ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, September 24, 2010
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Computer simulations of real earthquakes made available to worldwide network (September 24, 2010) -- A research team has developed the capability to produce realistic movies of earthquakes based on complex computer simulations that can be made available worldwide within hours of a disastrous upheaval. ... > full story
City living helped humans evolve immunity to tuberculosis and leprosy, new research suggests (September 24, 2010) -- New research has found that a genetic variant which reduces the chance of contracting diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy is more prevalent in populations with long histories of urban living. ... > full story
Drug against AIDS could be effective against herpesvirus (September 24, 2010) -- Scientists have shown that raltegravir, the drug approved in 2007 for the treatment of AIDS that is sold by Merck under the name Isentress, cancels the function of an essential protein for the replication of one kind of herpes virus. This study is the first step towards the development of a drug against the entire herpesvirus family. ... > full story
Successful sludge-to-power research developed (September 24, 2010) -- An experiment to transform wastewater sludge to electrical power, dwarfed by the million-gallon tanks, pipes and pumps at the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility, has successfully demonstrated a continuous feed low-cost system to dry sludge for conversion to fuel, which could ultimately supply the plant's electrical power on-site. ... > full story
Fuel treatments reduce wildfire severity, tree mortality in Washington forests (September 24, 2010) -- Scientists have found that fuel treatments -- even of only a few acres -- can reduce fire severity and protect older trees desirable for their timber, wildlife, and carbon-storage value. ... > full story
Groundwater depletion rate accelerating worldwide (September 23, 2010) -- In recent decades, the rate at which humans worldwide are pumping dry the vast underground stores of water that billions depend on has more than doubled, say scientists who have conducted an unusual, global assessment of groundwater use. ... > full story
Scientists uncover process enabling toxoplasmosis parasite to survive homelessness (September 23, 2010) -- The parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis requires a stress response system that helps it survive the move to infect new cells, scientists have reported -- a discovery that could lead to new treatments to control the disease. ... > full story
Extreme conditions deep in Earth's interior recreated (September 23, 2010) -- Scientists have recreated the tremendous pressures and high temperatures deep in the Earth to resolve a long-standing puzzle: why some seismic waves travel faster than others through the boundary between the solid mantle and fluid outer core. At the pressure near the core-mantle boundary -- more than a million times atmospheric pressure -- perovskite's crystals are deformed in just the right way to explain velocity differences of polarized seismic waves. ... > full story
Manganese in drinking water: Study suggests adverse effects on children's intellectual abilities (September 23, 2010) -- A team of researchers recently completed a study showing that children exposed to high concentrations of manganese in drinking water performed worse on tests of intellectual functioning than children with lower exposures. ... > full story
New technique uncovers hidden insecticide resistance in mosquitoes (September 23, 2010) -- A new technique is improving the detection and monitoring of insecticide resistance in field populations of an important malaria-carrying mosquito. ... > full story
Stress resilience returns with feeling for rhythm (September 23, 2010) -- If your body releases cortisol with fixed regularity then you can cope with stress better, according to new Dutch research into the rhythm of corticosterone production in rats. This rat hormone is comparable to the human stress hormone cortisol. Rats deal considerably less well with stress if the pattern of corticosterone release changes. An irregular release pattern is a characteristic of chronic stress and stress-related diseases. It might therefore be possible to treat these by restoring the rhythm. ... > full story
Gulf oil spill's vastness confirmed: Largest marine oil accident ever (September 23, 2010) -- In the first independent paper on the volume of the Gulf oil spill, scientists have affirmed heightened estimates of what is now seen as the largest marine oil accident ever. Using a new technique to analyze underwater video of the well riser, they say it leaked 56,000-68,000 barrels daily -- maybe more -- until it was capped. Their estimate of total oil escaped into the ocean is 4.4 million barrels -- close to the most recent consensus of government advisers. ... > full story
