ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, October 29, 2010
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Dramatic climate change is unpredictable (October 29, 2010) -- The fear that global temperature can change very quickly and cause dramatic climate changes is great around the world. But what causes climate change and is it possible to predict future climate change? New research shows that it may be due to an accumulation of different chaotic influences and as a result would be difficult to predict. ... > full story
New strategy to kill bugs -- even those in hiding (October 29, 2010) -- New strategies to apply antibiotics more effectively to hibernating bugs have been developed by researchers in the UK. ... > full story
Making better biosensors with electron density waves (October 29, 2010) -- An emerging field with the tongue-twisting name of "optofluidic plasmonics" promises a new way to detect and analyze biological molecules for drug discovery, medical diagnostics, and the detection of biochemical weapons. Researchers have succeeded in merging a microfluidics system with plasmonics -- sometimes called "light on a wire" -- onto a single platform. Plasmonics is based on electron waves on a metal surface excited by incoming light waves. ... > full story
North Sea oil recovery using carbon dioxide is possible, but time is running out, expert says (October 29, 2010) -- Oil recovery using carbon dioxide could lead to a North Sea oil bonanza worth £150 billion (0 billion) -- but only if the current infrastructure is enhanced now, according to a new study by a world-leading energy expert. ... > full story
Potential new treatment for deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses; May also lead to new treatments for measles, mumps and influenza (October 28, 2010) -- Scientists have identified a potential new treatment for the Nipah and Hendra viruses, two lethal and emerging viruses for which there is currently no treatment or vaccine available. The approach could also lead to new therapies for measles, mumps and the flu. ... > full story
Early sauropod dinosaur: First complete skeleton found (October 28, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered in China the first complete skeleton of a pivotal ancestor of Earth's largest land animals -- the sauropod dinosaurs. The new species, tentatively dubbed Yizhousaurus sunae, lived on the flood plains around Lufeng in the Yunnan Province of South China about 200 million years ago. The species helps explain how the iconic four-footed, long-necked sauropod dinosaurs evolved. ... > full story
Root of the matter: A new map shows life-saving forests' scarcity defies past estimates (October 28, 2010) -- Countless people clung to life in the branches of trees hemming the shorelines during the deadly 2004 tsunami that killed more than 230,000 coastal residents in Indonesia, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka. In the aftermath of the disaster, land change scientist Chandra Giri from the US Geological Survey decided to explore to what degree those unique trees -- which make up valuable forest ecosystems called mangroves -- safeguard lives, property and beaches during hurricanes, tsunamis and floods. ... > full story
Predicting smoggiest days: Experiments improve accuracy of ozone predictions in air-quality models (October 28, 2010) -- A research team has fully characterized a key chemical reaction that affects the formation of pollutants in smoggy air in the world's urban areas. When applied to Los Angeles, the laboratory results suggest that, on the most polluted days and in the most polluted parts of L.A., current models are underestimating ozone levels by 5 to 10 percent. ... > full story
Scientists 'cage' genetic off switches so they can be activated by UV light (October 28, 2010) -- Researchers have found a way to "cage" genetic off switches in such a way that they can be activated when exposed to UV light. Their technology gives scientists a more precise way to control and study gene function in localized areas of developing organisms. ... > full story
Modern humans emerged far earlier than previously thought, fossils from China suggest (October 28, 2010) -- An international team of researchers has discovered well-dated human fossils in southern China that markedly change anthropologists perceptions of the emergence of modern humans in the eastern Old World. ... > full story
Speed gun for Earth's insides to help measure mantle motion (October 28, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a seismological "speed gun" for the inside of Earth. Using this technique they will be able to measure the way the Earth's deep interior slowly moves around. This mantle motion is what controls the location of our continents and oceans, and where the tectonic plates collide to shake the surface we live on. ... > full story
Archaeological sites threatened by rising seas: Scientists issue call to action (October 28, 2010) -- Should global warming cause sea levels to rise as predicted in coming decades, thousands of archaeological sites in coastal areas around the world will be lost to erosion. With no hope of saving all of these sites, archaeologists have issued a call to action for scientists to assess the sites most at risk. ... > full story
