ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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Long-term, high-fat diet alters mice brains: Brain changes may contribute to cycles of weight gain (January 19, 2011) -- The brains of mice fed a high-fat diet for an extended period of time showed irreversible changes in areas associated with reward and pleasure, a new study has found. ... > full story
Cellular traffic: Factors beyond crowding affect how molecules interact within cells, modeling shows (January 19, 2011) -- Using large-scale computer simulations, researchers have identified the most important factors affecting how molecules move through the crowded environment inside living cells. The findings suggest that perturbations caused by hydrodynamic interactions -- similar to what happens when the wake from a large boat affects smaller boats on a lake -- may be the most important factor in this intracellular diffusion. ... > full story
Secrets of birds' sexual signals revealed (January 19, 2011) -- Patterned feathers, previously thought to be used only for camouflage in birds, can play an important role in attracting a mate and fending off rivals, an Australian study reveals. ... > full story
Saving tropical forests and improving farming technology (January 19, 2011) -- In a warming 21st century, tropical forests will be at risk from a variety of threats, especially the conversion to cropland to sustain a growing population. A new report shows that crop productivity improvements and carbon emission limits together could prevent widespread tropical deforestation over the next 100 years -- but if relying on either one alone, the world is at risk of losing many of its tropical forests. ... > full story
Scientific evidence supports effectiveness of Chinese drug for cataracts (January 18, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting a scientific basis for the long-standing belief that a widely used non-prescription drug in China and certain other countries can prevent and treat cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the eye that is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. ... > full story
Kittiwakes' trans-Atlantic winter odyssey linked to breeding success (January 18, 2011) -- One of Britain's best known seabirds winters on opposite sides of the Atlantic depending on whether its breeding attempt has been successful, according to new research. The findings highlight previously unsuspected links between summer breeding performance and wintering distributions of kittiwakes. ... > full story
Loss of reflectivity in the Arctic doubles estimate of climate models (January 18, 2011) -- A new analysis of the Northern Hemisphere's "albedo feedback" over a 30-year period concludes that the region's loss of reflectivity due to snow and sea ice decline is more than double what state-of-the-art climate models estimate. ... > full story
New synthetic compound created with HIV-fighting promise (January 18, 2011) -- Using chemical compounds found in a Japanese plant as a lead and the clever application of ultraviolet light, a research team has created a unique library of dozens of synthetic compounds to test for biomedical potential. Already, one of the compounds has shown great promise in inhibiting replication of HIV particles and fighting inflammation. ... > full story
Obesity in horses could be as high as in humans (January 18, 2011) -- At least one in five horses used for leisure are overweight or obese. It's a condition which can lead to laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome. ... > full story
Scientists develop 3-D model of the ionosphere F-region (January 18, 2011) -- The first global simulation study of equatorial spread F (ESF) bubble evolution using a comprehensive 3-D ionosphere model, SAMI3, has been demonstrated. The model self-consistently solves for the neutral wind driven dynamo electric field and the gravity driven electric field associated with plasma bubbles. ... > full story
Two new species of 'leaping' beetles discovered in New Caledonia (January 18, 2011) -- Only five species of these so-called 'flea' beetles, out of a global total of 60, had been found to date in New Caledonia, in the western Pacific. A three-year study has now enabled researchers to discover two new herbivorous beetles -- Arsipoda geographica and Arsipoda rostrata. These new beetles hold a secret -- they feed on plants that the scientists have still not found on the archipelago. ... > full story
Big breakfast generally doesn't help weight loss (January 18, 2011) -- Does eating a big breakfast help weight loss or is it better to skip breakfast altogether? Available information is confusing but new research clears a path through these apparently contradictory reports. ... > full story
Gene helps plants use less water without biomass loss (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have found a genetic mutation that allows a plant to better endure drought without losing biomass, a discovery that could reduce the amount of water required for growing plants and help plants survive and thrive in adverse conditions. ... > full story
Ginger is key ingredient in recipe for conserving stag beetles (January 18, 2011) -- The humble ginger root could be the key to conserving the UK's largest and most spectacular terrestrial beetle -- the stag beetle. Ecologists have developed a series of new methods to monitor stag beetle numbers -- including ginger lures to trap adult beetles and tiny microphones to detect sounds made by the larvae in their underground nests. ... > full story
Australian birds attract mates with 'scary movie effect' (January 18, 2011) -- Using a horror film to bring your date closer is a classic move in the teenage playbook. Now, a study of Australian birds finds that other animals use the same "scary movie effect" to attract female attention, by hitchhiking mating signals onto the calls of predators. Male splendid fairy-wrens, a sexually promiscuous small bird native to Australia, are known to sing a special song each time they hear the call of one of their predators, the butcherbirds. New research finds that this seemingly dangerous behavior actually serves as a call to potential mates -- a flirtation using fear. ... > full story
