ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Thursday, November 4, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Current global warming may reverse circulation in Atlantic Ocean, as it did 20,000 years ago (November 4, 2010) -- Earth's climate change 20,000 years ago reversed the circulation of the Atlantic Ocean. Global warming today could have similar effects on ocean currents and could accelerate climate change, suggests a new study by researchers in Spain and colleagues. ... > full story
Sweet discovery raises hope for treating Ebola, Lassa, Marburg and other fast-acting viruses (November 4, 2010) -- When a team of European researchers sought to discover how a class of antiviral drugs worked, they looked in an unlikely place: the sugar dish. A new research report suggests that a purified and modified form of a simple sugar chain may stop fast-acting and deadly viruses, such as Ebola, Lassa, or Marburg viruses, in their tracks. ... > full story
E. coli thrives near plant roots, can contaminate young produce crops (November 4, 2010) -- E. coli can live for weeks around the roots of produce plants and transfer to the edible portions, but the threat can be minimized if growers don't harvest too soon, a new study shows. ... > full story
Levels of coumarin in cassia cinnamon vary greatly even in bark from the same tree (November 4, 2010) -- A "huge" variation exists in the amounts of coumarin in bark samples of cassia cinnamon from trees growing in Indonesia, scientists are reporting in a new study. That natural ingredient in the spice may carry a theoretical risk of causing liver damage in a small number of sensitive people who consume large amounts of cinnamon. ... > full story
Lactobacillus reuteri good for health, Swedish study finds (November 4, 2010) -- There is a great deal of interest in the impact of lactic acid bacteria on our health. Now a new study from Sweden shows that the occurrence of Lactobacillus reuteri in the body promotes health. ... > full story
Chromosome imbalances lead to predictable plant defects (November 4, 2010) -- Physical defects in plants can be predicted based on chromosome imbalances, a finding that may shed light on how the addition or deletion of genes and the organization of the genome affects organisms, according to a new study. ... > full story
Last 'tango' in space: Satellite duo to generate 3-D models of glaciers and low-lying coastal areas (November 4, 2010) -- Adding to their unique information from previous tandem missions, the European Space Agency's ERS-2 and Envisat satellites have been paired up again – for the last time. Data from this final duet are generating 3-D models of glaciers and low-lying coastal areas. ... > full story
Water flowing through ice sheets accelerates warming, could speed up ice flow (November 3, 2010) -- Melt water flowing through ice sheets via crevasses, fractures and large drains called moulins can carry warmth into ice sheet interiors, greatly accelerating the thermal response of an ice sheet to climate change, according to a new study. ... > full story
'Bouncy' cell membranes behave like cornstarch and water, researchers find (November 3, 2010) -- Mix two parts cornstarch and one part water. Swirl your fingers in it slowly and the mixture is a smoothly flowing liquid. Punch it quickly with your fist and you meet a rubbery solid -- so solid you can jump up and down on a vat of it. It turns out that cell membranes behave the same way. ... > full story
Half of those travelling internationally not aware of potential health risks, study finds (November 3, 2010) -- A recent study found that 46 percent of travelers to resource-limited countries -- where they may be exposed to diseases like malaria, typhoid, dengue fever and hepatitis -- did not seek health advice or vaccinations prior to departure. ... > full story
Exposure of humans to cosmetic UV filters is widespread, study finds (November 3, 2010) -- An investigation by Swiss researchers and colleagues demonstrates for the first time that internal exposure of humans to cosmetic UV filters is widespread. ... > full story
Most river flows across the US are altered by land and water management (November 3, 2010) -- The amount of water flowing in streams and rivers has been significantly altered in nearly 90 percent of waters that were assessed in a new US nationwide study. Flow alterations are a primary contributor to degraded river ecosystems and loss of native species. ... > full story
How lead gets into urban vegetable gardens (November 3, 2010) -- If you're a vegetable gardener in a lot of older cities, there's a fair chance you have a significant amount of lead in your soil. One common mitigation approach is to build a raised bed and fill it with freshly composted, low-lead soil from elsewhere, right? Maybe not, according to researchers studying the mysterious case of the lead contamination found within raised beds in community gardens in the Boston communities of Roxbury and Dorchester. ... > full story
Moving animals not a panacea for habitat loss (November 3, 2010) -- Moving threatened animals to protected habitats may not always be an effective conservation technique if the breeding patterns of the species are influenced by a social hierarchy. ... > full story
New protein critical for mitochondria discovered (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have discovered a new protein in the fruit fly that is crucial for mitochondria. The removal of SLIMP in these flies leads to aberrant mitochondria and loss of metabolic capacity, thus causing death. ... > full story
Scientists uncover a genetic switch that turns immune responses on and off (November 3, 2010) -- A new finding explains what causes some genes to go out of control. Researchers have identified a "cellular switch" that controls the flow of information from chemical signals outside of the cell to genes in the cell nucleus. When the switch is turned off, the information pathway it controls hyper-activates, making it a possible drug target for many conditions such as cancer, severe immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases and allergies. ... > full story
Plants and animals under stress may provide the key to better stock market predications (November 3, 2010) -- Stock markets react to crisis in a similar way to plants and the human body, according to a major new study that may help to predict future financial down-turns. An extensive analysis of biological and financial data suggests that systems under stress exhibit similar symptoms, whether they be polluted forests, cancer patients or the FTSE 100. ... > full story
