ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Monday, April 11, 2011
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New genetic study helps solve Darwin's mystery about ancient evolution of flowering plants (April 11, 2011) -- The evolution and diversification of the more than 300,000 living species of flowering plants may have been "jump started" much earlier than previously calculated, according to a new study. The study provides a wealth of new genetic data and is expected to change the way biologists view the family trees of plants in general and flowering plants in particular. ... > full story
Virtual reality lab focuses on conservation (April 11, 2011) -- Timber! Cutting down a tree in a virtual forest can bring new ideas of conservation crashing down on you If a tree falls in a virtual reality forest, will anyone hear an environmental message? They will, as long as they were the ones who cut down the make-believe redwood. Cutting down a virtual redwood with a virtual chainsaw may lead you to save trees by recycling more paper. That finding is an example of how real-world behavior can be changed by immersing people in virtual reality environments. ... > full story
Are invasive plants a threat to native biodiversity? It depends on the spatial scale (April 11, 2011) -- The phrase "invasive plant species" typically evokes negative images such as broad swaths of kudzu smothered trees along the highway or purple loosestrife taking over wetlands and clogging waterways -- and as such, invasive plants are largely viewed as major threats to native biodiversity. However, research has shown both that invasive species may be one of the most important threats to biodiversity and that plant invasions are rarely the cause for native species extinctions. How can these conflicting pieces of evidence be reconciled? ... > full story
Alarmingly high cardiovascular risk factors found in Mediterranean people (April 11, 2011) -- A study of 2,270 adults has challenged the long-held belief that people in the Mediterranean all enjoy more healthy diets and lifestyles, after discovering alarmingly high cardiovascular risk factors similar to those found in the UK and USA. The research also found strong links between low levels of education and increased risk. Just under 30% of the adults had three or more cardiovascular risk factors that could be modified by changes to their lifestyle or diet. ... > full story
How children cope with the aftermath of a hurricane (April 11, 2011) -- Living through a natural disaster is a traumatic experience for everyone, but especially for children. A new study indicates that some children who directly experience a devastating hurricane still show signs of post-traumatic stress almost two years after the event. The findings suggest that new models for intervention to help children after a natural disaster are needed. ... > full story
Scientists to sequence DNA of cystic fibrosis superbug (April 10, 2011) -- Scientists in the UK are using the latest DNA sequencing technology to understand the diversity of a bacterium that causes severe lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients. ... > full story
Avalanche risk: Monitoring system warns of slippery slopes (April 10, 2011) -- As a consequence of climatic changes, the number of avalanche threats has been increasing in the Alps and other alpine regions, with fatal consequences for people and infrastructures. Continuous monitoring of every endangered area has been lacking until now due to high costs. Geological researchers have now developed an inexpensive system, which with the help of several technologies can continuously monitor slopes, assess changes, and provide early warnings to communities potentially affected by landslides. ... > full story
Ancient fossils hold clues for predicting future climate change (April 10, 2011) -- The study of fossilized mollusks dating back more than 3.5 million years has enabled geoscientists to construct an ancient climate record that holds clues regarding the long-term effects of Earth's current levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, a key contributor to global climate change. ... > full story
Bacterial genome may hold answers to mercury mystery (April 10, 2011) -- A newly sequenced bacterial genome could contain clues as to how microorganisms produce a highly toxic form of mercury. Methylmercury, a potent human neurotoxin, appears in the environment when certain naturally occurring bacteria transform inorganic mercury into its more toxic cousin. Few bacterial species are capable of this conversion, and exactly how the transformation takes place has been a matter of debate for decades. ... > full story
Giant batteries for green power (April 10, 2011) -- In the future, the growing amounts of solar and wind energy will need to be stored for dark or low-wind periods. One solution is redox flow batteries that can supply current for up to 2000 households. Scientists are now working on these fluid batteries of the future. ... > full story
Scientists have new measure for species threat (April 10, 2011) -- A new index has been developed to help conservationists better understand how close species are to extinction. ... > full story
New insights into predator/prey relationships (April 10, 2011) -- Predator/prey relationships are much more complex than originally thought, according to new research. ... > full story