Environmental changes may affect vital cooperate bird behaviors (January 18, 2011) -- While scientists believe that climate change and related extreme weather events will likely affect the earth's flora and fauna, just how much is not known. A new study however shows an important link between the natural variation in climate conditions and complex behaviors among birds. ... > full story
Radiometer finds sources of fire (January 18, 2011) -- Forest fires usually spread out of control very quickly. Fires that produce a lot of smoke are particularly challenging for the emergency services, because the source of the fire is then especially hard to find. A new radiometric sensor can pinpoint the heart of the flames, even when visibility is limited. ... > full story
ARkStorm: California’s other 'Big One' (January 18, 2011) -- For emergency planning purposes, scientists unveiled a hypothetical California scenario that describes a storm that could produce up to 10 feet of rain, cause extensive flooding (in many cases overwhelming the state's flood-protection system) and result in more than 0 billion in damage. ... > full story
New molecular imaging technologies for detecting cellular processes (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain have designed and developed a biomedical scanner that detects cellular processes at the molecular level and indicates malfunctioning of an organ before said malfunction can produce an anatomical change. ... > full story
Mechanisms of juvenile hormone action in insects could help fine tune pesticides (January 18, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered an important step in the activation of juvenile hormone target genes. As butterflies, fruit flies and mosquitoes transform their body structures as they molt from larva to pupa and then adults, a group of juvenile hormones called isoprenoids, inhibit development of adult characteristics until the insects reach a proper stage. Juvenile hormones also play a prominent role in regulating reproductive maturation in adult insects and synthetic juvenile hormone mimics have been widely used as pesticides for mosquito controls. ... > full story
Scientists sequence gut microbes of premature infant (January 18, 2011) -- Scientists have for the first time sequenced and reconstructed the genomes of most of the microbes in the gut of a premature newborn and documented how the microbe populations changed over time. The researchers hope that characterizing gut microbes of normal and sick infants could lead to cause of necrotizing enterocolitis in preemies. ... > full story
Wild salmon decline was not caused by sea lice from farm salmon, new research suggests (January 18, 2011) -- A new study contradicts earlier reports that salmon farms were responsible for the 2002 population crash of wild pink salmon in the Broughton Archipelago of western Canada. ... > full story
Indoor air pollution: Minerals reduce impact of formaldehyde in particle board on indoor air quality (January 17, 2011) -- One of the sources of emission for pollutants in living spaces are particle boards glued with adhesives that contain formaldehyde. There is a new method that will now provide another way to reduce these vapors. The trick can be found in special minerals that equip wood materials with properties for cleaning air in living spaces. ... > full story
Transforming skin cells into cartilage (January 17, 2011) -- In new research, scientists in Japan used fibroblasts isolated from adult mouse skin, and expressed proteins used to induce pluripotency along with a factor that promotes a chondrocyte fate. The resulting cells resembled chondrocytes and produced cartilage when injected into mice. This may be an important step toward a therapy that will allow the repair of cartilage injury using a patient's own skin cells. ... > full story
Winter temperatures play complex role in triggering spring budburst (January 17, 2011) -- The opening of buds on Douglas-fir trees each spring is the result of a complex interplay between cold and warm temperatures during the winter, scientists have found. ... > full story
Fruit and vegetable concentrate decreases number of days with severe cold symptoms (January 17, 2011) -- Researchers have shown that a specific food supplement made from fruit and vegetable juice concentrates significantly reduced the number of days with severe cold symptoms. The report sees the potential benefits of the product in a reduced number of sick days and correspondingly lower expenditure on cold medicines. ... > full story
LCD projector used to control brain and muscles of tiny organisms such as worms (January 17, 2011) -- Researchers are using inexpensive LCD projectors to control the brain and muscles of tiny organisms, including freely moving worms. This technology advances the field of optogenetics, which has given researchers unparalleled control over brain circuits in laboratory animals. ... > full story
Improved measurements of sun to advance understanding of climate change (January 17, 2011) -- Scientists have taken a major step toward accurately determining the amount of energy that the sun provides to Earth, and how variations in that energy may contribute to climate change. ... > full story
100-year-old specimens at California museum help determine when avian pox hit Galapagos (January 16, 2011) -- A research team from across the United States and Ecuador has pinpointed 1898 as the year the avipoxvirus, or avian pox, hit the Galapagos Islands and started infecting its birds. This estimation is vital to understanding avian diseases that affect today's Galapagos birds. ... > full story
99% of pregnant women in US test positive for multiple chemicals including banned ones, study suggests (January 16, 2011) -- The bodies of virtually all US pregnant women carry multiple chemicals, including some banned since the 1970s and others used in common products such as non-stick cookware, processed foods and personal care products, according to a new study. ... > full story
Warming climate means red deer rutting season arrives early (January 16, 2011) -- Wild red deer on the Isle of Rum are rutting earlier in the year, a study shows. Scientists believe the annual rutting season on the Isle of Rum could be changing because of warming spring and summer temperatures. The study shows that the rutting and calving seasons are now up to two weeks earlier on average compared with 30 years ago. ... > full story
