ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, December 3, 2010
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'No fish left behind' approach leaves Earth with nowhere left to fish, study finds (December 3, 2010) -- Earth has run out of room to expand fisheries, according to a new study that charts the systematic expansion of industrialized fisheries. ... > full story
Scientists home in on chemicals needed to reprogram cells; Groundbreaking discovery moves field closer to therapeutic applications (December 3, 2010) -- Scientists have made a significant leap forward in the drive to find a way to safely reprogram mature human cells and turn them into stem cells, which can then change into other cell types, such as nerve, heart, and liver cells. The ability to transform fully mature adult cells such as skin cells into stem cells has potentially profound implications for treating many diseases. ... > full story
Researchers find mathematical patterns to forecast earthquakes (December 3, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have found patterns of behavior that occur before an earthquake on the Iberian peninsula. The team used clustering techniques to forecast medium-large seismic movements when certain circumstances coincide. ... > full story
Scientists ratchet up understanding of cellular protein factory (December 3, 2010) -- Theoretical biologists are untangling a mystery related to ribosomes -- those enigmatic jumbles of molecules that are the protein factories of living cells. The research could aid in development of new antibiotics used to fight multidrug resistant superbugs such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections) found in many US hospitals. ... > full story
Natural reforestation in southern Pyrenees favours orchid (December 3, 2010) -- A 13-year study has been key to understanding how and why an orchid species (Cypripedium calceolus), which is endangered in some countries in Europe, is surviving and recovering in the Pyrenees. The results suggest that the abandonment of farming and grazing, which is enabling reforestation to take place, is benefiting this orchid. ... > full story
New microscopy tracks molecules in live tissue at video rate; scientists push SRS microscopy to new levels of spatial, temporal precision (December 2, 2010) -- A novel type of biomedical imaging, made possible by new advances in microscopy, is so fast and sensitive it can capture "video" of blood cells squeezing through capillaries. The new technique makes possible label-free chemical movies, with streaming footage at the subcellular level, catching video of proteins, lipids, and water within cells. ... > full story
New method for preventing oxidative damage to cells: Findings could lead to enhanced health supplements, progress on Parkinson's (December 2, 2010) -- The discovery of a new method for preventing oxidation in the essential fatty acids of cell membranes could lead to a new class of more effective nutritional supplements and could potentially help combat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and perhaps Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Online game drives genetic research (December 2, 2010) -- Playing online can mean more than killing time, thanks to a new game developed by a team of bioinformaticians. Now, players can contribute in a fun way to genetic research. ... > full story
Discovery could shrink dengue-spreading mosquito population (December 2, 2010) -- A team of entomologists has identified a microRNA in female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that when deactivated disrupts the mosquito's blood digestion and egg development -- a discovery that could help control the spread of not only dengue and yellow fever but potentially all vector-borne diseases. ... > full story
Life built with toxic chemical: First known microbe on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using arsenic (December 2, 2010) -- NASA-funded astrobiology research has changed the fundamental knowledge about what comprises all known life on Earth. Researchers conducting tests in the harsh environment of Mono Lake in California have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in its cell components. ... > full story
Effects of El Nino land South Pacific reef fish in hot water (December 2, 2010) -- Unseasonal warm temperatures caused by El Niño have a profound effect on the fish populations of coral reefs in the South Pacific, scientists have found. ... > full story
Longevity breakthrough: Scientists 'activate' life extension in worm, discover mitochondria's metabolic state controls life span (December 2, 2010) -- If you think life's too short, then you're not alone. Scientists set out to find what it would take to live a very long life and they made important discoveries that bring longer life spans much closer to reality. A new study describes how scientists "activated" life extension in the roundworm C. elegans, and in the process, discovered a new metabolic state correlating with long life. ... > full story
Hurricanes and other swirling natural phenomena explained (December 2, 2010) -- Scientists can use cylinders as small as teapots to study the mechanisms involved in powerful hurricanes and other swirling natural phenomena. ... > full story
Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to dementia (December 2, 2010) -- Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to the development of dementia, new research suggests. ... > full story
Can engineered bugs help generate biofuels? (December 2, 2010) -- The versatile organism Lactococcus lactis, the workhorse bacterium that helps turn milk into cheese, may also be valuable in the understanding of how microbes turn the organic compound cellulose into biofuels. New research suggests the bacterium can be engineered to transform plant material into biofuels or other chemicals. ... > full story
GPS not working? A shoe radar may help you find your way (December 2, 2010) -- The prevalence of global positioning system (GPS) devices in everything from cars to cell phones has almost made getting lost a thing of the past. But what do you do when your GPS isn't working? Researchers have developed a shoe-embedded radar system that may help you find your way. ... > full story