New genetic technique probes the cause of skin cell differentiation in mammals (April 9, 2011) -- A tremendous amount of genetics research has been done in flies and tiny worms, in part because scientists have good tools for tweaking these creatures' DNA. Now, by adapting a powerful method of RNA interference for use in mice, researchers have identified key pathways that cause skin cells to differentiate, eventually forming the flexible but protective outer casing of the body. The work illustrates the potential for performing relatively fast and complex genetic studies in a fellow mammal, and also provides a deeper understanding of cell differentiation in early development. ... > full story
Fighting malaria with African plant extracts (April 9, 2011) -- Plants used in traditional African medicine may have an effect on the malaria parasite as well as the mosquitoes that spread the disease. A Norwegian pilot project is now indexing and testing these plants. ... > full story
'Naked' penguins baffle experts (April 9, 2011) -- Researchers are grappling with a wildlife mystery: why are some penguin chicks losing their feathers? The appearance of "naked" penguins -- afflicted with what is known as feather-loss disorder -- in penguin colonies on both sides of the South Atlantic in recent years has scientists puzzled as to what could be causing the condition. ... > full story
E. coli enzyme must move to function (April 9, 2011) -- Slight oscillations lasting just milliseconds have a huge impact on an enzyme's function, according to a new study. Blocking these movements, without changing the enzyme's overall structure or any of its other properties, renders the enzyme defective in carrying out chemical reactions. ... > full story
Dopamine controls formation of new brain cells, salamander study shows (April 8, 2011) -- A study of the salamander brain has led researchers to discover a hitherto unknown function of the neurotransmitter dopamine. In a new study, they show how in acting as a kind of switch for stem cells, dopamine controls the formation of new neurons in the adult brain. Their findings may one day contribute to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's. ... > full story
Japan earthquake caused a displacement of about two meters (April 8, 2011) -- Researchers have estimated the ground deformation suffered in the area of Sendai, Japan, as a consequence of the earthquake of March 11 and its aftershocks, based on radar observations acquired by the Envisat satellite of the European Space Agency. According to this estimate, obtained over an area of approximately 300 x 100 km around the city of Sendai, the terrain has suffered a co-seismic deformation -- permanent deformation of Earth's surface -- associated with the earthquake of up to 1.69 m. ... > full story
Entomologists propose pesticide-free method to increase egg production (April 8, 2011) -- With the Easter holiday season coming up soon, egg consumption is expected to rise temporarily. But parasites such as fowl mites that commonly infest hens can reduce egg production by five percent or more. Entomologists argue that the chicken body louse, also a poultry parasite, can be used to effectively eradicate the mites if egg-producing commercial farms follow a simple, green strategy involving an odd twist on biological control. ... > full story
For NASA's Aquarius, quest for salt a global endeavor (April 8, 2011) -- With more than a few stamps on its passport, NASA's Aquarius instrument on the Argentinian Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas (SAC)-D spacecraft will soon embark on its space mission to "taste" Earth's salty ocean. ... > full story
Nature helps to solve a sticky problem: Beetle foot pads may inspire novel artificial adhesives (April 8, 2011) -- The arrays of fine adhesive hairs or 'setae' on the foot pads of many insects, lizards and spiders give them the ability to climb almost any natural surface. Researchers have found that the different forces required to peel away these adhesive hairs from surfaces are what allows beetles to adhere to diverse surfaces, thereby reducing the risk of detachment. Their study provides the first adhesive force measurements from single microscopic setae in a live animal. ... > full story
Atherosclerotic plaques form during a late and limited time period in life, atom bomb residues reveal (April 8, 2011) -- In a new study performed in humans, researchers from Sweden have determined the age of atherosclerotic plaques by taking advantage of carbon-14 residues in the atmosphere, prevailing after the extensive atomic bomb tests in the 1950s and 60s. The findings suggest that in most people plaque formation occurs during a relatively short and late time period in life of 3-5 years. ... > full story
Simple chemical cocktail shows first promise for limb re-growth in mammals (April 8, 2011) -- Move over, newts and salamanders. The mouse may join you as the only animal that can re-grow their own severed limbs. Researchers are reporting that a simple chemical cocktail can coax mouse muscle fibers to become the kinds of cells found in the first stages of a regenerating limb. Their study is the first demonstration that mammal muscle can be turned into the biological raw material for a new limb. ... > full story