Into Africa? Fossils suggest earliest anthropoids colonized Africa (October 28, 2010) -- A new discovery suggests that anthropoids -- the primate group including humans, apes and monkeys -- "colonized" Africa, rather than evolving in Africa as has been widely accepted. What is exceptional about these new fossils is the diversity of species: three distinct families that lived in North Africa at approximately the same time. This suggests that anthropoids underwent diversification, through evolution, previous to the time of these new fossils, which date to 39 million years ago. ... > full story
Sodas, other sugary beverages linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome (October 28, 2010) -- A new study has found that regular consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a clear and consistently greater risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. ... > full story
Large-scale fish farm production offsets environmental gains, assessment finds (October 28, 2010) -- Industrial-scale aquaculture production magnifies environmental degradation, according to the first global assessment of the effects of marine finfish aquaculture (e.g., salmon, cod, turbot and grouper) released today. This is true even when farming operations implement the best current marine fish farming practices, according to the findings. ... > full story
Scientists helping keep in-demand smoked salmon safe to eat, thanks to new mathematical model (October 28, 2010) -- Scientists with the US Department of Agriculture are helping ensure that the smoked salmon that's always a hit at festive gatherings also is always safe to eat, including among their achievements the development of a first-of-its-kind mathematical model that food processors and others can use to select the optimal combination of temperature and concentrations of salt and smoke compounds to reduce or eliminate microbial contamination of the product. ... > full story
Making bone in the laboratory (October 28, 2010) -- Researchers in the Netherlands have succeeded in mimicking the process of bone formation in the laboratory, and in visualizing the process in great detail. ... > full story
Structural genomics accelerates protein structure determination (October 28, 2010) -- Membrane proteins are of immense biological and pharmaceutical importance. But so far there are only a handful of cases in which the exact structure could be successfully determined. Scientists have now succeeded in working out the structure of an important ion channel via the analysis of related proteins. ... > full story
New evidence supports 'Snowball Earth' as trigger for early animal evolution (October 27, 2010) -- A team of scientists has found new evidence linking "Snowball Earth" glacial events to the rise of early animals: marine phosphorus. The researchers tracked phosphorus concentrations through Earth's history and found a pronounced spike in marine phosphorus levels in the mid-Neoproterozoic. They say phosphorus, which is essential for life, led to a spike in oxygen production via photosynthesis, facilitating the emergence of complex life on Earth. ... > full story
Active ingredient levels vary among red yeast rice supplements (October 27, 2010) -- Different formulations of red yeast rice, a supplement marketed as a way to improve cholesterol levels, appear widely inconsistent in the amounts of active ingredients they contain, according to a new study. In addition, one in three of 12 products studied had detectable levels of a potentially toxic compound. ... > full story
Variable summer rainfall in U.S. southeast linked to climate change (October 27, 2010) -- A doubling of abnormally wet or dry summer weather in the southeastern United States in recent decades has come from an intensification of the summertime North Atlantic subtropical high (NASH), or "Bermuda High." And that intensification appears to be coming from global warming, according to a new analysis. ... > full story
Tobacco and nicotine: They're good -- as a pesticide (October 27, 2010) -- Tobacco, used on a small scale as a natural organic pesticide for hundreds of years, is getting new scientific attention as a potential mass-produced alternative to traditional commercial pesticides. ... > full story
Small particles show big promise in beating unpleasant odors (October 27, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting development of a new approach for dealing with offensive household and other odors -- one that doesn't simply mask odors like today's room fresheners, but eliminates them at the source. Their research found that a deodorant made from nanoparticles -- hundreds of times smaller than peach fuzz -- eliminates odors up to twice as effectively as today's gold standard. ... > full story
