshness of food items: a shelf-life indicator attached directly to the product. In addition to time, the company’s device also factors in the temperatures to which the item has been exposed. ... > full story
'Charitable' behavior found in bacteria (September 1, 2010) -- Researchers have discover "charitable" behavior in bacteria populations, where individuals with the highest antibiotic resistance sacrifice so the whole population can better fight off medication. ... > full story
Navigation satellites contend with stormy Sun (September 1, 2010) -- Just as we grow used to satellite navigation in everyday life, media reports argue that a coming surge in solar activity could render satnav devices useless, perhaps even frying satellites themselves. Is it true? No. ... > full story
Capacity for exercise can be inherited: Finding suggests pharmaceutical drugs can be used to alter activity levels in humans (September 1, 2010) -- Biologists have found that voluntary activity, such as daily exercise, is a highly heritable trait that can be passed down genetically to successive generations. Working on mice in the lab, they found that activity level can be enhanced with selective breeding. Their experiments showed that mice that were bred to be high runners produced high-running offspring, indicating that the offspring had inherited the trait for activity. ... > full story
Are wolves saving Yellowstone's aspen trees from elk? (September 1, 2010) -- Previous research has claimed that the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 is helping restore quaking aspen in risky areas where wolves prowl. But apparently elk hungry for winter food had a different idea. They did not know they were supposed to be responding to a "landscape of fear." ... > full story
Study shows increased risk of heart attack from physical exertion at altitude and low temperatures during winter sports vacations (September 1, 2010) -- A study carried out by cardiologists has investigated the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) amongst winter sports tourists to the Tyrolean Alps. The research shows that inadequate preparation for the intense physical exertion required, combined with the effects of altitude and low temperature, leads to an increase in heart attack incidents, particularly during the first two days of vacation. ... > full story
Nanobiotechnology advances point to medical applications (September 1, 2010) -- Scientists have demonstrated the synthesis of nanosize biological particles with the potential to fight cancer and other illnesses. The research introduces new approaches that are considered "green" nanobiotechnology because they use no artificial compounds. ... > full story
Climate change implicated in decline of horseshoe crabs (September 1, 2010) -- A distinct decline in horseshoe crab numbers has occurred that parallels climate change associated with the end of the last Ice Age, according to a study that used genomics to assess historical trends in population sizes. ... > full story
Researchers exploring 'fusion strategy' against E. coli (September 1, 2010) -- Researchers are exploring a "fusion strategy" for making improved vaccines to protect pigs and humans against some strains of E. coli. ... > full story
Evolution rewritten, again and again (September 1, 2010) -- Palaeontologists are forever claiming that their latest fossil discovery will "rewrite evolutionary history." Is this just boasting or does our "knowledge" of evolution radically change every time we find a new fossil? ... > full story
Girls' early puberty linked to unstable environment via insecure attachment in infancy (September 1, 2010) -- Girls are hitting puberty earlier and earlier. One recent study found that more than 10 percent of American girls have some breast development by age 7. This news has upset many people, but it may make evolutionary sense in some cases for girls to develop faster, according to new research. ... > full story
Mosquitoes use several different kinds of odor sensors to track human prey (September 1, 2010) -- The malaria mosquito needs more than one family of odor sensors to sniff out its human prey, new research suggests. New research provides striking new evidence that Anopheles gambiae -- the species of mosquito that spreads malaria that infects some 250 million and kills 900,000 people annually -- has a second set of olfactory sensors that are fundamentally different from the set of sensors that scientists have known about and have been studying for the last 10 years. ... > full story
Researchers develop simulation to better understand the effects of sound on marine life (September 1, 2010) -- A combination of the biology of marine mammals, mechanical vibrations and acoustics has led to a breakthrough discovery allowing scientists to better understand the potential harmful effects of sound on marine mammals such as whales and dolphins. ... > full story
Off-the-shelf dyes improve solar cells (September 1, 2010) -- Scientists report success in boosting the ability of zinc oxide solar cells to absorb visible light simply by applying a blended mixture of various off-the-shelf dyes commonly used in food and medical industries -- in a soak-then-dry procedure not unlike that used to color a tee-shirt in a home washing machine. ... > full story
Lima beans domesticated twice (September 1, 2010) -- Lima beans were domesticated at least twice, according to a new genetic diversity study. Big seeded varieties known as "Big Lima" were domesticated in the Andean Mountains, while small seeded "Sieva" and "Potato" varieties originated in central-western Mexico. ... > full story
Diverse diet of veggies may decrease lung cancer risk (September 1, 2010) -- Adding a variety of vegetables to one's diet may help decrease the chance of getting lung cancer, and adding a variety of fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk of squamous cell lung cancer, especially among smokers. ... > full story