Water resources played important role in patterns of human settlement (December 2, 2010) -- Once lost in the mists of time, the colonial hydrology of the northeastern United States has been reconstructed by a team of geoscientists, biological scientists and social scientists. ... > full story
Plant clock gene also works in human cells (December 2, 2010) -- A gene that controls part of the "tick tock" in a plant's circadian clock has been identified. And not only is the plant gene very similar to one in humans, but the human gene can work in plant cells -- and vice versa. ... > full story
Primates are more resilient than other animals to environmental ups and downs (December 2, 2010) -- What sets mankind's closest relatives -- monkeys, apes, and other primates -- apart from other animals? According to a new study, one answer is that primates are less susceptible to the seasonal ups and downs -- particularly rainfall -- that take their toll on other animals. The findings may also help explain the evolutionary success of early humans, scientists say. ... > full story
Rain gardens are sprouting up everywhere (December 2, 2010) -- Rain gardens are increasingly popular with homeowners and municipalities and are mandatory for many communities nationally. US Department of Agriculture scientists are finding ways to improve rain gardens so they not only reduce runoff, but also keep toxic metals out of storm drains. ... > full story
Report sets new dietary intake levels for calcium and vitamin D to maintain health and avoid risks associated with excess (December 2, 2010) -- Most Americans and Canadians up to age 70 need no more than 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day to maintain health, and those 71 and older may need as much as 800 IUs, says a new report from the U.S. Institute of Medicine. The amount of calcium needed ranges, based on age, from 700 to 1,300 milligrams per day, according to the report, which updates the nutritional reference values known as Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for these interrelated nutrients. ... > full story
New findings detail how a virus prepares to infect cells (December 2, 2010) -- Researchers have learned the atomic-scale arrangement of proteins in a structure that enables a virus to invade and fuse with host cells, showing precisely how the structure morphs with changing acidity to initiate infection. ... > full story
E. coli outbreak in Connecticut caused by raw milk consumption (December 2, 2010) -- In a recent study, researchers describe a 2008 E. coli outbreak associated with consuming raw milk from the same farm, despite the farm's adherence to regulatory standards. ... > full story
Loss of species large and small threatens human health, study finds (December 1, 2010) -- The loss of biodiversity -- from beneficial bacteria to charismatic mammals -- threatens human health. That's the conclusion of a new study by scientists who study biodiversity and infectious diseases. ... > full story
Researchers show an oncolytic virus switches off cancer cell surival signal (December 1, 2010) -- Researchers have identified a mechanism by which specific viruses acting as oncolytic agents can enter and kill cancer cells. This finding could help lead to the development of more targeted treatments against many types of cancer. ... > full story
Dangerous levels of lead found in used consumer products (December 1, 2010) -- The problem of toxic lead in used consumer products is extremely widespread and present at levels that are far beyond safe limits, according to a new study. Researchers found that many other items available for purchase throughout the United States -- such as toys, home décor items, salvage, kitchen utensils and jewelry -- contain surface lead concentrations more than 700 times higher than the federal limit. ... > full story
New evidence for eye-protective effects of omega-3-rich fish, shellfish (December 1, 2010) -- Researchers wanted to know how the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) would be affected in a population of older people who regularly ate fish and seafood, since some varieties are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. A diet rich in omega-3s probably protects against advanced AMD, the leading cause of blindness in whites in the United States, according to recent research. High concentrations of omega-3s have been found in the eye's retina, and evidence is mounting that the nutrient may be essential to eye health. ... > full story
Transgenic crops: How genes jump from crop to crop (December 1, 2010) -- A comprehensive, data-driven statistical model including the surrounding landscape, pollinating insects and human seed dispersal allowed researchers to assess the movement of an inserted gene between crop varieties more realistically than was possible with previously available methods. ... > full story
Couch potato effect: Missing protein leaves mice unable to exercise (December 1, 2010) -- Researchers have unveiled a surprising new model for studying muscle function: the couch potato mouse. While these mice maintain normal activity and body weight, they do not have the energy to exercise. ... > full story
How earthquakes can be predicted: Researchers reveal new means (December 1, 2010) -- Researchers in Israel who have been examining what happens in a "model earthquake" in their laboratory have discovered that basic assumptions about friction that have been accepted for hundreds of years are just wrong. Their findings provide a new means for replicating how earth ruptures develop and possibly enabling prediction of coming severe earthquakes. ... > full story
Mother’s young alter brain’s response to drug (December 1, 2010) -- The presence of a mother's young changes the way her brain responds to drugs, according to new animal research. The findings suggest new avenues of treatment for mothers who are recovering drug abusers. ... > full story
Older animals unable to distinguish similar-looking objects (December 1, 2010) -- Older rats appeared unable to discriminate between objects with similar features, behavior comparable to that of elderly people, who often have memory and perception troubles. The older rats' actions may be similar to those of young rats with damage in specific brain regions, according to a new study. ... > full story
Predatory bugs can save cornfields (December 1, 2010) -- One of the worst pests of corn in the world, the corn rootworm, may owe its worldwide success partly to its larvae's nasty, sticky blood, according to researchers. ... > full story