Tale of the headless dragonfly: Ancient struggle, preserved in amber (October 27, 2010) -- In a short, violent battle that could have happened somewhere this afternoon, the lizard made a fast lunge at the dragonfly, bit its head off and turned to run away. Lunch was served. But the battle didn't happen today, it happened about 100 million years ago, probably with dinosaurs strolling nearby. And the lizard didn't get away, it was trapped in the same oozing, sticky tree sap that also entombed the now-headless dragonfly for perpetuity. ... > full story
Uranium in groundwater? 'Fracking' mobilizes uranium in marcellus shale (October 27, 2010) -- Researchers have found that hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" -- causes uranium that is naturally trapped inside Marcellus shale to be released, raising additional environmental concerns. ... > full story
Quakes don't completely shake China's environmental gains, thanks to conservation programs (October 27, 2010) -- The impact of China's devastating 2008 earthquake was substantially lessened by environmental conservation programs for some of the country's most fragile habitats. Analysis of satellite imagery and field data by scientists show the quake -- and the resulting landslides -- affected 10 percent of the forests covering the mountains that are home to endangered species, including the beloved giant panda. But it could have been worse. ... > full story
Bicarbonate adds fizz to players' tennis performance (October 27, 2010) -- Dietary supplementation with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) on the morning of a tennis match allows athletes to maintain their edge. A randomized, controlled trial found that those players who received the supplement showed no decline in skilled tennis performance after a simulated match. ... > full story
'Gender-bending' chemicals affect reproduction in fish, research shows (October 27, 2010) -- New research has provided the first evidence that "gender-bending" chemicals which find their way from human products into rivers and oceans can have a significant impact on the ability of fish to breed in UK rivers. This raises concerns about potential impacts on other species, including humans. ... > full story
Newly discovered snub-nosed monkey sneezes in the rain (October 27, 2010) -- Primatologists have discovered a new species of monkey in Northern Myanmar. Rhinopithecus Strykeri, a species of snub-nosed monkey, has an upturned nose which causes it to sneeze when it rains. ... > full story
Tracking golden eagles by satellite; Impact of large-scale wind farms studied (October 27, 2010) -- Large-scale wind farm establishment may have a negative effect on Sweden’s golden eagles. In a unique project in northern Sweden, scientists are trapping adult golden eagles and fitting them with satellite transmitters. ... > full story
Risk of cancer due to radiation exposure in middle age may be higher than previously estimated (October 27, 2010) -- Contrary to common assumptions, the risk of cancer associated with radiation exposure in middle age may not be lower than the risk associated with exposure at younger ages, according to a new study. ... > full story
How H1N1 differs from other viruses as a respiratory illness (October 27, 2010) -- The 2009/2010 Influenza A (H1N1) is one of several viruses responsible for respiratory-related infections. A new study examined patients with viruses and found distinguishing characteristics of the H1N1 virus in how it affects respiratory illness. ... > full story
Third of shark and ray species are threatened, study suggests (October 27, 2010) -- A global study suggests that 33 percent of shark, skate, and ray species are threatened with extinction. The work is part of a major new study of vertebrates around the world by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. ... > full story
Emissions from consumption outstrip efficiency savings in UK (October 27, 2010) -- Emissions from consumption growth have exceeded carbon savings from efficiency improvements in the global supply chain of products consumed in the UK, according to new research. ... > full story
Nature's backbone at risk: World's vertebrates face an extinction crisis, assessment finds (October 26, 2010) -- The most comprehensive assessment of the world's vertebrates confirms an extinction crisis with one-fifth of species threatened. However, the situation would be worse were it not for current global conservation efforts, according to a study launched today at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD, in Nagoya, Japan. ... > full story
WHO pesticide regulations should be based on toxicity in humans, not rats, experts say (October 26, 2010) -- Current WHO pesticide classifications are based on toxicity in rats, but basing regulation on human toxicity will make pesticide poisoning less hazardous and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths globally without compromising agricultural needs, according to a new study. ... > full story
Tornado warnings are too often ignored, researcher says (October 26, 2010) -- With big storms ripping across the Midwest, Bob Drost is hoping people are paying attention to the severe weather and tornado warnings. Unfortunately, Drost knows that many times those warnings are ignored, according to his research. "Only 63 percent understood that a warning is the most urgent National Weather Service statement during severe weather," he said. ... > full story
