ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, September 10, 2010
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Oldest Roman baths in Asia Minor discovered in Sagalassos (September 10, 2010) -- An archaeological team has discovered the oldest Roman baths in Asia Minor known to date in Sagalassos, Turkey. Sagalassos was inhabited as a city until the 7th century AD, when it was destroyed by earthquakes. ... > full story
Main climate threat from carbon dioxide sources yet to be built (September 10, 2010) -- New energy-efficient or carbon-free technologies can help cut carbon dioxide emissions, but what about the power plants, cars, trucks, and other fossil-fuel-burning devices already in operation? Unless forced into early retirement, they will emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for decades to come. Scientists have calculated the amount of carbon dioxide expected to be released from existing energy infrastructure worldwide, and then used a global climate model to project its effect on the Earth's atmosphere and climate. ... > full story
Chopping and changing in the microbial world: How mycoplasmas – the simplest bacterial pathogens – stay alive (September 10, 2010) -- Pathogenic bacteria have evolved a variety of mechanisms to avoid being killed by the immune systems of the humans and animals they invade. Among the most sophisticated is that practiced by mycoplasmas, which regularly change their surface proteins to confuse the immune system. Recent work has revealed surprising new details of the way they do so and at the same time raised important evolutionary questions. ... > full story
In order to save biodiversity, society's behavior must change, leading conservationists warn (September 9, 2010) -- Conservation scientists and practitioners have come together to advocate a fundamental shift in the way we view biodiversity. They argue that unless people recognize the link between their consumption choices and biodiversity loss, the diversity of life on Earth will continue to decline. ... > full story
How mycobacteria avoid destruction inside human cells (September 9, 2010) -- Researchers have identified ten factors that help Mycobacterium tuberculosis avoid destruction inside host cell phagosomes. Two of the genes identified by high-throughput visual screening of 11,000 mutant mycobacteria are involved in the synthesis of acyltrehalose-containing glycolipids. These glycolipids prevent maturation of the host cell phagosome and may be a target for novel antimycobacterial drugs. ... > full story
Phoenix Mars Lander finds surprises about red planet's watery past (September 9, 2010) -- Liquid water has interacted with the Martian surface throughout Mars' history, measurements by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander suggest. The findings also suggest that liquid water has primarily existed at temperatures near freezing, implying hydrothermal systems similar to Yellowstone's hot springs on Earth have been rare on Mars throughout its history. ... > full story
Chemical engineer's work could lead to improved DNA analysis (September 9, 2010) -- DNA analysis is poised to experience a significant advancement thanks to the work of a chemical engineer who has discovered a way to achieve more effective separation of DNA fragments. ... > full story
Energy technologies not enough to sufficiently reduce carbon emissions, expert concludes (September 9, 2010) -- Current energy technologies are not enough to reduce carbon emissions to a level needed to lower the risks associated with climate change, a physicist concludes in a new evaluation. ... > full story
When species are about to become extinct: New research may help predict tipping point (September 9, 2010) -- What if there were a way to predict when a species was about to become extinct -- in time to do something about it? Findings from a new study may eventually lead to such an outcome -- and that is only the start. Their study also has implications for understanding drastic, even catastrophic, changes in many other kinds of complex systems, from the human brain to entire ecosystems. ... > full story
NASA satellites reveal surprising connection between beetle attacks, wildfire (September 9, 2010) -- If your summer travels have taken you across the Rocky Mountains, you've probably seen large swaths of reddish trees dotting otherwise green forests. While it may look like autumn has come early to the mountains, evergreen trees don't change color with the seasons. The red trees are dying, the result of attacks by mountain pine beetles. ... > full story
Corn bred to contain beta-carotene is a good source of vitamin A, study finds (September 9, 2010) -- A new study has found that corn bred to contain increased levels of beta-carotene is a good source of vitamin A. The discovery gives added support to the promise of biofortified corn being developed through conventional plant breeding as an effective tool to combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. ... > full story
Tectonic zip: Predictable events of the February 2010 earthquake in Chile (September 9, 2010) -- The complex fracture pattern created by the earthquake in Concepción (Chile) on February 27, 2010 was to a certain extent predictable. GPS observations from the years before the earthquake showed the pattern of stresses that had accumulated through the plate movements during the past 175 years in this area. ... > full story
Self-administered vaccine patch may protect against potentially pandemic flu viruses (September 9, 2010) -- A self-administered patch containing tiny microneedles may effectively deliver influenza virus-like particles through the skin and protect against potentially pandemic flu viruses such as H5N1. ... > full story
Why the biological clock? Aging reduces centromere cohesion, disrupts reproduction, biologists discover (September 9, 2010) -- Biologists studying human reproduction have identified what is likely the major contributing factor to the maternal age-associated increase in aneuploidy, the term for an abnormal number of chromosomes during reproductive cell division. ... > full story
These dendritic cells are fishy, but that's a good thing (September 9, 2010) -- Scientists have identified dendritic antigen-presenting cells in zebrafish, opening the possibility that the tiny fish could become a new model for studying the complexities of the human immune system. ... > full story