Caffeine and diabetes: Helpful or harmful? (April 8, 2011) -- A growing body of research suggests that caffeine disrupts glucose metabolism and may contribute to the development and poor control of type 2 diabetes, a major public health problem. A review article examines the latest evidence, contradicting earlier studies suggesting a protective effect of caffeine. ... > full story
Mussel adhesive inspires tough coating for living cells (April 8, 2011) -- Inspired by Mother Nature, scientists are reporting development of a protective coating with the potential to enable living cells to survive in a dormant condition for long periods despite intense heat, dryness and other hostile conditions. They liken the coating to the armor that encloses the spores that protect anthrax and certain other bacterial cells, making those microbes difficult to kill. ... > full story
Fish oil boosts responses to breast cancer drug tamoxifen, researchers find (April 8, 2011) -- Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women. Being exposed to estrogen over a long period of time is one factor that can increase a woman's risk of developing the disease. One way a woman can combat this risk factor is by taking the breast cancer drug tamoxifen. Now, researchers have found that omega-3 fatty acids could be a safe and beneficial booster for tamoxifen therapy. ... > full story
Instant evolution in whiteflies: Just add bacteria (April 8, 2011) -- In a case of rapid evolution, bacteria have been found to give whiteflies -- crop-damaging insects of global importance -- an edge over their uninfected peers, new research suggests. In just 6 years, bacteria of the genus Rickettsia spread through a population of the sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), an invasive pest of global importance. Infected insects lay more eggs, develop faster and are more likely to survive to adulthood compared to their uninfected peers. ... > full story
Monkeys provide malaria reservoir for human disease in Southeast Asia (April 8, 2011) -- Monkeys infected with an emerging malaria strain are providing a reservoir for human disease in Southeast Asia, according to new research. The study confirms that the species has not yet adapted to humans and that monkeys are the main source of infection. ... > full story
Clear link found between height and longevity in historical records (April 8, 2011) -- The way we live directly affects the length of our bodies -- and our lives, according to a new book. By exploring the links between nutrition and economic development in Europe and North America since the early-1700s, the researchers linked the changing size, shape and capability of the human body to economic and demographic change. ... > full story
Record ozone loss over the North Pole (April 8, 2011) -- In the past few weeks, exceptional weather conditions have led to unprecedented ozone depletion over the Arctic. Ground and satellite observations by researchers as well as French models show that ozone loss reached around 40 percent at the end of March. The phenomenon was caused by an extremely cold and persistent stratospheric winter, resulting in significant ozone destruction, which, unusually, continued into spring. ... > full story
Cave fish insomniacs: Fishes that sleep less point to genetic basis for slumber, biologists find (April 8, 2011) -- Cave life is known to favor the evolution of a variety of traits, including blindness and loss of eyes, loss of pigmentation, and changes in metabolism and feeding behavior. Now researchers have added sleeplessness to that list. Cave fish sleep significantly less than their surface counterparts, a finding by biologists that reveals the genes involved in sleep patterns and disorders. Their study may shed light on how genetic makeup contributes to sleep variation and disruption in humans. ... > full story
iPad helps archaeologists (April 8, 2011) -- A new approach to conducting archaeological research is revolutionizing methods of recording history, a field that is steeped in tradition. ... > full story
Mathematical model simulating rat whiskers provides insight into sense of touch (April 7, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a mathematical model that will allow them to simulate how rats use their whiskers to sense objects around them. The model enables further research that may provide insight into the human sense of touch. ... > full story
If plants generate magnetic fields, they're not saying (April 7, 2011) -- Physicists are using some of the world's most sensitive magnetic field detectors to determine whether plants, like animals, produce magnetic fields. Sensitive magnetometers now can monitor brain or heart activity in humans, but scientists want to know whether plants also generate small fields during rapid processes. Their failure to detect biomagnetism in the world's largest flower during its hot flashes sets an upper limit for plants. ... > full story
New technology developed to screen and analyze genetic mutations (April 7, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a novel technique to produce all potential individual mutations and using deep sequencing technology simultaneously analyze each change's impact on the cell. ... > full story
