ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Thursday, September 30, 2010
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Strong link between diabetes and air pollution found in national U.S. study (September 30, 2010) -- A national U.S. epidemiologic study finds a strong, consistent correlation between adult diabetes and particulate air pollution that persists after adjustment for other risk factors like obesity and ethnicity, researchers report. The relationship was seen even at exposure levels below the current EPA safety limit. ... > full story
Diet when young affects future food responses (September 30, 2010) -- A high protein diet during development primes the body to react unhealthily to future food binges. A study on juvenile rats suggests that lasting changes result from altering the composition of the first solid food that is consumed throughout growth into early adulthood. ... > full story
Dancing honeybees use democratic process when selecting a new home (September 30, 2010) -- When honeybees seek a new home, they choose the best site through a democratic process that humans would do well to emulate, according to a biologist. ... > full story
Swine flu patients benefited from taking Tamiflu, says study (September 30, 2010) -- Healthy people who caught swine flu during the 2009 pandemic may have been protected against developing radiographically (X-ray) confirmed pneumonia by taking the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), concludes a study of cases in China. ... > full story
New key to tissue regeneration: Drug treatment triggers sodium ions to regrow nerves and muscle (September 29, 2010) -- Tufts biologists have regenerated spinal cord and muscle by triggering an influx of sodium ions into injured cells. The approach breaks new ground in biomedicine because it requires no gene therapy; can be administered after an injury has occurred; and is bioelectric, rather than chemically based. The treatment is most directly applicable to spinal cord repair and limb loss. Proof-of-principle may apply to many complex tissues. ... > full story
Purifying proteins: Researchers use NMR to improve drug development (September 29, 2010) -- The purification of drug components is a large hurdle facing modern drug development. This is particularly true of drugs that utilize proteins, which are notoriously difficult to separate from other potentially deadly impurities. Scientists are using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to understand and improve an important protein purification process. ... > full story
Model aims to reduce disaster toll on city's social, economic fabric (September 29, 2010) -- Researchers have created a computer model that predicts how a disaster's impact on critical infrastructure would affect a city's social and economic fabric, a potential tool to help reduce the severity of impacts, manage the aftermath of catastrophe and fortify infrastructure against future disasters. ... > full story
Scientists genetically engineer silkworms to produce artificial spider silk (September 29, 2010) -- A research and development effort by the University of Notre Dame, the University of Wyoming, and Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc. has succeeded in producing transgenic silkworms capable of spinning artificial spider silks. ... > full story
Coral bleaching likely in Caribbean this year (September 29, 2010) -- Coral bleaching is likely in the Caribbean in 2010, according to new research. With temperatures above-average all year, NOAA's models show a strong potential for bleaching in the southern and southeastern Caribbean through October that could be as severe as in 2005 when over 80 percent of corals bleached and over 40 percent died at many sites across the Caribbean. ... > full story
New oil detection technique (September 29, 2010) -- Australian scientists have developed a revolutionary technique for the rapid on-site detection and quantification of petroleum hydrocarbons (commonly derived from crude oil) in soil, silt, sediment or rock. ... > full story
Genome inversion gives plant a new lifestyle (September 29, 2010) -- The yellow monkeyflower, an unassuming little plant that lives as both a perennial on the foggy coasts of the Pacific Northwest and a dry-land annual hundreds of miles inland, harbors a significant clue about evolution. ... > full story
Carbon nanoobjects to facilitate the construction of futuristic power sources (September 29, 2010) -- Scientists from Poland are working on electrodes that have surfaces covered with layers of carbon nanoparticles and enzymes. These electrodes can be used to produce modern sensors and power sources, including such futuristic ones as biological fuel cells installed inside the human body and fueled by substances contained in blood. ... > full story
Sparkling drinks spark pain circuits: Fizzy beverages light up same pain sensors as mustard and horseradish (September 29, 2010) -- The carbon dioxide in carbonated drinks sets off the same pain sensors as mustard and horseradish, according to new study, as well as previously discovered sour-tasting cells on tongue. ... > full story
Climate accord loopholes could spell 4.2-degree rise in temperature and end of coral reefs by 2100 (September 29, 2010) -- A global temperature increase of up to 4.2 degrees Celsius and the end of coral reefs could become reality by 2100 if national targets are not revised in the Copenhagen Accord, the international pledge which was agreed at last year's Copenhagen's COP15 climate change conference, according to a new report. ... > full story
Revolutionary new way of reversing certain cancers (September 29, 2010) -- Australian and American scientists have found a way of shrinking tumors in certain cancers -- a finding that provides hope for new treatments. The cancers in question are those caused by a new class of genes known as "microRNAs," produced by parts of the genome that, until recently, were dismissed as "junk DNA." While much is still unknown about microRNAs, it is clear that they can interfere with how our genes are "read." ... > full story
Ultrafine air particles may increase firefighters' risk for heart disease (September 29, 2010) -- Firefighters are exposed to potentially dangerous levels of ultrafine particulates at the time they are least likely to wear protective breathing equipment. Because of this, researchers believe firefighters may face an increased risk for heart disease from exposures during the fire suppression process. ... > full story
