ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Thursday, April 14, 2011
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Experimental treatment for COPD in development (April 14, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a non-steroid based strategy for improving the lung's innate immune defense and decreasing inflammation that can be a problem for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a study, researchers targeted the Nrf2 pathway using sulforaphane, an ingredient that is present in broccoli in a precursor form, to enhance the Nrf2 pathway in the lung that mediates the uptake of bacteria. ... > full story
Loch fossils show life harnessed sun and sex early on (April 14, 2011) -- Remote lochs along the west coast of Scotland are turning up new evidence about the origins of life on land. A team of scientists exploring rocks around Loch Torridon have discovered the remarkably preserved remains of organisms that once lived on the bottom of ancient lake beds as long as a billion years ago. ... > full story
Ocean drilling deep into the Pacific crust (April 14, 2011) -- From April 13 to June 3, an international team is setting off for the East Pacific to carry out an ocean drilling campaign off the coast of Costa Rica. The expedition's goal is to drill down for the first time next to a superfast-spreading mid-ocean ridge, to reach the gabbro that lies around 2 km beneath the ocean floor. Obtaining samples of these magmatic rocks, which result from slower cooling than the basalts found on the ocean floor, will enable scientists to better understand the structure of the crust and test models for its formation in the specific context of fast-spreading ridges. ... > full story
Death -- not just life -- important link in marine ecosystems (April 13, 2011) -- Tiny crustaceans called copepods rule the world, at least when it comes to oceans and estuaries. The most numerous multi-cellular organisms in the seas, copepods are an important link between phytoplankton and fish in marine food webs. ... > full story
Giant fire-bellied toad's brain brims with powerful germ-fighters (April 13, 2011) -- Frog and toad skins already are renowned as cornucopias of hundreds of germ-fighting substances. Now a new report reveals that the toad brains also may contain an abundance of antibacterial and antiviral substances that could inspire a new generation of medicines. ... > full story
Birds inherited strong sense of smell from dinosaurs (April 13, 2011) -- Birds are known more for their senses of vision and hearing than smell, but new research suggests that millions of years ago, the winged critters also boasted a better sense for scents. ... > full story
Natural gas from shale contributes to global warming, researchers find (April 13, 2011) -- Natural gas extracted from shale formations has a greater greenhouse gas footprint -- in the form of methane emissions -- than conventional gas, oil and coal over a 20 year period. This calls into question the logic of its use as a climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, according to researchers. ... > full story
Device proves solar cell potential of high bandgap inorganic nanowire arrays (April 13, 2011) -- Proving a theoretical concept for improving the light absorption capabilities of a class of semiconductor materials long-considered impractical for solar energy collection, a team of researchers has successfully fabricated and tested an array of "quantum coaxial cables" -- nanowires structured from inorganic materials that can be fabricated cost-effectively to produce a durable and efficient solar cell. ... > full story
New species of dinosaur bridges gap in dinosaur family tree (April 13, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a fossilized dinosaur skull and neck vertebrae that not only reveal a new species, but also an evolutionary link between two groups of dinosaurs. The new species, Daemonosaurus chauliodus, was discovered at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. ... > full story
Eco-friendly treatment for blue jeans offers alternative to controversial 'sandblasting' (April 13, 2011) -- Blue denim jeans are one of the most popular and iconic fashion items in the world; now a study reveals a cheaper, more efficient and eco-friendly method for treating dyed denim. The process of 'surface activation' used to wash-down the denim following dyeing could also offer an alternative to the dangerous, and internationally banned, sandblasting technique. ... > full story
Combating plant diseases is key for sustainable crops (April 13, 2011) -- Climate change is likely to make plants more vulnerable to infectious disease, which will threaten crop yield and impact on the price and availability of food. Researchers explain how exploiting diversity in crops is the best option to improve food security in a changing climate. ... > full story
Antibiotic resistance spreads rapidly between bacteria (April 13, 2011) -- The part of bacterial DNA that often carries antibiotic resistance is a master at moving between different types of bacteria and adapting to widely differing bacterial species, say researchers in Sweden. ... > full story
