ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Wednesday, October 20, 2010
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Old bees' memory fades; Mirrors recall of humans and other mammals (October 20, 2010) -- Humans aren't the only ones whose memory fades with age. Scientists examined how aging impacts the ability of honey bees to find their way home. While bees are typically impressive navigators, able to wend their way home through complex landscapes after visits to flowers far removed from their nests, aging impairs the bees' ability to extinguish the memory of an unsuitable nest site even after the colony has settled in a new home. ... > full story
More than 200 new snails of the same genus described in a single study (October 20, 2010) -- Two world experts in micro mollusks have made an unprecedented description in a scientific publication of a combined total of 209 snail species. Commissioned by the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, the study was unveiled in September in the French capital, and it covers the most new species from a single genus of any study to date. ... > full story
Protein highways keep tissues organized (October 20, 2010) -- Precise regulation of tissue architecture is critical for organ function. Single cells build up a tissue by communicating with their environment and with other cells, thereby receiving instructions on whether to divide, change shape or migrate. Researchers have now identified a mechanism by which skin cells organize their interior architecture as a response to signals from their surroundings. ... > full story
Don't blame dairy cows for (greenhouse) gas emissions, new study shows (October 19, 2010) -- Forget all the tacky jokes about cow flatulence causing climate change. A new study reports that the dairy industry is responsible for only about 2.0 percent of all US greenhouse gas emissions. ... > full story
Bioelectrical signals turn stem cells' progeny cancerous; Newly discovered 'instructor cells' can deliver deadly directions (October 19, 2010) -- Biologists have found that a change in membrane voltage in newly identified "instructor cells" can cause stem cells' descendants to trigger melanoma-like growth in pigment cells a considerable distance away. This metastatic transformation is due to changes in serotonin transport. Discovery of this novel bioelectric signal and cell type could help prevent and treat diseases like cancer and vitiligo as well as birth defects. ... > full story
Rotten experiments help to create picture of our early ancestors (October 19, 2010) -- An innovative experiment that involved studying rotting fish has helped to create a clearer picture of what our early ancestors would have looked like. The scientists wanted to examine the decaying process in order to understand the decomposition of soft-body parts in fish. This in turn will help them reconstruct an image of creatures that existed 500 million years ago. ... > full story
Drought may threaten much of globe within decades, analysis predicts (October 19, 2010) -- The United States and many other heavily populated countries face a growing threat of severe and prolonged drought. The analysis concludes that warming temperatures associated with climate change will likely create increasingly dry conditions across much of the globe in the next 30 years, possibly reaching a scale in some regions by the end of the century that has rarely, if ever, been observed in modern times. ... > full story
New biological sensor detects and analyses DNA sequences (October 19, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have created a new DNA-based biological sensor that has potential applications in the field of genetic diagnostics. The sensors are able to use logical rules to autonomously run logical inference processes on genetic input signals and reach accurate diagnoses. ... > full story
Genomic comparison of ocean microbes reveals East-West divide in populations (October 19, 2010) -- Much as an anthropologist can study populations of people to learn about their physical attributes, their environs and social structures, some marine microbiologists read the genome of microbes to glean information about the microbes themselves, their environments and lifestyles. ... > full story
Mutation over 100 million years ago led flowers to make male and female parts differently (October 19, 2010) -- Research by plant scientists has uncovered a snapshot of evolution in progress, by tracing how a gene mutation over 100 million years ago led flowers to make male and female parts in different ways. ... > full story
Earth's deep water cycle needs revision, geophysicists claim (October 19, 2010) -- A popular view among geophysicists is that large amounts of water are carried from the oceans to the deep mantle in subduction zones -- boundaries where the Earth's crustal plates converge, with one plate riding over the other. But now a group of geophysicists present results that contradict this view. They compare seismic and experimental evidence to argue that subducting slabs do not carry water deeper than about 400 kilometers. ... > full story
Study of Haiti quake yields surprising results (October 19, 2010) -- The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that caused more than 200,000 casualties and devastated Haiti's economy in January resulted not from the Enriquillo fault, as previously believed, but from slip on multiple faults -- primarily a previously unknown, subsurface fault -- according to a new study. ... > full story
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
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