ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Tuesday, September 21, 2010
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Windborne desert dust falls on high peaks, dampens Colorado River runoff (September 21, 2010) -- When the winds are right and the desert is dry, dust blows eastward from the semi-arid regions of the US Southwest. In a dust-up, Western style, small dark particles of the dust fall on the mountains' white snowfields, ultimately affecting the entire Colorado River watershed. ... > full story
Commercial-scale test of new technology to recover coal from sludge successful (September 21, 2010) -- A new technology for removing water from ultrafine coal slurry has been successfully tested at the commercial scale at an operating coal cleaning plant. The technology offers the possibility of reducing the coal slurry impoundment problem from the source. ... > full story
Earth's highest coastal mountain on the move (September 20, 2010) -- The rocks of Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta -- the highest coastal mountain on Earth -- tell a fascinating tale: the mountain collides and then separates from former super-continents. Volcanoes are born and die. The mountain travels from Peru to northern Colombia and finally rotates in a clockwise direction to open up an entirely new geological basin. ... > full story
Biofuel from inedible plant material easier to produce following enzyme discovery (September 20, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered key plant enzymes that normally make the energy stored in wood, straw, and other non-edible parts of plants difficult to extract. The findings can be used to improve the viability of sustainable biofuels that do not adversely affect the food chain. ... > full story
Possible 'persistence' switch for tuberculosis found: Computer model finds probable genetic mechanism for TB dormancy (September 20, 2010) -- A model for the genetic "persistence" switch that toggles tuberculosis bacteria into a dormant state that resists antibiotics and immune system responses is described in a new study. An analysis of stress-response genes in the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis has allowed bioengineers to zero in on a gene network that appears to help the bacteria ward off attacks. ... > full story
Fences could help clean up watercourses (September 20, 2010) -- Building good fences could make our water cleaner, and help us to meet European standards, according to new research. Scientists have created a computer model to investigate the problem of faecal pollution in UK rivers. They found that simple farm-scale solutions are likely to be most effective at reducing the numbers of potentially dangerous organisms entering watercourses – and could work out cheaper both for farmers and consumers. ... > full story
Magnetic attraction for fish, crabs? Study examines whether magnetic fields from aquatic power sources affect animals (September 20, 2010) -- Scientists are examining how aquatic animals behave around electromagnetic fields similar to those created by marine power devices. ... > full story
Apollo discovery tells a new story (September 20, 2010) -- A rare bronze signet ring with the impression of the face of the Greek sun god, Apollo, has been discovered at Tel Dor, in northern Israel. ... > full story
Childhood viral infection may be a cause of obesity (September 20, 2010) -- The emerging idea that obesity may have an infectious origin gets new support in a cross-sectional study researchers who found that children exposed to a particular strain of adenovirus were significantly more likely to be obese. ... > full story
Plague researchers race to beat bioterrorists (September 20, 2010) -- Given the many pressing concerns of the day, fear of plague probably isn't what causes most Americans to lose sleep. But for those whose responsibility it is to combat bioterrorism, plague is among the highest priorities. ... > full story
End of microplates? Novel electronic biosensing technology could facilitate new era of personalized medicine (September 20, 2010) -- The multi-welled microplate, long a standard tool in biomedical research and diagnostic laboratories, could become a thing of the past thanks to new electronic biosensing technology developed by a team of microelectronics engineers and biomedical scientists. ... > full story
Parasitic 'warrior worms' discovered in snails; Scientists see possible biomedical applications (September 20, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a caste of genetically identical "warrior worms" -- members of a parasitic fluke species that invades the California horn snail. ... > full story
Biologists discover biochemical link between biological clock and diabetes (September 20, 2010) -- Biologists have found that a key protein that regulates the biological clocks of mammals also regulates glucose production in the liver and that altering the levels of this protein can improve the health of diabetic mice. ... > full story
'Archeologists of the air' isolate pristine aerosol particles in the Amazon (September 20, 2010) -- Environmental engineers who might better be called "archeologists of the air" have, for the first time, isolated aerosol particles in near pristine pre-industrial conditions. Working in the remote Amazonian Basin north of Manaus, Brazil, the researchers measured particles emitted or formed within the rainforest ecosystem that are relatively free from the influence of anthropogenic, or human, activity. ... > full story
A chip off the early hominin tooth: Researchers develop method for determining the diet of our early ancestors (September 20, 2010) -- Were our early mammalian ancestors vegetarians, vegans or omnivores? It's difficult for anthropologists to determine the diet of early mammalians because current fossil analysis provides too little information. But a new method that measures the size of chips in tooth fossils can help determine the kinds of foods these early humans consumed. ... > full story
Key component identified that helps plants go green (September 20, 2010) -- A team of researchers has found a central part in the machinery that turns plants green when they sense light. In the Rube Goldberg world of cellular mechanics, this key player turns out to be a garbage truck. ... > full story
Self-organizing traffic lights (September 20, 2010) -- A new patent may revolutionize traffic control, saving fuel, reducing travel times and emissions, and doing it all without limiting drivers' mobility. This truly "green" idea will have drivers waiting less and help us preserve our environment. ... > full story