How some microorganisms bore their way into carbonate substrates: Implications for coral reefs and mussel aquaculture (November 30, 2010) -- Geo-microbiologists have solved a long-standing conundrum about how some photosynthetic microorganisms, endolithic cyanobacteria, bore their way into limestone, sand grains, mussel shells, coral skeletons and other substrates composed of carbonate. ... > full story
Arsenic-polluted water toxic to Bangladesh economy (November 30, 2010) -- Economists have found that exposure to arsenic in rural Bangladesh, in addition to the longer-term health damages expected to occur in coming years, is reducing the labor supply by 8 percent. The study's novel method, the researchers say, can also be applied to other environmental pollution problems in developing countries, aiding in public health efforts. ... > full story
Discovering the secrets of Stonehenge (November 30, 2010) -- A revolutionary new idea on the movement of big monument stones like those at Stonehenge has been put forward by an archaeology student. He discovered that many of the late Neolithic stone balls had a diameter within a millimeter of each other, which he felt indicated they would have been used together in some way rather than individually. ... > full story
Biofuels production has unintended consequences on water quality and quantity in Mississippi (November 30, 2010) -- More water is required to produce corn than to produce cotton in the Mississippi Delta requiring increased withdrawals of groundwater from the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer for irrigation. This is contributing to already declining water levels in the aquifer. In addition, increased use of nitrogen fertilizer for corn in comparison to cotton could contribute to low dissolved oxygen conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. ... > full story
Neuroscience of instinct: How animals overcome fear to obtain food (November 30, 2010) -- When crossing a street, we look to the left and right for cars and stay put on the sidewalk if we see a car close enough and traveling fast enough to hit us before we're able to reach the other side. It's an almost automatic decision, as though we instinctively know how to keep ourselves safe. Now neuroscientists have found that other animals are capable of making similar instinctive safety decisions. ... > full story
Genomic fault zones come and go: Fragile regions in mammalian genomes go through 'birth and death' process (November 30, 2010) -- The fragile regions in mammalian genomes that are thought to play a key role in evolution go through a "birth and death" process, according to new bioinformatics research. The findings could help researchers identify the current fragile regions in the human genome -- information that may reveal how the human genome will evolve in the future. ... > full story
Worst case scenario: Can we adapt to a world 2 to 4 degrees warmer? (November 30, 2010) -- Potentially dangerous rates of global warming could outpace the ability of ecosystems and artificial infrastructure to adapt, experts warn. ... > full story
Snakes on a rope: Researchers take a unique look at the climbing abilities of boa constrictors (November 30, 2010) -- In the wild, how does a snake climb a vertical surface without slipping? To find out, researchers sent snakes climbing up varying widths and tensions of ropes as they explored snake movement in relation to their musculoskeletal design and variation in their environment. ... > full story
Ecological effects of biodiversity loss underestimated (November 30, 2010) -- More than half of all species are believed to change their dietary preferences -- sometimes several times -- between birth and adulthood. A new study finds that this pattern has major implications for the stability of natural ecosystems and survival of threatened species. The findings suggest that previous studies have systematically underestimated the negative consequences of biodiversity loss. ... > full story
Marsupial embryo jumps ahead in development (November 30, 2010) -- Long a staple of nature documentaries, the somewhat bizarre development of a grub-like pink marsupial embryo outside the mother's womb is curious in another way. Researchers have found that the developmental program executed by the marsupial embryo runs in a different order than the program executed by virtually every other vertebrate animal. ... > full story
Soil microbes define dangerous rates of climate change (November 30, 2010) -- Scientists have studied a potentially significant feedback to rapid climate change. Runaway reactions in peatlands could give off large amount of carbon and considerable heat. Researchers are now investigating possible links between this reaction and peatland wildfires, such as those in Russia earlier this year. ... > full story
Antibacterial soaps: Being too clean can make people sick, study suggests (November 30, 2010) -- Young people who are overexposed to antibacterial soaps containing triclosan may suffer more allergies, and exposure to higher levels of Bisphenol A among adults may negatively influence the immune system, a new study suggests. ... > full story
California's controlled fires boost biodiversity (November 30, 2010) -- In certain ecosystems, such as the mixed-conifer forests of the Sierra Nevada region of the western United States, fires are a natural and essential occurrence for maintaining forest health. However, for many decades, resource managers in California and other western states prevented or suppressed natural fires to limit the potential for catastrophic spread. ... > full story
Apes unwilling to gamble when odds are uncertain (November 30, 2010) -- Humans are known to play it safe in a situation when they aren't sure of the odds, or don't have confidence in their judgments. We don't like to choose the unknown. And new evidence is showing that chimpanzees and bonobos, our closest living primate relatives, treat the problem the same way we do. ... > full story
Seasonal influences help guide cougar prey selection (November 30, 2010) -- As predators, cougars tend to select prey animals that are weaker and easier to attack during certain seasons, according to results of a new study. ... > full story
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