Secret of oysters' ability to stick together cracked open (September 23, 2010) -- A research team has uncovered the chemical components of the adhesive produced by oysters, providing information that could be useful for fisheries, boating and medicine. A better understanding of oysters' ability to stick together to form complex reefs would help those trying to boost the dwindling oyster population, aid in the creation of materials to keep boat hulls clean without harming the environment, and bring researchers one step closer to creating wet-setting adhesives. ... > full story
Ingredient in soap points toward new drugs for infection that affects two billion (September 23, 2010) -- The antibacterial ingredient in some soaps, toothpastes, odor-fighting socks, and even computer keyboards is pointing scientists toward a long-sought new treatment for a parasitic disease that affects almost two billion people. ... > full story
Clues to common food poisoning: Salmonella creates environment in human intestines to foster its own growth (September 23, 2010) -- The bacteria Salmonella enterica -- a common cause of food poisoning -- exploits immune response in the human gut to enhance its own reproductive and transmission success, according to new research. The strategy gives Salmonella a growth advantage over the beneficial bacteria that are normally present in the intestinal tract and promotes the severe diarrhea that spreads the bacteria to other people. ... > full story
Smartphone app for genes on Earth is tool for scientists and entertaining for all (September 23, 2010) -- The scientists who put an innovative tree of life online last year now have made that same resource available -- free -- for smartphones. The new "TimeTree" application lets anyone with an Apple iPhone harness a vast Internet storehouse of data about the diversity of life, from bacteria to humans. The new iPhone app can be fun for people who want to learn how long ago their cat and dog began evolving down different evolutionary paths, and it also is a useful scientific tool. ... > full story
Ocean cooling contributed to mid-20th century global warming hiatus (September 23, 2010) -- The hiatus of global warming in the Northern Hemisphere during the mid-20th century may have been due to an abrupt cooling event centered over the North Atlantic around 1970, rather than the cooling effects of tropospheric pollution. ... > full story
New species of sea slug discovered (September 23, 2010) -- Sometimes, treasures can be found in your own backyard -- especially if you know what to look for. A researcher was working in the tide pools at Carpinteria Reef in California when he found a new species of nudibranch -- a group of sea slugs noted for their bright colors and delicate forms. Recognizing it as new, he carefully documented the living specimen before preserving it. ... > full story
Earth and Venus Lightning: Similar mechanisms on the two planets (September 23, 2010) -- Despite the great differences between the atmospheres of Venus and Earth, scientists have discovered that very similar mechanisms produce lightning on the two planets. The rates of discharge, the intensity and the spatial distribution of lightning are comparable, thus scientists hope to be able to better understand the chemistry, dynamics and evolution of the atmospheres of the two planets. ... > full story
Preventing infections in the womb: Discovery may pave way for new approaches (September 23, 2010) -- Researchers have established in mice the mechanism that detects and responds to the presence of bacteria in the womb -- a discovery that opens up the possibility of new preventative treatments for diseases like pelvic inflammatory disease and Chlamydia. ... > full story
Mice engrafted with human immune cells may provide clues to better prevention and treatment of typhoid fever (September 23, 2010) -- Better treatments and prevention of typhoid fever may emerge from a laboratory model that has just been developed for the disease. The model is based on transplanting human immune stem cells from umbilical cord blood into mice that are susceptible to infections. Because typhoid fever affects only humans, progress in creating effective vaccines and medications has been limited. The "humanized" mouse allows scientists to study innovative approaches against human infections. ... > full story
Fruit flies help scientists sniff out new insect repellents (September 23, 2010) -- By following the "nose" of fruit flies, scientists are on the trail of new insect repellents that may reduce the spread of infectious disease and damage to agricultural crops. That's because they've learned for the first time how a group of genes used to differentiate smells is turned on and off, opening new possibilities for insect control. ... > full story
Genomic 'haircut' makes world's tiniest genome even smaller (September 23, 2010) -- The world's tiniest nuclear genome appears to have "snipped off the ends" of its chromosomes and evolved into a lean, mean, genome machine that infects human cells, according to new research. ... > full story