Flipper bands hinder king penguins (January 16, 2011) -- Over a ten year period, flipper-banded penguins have a 16% lower survival rate and produce 39% fewer chicks than non-banded birds, new research shows. ... > full story
Extent of corruption in countries around the world tied to earthquake fatalities (January 16, 2011) -- A new assessment of global earthquake fatalities over the past three decades indicates that 83 percent of all deaths caused by the collapse of buildings during earthquakes occurred in countries considered to be unusually corrupt. ... > full story
Dramatic ocean circulation changes caused a colder Europe in the past (January 15, 2011) -- The unusually cold weather in Europe this winter has been caused by a change in the winds. Instead of the typical westerly winds warmed by Atlantic surface ocean currents, cold northerly Arctic winds are influencing much of Europe. However, scientists have long suspected that far more severe and longer-lasting cold intervals have been caused by changes to the circulation of the warm Atlantic ocean currents themselves. ... > full story
Bioactive compounds in berries can reduce high blood pressure (January 15, 2011) -- Eating blueberries can guard against high blood pressure, according to new research. ... > full story
Laser sheds light on tracking source of microbial contamination on beach (January 15, 2011) -- A simple, automated method of tracking E. coli uses a laser to detect and monitor the microbe in potentially contaminated bodies of water or waterways. The technique could reduce the incidence of waterborne disease outbreaks. ... > full story
Improving plants: New software quantifies leaf venation networks, enables plant biology advances (January 15, 2011) -- Plant biologists are facing pressure to breed plants that can respond to changing environments. One method of monitoring the response of plants to different environments is by studying their vein network patterns. To help address the challenge of how to quickly examine a large quantity of leaves, researchers have developed a user-assisted software tool that extracts macroscopic vein structures directly from leaf images. ... > full story
New farming method reduces greenhouse gases, increases farm yields (January 15, 2011) -- Researchers have found methods to help farmers reduce nitrous oxide emissions while also increasing corn grain production. ... > full story
Living cells used to create 'biotic' video games (January 14, 2011) -- The digital revolution has triggered a wild proliferation of video games, but what of the revolution in biotechnology? Does it have the potential to spawn its own brood of games? A physicist has begun developing "biotic games" involving paramecia and other living organisms. He hopes the games will lead to advances in education and crowd-sourcing of laboratory research while helping to raise the level of public discourse on bio-related issues. ... > full story
Early development of anti-HIV neutralizing antibodies (January 14, 2011) -- New findings are bringing scientists closer to an effective HIV vaccine. Researchers report findings showing new evidence about broadly-reactive neutralizing antibodies, which block HIV infection. ... > full story
Putting the dead to work: Conservation paleobiologists dig deep to solve today's ecological, evolutionary questions (January 14, 2011) -- Conservation paleobiologists -- scientists who use the fossil record to understand the evolutionary and ecological responses of present-day species to changes in their environment -- are putting the dead to work. A new review of the research in this emerging field provides examples of how the fossil record can help assess environmental impacts, predict which species will be most vulnerable to environmental changes, and provide guidelines for restoration. ... > full story
Airborne pathogens can induce mad cow disease, new findings suggest (January 14, 2011) -- Airborne prions are also infectious and can induce mad cow disease or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disorder, new findings suggest. Researchers recommend precautionary measures for scientific labs, slaughterhouses and animal feed plants. ... > full story
Trapped sunlight cleans water (January 14, 2011) -- High energy costs are one drawback of making clean water from waste effluents. Now a new system that combines two different technologies proposes to break down contaminants using the cheapest possible energy source, sunlight. ... > full story
Fruit fly nervous system provides new solution to fundamental computer network problem (January 14, 2011) -- The fruit fly has evolved a method for arranging the tiny, hair-like structures it uses to feel and hear the world that's so efficient a team of scientists says it could be used to more effectively deploy wireless sensor networks and other distributed computing applications. ... > full story
Microbes in our gut regulate genes that control obesity and inflammation (January 14, 2011) -- If you are looking to lose weight in the coming year, you may need help from an unexpected place: the bacteria in your gut. That's because scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in your intestines may play a far more significant role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems than ever imagined. ... > full story
2010 tied for warmest year on record, NASA research finds (January 14, 2011) -- Global surface temperatures in 2010 tied 2005 as the warmest on record, according to an analysis by researchers at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. ... > full story
Risks associated with second-hand smoke in cars carrying children (January 14, 2011) -- While the evidence is incomplete there is enough available to support legislation against letting people smoke in cars with children, according to a new article. ... > full story
Suicide risk greater for people living at higher elevations, study finds (January 14, 2011) -- Twenty years of mortality data from counties across the United States led to the striking discovery that living at higher altitudes may be a risk factor for suicide, according to a provocative study. ... > full story
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