Portable laser backpack revolutionizes 3-D mapping (September 9, 2010) -- A portable, laser backpack for 3-D mapping is being hailed as a breakthrough technology capable of producing fast, automatic and realistic 3-D mapping of difficult interior environments. ... > full story
It takes less than you think to create a starling spectacular (September 9, 2010) -- Hundreds of starlings flocking at dusk have become a familiar sight in towns and cities across the UK. But new research suggests that the birds react to minimal information from those nearest them to create these spectacular twilight roosting displays. ... > full story
Deepwater Horizon oil remains below surface, will come ashore in pulses, expert says (September 9, 2010) -- A coastal studies expert disagrees with published estimates that more than 75 percent of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon incident has disappeared. ... > full story
Most penguin populations continue to decline, biologists warn (September 9, 2010) -- Penguin biologists from around the world warn that ten of the planet's eighteen penguin species have experienced further serious population declines. The effects of climate change, overfishing, chronic oil pollution and predation by introduced mammals are among the major factors cited repeatedly by penguin scientists as contributing to these population drops. ... > full story
Is organic farming good for wildlife? It depends on the alternative (September 9, 2010) -- Even though organic methods may increase farm biodiversity, a combination of conventional farming and protected areas could sometimes be a better way to maintain food production and protect wildlife. ... > full story
Microbial breakthrough impacts health, agriculture, biofuels (September 9, 2010) -- For the first time ever, researchers have discovered how microbes break down hemicellulose plant matter into simple sugars using a cow rumen bacterium as a model. ... > full story
Cloud computing method greatly increases gene analysis (September 9, 2010) -- Researchers have developed new software that greatly improves the speed at which scientists can analyze RNA sequencing data. The software, known as Myrna, uses "cloud computing," an Internet-based method of sharing computer resources. Faster, cost-effective analysis of gene expression could be a valuable tool in understanding the genetic causes of disease. ... > full story
Woolly mammoth, woolly rhinoceros and reindeer lived on Iberian Peninsula 150,000 years ago, findings show (September 9, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have gathered together all findings of the woolly mammoth, the woolly rhinoceros and the reindeer in the Iberian Peninsula to show that, although in small numbers, these big mammals -- prehistoric indicators of cold climates -- already lived in this territory some 150,000 years ago. ... > full story
New class of peptides may protect against septic shock (September 9, 2010) -- A new class of peptides may neutralize the endotoxin that causes sepsis, offering a new therapeutic strategy against an often lethal systemic bacterial infection. ... > full story
Satellite data reveal seasonal pollution changes over India (September 9, 2010) -- Armed with a decade's worth of satellite data, atmospheric scientists have documented some surprising trends in aerosol pollution concentration, distribution and composition over the Indian subcontinent. ... > full story
Experts question claim that Alexander the Great's half-brother is buried at Vergina (September 9, 2010) -- Claims that a tomb at Vergina, Greece, the ancient burial place of the Macedonian royal family in the fourth century B.C., contains the body of King Philip III Arrhidaios, half-brother of Alexander the Great, and not Philip II, Alexander's father, are called into question by researchers in the UK. ... > full story
Shortage of FSC wood could lead to price premium for green construction (September 9, 2010) -- A new study reveals that the low LEED point for use of FSC wood, coupled with both a shortage of FSC-certified sawmills and a shortage of FSC wood in New York state, may cause a bottleneck for green construction. ... > full story
Joint replacement: New clinical guidelines for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infections of the hip and knee (September 9, 2010) -- A periprosthetic joint infection occurs when bacteria or other foreign organisms enter the wound during or at any point following joint replacement surgery, sometimes even years after surgery. Research indicates that periprosthetic infection, also known as "septic failure," is the leading cause of total knee replacement revision (25 percent) and the second-leading cause of total hip replacement revision (15 percent) in the U.S. ... > full story
Previously known as animal-only pigment, bilirubin now confirmed in Bird of Paradise flower (September 8, 2010) -- Researchers have identified bilirubin in the popular Bird of Paradise plant. The breakthrough study provides new insights into color production in this iconic tropical plant. ... > full story
Insulin may reduce several inflammatory factors induced by bacterial infection (September 8, 2010) -- Treating intensive care patients who develop life-threatening bacterial infections, or septicemia, with insulin potentially could reduce their chances of succumbing to the infection, if results of a new preliminary study can be replicated in a larger study. ... > full story
Structure for three intrinsically disordered proteins determined (September 8, 2010) -- A research team has determined the structure for three proteins in a class known as intrinsically disordered proteins. The findings are important because they show how these proteins fold with the regulator protein phosphatase-1, which must happen for biological instructions to be passed along. ... > full story
Novel sensing mechanism discovered in dendritic cells to increase immune response to HIV (September 8, 2010) -- Dendritic cells are the grand sentinels of the immune system, standing guard 24/7 to detect foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, and bring news of the invasion to other immune cells to marshal an attack. These sentinels, however, nearly always fail to respond adequately to HIV, the virus causing AIDS. Now scientists have discovered a sensor in dendritic cells that recognizes HIV, spurring a more potent immune response by the sentinels to the virus. ... > full story