How ancient plants and soil fungi turned Earth green (November 3, 2010) -- New research has shed light on how Earth's first plants began to colonize the land over 470 million years ago by forming a partnership with soil fungi. ... > full story
Fly study uncovers molecular link between obesity and heart disease (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers show that obesity-induced heart disease can be prevented by reducing the activity of TOR, a nutrient-sensing protein that regulates molecular circuits involved in growth, metabolism and lifespan. ... > full story
Zebrafish's neural circuit prevents it from biting off more than it can chew (November 3, 2010) -- With a new technology, have been able to follow entire populations of retinal and brain cells in their test animal: the zebrafish larva, and solve some of the mysteries of its neural circuit that underlies its vision. ... > full story
Macrophage protein has major role in inflammation (November 3, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that a multi-tasking protein called FoxO1 has another important but previously unknown function: It directly interacts with macrophages, promoting an inflammatory response that can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. ... > full story
Bees reveal nature-nurture secrets: Extensive molecular differences in brains of workers and queen (November 3, 2010) -- The nature-nurture debate is a "giant step" closer to being resolved after scientists studying bees documented how environmental inputs can modify our genetic hardware. The researchers uncovered extensive molecular differences in the brains of worker bees and queen bees which develop along very different paths when put on different diets. ... > full story
Compound in daffodils targets brain cancer (November 3, 2010) -- When looking for new ways to treat aggressive brain cancers, an international team of scientists turned a new leaf and "discovered" the lowly daffodil. A new research study offers hope that a natural compound found in daffodil bulbs, called narciclasine, may be a powerful therapeutic against biologically aggressive forms of human brain cancers. ... > full story
Workers hold key to power in nature's oldest societies, ant study shows (November 3, 2010) -- A new ant study analyzing how complex, highly-evolved societies are organized in nature has found that it is workers that play a pivotal role in creating well-ordered societies where conflict is minimized. ... > full story
Mouse model confirms mutated protein's role in dementia (November 3, 2010) -- A team of scientists has created a new mouse model that confirms that mutations of a protein called beta-synuclein promote neurodegeneration. The discovery creates a potential new target for developing treatments of diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. ... > full story
Mediterranean diet helps control cholesterol: Adding monounsaturated fats to a low-cholesterol diet can further improve levels (November 3, 2010) -- The addition of monounsaturated fat to a cholesterol-lowering dietary portfolio in patients with mild to moderate elevated cholesterol levels increased HDL by 12.5 percent and lowered LDL levels by 35 percent, found a new study. ... > full story
DHA 'fish oil' supplements do not seem to slow cognitive, functional decline in Alzheimer's disease (November 3, 2010) -- Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) who received supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid, believed to possibly reduce the risk of AD, did not experience a reduction in the rate of cognitive and functional decline, compared to patients who received placebo, according to a new study. ... > full story
Algae for biofuels: Moving from promise to reality, but how fast? (November 3, 2010) -- The development of cost-competitive algae biofuel production will require much more long-term research, development and demonstration, researchers say. In the meantime, several non-fuel applications of algae could serve to advance the nascent industry. ... > full story
Getting rid of cattle fever ticks (November 3, 2010) -- Scientists at the US Department of Agriculture have developed two strategies to ward off cattle fever ticks that are crossing the border from Mexico into the United States. ... > full story
Global map of the sickle cell gene supports 'malaria hypothesis' (November 2, 2010) -- At a global scale, the sickle cell gene is most commonly found in areas with historically high levels of malaria, adding geographical support to the hypothesis that the gene, while potentially deadly, avoids disappearing through natural selection by providing protection against malaria. ... > full story
New long-range undersea robot goes the distance (November 2, 2010) -- Over the past decade, the undersea robots known as autonomous underwater vehicles have become increasingly important in oceanographic research. Engineers recently demonstrated a new super-efficient AUV that can travel rapidly for hundreds of kilometers, "hover" in the water for weeks at a time, and carry a wide variety of instruments. ... > full story
Antibody locks up West Nile's infection mechanism (November 2, 2010) -- Researchers have learned the structure that results when an antibody binds to the West Nile virus, neutralizing the virus by locking up its infection mechanism. The information could help scientists develop a vaccine against the mosquito-borne disease. ... > full story
BPA levels in US foods 1,000 times less than limits, study finds (November 2, 2010) -- For the first time in the United States, researchers are reporting in a peer-reviewed scientific journal detection of Bisphenol A (BPA) in fresh and canned food as well as food wrapped in plastic packaging. The amounts, however, were almost 1,000 times lower than the "tolerable daily intake" levels set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). ... > full story
Black raspberries may prevent colon cancer, study finds (November 2, 2010) -- Black raspberries are highly effective in preventing colorectal tumors in two mouse models of the disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Secondary infections were a major cause of death during 1918 flu pandemic, research finds (November 2, 2010) -- Secondary infections with bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia, were a major cause of death during the 1918 flu pandemic and may be important in modern pandemics as well, according to a new article. ... > full story