The language of bats (September 20, 2010) -- Many species of bats hunt insects "on the wing" by making ultrasonic calls and using the echo to find prey while in flight. But do bats use echolocation calls to communicate with each other as well? New research in Panama shows that bats can recognize the calls of particular individuals, similar to how humans can recognize the voices of friends and family. ... > full story
50-million-year-old snake gets a CT scan (September 20, 2010) -- Even some of the most advanced technology in medicine couldn't get Clarisse to give up all of her secrets. After all, she's protected them for more than 50 million years. Clarisse is a snake, found in the Fossil Butte region of Wyoming, perfectly fossilized in limestone and the only one of her kind known to be in existence. ... > full story
How HIV resists AZT: Virus hijacks a common molecule (September 20, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered the details of how HIV resists AZT. The scientists believe their discovery helps researchers understand how important anti-AIDS treatments can fail and could help AIDS researchers develop more effective treatment for the disease. ... > full story
Easily blocked signaling protein may help scientists stop parasites (September 20, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a parasite protein that has all the makings of a microbial glass jaw: it's essential, it's vulnerable and humans have nothing like it, meaning scientists can take pharmacological swings at it with minimal fear of collateral damage. ... > full story
2010 tied with 1998 as warmest global temperature on record (September 20, 2010) -- The first eight months of 2010 tied the same period in 1998 for the warmest combined land and ocean surface temperature on record worldwide. Meanwhile, the June-August summer was the second warmest on record globally after 1998, and last month was the third warmest August on record. Separately, last month's global average land surface temperature was the second warmest on record for August, while the global ocean surface temperature tied with 1997 as the sixth warmest for August. ... > full story
At the crossroads of chromosomes: Study reveals structure of cell division’s key molecule (September 20, 2010) -- On average, one hundred billion cells in the human body divide over the course of a day. Most of the time the body gets it right but sometimes, problems in cell replication can lead to abnormalities in chromosomes resulting in many types of disorders, from cancer to Down Syndrome. Now, researchers have defined the structure of a key molecule that plays a central role in how DNA is duplicated and then moved correctly and equally into two daughter cells to produce two exact copies of the mother cell. Without this molecule, entire chromosomes could be lost during cell division. ... > full story
Mechanism behind demethylation pinpointed in APC gene mutants (September 20, 2010) -- Researchers demonstrate in a study the mechanism by which mutation of the APC gene affects a cellular process known as DNA methylation. ... > full story
Environmental impact of organic solar cells assessed (September 20, 2010) -- To better understand the energy and environmental benefits and detriments of solar power, a research team has conducted one of the first life-cycle assessments of organic solar cells. The study found that the embodied energy -- or the total energy required to make a product -- is less for organic solar cells compared with conventional inorganic devices. ... > full story
Emotional robot pets (September 20, 2010) -- Designers of robot pets are fighting a never-ending battle with consumers to provide entertaining and realistic gadgets that respond to human interaction in ever more nuanced ways, mimicking the behavior of real pet animals or even people. Researchers in Taiwan are now looking at a new design paradigm that could see the development of a robot vision module that might one-day recognize human facial expressions and respond appropriately. ... > full story
Fossil of giant bony-toothed bird from chile sets wingspan record (September 19, 2010) -- A newly discovered skeleton of an ancient seabird from northern Chile provides evidence that giant birds were soaring the skies there 5-10 million years ago. The wing bones of the animal exceed those of all other birds in length; its wingspan would have been at least 5.2 m (17 ft.). This is the largest safely established wingspan for a bird. Other, larger estimates for fossil birds have been based on much less secure evidence. ... > full story
Scientists decode genomes of precocious fruit flies (September 19, 2010) -- Researchers have deciphered how lowly fruit flies bred to rapidly develop and reproduce actually evolve over time. The findings contradict the long-held belief that sexual beings evolve the same way simpler organisms do and could fundamentally alter the direction of genetic research for new pharmaceuticals and other products. ... > full story
Protein clamps tight to telomeres to help prevent aging and support cancer (September 19, 2010) -- Researchers have published the first detailed report on the structure and function of a crucial domain in the protein known as Cdc13, which sustains telomeres by clamping to DNA and recruiting telomere-lengthening enzymes to the area. The study was performed using the yeast gene, however, this essential life process has changed little through evolution, and evidence suggests that the human equivalent of this protein may make a good target for future anticancer drugs. ... > full story
House-sharing with microbes (September 19, 2010) -- Household dust contains up to 1000 different species of microbes, with tens of millions of individual bacterial cells in each gram. And these are just the ones that can be grown in the lab. New research looks at how we share our living and working spaces with millions of microbes, not all of whom are bad news. ... > full story
Gene limits learning and memory in mice (September 19, 2010) -- Deleting a certain gene in mice can make them smarter by unlocking a mysterious region of the brain considered to be relatively inflexible, scientists have found. Mice with a disabled RGS14 gene are able to remember objects they'd explored and learn to navigate mazes better than regular mice, suggesting that RGS14's presence limits some forms of learning and memory. ... > full story