Searching in the microbial world for efficient ways to produce biofuel (September 23, 2010) -- With the help of genetic materials from a cow's rumen, scientists are developing new ways to break down plant fibers for conversion into biofuel. ... > full story
Ecologists find new clues on climate change in 150-year-old pressed plants (September 23, 2010) -- Plants picked up to 150 years ago by Victorian collectors and held by the million in herbarium collections across the world could become a powerful -- and much needed -- new source of data for studying climate change, according to new research. ... > full story
New computer-tomography method visualizes nano-structure of bones (September 23, 2010) -- A novel nano-tomography method opens the door to computed tomography examinations of minute structures at nanometer resolutions. Three-dimensional detailed imaging of fragile bone structures becomes possible. ... > full story
China tops world in catch and consumption of fish (September 23, 2010) -- China leads the world in tonnage of fish caught annually as well as the amount of fish consumed, according to new findings. The research ranks the top 20 nations that have the greatest impact on ocean ecosystems through catching or consuming marine wildlife. ... > full story
Everglades restoration program making tangible progress after 10 years; challenges ahead to meet both water quality and quantity goals (September 23, 2010) -- A decade-long, multibillion dollar effort to restore the Florida Everglades has made tangible albeit slow progress, but additional projects need completion before substantial benefits are seen, says a new report. ... > full story
New drug could help stop the spread of disease from coughs, researchers believe (September 22, 2010) -- What if there was a drug that could completely eliminate airborne disease transmission that occurs when someone coughs? Researchers in Canada believe they have found a way to achieve this. ... > full story
Structure of dangerous bacteria's powerful multidrug resistance pump revealed (September 22, 2010) -- Scientists have detailed the structure of a member of the only remaining class of multidrug resistance transporters left to be described. The work has implications for combating dangerous antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, as well as for developing hardy strains of agricultural crops. ... > full story
Experiments decipher key piece of the ‘histone code’ in cell division (September 22, 2010) -- Reproduce or perish. That's the bottom line for genes. Because nothing lives forever, reproduction is how life sustains itself, and it happens most fundamentally in the division and replication of the cell, known as mitosis. Now new research has detailed a key role in mitosis for a chemical modification to histone proteins that package lengthy strings of DNA into compact chromosomes. The experiments, recently published in Science, add to an increasingly intricate picture of the precisely timed events that separate new copies of chromosomes to opposite ends of a cell just before the cell divides, one of the most fundamental processes involved in the reproduction of life. ... > full story
Higher dairy calcium intake and increased serum vitamin D are related to greater diet-induced weight loss, Israeli study finds (September 22, 2010) -- A new study conducted by researchers in Israel reveals that higher dairy calcium intake and increased serum vitamin D are related to greater diet-induced weight loss. ... > full story
Working from home and online shopping can increase carbon emissions, UK report claims (September 22, 2010) -- Shopping on the Internet or working from home could be increasing carbon emissions rather than helping to reduce them, a new report claims. The research reveals that people who shop online must order more than 25 items otherwise the impact on the environment is likely to be worse than traditional shopping. ... > full story
Researchers crack cuckoo egg mystery (September 22, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that cuckoo eggs are internally incubated by the female bird for up to 24 hours before birth, solving for the first time the mystery as to how a cuckoo chick is able to hatch in advance of a host's eggs and brutally evict them. ... > full story
Seagulls harbor antibiotic resistant bacteria (September 22, 2010) -- Analysis of seagull droppings has revealed that one in ten carry "superbug" bacteria, resistant to the last-resort antibiotic Vancomycin. Researchers investigated 57 migratory seagull samples recovered from an island off the coast of Portugal. ... > full story
Man’s best friend keeps children on the move (September 22, 2010) -- Children whose families own dogs are more active than those without, according to new research. ... > full story