Scented consumer products shown to emit many unlisted chemicals (October 26, 2010) -- Even "green" fragranced products give off many chemicals that are not listed on the label, including some that are classified as toxic. A study of 25 of the most popular scented products showed they emit 133 different chemicals, of which only two are listed anywhere. ... > full story
Eggshells could help combat climate change, research suggests (October 26, 2010) -- The food industry generates a lot of waste products, but one of these -- eggshells -- could help combat climate change, according to new research. ... > full story
Consuming polyunsaturated fatty acids may lower the incidence of gum disease (October 26, 2010) -- Periodontitis, a common inflammatory disease in which gum tissue separates from teeth, leads to accumulation of bacteria and potential bone and tooth loss. In a new study, researchers found that dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids like fish oil, known to have anti-inflammatory properties, shows promise for the effective treatment and prevention of periodontitis. ... > full story
Stable way to store the sun's heat: Storing thermal energy in chemical could lead to advances in storage and portability (October 26, 2010) -- Researchers have revealed exactly how a molecule called fulvalene diruthenium, which was discovered in 1996, works to store and release heat on demand. This understanding should make it possible to find similar chemicals based on more abundant, less expensive materials than ruthenium, and this could form the basis of a rechargeable battery to store heat rather than electricity. ... > full story
MicroRNAs dictate the Epstein-Barr virus' elaborate waiting game, cancer formation (October 26, 2010) -- Epstein-Barr virus is a champion hider, and has been linked to many diseases that affect people long after the initial infection takes place, including some forms of cancer. Scientists describe how viral microRNA allows EBV to hide within cells and evade the immune system. The scientists believe their findings may one day enable physicians to flush EBV out of hiding, allowing a healthy immune system to rid the body of the virus. ... > full story
'Reaper' protein strikes at mitochondria to kill cells (October 26, 2010) -- Many billions of cells in the human body kill themselves every day, as the old and decrepit make way for the new and healthy. This process of programmed cell death, called apoptosis, is crucial in early development and in the routine maintenance of life. New research indicates a technique that could allow for highly efficient, targeted killing of problematic cells such as those that drive the uncontrolled growth of tumors. ... > full story
Plant stem cells could be fruitful source of low-cost cancer drug (October 26, 2010) -- A popular cancer drug could be produced cheaply and sustainably using stem cells derived from trees, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Fire-Breathing Storm Systems (October 26, 2010) -- Pyrocumulonimbus is the fire-breathing dragon of clouds. A cumulonimbus without the "pyre" part is imposing enough -- a massive, anvil-shaped tower of power reaching five miles (8 km) high, hurling thunderbolts, wind and rain. Add smoke and fire to the mix and you have pyrocumulonimbus, an explosive storm cloud actually created by the smoke and heat from fire, and which can ravage tens of thousands of acres. And in the process, "pyroCb" storms funnel their smoke like a chimney into Earth's stratosphere, with lingering ill effects. Researchers believe these intense storms may be the source of what previously was believed to have been volcanic particles in the stratosphere. ... > full story
Vast amber deposit from India: New trove of fossils suggests global distribution of tropical forest ecosystems in the Eocene (October 26, 2010) -- A vast new amber deposit in India has yielded 100 fossil spiders, bees, and flies that date to the Early Eocene, or 52-50 million years ago. These arthropods are not unique -- as would be expected on an island (which India was at that time) -- but have close evolutionary relationships with fossils from the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The amber is also the oldest evidence of a tropical broadleaf rainforest in Asia. ... > full story
Clues about carbon dioxide patterns at end of Ice Age (October 26, 2010) -- New research puts to rest the mystery of where old carbon was stored during the last glacial period. It turns out it ended up in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. ... > full story
Odor coding in mammals is more complex than previously thought (October 26, 2010) -- The contribution of odorant receptors to olfactory response in mammals is much more complex than previously thought, with important consequences for odorant encoding and information transfer about odorants to the brain. ... > full story
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