Tracking triclosan's field footprint (September 19, 2010) -- A study by agricultural scientists and cooperators provides new details about how fertilizing soils with biosolids also introduces triclosan -- an antibacterial agent in soaps and other cleaning supplies -- into the environment. ... > full story
AIDS virus lineage much older than previously thought (September 19, 2010) -- An ancestor of HIV that infects monkeys is thousands of years older than previously thought, suggesting that HIV, which causes AIDS, is not likely to stop killing humans anytime soon. ... > full story
Great Lakes water quality is focus of new research grant (September 19, 2010) -- How could climate change and our response to it affect the Great Lakes' water quality? That's the primary question a team of 27 scientists will answer in a new research project. ... > full story
Night light pollution affect songbirds' mating life, research suggests (September 18, 2010) -- In today's increasingly urbanized world, the lights in many places are always on, and according to a new study, that's having a real impact on the mating life of forest-breeding songbirds. ... > full story
Tick tock: Rods help set internal clocks, biologist says (September 18, 2010) -- Rod cells -- one of three kinds of exquisitely photosensitive cells found in the retina of the eye -- are surprisingly found to be the only ones responsible for setting our internal "clocks" in low light. ... > full story
Synthetic fuels research aims to reduce oil dependence (September 18, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a facility aimed at learning precisely how coal and biomass are broken down in reactors called gasifiers as part of a project to strengthen the scientific foundations of the synthetic fuel economy. ... > full story
Fish schools and krill swarms take on common shape (September 18, 2010) -- When fish or tiny, shrimp-like krill get together, it appears they follow the same set of "rules." According to a new study, shoals of fish and swarms of krill hang out in groups that take on the same overall shape; it's not a simple sphere, a cylinder, or ovoid, but something more akin to an irregular crystal, the researchers say. ... > full story
NASA uses new method to estimate Earth mass movements (September 18, 2010) -- NASA and European researchers have conducted a novel study to simultaneously measure, for the first time, trends in how water is transported across Earth's surface and how the solid Earth responds to the retreat of glaciers following the last major Ice Age, including the shifting of Earth's center of mass. ... > full story
U.S. tsunami detection improves, but coastal areas still vulnerable, report finds (September 18, 2010) -- The nation's ability to detect and forecast tsunamis has improved since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, but current efforts are still not sufficient to meet challenges posed by tsunamis generated near land that leave little time for warning, says a new report. ... > full story
Asian 'unicorn' photographed for first time in over 10 years (September 18, 2010) -- For the first time in more than ten years, there has been a confirmed sighting of one of the rarest and most mysterious animals in the world, the saola of Laos and Vietnam. The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (also known as Laos) announced on September 15 that in late August villagers in the central province of Bolikhamxay captured a saola and brought it back to their village. The animal died several days later, but was photographed while still alive. ... > full story
Radiometric dating still reliable (again), research shows (September 18, 2010) -- Recent puzzling observations of tiny variations in nuclear decay rates have led some to question the science behind carbon-14 dating and similar techniques. However scientists tested the hypothesis that solar radiation might affect the rate at which radioactive elements decay and found no detectable effect. ... > full story
When Earth's mantle meets its core: Findings boost hypothesis of deep magma ocean (September 17, 2010) -- Earth's mantle and its core mix at 2900 kilometers under our feet in a mysterious zone. A team of geophysicists has just verified that the partial fusion of the mantle is possible in this area when the temperature reaches 4200 Kelvin. This reinforces the hypothesis of the presence of a deep magma ocean. The results have an effect in the understanding of the dynamics, composition and formation of the depths of our planet. ... > full story
Pickle spoilage bacteria may help environment (September 17, 2010) -- Spoilage bacteria that can cause red coloration of pickles' skin during fermentation may actually help clean up dyes in textile industry wastewater, according to a new study. ... > full story
Foraging for fat: Crafty crows use tools to fish for nutritious morsels (September 17, 2010) -- Researchers have used CSI-style analysis to reveal the huge benefits conferred on New Caledonian crows through tool use. Their results give hard evidence of the huge evolutionary advantage that can be gained by tool use -- giving an insight into the importance of tool use in survival. ... > full story
Veterinarian says natural foods not always best for pets (September 17, 2010) -- While natural food is a rising trend among humans, pet owners should be careful before feeding similar types of food to their pets, according to a veterinarian. ... > full story
Tornado-chasing becomes vacation choice, researchers find (September 17, 2010) -- Instead of heading to the coast for vacation, people are traveling to Tornado Alley. The number of people registering to get a closer look at tornadoes is growing as vacationers trade in their beach towels for a ride with storm chasers. Labeled "Tornado Tourists" by a University of Missouri research team, these travelers are searching for an experience beyond just thrills. ... > full story
The biggest crash on Earth: India slides under Tibet, but how? (September 17, 2010) -- During the collision of India with the Eurasian continent, the Indian plate was pushed about 500 kilometers under Tibet, reaching a depth of 250 kilometers. The result of this largest collision in Earth's history is the world's highest mountain range. But even more recently, the collision could be felt -- for example, the earthquakes that created the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. ... > full story
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