Moderate coffee consumption improves aortic distensibility in hypertensive elderly individuals, study finds (September 1, 2010) -- A detailed study conducted by researchers on the Aegean island of Ikaria has demonstrated that moderate consumption of coffee by hypertensive elderly individuals can lead to improvements in aortic distensibility. ... > full story
In drought-prone Sahel, scientists roll out innovative system for producing vegetables (September 1, 2010) -- With a major famine unfolding in Niger and other countries of West Africa's dry Sahelian region, an agricultural scientist reports new progress in disseminating an innovative system for irrigated vegetable production -- a valuable option in a region that is highly dependent on subsistence rainfed cropping. ... > full story
Virus related to smallpox rising sharply in Africa (September 1, 2010) -- Researchers report that 30 years after mass smallpox vaccination campaigns ceased, the rates of a related virus called human monkeypox has dramatically increased in the rural Democratic Republic of Congo, with sporadic outbreaks in other African countries and even the United States. ... > full story
A decade of studying the Earth's magnetic shield, in 3-D (September 1, 2010) -- Space scientists around the world are celebrating ten years of ground-breaking discoveries by "Cluster," a mission that is illuminating the mysteries of the magnetosphere, the northern lights and the solar wind. Cluster is a European Space Agency mission, launched in summer 2000. It consists of a unique constellation of four spacecraft flying in formation around Earth, studying the interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. ... > full story
Snail mail beats phones to help feds sustain ample fish stocks in US coastal waters (September 1, 2010) -- Snail mail might be the answer to help federal officials protect US coastal waters from overfishing. Anglers say the feds currently rely on questionable data from a home phone survey to calculate recreational fishing volume and decide which locales to place off limits so stocks can rebuild. A new study found a snail mail survey netted a higher response rate and more complete data, says a statistician. ... > full story
Marine animals suggest evidence for a trans-Antarctic seaway (August 31, 2010) -- A tiny marine filter-feeder that anchors itself to the sea bed offers new clues to scientists studying the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet -- a region that is thought to be vulnerable to collapse. Scientists analyzed sea-bed colonies of bryozoans from coastal and deep sea regions around the continent and from further afield. They found striking similarities in particular species of bryozoans living on the continental shelves of two seas -- the Ross and Weddell -- that are around 1,500 miles apart and separated by the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. ... > full story
Treatment for S. aureus skin infection works in mouse model (August 31, 2010) -- Scientists have found a promising treatment method that in laboratory mice reduces the severity of skin and soft-tissue damage caused by USA300, the leading cause of community-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections in the United States. ... > full story
Extensive relict coral reef found in southern Pacific (August 31, 2010) -- Coral reefs are sensitive to climate change and track sea level. New observations show that an extensive coral reef existed in the southern Pacific Ocean thousands of years ago. Researchers used multi-beam sonar, coring, and dating to examine a relict reef discovered in water about 20-25 meters (65-82 feet) deep around Lord Howe Island in the southern Pacific Ocean. ... > full story
Human activity may have boosted shellfish size, archaeological study shows (August 31, 2010) -- In a counter-intuitive finding, new research shows that a species of shellfish widely consumed in the Pacific over the past 3,000 years has actually increased in size, despite -- and possibly because of -- increased human activity in the area. ... > full story
Shifting ozone hole exposed South America to more ultraviolet light in 2009 (August 31, 2010) -- The ozone layer, which protects humans, plants, and animals from potentially damaging ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun, develops a hole above Antarctica in September that typically lasts until early December. However, in November 2009, that hole shifted its position, leaving the southern tip of South America exposed to UV light at levels much greater than normal. ... > full story
Whale sharks may produce many litters from one mating, paternity test shows (August 31, 2010) -- Biologists analyzed genetic information from preserved whale shark embryos taken from a female caught off the coast of Taiwan 15 years ago. They found all offspring to have the same father -- an unusual reproduction characteristic for sharks. ... > full story
Multiple sclerosis activity changes with the seasons, research finds (August 31, 2010) -- New research shows that multiple sclerosis activity can increase during spring and summer months. ... > full story
Networks -- not size -- give cities competitive advantage (August 31, 2010) -- A city's size no longer is the key factor in building vibrant local economies, according to a new study. ... > full story
Carnivore species shrank during global warming event (August 31, 2010) -- A new study indicates extinct carnivorous mammals shrank in size during a global warming event that occurred 55 million years ago. The study describes a new species that evolved to half the size of its ancestors during this period of global warming. ... > full story
