ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Monday, November 22, 2010
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Evolutionary arms race between plant-eating insects and host plants illuminated (November 22, 2010) -- A newly identified relationship between a fly and a weedy mustard-type plant promises to answer many long-standing questions surrounding the evolutionary arms race between plant-eating insects and their host plants. ... > full story
Enhancing the efficiency of wind turbines (November 22, 2010) -- New ideas for enhancing the efficiency of wind turbines have been developed. These include a new type intelligent system for turbines operating under many different wind conditions and a way to reduce drag on turbine blades by covering them with tiny grooves. ... > full story
Global carbon dioxide emissions may reach record levels in 2010 (November 22, 2010) -- Global carbon dioxide emissions -- the main contributor to global warming -- show no sign of abating and may reach record levels in 2010, according to a new study. ... > full story
Paleovirology expanded: Non-retroviral virus fragments found in animal genomes (November 22, 2010) -- Understanding the evolution of life-threatening viruses like influenza, Ebola and dengue fever, could help us to minimize their impact. New research points the way to a fossil record of viruses that have insinuated themselves into the genomes of insects and other animals, providing clues about their evolutionary history. ... > full story
Sticky snack for elephant-shrews (November 22, 2010) -- Long-nosed Cape rock elephant-shrews are fond of sticky treats, according to new research. Investigations show for the first time that the elephant-shrew, Elephantulus edwardii, licks the nectar of the flowers and pollinates the Pagoda lily. ... > full story
Improving ammonia synthesis could have major implications for agriculture and energy (November 22, 2010) -- Scientists are working on ways to improve the efficiency of the ammonia synthesis process. With between 3-5 percent of the world's natural gas used to create artificial fertilizers, the new research could have major implications for both the agricultural and energy sectors. ... > full story
Genetics determine winter vitamin D status (November 21, 2010) -- During the winter, vitamin D status is governed mainly by genetic factors. Conversely, non-genetic factors are most important during the summer. Future studies designed to better understand what these factors are will be especially useful as public health experts continue to explore ways to increase vitamin D status in different populations living under varying environmental and dietary situations. ... > full story
Lessons from Deepwater Horizon oil spill (November 21, 2010) -- In the 24-hour news cycle era, the Deepwater Horizon oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico already feels like an event from yesteryear, an event that had its 15 minutes of news domination during the summer of 2010 then made room for the next big story once the wellhead was capped. But though gulf residents fear that they will be forgotten as cleanup crews pack up and leave, the inquiry into the oil leak is only beginning on scientific fronts. ... > full story
Cement-like creation could help the environment (November 21, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a cement-like substance that could help with stormwater management while potentially keeping millions of plastic bottles out of landfills. ... > full story
Researchers train bacteria to convert bio-wastes into plastic (November 21, 2010) -- Researchers have 'trained' bacteria to convert all the main sugars in vegetable, fruit and garden waste efficiently into high-quality environmentally friendly products such as bioplastics. ... > full story
Understanding the vulnerable northern bottlenose whale (November 21, 2010) -- The northern bottlenose whale is a strange creature. They have a long, stout body with a bulbous forehead -- called a "melon" -- and a short, tube-like snout. Hunted for centuries for their oil (and until the 1970s for dog food), there may be only 160 of these gentle giants in the population found off Nova Scotia. ... > full story
Orangutans count on stats for survival (November 20, 2010) -- Orangutans threatened with extinction could be brought back from the brink with help from an Australian statistician, who is part of a study to guide efforts for saving the Indonesian primate. ... > full story
Microorganisms in the ground don’t slack off in winter (November 20, 2010) -- It is known that soil microorganisms can maintain some activity during the cold winter months. Scientist have now shown that the microorganisms in frozen soils are much more viable than previously anticipated and also has large potential for growth. ... > full story
Designing more effective anti-HIV antibodies (November 20, 2010) -- Although people infected with HIV produce many antibodies against the protein encapsulating the virus, most of these antibodies are strangely ineffective at fighting the disease. A new study suggests why some of the most common of these antibodies don't work: they target the protein in a form it takes after the virus has already invaded the cell, when it's too late, report researchers. ... > full story
In fending off diseases, plants and animals are much the same, research shows (November 20, 2010) -- Contrary to long-held beliefs, plants and animals have developed remarkably similar mechanisms for detecting microbial invasions. This holds promise for the future treatment of infectious diseases in humans. ... > full story
Faster water flow means greater diversity of invertebrate marine life (November 20, 2010) -- On the rocks just beneath the tides, the faster the water is moving in an area, the greater the variety of invertebrate creatures that will live there. Understanding that water flow is a strong predictor of diversity could be a huge boon to efforts to manage coastal ecosystems. ... > full story
Detroit's urban farms could provide a majority of produce for local residents (November 20, 2010) -- Transforming vacant urban lots into farms and community gardens could provide Detroit residents with a majority of their fruits and vegetables. As city officials ponder proposals for urban farms, a new study indicates that a combination of urban farms, community gardens, storage facilities and hoop houses -- greenhouses used to extend the growing season -- could supply local residents with more than 75 percent of their vegetables and more than 40 percent of their fruits. ... > full story
