ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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When vertebrae cross dress: How sloths got their long neck (October 19, 2010) -- By examining the development of bones in the vertebral column, limbs and ribcage, scientists have discovered how sloths evolved their unique neck skeleton. ... > full story
Western diet exacerbates sepsis, mouse study suggests (October 19, 2010) -- High-fat diets cause a dramatic immune system overreaction to sepsis, a condition of systemic bacterial infection. An experimental study in mice has shown that a diet high in saturated fat, sugars and cholesterol greatly exaggerates the inflammatory response to sepsis. ... > full story
Underwater robot to explore ice-covered ocean and Antarctic ice shelf (October 19, 2010) -- Researchers in Canada are deploying an underwater robot to survey ice-covered ocean in Antarctica. The mission will study the effect of ice shelves on the mixing of sea water. ... > full story
Planted, unplanted artificial wetlands are similar at year 15, and function as effective carbon sinks (October 19, 2010) -- A 15-year experiment in an outdoor "laboratory" shows that naturally colonizing wetlands can offer just as many, if not more, ecological services as will wetlands planted by humans. Researchers have been comparing the behavior of two experimental marshes on the campus, one that was planted in 1994 with wetland vegetation and another that was left to colonize plant and animal life on its own. ... > full story
More than a century after the Gold Rush, mining an historical park’s lichen diversity (October 19, 2010) -- Alaska may be staking out yet another claim to a natural treasure, but one which does not immediately meet the eye. Now, a team of researchers from Austria, Norway, Spain and the United States reports the highest diversity of lichens found anywhere on the North American continent from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. ... > full story
Tropics in decline as natural resources exhausted at alarming rate (October 18, 2010) -- New analysis shows populations of tropical species are plummeting and humanity's demands on natural resources are sky-rocketing to 50 per cent more than the earth can sustain. ... > full story
NASA technology could aid in interpretation of mammograms, ultrasound, other medical imagery (October 18, 2010) -- NASA software used to enhance Earth Science Imagery could one day aid in the interpretation of mammograms, ultrasounds and other medical imagery. ... > full story
Egg allergy: Not a reason to avoid flu vaccine after all, experts say (October 18, 2010) -- Having an egg allergy is not a reason to avoid getting the 2010-2011 flu vaccination. According to new recommendations by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website, anyone with a history of suspected egg allergy should first be evaluated by an allergist or immunologist for appropriate testing and diagnosis but can probably receive the vaccination. ... > full story
Intestinal enzyme helps maintain population of beneficial bacteria (October 18, 2010) -- An enzyme that keeps intestinal bacteria out of the bloodstream may also play an important role in maintaining the normal microbial population of the gastrointestinal system. Since the loss of beneficial bacteria that usually results from antibiotic therapy can sometimes lead to serious health problems, a treatment that maintains microbial levels could have significant benefits. ... > full story
Mystery of Italy's Mount Etna explained? (October 18, 2010) -- Geophysicists have developed the first dynamic model to explain the mystery of the largest and most fascinating volcano in Europe, Mount Etna. ... > full story
Gut microbes promote cell turnover by a well-known pathway (October 18, 2010) -- Microbes matter -- perhaps more than anyone realizes -- in basic biological development and, maybe, they could be a target for reducing cancer risks, according to researchers. ... > full story
Mystery solved: How genes are selectively silenced (October 18, 2010) -- Cells read only those genes which are needed at a given moment, while the others are chemically labeled and, thus, selectively turned off. Scientists have now discovered how these labels are placed at exactly the right spot in the genetic material. Important players are regulatory RNA molecules. They form a plait-like triple helix with the DNA serving as a signpost for the labels. ... > full story
Unlike us, honeybees naturally make 'quick switch' in their biological clocks, researcher finds (October 18, 2010) -- Unlike humans, honeybees, when thrown into highly time-altered new societal roles, are able to alter their biological rhythms with alacrity, enabling them to make a successful "quick switch" in their daily routines, according to new research. ... > full story