Tiny generators turn waste heat into power (September 29, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered a novel way to power tiny devices using waste heat. Arrays of tiny ferroelectric nanowires have been shown to rapidly generate a current in response to any change in the ambient temperature. ... > full story
More than one-fifth of world's plants face threat of extinction, new analysis finds (September 29, 2010) -- A global analysis of extinction risk for the world's plants, conducted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew together with the Natural History Museum, London and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has revealed that the world's plants are as threatened as mammals, with one in five of the world's plant species threatened with extinction. ... > full story
Brilliant Northeast fall colors hang in the balance, and heat is the deciding factor (September 29, 2010) -- The abundant sunshine we have had much of this summer and fall has likely produced leaves high in sugars, and sugars are important for production of anthocyanins pigments which produce rich red colors. ... > full story
Researchers find differences between Galapagos and mainland frigatebirds (September 29, 2010) -- The Galapagos population of the magnificent frigatebird may be its own genetically distinct species warranting a new conservation status, according to a new study. ... > full story
The precious commodity of water (September 29, 2010) -- Water is a valuable resource, which is why researchers are demonstrating how we can extract precious drinking water from air, discover a leak in pipeline systems and even effectively clean sewage water. ... > full story
19-million-year-old genomic fossils of hepatitis B-like viruses in songbirds (September 29, 2010) -- Biologists have uncovered virus fragments from the same family of the modern hepatitis B virus locked inside the genomes of songbirds such as the modern-day zebra finch. ... > full story
Sustainable material for wine bottle stoppers being developed (September 29, 2010) -- Researchers are developing a new sustainable material to make stoppers for wine bottles. The aim of the project is to substitute the plastic stoppers used for wine bottles with stoppers that are made up of a composite material. ... > full story
Sneaking spies into a cell's nucleus (September 28, 2010) -- Bioengineers have not only figured out a way to sneak molecular spies through the walls of individual cells, they can now slip them into the command center -- or nucleus -- of those cells, where they can report back important information or drop off payloads. ... > full story
Potential climate change side effect: More parasites on South American birds (September 28, 2010) -- A new study on nesting birds in Argentina finds that increasing temperatures and rainfall -- both side effects of climate change in some parts of the world -- could be bad for birds of South America, but great for some of their parasites which thrive in warmer and wetter conditions. ... > full story
Scientists consider fate of pandemic H1N1 flu virus (September 28, 2010) -- In a new commentary, scientists review the fates of previous pandemic influenza viruses in the years following a pandemic and speculate on possible future courses for the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus during the upcoming flu season and beyond. ... > full story
Structural Genomics Consortium releases 1,000th protein structure (September 28, 2010) -- The Structural Genomics Consortium, an international public-private partnership that aims to determine 3-D structures of medically important proteins, has announced the release into the public domain of its 1,000th high-resolution protein structure. ... > full story
Genetic differences in sense of smell identified through asparagus urine odor (September 28, 2010) -- Scientists have identified one of only a few known genetic contributions to the sense of smell. Most, but not all, people detect a distinct sulfurous odor in their urine shortly after eating asparagus. Sensory testing demonstrated that some do not produce the odor while others do not smell it. DNA analyses revealed that the inability to smell the odor was linked to genetic variation within a family of olfactory receptors. ... > full story
'Firefly' stem cells may help repair damaged hearts (September 28, 2010) -- Stem cells that glow like fireflies could someday help doctors heal damaged hearts without cutting into patients' chests. Researchers engineered stem cells with the same enzyme that makes fireflies glow. The "firefly" stem cells glow brighter and brighter as they develop into healthy heart muscle, allowing doctors to track whether and where the stem cells are working. ... > full story
Pet allergies worsen hay fever symptoms, study finds (September 28, 2010) -- Being allergic to dogs or cats may worsen your ragweed allergies, according to a new study. Researchers found that people with pet allergies often develop ragweed allergy symptoms more quickly than others. But the study also suggests that once allergy season is in full swing, those symptom differences subside. ... > full story
Geologists find parts of Northwest Houston, Texas sinking rapidly (September 28, 2010) -- A large section of northwestern Harris County in the area of Houston, Texas is sinking rapidly, according to a geologist who has analyzed GPS data measuring ground elevation in the area. The researchers studied a decade's worth of detailed GPS data measuring the elevation of various points throughout the Houston area. ... > full story
'Hobbit' was an iodine-deficient human, not another species, new study suggests (September 28, 2010) -- A new paper is set to re-ignite debate over the origins of so-called Homo floresiensis -- the 'hobbit' that some scientists have claimed as a new species of human. Researchers have reconfirmed their original finding on the skull that Homo floresiensis in fact bears the hallmarks of humans -- Homo sapiens -- affected by hypothyroid cretinism. ... > full story
Daycare puts children with lung disease at risk for serious illness, study finds (September 28, 2010) -- Exposure to common viruses in daycare puts children with a chronic lung condition caused by premature birth at risk for serious respiratory infections, according to a new study. ... > full story