Busy microbial world discovered in deepest ocean crust ever explored (November 19, 2010) -- The first study to ever explore biological activity in the deepest layer of ocean crust has found bacteria with a remarkable range of capabilities, including eating hydrocarbons and natural gas, and "fixing" or storing carbon. ... > full story
Pomegranate juice reduces damage to tissues, inflammation and infections, study suggests (November 19, 2010) -- Studies in recent years have claimed multiple health benefits of pomegranate juice, including that it is a good source of antioxidants and lowers both cholesterol and blood pressure, especially in diabetic and hypertensive patients. A preliminary study now suggests that it can ward off a number of complications in kidney disease patients on dialysis, according to new study. ... > full story
E. coli infection linked to long-term health problems (November 19, 2010) -- People who contract gastroenteritis from drinking water contaminated with E coli are at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, kidney problems and heart disease in later life, finds a new study. ... > full story
New disease-resistant food crops under development (November 19, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered the genetic basis of remarkable broad-spectrum resistance to a viral infection that, in some parts of the world, is the most important pathogen affecting leafy and arable brassica crops including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, swede and oilseed rape. They have tested resistant plants against a range of different strains of the virus taken from all over the world and so far, no strain has been able to overcome the resistance. ... > full story
Paw prints and feces offer new hope for saving tigers (November 19, 2010) -- How many tigers are left in the wild can now be monitored accurately from their paw prints and scat (feces), ecologists have shown for the first time. The new technique at last gives conservationists a low-cost and reliable way of assessing tiger numbers, information that is crucial to saving the species from extinction in the wild. ... > full story
Chemicals' study pinpoints threat to workers' lungs (November 19, 2010) -- Tiny particles used in a range of everyday products from computers to shampoo can adversely affect the lungs in very different ways, a study has shown. Research suggests that industrial manufacturers using nanoparticles should be aware of the risks that different types of nanoparticles pose to workers who handle them. ... > full story
Doomsday messages about global warming can backfire, study shows (November 19, 2010) -- Dire or emotionally charged warnings about the consequences of global warming can backfire if presented too negatively, making people less amenable to reducing their carbon footprint, according to new research. ... > full story
Ten years of Soufriere Hills Volcano research (November 19, 2010) -- The Soufriere Hills Volcano on Montserrat erupted in 1995, and researchers have studied this volcano from land and sea since then to understand the workings of andesite volcanoes more completely. ... > full story
FDA review on transgenic salmon too narrow, experts say (November 19, 2010) -- The review process being used by the Food and Drug Administration to assess the safety of a faster-growing transgenic salmon fails to weigh the full effects of the fish's widespread production, according to new analysis. ... > full story
Bees take the sting out of mouth ulcers (November 19, 2010) -- The healing properties of propolis -- a mixture of resin and wax made by honey bees to seal and sterilize their hives -- have been known for many years. But its use in medicine and food supplements has been limited because the sticky substance is not water soluble and has a strong, off-putting smell. Now researchers have developed a way of purifying propolis that retains its medicinal properties, but makes it dissolve in water and eliminates its pungent smell. ... > full story
Panama Canal, Panama City at risk of large earthquake, says new research (November 19, 2010) -- New data suggest that the Limon and Pedro Miguel faults in Central Panama have ruptured both independently and in unison over the past 1400 years, indicating a significant seismic risk for Panama City and the Panama Canal. ... > full story
Why so many antibodies fail to protect against HIV infection (November 19, 2010) -- Researchers have been stymied for years over the fact that people infected with the AIDS virus do indeed produce antibodies in response to the pathogen -- antibodies that turn out to be ineffective in blocking infection. Now, scientists can explain why: Some of the earliest and most abundant antibodies available to fight HIV can't actually "see" the virus until after it's already invaded a healthy cell. ... > full story
Defeating potato blight (November 19, 2010) -- Researchers have made a discovery that could instigate a paradigm shift in breeding resistance to late blight - a devastating disease of potatoes and tomatoes costing the industry £5-6 billion a year worldwide. ... > full story
Where's George? Researchers follow the money to define communities in US (November 19, 2010) -- When travel was local, borders and communities were easy to define, but now our connectivity is more complex. Researchers have taken a look at human mobility and redrawn the borders within the United States, showing the country's most connected areas. Some of the borders in this new map are familiar, but many are not. They used data generated by wheresgeorge.com, a website that tracks dollar bills spent across the country. ... > full story
Chinese herbs can complement proven allergy treatments, study suggests (November 19, 2010) -- Complementary and alternative medicine may give allergy and asthma sufferers new options for treating symptoms, according to allergists. Allergists are researching how herbal treatments may be integrated into conventional allergy treatments, including a novel Chinese herbal formula for treating all types of food allergies. ... > full story