Alternative fish feeds use less fishmeal and fish oils (October 18, 2010) -- As consumers eat more fish as part of a healthy diet, agriculture scientists are helping producers meet this demand by developing new feeds that support sustainable aquaculture production. ... > full story
Mice that 'smell' light could help scientist better understand olfaction (October 18, 2010) -- Neurobiologists have created mice that can "smell" light, providing a potent new tool that could help researchers better understand the neural basis of olfaction. The work has implications for the future study of smell and of complex perception systems that do not lend themselves to easy study with traditional methods. ... > full story
Scientists find signals that make cell nucleus blow up like a balloon (October 18, 2010) -- The size of a cell's nucleus varies from one species to another, in different cell types and at different stages of development, and even with disease: many cancer cells develop larger nuclei as they become more malignant. Working with the African clawed frog, researchers have discovered two proteins that control the size of the nucleus. One imports lamin to shore up the nuclear envelope; the other controls importation. ... > full story
Newly identified virus may cause pediatric diarrhea (October 18, 2010) -- Klassevirus, a new member of the picornavirus family, has recently been discovered in human stool and more specifically linked with pediatric diarrhea. ... > full story
From biomass to ethanol and methane: New enzyme may lead to cheaper biofuel (October 18, 2010) -- Logging residue, branch clippings and even prawn shells may serve as raw materials for cheaper biofuels -- thanks to a new enzyme that breaks down biomass more quickly. What's more, this could help to curtail the current practice of using valuable food plants for fuel production. ... > full story
Ammonites at ancient methane seeps: New light shed on mollusks that went extinct 65 million years ago (October 18, 2010) -- Although ammonites have been extinct for 65 million years, newly published data based on 35 years of field work and analysis is providing invaluable insights into their paleobiology. Ammonites, shelled mollusks closely related to modern day nautilus and squids, inhabited the oceans for nearly 350 million years. Specimens found in the rock record of the ancient seaway that covered North America during the Cretaceous Period demonstrate that these animals thrived at cold methane seeps at the bottom of the sea, consumed small prey, and often survived predation attempts. ... > full story
Compound in celery, peppers reduces age-related memory deficits (October 18, 2010) -- A diet rich in the plant compound luteolin reduces age-related inflammation in the brain and related memory deficits by directly inhibiting the release of inflammatory molecules in the brain, researchers report. ... > full story
MRI zooms in on microscopic flow (October 18, 2010) -- Through a combination of remote instrumentation, JPEG-style image compression and other key enhancements, researchers have been able to apply Magnetic Resonance Imaging to materials flowing through microfluidic "lab-on-a-chip" devices with unprecedented spatial and time resolutions. ... > full story
Model unfolds proteins gently (October 18, 2010) -- Protein molecules inside cells are constantly reorganizing themselves, driven by very tiny forces exerted by all the other molecules in their crowded environment. Most experimental techniques and theoretical/computational models are necessarily built around much greater driving forces. A new theoretical model investigates the unfolding of fibronectin under gentler conditions. ... > full story
Climate change may alter natural climate cycles of Pacific (October 18, 2010) -- While it's still hotly debated among scientists whether climate change causes a shift from the traditional form of El Nino to one known as El Nino Modoki, scientists now say that El Nino Modoki affects long-term changes in currents in the North Pacific Ocean. ... > full story
Got fish? Nutrition studies explore health benefits (October 18, 2010) -- Some of America's most popular fish -- salmon and albacore tuna, for example -- are rich in healthful natural compounds known as omega-3 fatty acids. Ongoing studies by researchers are helping uncover new details about how these fish-oil components help protect us from chronic diseases. ... > full story
Call for long-term view on 'dire' funding of biological research databases (October 18, 2010) -- A rethink is needed on the "dire" situation of funding of databases across biology, researchers say. A new article reviews the business models currently used to deal with long-term sustainability of these resources, and suggests a "global change" in funding policies is necessary. ... > full story
New treatment may protect against pneumonia (October 17, 2010) -- Intranasal administration of the protein flagellin may activate innate immunity and protect against acute pneumonia, say researchers from France. ... > full story