People also have antiviral 'plant defences', research suggests (September 28, 2010) -- In addition to known antiviral agents such as antibodies and interferons, people also seem to have a similar immune system to that previously identified in plants, according to researchers in the Netherlands. They discovered that a protein used by plant viruses to bypass plant resistance can also impair the defence against HIV viruses in people. The findings may open up new opportunities for improving health. ... > full story
Scientists freeze virus fragment in shape recognized by immune system; Development has implications for vaccine design (September 28, 2010) -- One strategy for designing an HIV vaccine involves identifying the key viral surface structures, snipping them off and developing a method to present these fragments to the immune system. When some parts of the surface of HIV are removed, they change shape such that antibodies no longer recognize and bind to them. A research team has developed a strategy to overcome this. ... > full story
Urban gardeners beware: There may be lead in your soil and food (September 28, 2010) -- Researchers are studying the lead level in urban soil and found it raises concern for urban gardeners. Care needs to be taken to ensure that lead does not adhere to food crops. ... > full story
Nanocatalyst is a gas (September 28, 2010) -- A new nanoparticle-based, tungsten oxide catalyst should help oil refineries make higher-octane gasoline through a production process that is more efficient and better for the environment. ... > full story
Sugary sports drinks mistakenly associated with being healthy, say researchers (September 28, 2010) -- Children who practice healthy lifestyle habits such as eating fruits and vegetables and engaging in physical activity may be negatively impacting their health because they tend to consume large amounts of flavored and sports beverages containing sugar, according to new research. ... > full story
Rain or shine, researchers find new ways to forecast large photovoltaic power plant output (September 28, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new system to monitor how clouds affect large-scale solar photovoltaic power plants. By observing cloud shape, size and movement, the system provides a way for utility companies to predict and prepare for fluctuations in power output due to changes in weather. The resulting models will provide utility companies with valuable data to assess potential power plant locations, ramp rates and power output. ... > full story
Electric cars hold greater promise for reducing emissions and lowering US oil imports, study finds (September 28, 2010) -- Electric cars hold greater promise for reducing emissions and lowering US oil imports than a national renewable portfolio standard, according to new research. ... > full story
Complexity not so costly after all: Moderately complex plants and animals can be better equipped to adapt (September 28, 2010) -- The more complex a plant or animal, the more difficulty it should have adapting to changes in the environment. But if that tenet is true, how do you explain all the well-adapted, complex organisms in the world? This "cost of complexity" conundrum puzzles biologists and offers ammunition to proponents of intelligent design. A new analysis reveals flaws in the models from which the cost of complexity idea arose and shows that complexity can, indeed, develop through evolutionary processes. ... > full story
Understanding Missouri River's sediment dynamics key to protecting endangered species (September 28, 2010) -- A new report from the U.S. National Research Council says that more organized and systematic procedures for gathering and evaluating data on Missouri River sediment. ... > full story
Immunization coverage key to good health locally, globally (September 28, 2010) -- The outbreak of whooping cough in Texas, California, and other states this year underscores the critical importance of widespread vaccination coverage, both locally as well as around the world, said a leading global health official. ... > full story
Pharmaceutical substances found in waters of Spain's Doñana National Park (September 28, 2010) -- Researchers from Spain have detected active pharmaceutical substances for the first time in the waters of the Doñana National Park and its surrounding areas. The results suggest eco-toxicological risks for aquatic organisms. The scientists recommend that advanced technologies should be used to treat urban waste water in order to remove these compounds. ... > full story
Winter drought stress can delay flowering, prevent fruit loss in orange crops (September 27, 2010) -- Successful mechanical harvesting of perennial fruit crops requires efficient, economical harvesting systems that do not reduce trees' production life or diminish fruit quality. Researchers have published a new study that determined if winter drought stress could successfully delay flowering and fruit development of immature 'Valencia' sweet oranges to avoid young fruit loss during late-season mechanical harvesting. ... > full story
Novel mechanism discovered for communication between proteins that cause ‘cell suicide’ (September 27, 2010) -- A recent study provides new clues for the understanding of the 'cell suicide' process. Research reveals that three essential components of the apoptotic process, the BAX and DRP-1 proteins and cardiolipin, act in a joint manner to produce a large hole in the external membrane of the mitochondria, proving to be lethal for the cell. ... > full story
Cause of dead zone in Gulf: Tile drainage directly related to nitrate loss (September 27, 2010) -- A recent study shows that the most heavily tile-drained areas of North America are also the largest contributing source of nitrate to the Gulf of Mexico, leading to seasonal hypoxia. In the summer of 2010 this dead zone in the Gulf spanned over 7,000 square miles. ... > full story
Elevated nitrogen and phosphorus still widespread in U.S. streams and groundwater (September 27, 2010) -- Elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, nutrients that can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems and human health, have remained the same or increased in many streams and aquifers across the United States since the early 1990s, according to a new national study. ... > full story
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