New clue to how last ice age ended (September 8, 2010) -- In addition to Antarctica, New Zealand was warming at the end of the last ice age, indicating that the deep freeze up north, called the Younger Dryas for the white flower that grows near glaciers, bypassed much of the southern hemisphere, according to new research. ... > full story
New gene for memory identified in fruit fly; May shed light on human neurological disorders (September 8, 2010) -- Scientists have identified a new gene that is required for memory formation in Drosophila, the common fruit fly. The gene may have similar functions in humans, shedding light on neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease or human learning disabilities. ... > full story
Twins are intriguing research subjects for biometircs researchers (September 8, 2010) -- Researchers are examining how iris discrimination performs in twins to confirm prior claims that biometrics is capable of differentiating between twins. ... > full story
Why chromosomes never tie their shoelaces (September 8, 2010) -- Researchers shed light on a paradox that has puzzled biologists since the discovery of telomeres, the protective tips of chromosomes: while broken chromosome ends generated by DNA damage (such as radiation or cigarette smoke) are quickly joined together, telomeres are never tied to each other, thus allowing for the correct segregation of the genetic material. ... > full story
Eastern North Pacific basking shark a 'species of concern' (September 8, 2010) -- NOAA's Fisheries Service has designated the eastern North Pacific basking shark, a "species of concern" because it has suffered a dramatic decline in population despite decreasing fishing pressure. The label "species of concern" may be given to a species when there are concerns regarding the population status. ... > full story
Questioning the safety of certain 'healthful' plant-based antioxidants (September 8, 2010) -- Scientists are calling for more research on the possibility that some supposedly healthful plant-based antioxidants -- including those renowned for their apparent ability to prevent cancer -- may actually aggravate or even cause cancer in some individuals. Their recommendation follows a study in which two such antioxidants -- quercetin and ferulic acid -- appeared to aggravate kidney cancer in severely diabetic laboratory rats. ... > full story
Unusual feed supplement could ease gassy cows, reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (September 8, 2010) -- Cow belches, a major source of greenhouse gases, could be decreased by an unusual feed supplement developed by a dairy scientist. ... > full story
A new role for insulin in cell survival, cell metabolism and stress response (September 8, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a novel way in which insulin affects cell metabolism and cell survival. Surprisingly the insulin signaling pathway, which is involved in aging, diabetes and stress response, is active at a deeper level of cell activity than scientists expected. ... > full story
Scientists create new process to 'program' cancer cell death (September 8, 2010) -- Researchers have engineered a fundamentally new approach to killing cancer cells. The process uses small RNA molecules that can be programmed to attack only specific cancer cells; then, by changing shape, those molecules cause the cancer cells to self-destruct. ... > full story
Termites foretell climate change in Africa's savannas (September 8, 2010) -- Using sophisticated airborne imaging and structural analysis, scientists mapped more than 40,000 termite mounds over 192 square miles in the African savanna. They found that their size and distribution is linked to vegetation and landscape patterns associated with annual rainfall. The results reveal how the savanna terrain has evolved and show how termite mounds can be used to predict ecological shifts from climate change. ... > full story
Fungal threat to archived film (September 8, 2010) -- Microbes could be threatening our cultural heritage by degrading historic cinematographic film and even preventing some valuable footage to be archived at all. New research shows how fungal growth on cinema film can not only lead to deterioration of the film but may also pose a risk to the archivist. ... > full story
Turkey genome sequenced more than 90 percent, including sex chromosomes 'Z' and 'W' (September 8, 2010) -- More than 90 percent of the domesticated turkey genome has been sequenced and assembled. Thousands of genes previously unknown to avian scientists have been described. Also of interest are the sequences of the sex chromosomes "Z" and "W," which were poorly covered in the past. ... > full story
Is hand washing enough to stop the spread of disease? (September 8, 2010) -- Not drying your hands thoroughly after washing them, could increase the spread of bacteria and rubbing your hands whilst using a conventional electric hand dryer could be a contributing factor. Frequently people give up drying their hands and wipe them on their clothes instead, but hand-hygiene is a key part of infection control and drying hands after washing is a very important part of the process. A new study looks at different methods of hand drying, and their effect on transfer of bacteria from the hands to other surfaces. ... > full story
GOCE gravity mission back in action (September 8, 2010) -- ESA’s GOCE gravity mission has recovered from a glitch that prevented the satellite from sending its flow of scientific data to the ground. News of the recovery comes earlier than expected, thanks to the fervent efforts of a team of experts. ... > full story
Irrigation's cooling effects may mask warming in some regions -- for now (September 8, 2010) -- Expanded irrigation has made it possible to feed the world's growing billions -- and it may also temporarily be counteracting the effects of climate change in some regions, say scientists. But some sources of irrigation water are projected to dry up in coming decades and when they do, people may face the double whammy of food shortages and higher temperatures. A new study pinpoints where the trouble spots may be. ... > full story
Satellite navigation steers unmanned micro-planes (September 8, 2010) -- An unmanned aircraft system guided by satnav has been developed within ESA's Business Incubation Centre to provide rapid monitoring of land areas and disaster zones. The planes have already helped Spanish farmers in Andalusia to fight land erosion. ... > full story
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