How humidity makes gecko feet stickier: Softens setae to tighten gecko's grip (October 17, 2010) -- Geckos have amazingly sticky feet. Their stickability comes from billions of dry microscopic hairs that coat the soles of their feet. However, when humidity increases, gecko feet stick even tighter to smooth surfaces, so how do they do it? Biologists have found that increased humidity softens the keratin that makes up the sticky foot-hairs, allowing them to deform and stick tighter to surfaces than hairs in dry conditions. ... > full story
New method for detecting Clostridium botulinum spores (October 17, 2010) -- A new method for detecting spores of non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum has been developed. This bacterium is the major health hazard associated with refrigerated convenience foods, and these developments give the food industry and regulators more quantitative information on which to base the procedures that ensure food safety. ... > full story
Of worms and women: Common causes for reproductive decline with age (October 17, 2010) -- In worms as in women, fertility declines at a rate that far exceeds the onset of other aging signs. And now a new report suggests that worms' and humans' biological clocks may wind down over time for similar underlying reasons. ... > full story
Biodiversity goals fall short: What can be done to avert the tragedy of the commons? (October 17, 2010) -- While not an outright failure, a 2010 goal set by the Convention on Biological Diversity for staunching the loss of the world's species fell far short of expectations. In the journal Science, some of the world's foremost biodiversity experts from DIVERSITAS, offer a strategic approach to the 2020 goals currently being considered. There are lots of reasons, reasonable ones, for people making private decisions that lead to biodiversity loss, but they cost us all collectively, authors say. ... > full story
New genus of tree discovered; Related to sandalwoods (October 17, 2010) -- Researchers have described a new genus of tree of the Aptandraceae family, a group that is related to the sandalwoods (order Sanatalales). The genus, which has been given the name Hondurodendron, is endemic to Honduras and means "tree of Honduras." ... > full story
Right food effectively protects against risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline, study finds (October 17, 2010) -- For the first time, researchers in Sweden have found out what effect multiple, rather than just single, foods with anti-inflammatory effects have on healthy individuals. The results of a diet study show that bad cholesterol was reduced by 33 per cent, blood lipids by 14 per cent, blood pressure by 8 per cent and a risk marker for blood clots by 26 per cent. A marker of inflammation in the body was also greatly reduced, while memory and cognitive function were improved. ... > full story
Studies of radiative forcing components: Reducing uncertainty about climate change (October 16, 2010) -- Much is known about factors that have a warming effect on Earth's climate -- but only a limited amount is understood about factors that have a cooling effect. Researchers in Norway are working to fill the knowledge gap by studying as many radiative forcing components as possible simultaneously. ... > full story
Scientists discover new species in one of world’s deepest ocean trenches (October 16, 2010) -- Scientists investigating in one of the world's deepest ocean trenches -- previously thought to be void of fish -- have discovered an entirely new species. ... > full story
Unsung hero: Researchers produce high-res model of Ndc80 in action (October 16, 2010) -- Scientists have used cryo-electron microscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction to create a subnanometer resolution image of Ndc80, a protein complex that helps prevent chromosomal distribution mistakes during mitosis that can lead to birth defects, cancer and other disorders. ... > full story
What did Tyrannosaurus rex eat? Each other (October 15, 2010) -- It turns out that the undisputed king of the dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex, didn't just eat other dinosaurs but also each other. Paleontologists from the United States and Canada have found bite marks on the giants' bones that were made by other T. rex, according to a new study. ... > full story
New look at multitalented protein sheds light on mysteries of HIV (October 15, 2010) -- New insights into the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection process, which leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), may now be possible through a research method that allows scientists to glimpse an important protein molecule's behavior with unprecedented clarity. ... > full story