Gangster birds running protection racket give insight into coevolution (November 18, 2010) -- Like gangsters running a protection racket, drongos in the Kalahari Desert act as lookouts for other birds in order to steal a cut of their food catch. The behavior may represent a rare example of two species evolving from a parasitic to a mutualistic relationship. ... > full story
Scientists announce new advance with potential for future cancer targeting (November 18, 2010) -- New research that provides potential for exciting new approaches to targeting diseases such as cancer has been announced by an international team of academics. They have also announced the potential for more targeted treatments following their identification of proteins that play a vital role in the life of a human cell. ... > full story
Estrogen concentrations in manure runoff: Pelletized manure reduces toxic runoff (November 18, 2010) -- Higher concentrations of hormones in waterways have been found to cause physiological and sexual impairment in fish. A new study examines estrogen concentrations in runoff from agricultural plots fertilized with chicken manure. ... > full story
For macaques, male bonding is a political move (November 18, 2010) -- Contrary to expectations, new evidence shows that unrelated male macaques in the wild form close and stable social partnerships with select males in their groups. Although the degree of emotional attachment obviously can't be measured, those relationships resemble human friendship. What's more, it appears the motivation for those males to maintain close ties with other males is political in nature. ... > full story
Multiple sclerosis drug serves as model for potential drugs to treat botulism poisoning (November 18, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting that variants of a drug already approved for treating multiple sclerosis show promise as a long sought treatment for victims of bioterrorist attack with botulinum neurotoxin -- which is 10,000 times deadlier than cyanide and the most poisonous substance known to man. The potential drugs also could be useful in treating other forms of botulism poisoning as well as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis, they say in a new article. ... > full story
One-touch make-up -- for our cells (November 18, 2010) -- A new technique enables scientists to introduce up to 15 fluorescent markers to a mammalian cell in one go, and could help speed up drug development and screening. ... > full story
Depression-like behavior identified in zebrafish; Inability to cope with stress may play role in depression (November 18, 2010) -- Disrupting the stress response in zebrafish generates behaviors that resemble depression, according to new research. Zebrafish are popular model systems in many areas of biomedical research, but this is the first discovery of a zebrafish mutant with an apparent psychiatric disorder. ... > full story
Mortal chemical combat typifies the world of bacteria (November 18, 2010) -- New complexities in the close chemical combat waged among bacteria have been detailed. The findings may have implications for human health and survival. ... > full story
Hearing loss study reveals role of bone hardness in tissue function (November 18, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting the first direct evidence that a subtle change in the physical properties of a tissue can affect its function. ... > full story
Months of geologic unrest signaled reawakening of Icelandic volcano (November 18, 2010) -- Months of volcanic restlessness preceded the eruptions this spring of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, providing insight into what roused it from centuries of slumber. ... > full story
Rare earth elements in US not so rare, report finds (November 18, 2010) -- Approximately 13 million metric tons of rare earth elements (REE) exist within known deposits in the United States, according to the first-ever nationwide estimate of these elements. ... > full story
Critically endangered tree frog bred for first time (November 18, 2010) -- As frogs around the world continue to disappear -- many killed by a rapidly spreading disease called chytridiomycosis, which attacks the skin cells of amphibians -- one critically endangered species has received an encouraging boost. Although the La Loma tree frog, Hyloscirtus colymba, is notoriously difficult to care for in captivity, researchers have now successfully bred this species. ... > full story
Structure of Lassa virus protein reveals viral thievery (November 18, 2010) -- Scientists have solved the structure of a key protein from Lassa virus, which is endemic to West Africa and can cause a deadly hemorrhagic fever. The structure reveals how the virus evades its host's immune system, and how it hijacks infected cells' vital machinery in a process scientists call "cap-stealing." Details of the structure could guide future efforts at antiviral drug discovery and vaccine development. ... > full story
Sonar inspired by dolphins: New kind of underwater device can detect objects through bubble clouds (November 18, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new kind of underwater sonar device that can detect objects through bubble clouds that would effectively blind standard sonar. ... > full story
As Arctic temperatures rise, tundra fires increase (November 18, 2010) -- The Anaktuvuk River Fire in 2007 burned over 1,000 square kilometers of tundra on Alaska's North Slope, doubling the area burned in that region since record keeping began in 1950. A new analysis reveals that this was the most destructive tundra fire at that site for at least 5,000 years. Models built on 60 years of climate and fire data found that even moderate increases in warm-season temperatures in the region dramatically increase the likelihood of such fires. ... > full story
New technology gives on-site assessments in archaeology (November 18, 2010) -- The ability to tell the difference between crystals that formed naturally and those formed by human activity can be important to archaeologists in the field. This can be a crucial bit of information in determining the ancient activities that took place at a site, yet archaeologists often wait for months for the results of laboratory tests. ... > full story
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