'Evergreen agriculture' boosts crop yields, scientists find (November 2, 2010) -- A unique acacia known as a "fertilizer tree" has typically led to a doubling or tripling of maize yields in smallholder agriculture in Zambia and Malawi, according to new evidence. The findings were central to the arguments of agroforestry experts at the conference, who urged decision makers to spread this technology more widely throughout the African nations most vulnerable to climate change and food shortages. ... > full story
Some city trees may discourage 'shady' behavior; Study explores relationship between urban trees and crime (November 2, 2010) -- Along with energy conservation and storm-water reduction, scientists may soon be adding crime-fighting to the list of benefits that urban trees provide. Researchers have published a new study that suggests that certain types of city trees may help lower property and violent crime rates. ... > full story
Every person emits two tons of carbon dioxide a year through eating, Spanish study finds (November 2, 2010) -- Every person emits the equivalent of approximately two tons of carbon dioxide a year from the time food is produced to when the human body excretes it, representing more than 20 percent of total yearly emissions. That is what a study by researchers in Spain says, confirming for the first time that human excrement contributes to water pollution, primarily with nitrogen and phosphorus. ... > full story
Very large protected areas preserve wilderness but ignore rare species, analysis finds (November 2, 2010) -- A new study analyzes the contribution to conservation of the 63 largest protected areas. These areas preserve wilderness and are important to the conservation of some ecoregions, but they do not overlap greatly with areas of highest conservation concern. ... > full story
Global advance of shrimp virus follows evolutionary biology predictions (November 2, 2010) -- White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has a devastating impact on shrimp farming throughout the world. What makes the situation even more serious is that the virus seems to become more aggressive as the epidemic spreads, contrary to other viruses, such as flu virus, that gradually die out. Scientists in the Netherlands have discovered that the fitness of the virus increases over time and the genome shrinks, in a pattern similar to theoretical predictions from evolutionary biology. ... > full story
Successful mothers get help from their friends, dolphin study finds (November 2, 2010) -- Female dolphins who have help from their female friends are far more successful as mothers than those without such help, according to a landmark new study. It is the first to look at the combined effects of genetic and social factors on reproductive success in a wild animal population. ... > full story
Of 50,000 small molecules tested to fight cancer, two show promise (November 2, 2010) -- A class of compounds that interferes with cell signaling pathways may provide a novel approach to cancer treatment, according to a new study. The compounds, called PITs, limited tumor growth in mice by inducing cell death. ... > full story
UV light nearly doubles vacuum's effectiveness in reducing carpet microbes (November 2, 2010) -- New research suggests that the addition of ultraviolet light to the brushing and suction of a vacuum cleaner can almost double the removal of potentially infectious microorganisms from a carpet's surface when compared to vacuuming alone. Researchers say the findings suggest that incorporating the germicidal properties of UV light into vacuuming might have promise in reducing allergens and pathogens from carpets, as well. ... > full story
Plant's light switch could be used to control cells (November 2, 2010) -- A scientists shines a blue light on yeast and mammalian cells in her lab and the edges of them start to glow. The effect is the result of a light-activated switch from a plant that has been inserted into the cell. Researchers could use this novel "on-off switch" to control cell growth or death, grow new tissue or deliver doses of medication directly to diseased cells. ... > full story
Rabbit's food brings luck in decreasing estrogen levels in wastewater (November 2, 2010) -- New experiments show that rabbit's food (composed of organic vegetable matter) can decrease estrogen levels in wastewater by more than 80 percent. The research could point to inexpensive treatment technologies and materials for reducing estrogen hormones in wastewater. ... > full story
Expanding croplands chipping away at world's carbon stocks (November 2, 2010) -- Nature's capacity to store carbon, the element at the heart of global climate woes, is steadily eroding as the world's farmers expand croplands at the expense of native ecosystem such as forests. A group of universities is releasing a study on the topic. ... > full story
If GMO genes escape, how will the hybrids do? Fitness and growth of sorghum, shattercane, and its wild-crop hybrid in Nebraska (November 2, 2010) -- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may raise concerns of genes escaping from crops and having unknown effects on natural, wild species. But what is the real risk that traits associated with GMOs will actually migrate to and persist in their wild relatives? Interest in plant ecology, crop production and weed management led researchers to investigate how gene flow from a cultivated crop to a weedy relative would influence the ecological fitness of a cropwild hybrid offspring. ... > full story
New way of removing excess nitrogen from the environment (November 2, 2010) -- Excess nitrogen from agricultural and urban lands is contaminating groundwater, streams, lakes and estuaries, where it causes harmful algal blooms and contributes to fish kills. Cost-effective approaches to removing this nitrogen from croplands and urban stormwater runoff before it reaches sensitive water bodies have been elusive. But simple and inexpensive technologies are on the horizon. A recent scientific workshop on denitrification brought together ecologists, engineers and policy experts to find answers. ... > full story
Copyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your profile click here  |