Squid studies provide valuable insights into hearing mechanisms (October 15, 2010) -- The ordinary squid, Loligo pealii -- best known until now as a kind of floating buffet for just about any fish in the sea -- may be on the verge of becoming a scientific superstar, providing clues about the origin and evolution of the sense of hearing. ... > full story
Eat safer: Novel approach detects unknown food pathogens (October 15, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a novel approach to automated detection and classification of harmful bacteria in food. The investigators have designed and implemented a sophisticated statistical approach that allows computers to improve their ability to detect the presence of bacterial contamination in tested samples. ... > full story
Is anxiety contagious? Scientists study owls and voles to find out (October 15, 2010) -- Scientists are investigating the anxieties experienced by an entire social group using the natural predator-and-prey relationship between the barn owl and the vole. Research suggests that the voles' behavior explains human response to trauma or terror, such as that of New York City citizens in the days after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. ... > full story
Carbon dioxide controls Earth's temperature, new modeling study shows (October 15, 2010) -- Water vapor and clouds are the major contributors to Earth's greenhouse effect, but a new atmosphere-ocean climate modeling study shows that the planet's temperature ultimately depends on the atmospheric level of carbon dioxide. ... > full story
Using discards, scientists discover different dinosaurs' stomping grounds (October 15, 2010) -- By examining the type of rock in which dinosaur fossils were embedded, an often unappreciated part of the remains, scientists have determined that different species of North American dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period 65 million years ago occupied different environments separated by just a few miles. ... > full story
Gene's location on chromosome plays big role in shaping how an organism's traits evolve (October 15, 2010) -- A gene's location on a chromosome plays a significant role in shaping how an organism's traits vary and evolve, according to new findings by genome biologists. Their research suggests that evolution is less a function of what a physical trait is and more a result of where the genes that affect that trait reside in the genome. ... > full story
Temperature rhythms keep body clocks in sync (October 15, 2010) -- Researchers have found that fluctuations in internal body temperature regulate the body's circadian rhythm, the 24-hour cycle that controls metabolism, sleep and other bodily functions. ... > full story
Coniferous forests: New research changes understanding of atmospheric aerosol properties and climate effects (October 15, 2010) -- Terrestrial vegetation and atmospheric photochemistry produce large amounts of fine particles in the atmosphere, thereby cooling Earth's climate. According to new research, the physical state of the fine particles produced by coniferous forests is solid, whereas previously scientists have assumed that these particles were liquid. The new findings have major implications for our understanding of particle formation processes, for the transformation of particles in the atmosphere and for their effects on climate. ... > full story
Preeclampsia advances: Researchers animal model and potential lab test for diagnosing the disease in people (October 15, 2010) -- Preeclampsia, a sudden-onset and sometimes fatal prenatal disease, may strike up to 8 percent of pregnant women worldwide. Researchers have now developed a dependable pregnancy-specific animal model for laboratory testing and may have a predictive test that would allow early intervention. The studies are reported in the American Journal of Pathology. ... > full story
Charcoal biofilter cleans up fertilizer waste gases (October 15, 2010) -- Removing the toxic and odorous emissions of ammonia from the industrial production of fertilizer is a costly and energy-intensive process. Now, researchers in Bangladesh have turned to microbes and inexpensive wood charcoal to create a biofilter that can extract the noxious gas from vented gases and so reduce pollution levels from factories in the developing world. ... > full story
Nature and humans leaving indelible mark on rivers, harming the intricate food webs they support (October 14, 2010) -- Rivers and streams supply the lifeblood of ecosystems across the globe, providing water for drinking and irrigation for humans as well as a wide array of life forms in rivers and streams from single-celled organisms all the way up to the fish humans eat. But humans and nature itself are making it tough on rivers to continue in their central role to support fish species, according to new research. ... > full story
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