Climate change poses major risks for unprepared cities (April 7, 2011) -- Cities worldwide are failing to take necessary steps to protect residents from the likely impacts of climate change, even though billions of urban dwellers are vulnerable to heat waves, sea level rise and other changes associated with warming temperatures. ... > full story
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Indian public water supply (April 7, 2011) -- Disease-causing bacteria carrying the new genetic resistance to antibiotics, NDM-1, have been discovered in New Delhi's drinking water supply. ... > full story
Fukushima-related radioactive materials measured across entire Northern Hemisphere (April 7, 2011) -- Since the double disaster of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that affected hundreds of thousands of people and seriously damaged the Fukushima Daichi power plant in Japan on 11 March 2011, minute traces of radioactive emissions from Fukushima have spread across the entire Northern Hemisphere. A monitoring network designed to detect signs of nuclear explosions picked up these traces from the stricken power plant. To date, more than 30 radionuclide stations that are part of the International Monitoring System have provided information on the spread of radioactive particles and noble gases from the Fukushima accident. ... > full story
Common nanoparticles found to be highly toxic to Arctic ecosystem (April 7, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered that nanoparticles, which are now present in everything from socks to salad dressing and suntan lotion, may have irreparably damaging effects on soil systems and the environment. ... > full story
Self-made eye: Formation of optic cup from embryonic stem cells (April 7, 2011) -- New research shows how mouse stem cells spontaneously form into optic cups, the precursors of eyes. The research sheds light on the embryonic development of complex tissues. ... > full story
Personal 'geo data' as sensitive as private genetic information, experts argue (April 7, 2011) -- Precise geographical data that pinpoints your whereabouts at any given time should be legally defined as sensitive data on a par with one's genetic information, according to legal experts in Denmark. The EU is investigating what kind of data should be covered by legislation and the team argues that so-called "geo data" must be included in this assessment. ... > full story
Some people's climate beliefs shift with weather (April 7, 2011) -- In three separate studies, researchers surveyed about 1,200 people in the United States and Australia, and found that those who thought the current day was warmer than usual were more likely to believe in and feel concern about global warming than those who thought the day was unusually cold. ... > full story
Chimpanzees' contagious yawning evidence of empathy, not just sleepiness, study shows (April 7, 2011) -- Contagious yawning is not just a marker of sleepiness or boredom. For chimpanzees, it may actually be a sign of a social connection between individuals. ... > full story
Biodiversity improves water quality in streams through a division of labor (April 7, 2011) -- Biologically diverse streams are better at cleaning up pollutants than less rich waterways, and an ecologist says he has uncovered the long-sought mechanism that explains why this is so. ... > full story
Strong Indian crust thrust beneath the Tibetan Plateau, new study suggests (April 7, 2011) -- For many years, most scientists studying Tibet have thought that a very hot and very weak lower and middle crust underlies its plateau, flowing like a fluid. Now, scientists are questioning this long-held belief and proposing that an entirely different mechanism is at play. ... > full story
Treating newborn horses: A unique form of pediatrics (April 7, 2011) -- Like any other newborn, the neonatal horse can be a challenging patient. Its immune system is still under construction, its blood chemistry can vary wildly, and -- like most infants -- it wants to stay close to mom. ... > full story
Common dietary fat and intestinal microbes linked to heart disease (April 6, 2011) -- A new pathway has been discovered that links a common dietary lipid and intestinal microflora with an increased risk of heart disease. The study shows that people who eat a diet containing a common nutrient found in animal products (such as eggs, liver and other meats, cheese and other dairy products, fish, shellfish) are not predisposed to cardiovascular disease solely on their genetic make-up, but rather, how the micro-organisms that live in our digestive tracts metabolize a specific lipid -- phosphatidyl choline (also called lecithin). Lecithin and its metabolite, choline, are also found in many commercial baked goods, dietary supplements, and even children's vitamins. ... > full story
Nano fitness: Helping enzymes stay active and keep in shape (April 6, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a new technique for boosting the stability of enzymes, making them useful under a much broader range of conditions. They confined lysozyme and other enzymes inside carefully engineered nanoscale holes, or nanopores. Instead of denaturing, these embedded enzymes mostly retained their 3-D structure and exhibited a significant increase in activity. ... > full story
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