ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Thursday, January 20, 2011
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Arctic sea-ice controls the release of mercury (January 20, 2011) -- Scientists have recently highlighted a new role that sea-ice plays in the mercury cycle in the Arctic. By blocking sunlight, sea-ice could influence the breakdown and transfer into the atmosphere of toxic forms of mercury present in the surface waters of the Arctic Ocean. These results suggest that climate plays a key role in the mercury cycle and that the release of mercury into the atmosphere could be accentuated by the melting of Arctic sea-ice. ... > full story
Celiac patients can eat hydrolyzed wheat flour, study finds (January 20, 2011) -- Baked goods made from hydrolyzed wheat flour are not toxic to celiac disease patients, according to new research. ... > full story
Novel antibiotic combinations fight resistance genes (January 20, 2011) -- The combination the antibiotic ceftazidime plus the compound NXL104 is active against bacterial pathogens containing genes that confer resistance to multiple carbapenems, according to new research. ... > full story
Scientists view genome as it turns on and off inside cells (January 20, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new approach to decoding the vast information embedded in an organism's genome, while shedding light on exactly how cells interpret their genetic material to create RNA messages and launch new processes in the cell. ... > full story
Complete structure of HIV’s outer shell revealed (January 20, 2011) -- Scientists have determined the structure of the protein package that delivers the genetic material of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to human cells. ... > full story
Staph vaccine shows promise in Phase I (January 20, 2011) -- A new experimental vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus has been shown to be well-tolerated, and to boost antibodies, according to new research. ... > full story
Gardening in space with HydroTropi (January 19, 2011) -- Plants are fundamental to life on Earth, converting light and carbon dioxide into food and oxygen. Plant growth may be an important part of human survival in exploring space, as well. Gardening in space has been part of the International Space Station from the beginning -- whether peas grown in the Lada greenhouse or experiments in the Biomass Production System. The space station offers unique opportunities to study plant growth and gravity, something that cannot be done on Earth. ... > full story
Robotic ghost knifefish is 'born' (January 19, 2011) -- Researchers have created a robotic fish that can move from swimming forward and backward to swimming vertically almost instantaneously by using a sophisticated, ribbon-like fin. The robot -- created after observing and creating computer simulations of the black ghost knifefish of the Amazon River Basin -- could pave the way for nimble robots that could perform underwater recovery operations or long-term monitoring of coral reefs. ... > full story
Atlas of an organism: Gene expression in developing mouse embryo (January 19, 2011) -- While every cell of an organism contains the same genes only a proportion are expressed in any tissue at a given stage in development. Knowing the extent of gene transcription is valuable and a team of European researchers has generated an atlas of gene expression for the developing mouse embryo. This will be a powerful resource to determine co-expression of genes and to identify functional associations between genes relevant to development and disease. ... > full story
Killer paper for next-generation food packaging (January 19, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development and successful lab tests of "killer paper," a material intended for use as a new food packaging material that helps preserve foods by fighting the bacteria that cause spoilage. The paper contains a coating of silver nanoparticles, which are powerful anti-bacterial agents. ... > full story
More asteroids could have made life's ingredients (January 19, 2011) -- A wider range of asteroids were capable of creating the kind of amino acids used by life on Earth, according to new NASA research. ... > full story
Giant crayfish species discovered right under researchers' noses (January 19, 2011) -- Two aquatic biologists have proven that you don't have to travel to exotic locales to search for unusual new species. They discovered a distinctive species of crayfish in Tennessee and Alabama that is at least twice the size of its competitors. Its closest genetic relative, once thought to be the only species in its genus and discovered in 1884 about 130 miles away in Kentucky, can grow almost as big as a lobster. ... > full story
Advance could speed use of genetic material RNA in nanotechnology (January 19, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting an advance in overcoming a major barrier to the use of the genetic material RNA in nanotechnology -- the field that involves building machines thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair and now is dominated by its cousin, DNA. Their findings could speed the use of RNA nanotechnology for treating disease. ... > full story
Malaria parasite caught red-handed invading blood cells (January 19, 2011) -- Scientists using new image and cell technologies have for the first time caught malaria parasites in the act of invading red blood cells. The researchers achieved this long-held aim using a combination of electron, light and super resolution microscopy. ... > full story
Eating more fruit and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of dying from ischemic heart disease (January 19, 2011) -- A new study investigating the links between diet and disease has found that people who consume more fruit and vegetables have a lower risk of dying from ischemic heart disease -- the most common form of heart disease and one of the leading causes of death in Europe. ... > full story
In scientific first, researchers visualize naturally occurring mRNA (January 19, 2011) -- In a technique that could eventually shed light on how gene expression influences human disease, scientists have for the first time ever successfully visualized single molecules of naturally occurring messenger RNA transcribed in living mammalian cells. ... > full story
New way of predicting dominant seasonal flu strain (January 19, 2011) -- Scientists have found a way to predict rapidly whether a new strain of the influenza virus should be included in the annual seasonal flu vaccine. While it sometimes takes new flu strains up to three years to become dominant worldwide, the new method can predict whether they will become dominant as little as two weeks after the strain's genetic sequence first appears in the publicly available GenBank database. ... > full story
Mountain ranges may act as 'safe haven' for species facing climate change (January 19, 2011) -- Swiss researchers studying the projected effects of climate change on alpine plant species have discovered that mountain ranges may represent a "safer" place to live during changing climate conditions. The research finds that the habitat diversity of mountain ranges offer species "refuge habitats" which may be important for conservation. ... > full story
Are sharks color blind? (January 19, 2011) -- Sharks are unable to distinguish colors, even though their close relatives rays and chimaeras have some color vision, according to new research by scientists in Australia. Their study shows that although the eyes of sharks function over a wide range of light levels, they only have a single long-wavelength-sensitive cone type in the retina and therefore are potentially totally color blind. ... > full story
New leads in the case against drug-resistant biofilms (January 19, 2011) -- Films of bacteria that form around foreign materials in the body can be very difficult to defeat with drugs, but biologists have now identified a couple proteins that play a key role in building these "biofilms." This pair could prove to be a very important target for developing new antibiotics to fight infections. ... > full story
Forget the sunscreen: Water fleas in mountain ponds can handle UV rays (January 19, 2011) -- Some tiny crustaceans living in clear-water alpine ponds high in Washington state's Olympic Mountains have learned how to cope with the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays without sunblock -- and with very little natural pigmentation to protect them. In fact, in laboratory tests these water fleas, about the size of fruit flies, withstood UV rays much better than the same species of flea taken from a pond less than a mile away, where the water was murkier and thus offered protection. ... > full story
Appetite-related chemical also affects drug-seeking: Hungry rats more resistant to drug relapse in absence of chemical signal (January 19, 2011) -- A behavioral study of food-deprived rats shows that the animals were less likely to return to heroin-seeking habits when given a compound that blocks specific brain receptors. ... > full story
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
Copyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your profile click here  |