Adult mammary stem cells in mice identified and isolated for first time (August 31, 2010) -- For the first time, researchers have identified and isolated adult mammary stem cells in mice. Long-term implications of this research may include the use of such cells to regenerate breast tissue, provide a better understanding of the role of adult stem cells in breast cancer development, and develop potential new targets for anti-cancer drugs. ... > full story
Hybrid protein tools developed for gene cutting and editing (August 31, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a type of hybrid proteins that can make double-strand DNA breaks at specific sites in living cells, possibly leading to better gene replacement and gene editing therapies. ... > full story
Step toward a new sunscreen? Plant agents show promise in preventing skin cancer (August 31, 2010) -- Ongoing research finds that a blend of plant substances -- such as resveratrol and grape seed extract -- can prevent skin cancer in mice. ... > full story
Acidifying oceans spell bleak marine biological future 'by end of century', Mediterranean research finds (August 31, 2010) -- A unique 'natural laboratory' in the Mediterranean Sea is revealing the effects of rising carbon dioxide levels on life in the oceans. The results show a bleak future for marine life as ocean acidity rises, and suggest that similar lowering of ocean pH levels may have been responsible for massive extinctions in the past. ... > full story
Vulnerability in commercial quantum cryptography (August 31, 2010) -- Researchers have recently developed and tested a technique exploiting imperfections in quantum cryptography systems to implement an attack. ... > full story
Impact hypothesis loses its sparkle: Shock-synthesized diamonds said to prove catastrophic impact killed off N. American megafauna can't be found (August 31, 2010) -- The warming that following the last Ice Age was interrupted by a cold snap that killed off megafauna such as the giant ground sloth and the woolly mammoth. Could this crisis have been caused by an asteroid impact or a comet breaking up in the atmosphere? Unfortunately the geological evidence for such a dramatic event has not stood up to scrutiny. In a new study, a group of scientists challenges the catastrophists last, best hope: shock-synthesized nanodiamonds. ... > full story
Shallow water habitats important for young salmon and trout (August 31, 2010) -- Research from Sweden shows that competition from older fish causes young salmon and trout to seek refuge in shallow water. Preserving such habitats may, therefore, be important for the survival of the young fish. ... > full story
Tracking marine animal travel (August 31, 2010) -- Scientists are gaining a deeper understanding of marine mammal travel patterns using a large-scale tracking network. A new Public Library of Science (PLoS) collection, created in conjunction with the Pacific Ocean Shelf Tracking (POST) Program and the Census of Marine Life (CoML), will highlight the variety of ways scientists are using this large POST network to trace marine animal movement in the Northeast Pacific Ocean. ... > full story
First clear evidence of organized feasting by early humans (August 30, 2010) -- Community feasting is one of the most universal and important social behaviors found among humans. Now, scientists have found the earliest clear evidence of organized feasting, from a burial site dated about 12,000 years ago. These remains represent the first archaeological verification that human feasting began before the advent of agriculture. ... > full story
Research produces tools to study stallions' subfertility (August 30, 2010) -- Subfertility of breeding stallions -- meaning the horses are less able to sire foals -- is a well-recognized problem that has caused multi-million-dollar losses in the equine industry, experts say. Researchers believe they are making progress in solving the problem by using an approach that might provide tools and resources necessary to study subfertility without causing stallions the angst of providing testicular samples for testing. ... > full story
'Stocky dragon' dinosaur, relative of Velociraptor, terrorized Late Cretaceous Europe (August 30, 2010) -- Paleontologists have discovered that a close relative of Velociraptor hunted the dwarfed inhabitants of Late Cretaceous Europe, an island landscape largely isolated from nearby continents. While island animals tend to be smaller and more primitive than their continental cousins, the theropod Balaur bondoc was as large as its relatives on other parts of the globe and demonstrated advanced adaptations including fused bones and two terrifyingly large claws on each hind foot. ... > full story
Scientists bring new species of turtle out of its shell (August 30, 2010) -- When scientists announce the discovery of a new animal species, we often imagine exotic, difficult to reach locations -- the untouched shore of a distant island, the forests of the rain-drenched Amazon or the darkest depths of the Arctic Ocean. But the recent announcement of a new species of turtle in the southeastern United States proves that even in a country considered to be well-explored, perhaps more awaits discovery. ... > full story
Batteries for battery powered cars are more environmentally friendly than expected (August 30, 2010) -- Battery powered cars will play a major role in future of mobility. What was not known so far, was how environmentally friendly the manufacture, operation and disposal of the batteries are. Researchers have now calculated the ecological footprint of the most commonly used type, the lithium-ion battery. A car with a petrol engine must consume less than 4 liters of fuel per 100km or about 70 mpg (miles per gallon) in order to be as environmentally friendly as modern electric cars. ... > full story
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