Amazing horned dinosaurs unearthed on 'lost continent'; New discoveries include bizarre beast with 15 horns (September 22, 2010) -- Discovery of two new horned dinosaurs in southern Utah are part of an entirely new assemblage of dinosaurs found in the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument, and which confirm that dinosaurs living in the area called Laramidia were divided into at least northern and southern provinces. ... > full story
Cocaine and ecstasy detected in waters of the L'Albufera in Valencia, Spain (September 22, 2010) -- The water in the canals and irrigation channels in the L'Albufera Natural Park in Valencia contain cocaine, ecstasy and a further six drugs. Researchers have issued a warning about the continued presence of these substances on wildlife and human health. ... > full story
Stroke gene discovered (September 22, 2010) -- Medical researchers have discovered that an enzyme is responsible for the death of nerve cells after a stroke. The enzyme NOX4 produces hydrogen peroxide, a caustic molecule also used in bleaching agents. Inhibition of NOX4 by an experimental new drug in mice with stroke dramatically reduces brain damage and preserves brain functions, even when given hours after the stroke. ... > full story
Superconception: European brown hares, while pregnant with one litter, can start a new pregnancy (September 22, 2010) -- European brown hares can develop a second pregnancy whilst the previous litter is not delivered. This superconception increases their reproductive success. ... > full story
Neanderthals more advanced than previously thought: They innovated, adapted like modern humans, research shows (September 22, 2010) -- For decades scientists believed Neanderthals developed "modern" tools and ornaments solely through contact with Homo sapiens, but new research now shows these sturdy ancients could adapt, innovate and evolve technology on their own. ... > full story
First explanation of how cells rapidly repair and maintain structure (September 22, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that a protein, zyxin, is necessary for the maintenance and repair of the cell's cytoskeleton, or internal framework, which serves as the muscle and bone of the cell. ... > full story
New fluorescence technique opens window to protein complexes in living cells (September 22, 2010) -- Fluorescent microscopy makes use of molecules, such as green fluorescent protein, or GFP, that emit colored light when illuminated with light of a specific wavelength. Molecules like GFP can be used to label proteins of interest and can reveal information about the relationships of molecules within cells. Fluorescence polarization, also known as anisotropy, is specific parameter of fluorescence that can provide additional information about the properties of individual molecules. ... > full story
Child rearing practices of distant ancestors foster morality, compassion in kids (September 22, 2010) -- Three new studies show a relationship between child rearing practices common in foraging hunter-gathering societies (how we humans have spent about 99 percent of our history) and better mental health, greater empathy and conscience development, and higher intelligence in children. ... > full story
Learning to live on land: How some early plants overcame an evolutionary hurdle (September 22, 2010) -- Diversity of life would be impossible if the ancestors of modern plants had stayed in the water with their green algal cousins. Moving onto dry land required major changes to adapt to this new "hostile" environment, and helped change global climate and atmospheric conditions. By absorbing carbon while making food, and releasing oxygen, early plants shaped ecosystems into a more hospitable environment. New research suggests reasons for incorporating evolutionary/paleontological information into global carbon cycling models. ... > full story
First observation of the folding of a nucleic acid (September 22, 2010) -- Scientists have been able to describe for the first time the folding process of a small DNA hairpin in water and with atomic resolution. ... > full story
Your body recycling itself -- captured on film (September 21, 2010) -- Proteins are made up of a chain of amino acids, and scientists have known since the 1980s that first one in the chain determines the lifetime of a protein. Researchers have finally discovered how the cell identifies this first amino acid -- and caught it on camera. ... > full story
Art of dividing: Researchers decode function and protein content of the centrosome (September 21, 2010) -- A basic requirement for growth and life of a multicellular organism is the ability of its cells to divide. Chromosomes in the cells duplicate and are then distributed among the daughter cells. This distribution is organized by a protein complex made up of several hundred different proteins, called the centrosome. In cancer cells, the centrosome often assumes an unnatural shape or is present in uncontrolled numbers. The reasons for this were previously largely unknown. Scientists in Germany have now investigated the functions of the different centrosomal components and report their findings. ... > full story
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