Tiny antibody fragments raised in camels find drug targets in human breast cancer cells (April 13, 2011) -- A new discovery promises to help physicians identify patients most likely to benefit from breast cancer drug therapies. If the compound, called "Nanobody," proves effective in clinical trials, it would represent a significant advance for breast cancer drug therapy. ... > full story
Scotland's carbon emissions could be halved in two decades, study suggests (April 13, 2011) -- Cutting Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions by a half within 20 years is achievable, a study suggests. ... > full story
Scientists make bamboo tools to test theory explaining East Asia's Stone Age tool scarcity (April 13, 2011) -- The long-held theory that prehistoric people in East Asia crafted their tools from bamboo is much more complicated than originally conceived, according to a new study. Research until now didn't address whether complex bamboo tools can be made with simple stone tools. Now an experimental archaeological study, in which a modern-day flint knapper replicated the crafting of bamboo knives, confirms it is possible. ... > full story
Bioengineering uses vetiver grass to save coral reefs near Guam (April 13, 2011) -- One of the major health hazards facing Guam's reefs is soil erosion resulting in sedimentation and suffocation of the complex organisms that make up a reef system. A soil science professor has put his years of research on vetiver grass to practical use in shielding the reefs in Pago Bay from the harmful effects of construction-induced run-off. ... > full story
Greenhouse gases from forest soils (April 12, 2011) -- Reactive nitrogen compounds from agriculture, transport, and industry lead to increased emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide from forests in Europe. Nitrous oxide emission from forest soils is at least twice as high as estimated so far by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This is one of the key messages of the first study on nitrogen in Europe. ... > full story
Bacteria in wasp antennae produce antibiotic cocktails (April 12, 2011) -- Bacteria that grow in the antennae of wasps help ward off fungal threats by secreting a 'cocktail' of antibiotics, according to researchers. ... > full story
Can alcohol help the brain remember? Repeated ethanol exposure enhances synaptic plasticity in key brain area, study finds (April 12, 2011) -- Drinking alcohol primes certain areas of our brain to learn and remember better, says a new study. The common view that drinking is bad for learning and memory isn't wrong, says a neurobiologist, but it highlights only one side of what ethanol consumption does to the brain. ... > full story
Circadian rhythms spark plants' ability to survive freezing weather (April 12, 2011) -- Just as monarch butterflies depend on circadian cues to begin their annual migration, so do plants to survive freezing temperatures. All living things -- humans, animals, plants, microbes -- are influenced by circadian rhythms, which are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. Researchers have now discovered that the circadian clock provides key input required for plants to attain maximum freezing tolerance. ... > full story
Forensics: Developing a tool for identification -- even using very degraded DNA samples (April 12, 2011) -- Frequently the only biological material available to identify persons is DNA in a very degraded state. In these cases, the kits usually employed to carry out DNA identifications do not produce accurate results, given that all the DNA is not available. Biochemists have now developed a tool for identifying persons from these small fragments of DNA. ... > full story
Tuberculosis strain spread by the fur trade reveals stealthy approach of epidemics (April 12, 2011) -- French Canadian voyageurs spread tuberculosis throughout the indigenous peoples of western Canada for over 150 years, yet, strangely enough, it wasn't until the fur traders ceased their forays that epidemics of tuberculosis broke out. Now researchers have puzzled out why. It took a shift in the environment of the infected peoples -- in this case, confinement to reservations -- to create conditions conducive to outbreaks. ... > full story
Insights gained from growing cold-causing virus on sinus tissue (April 12, 2011) -- Using sinus tissue removed during surgery, researchers have managed to grow a recently discovered species of human rhinovirus, the most frequent cause of the common cold, in culture. ... > full story
Some features of human face perception are not uniquely human, pigeon study shows (April 12, 2011) -- A new study finds that pigeons recognize a human face's identity and emotional expression in much the same way as people do ... > full story
Environmental E. coli: New way to classify E. coli bacteria and test for fecal contamination (April 12, 2011) -- The meaning of the standard fecal coliform test used to monitor water quality has been called into question by a new study that identified sources of Escherichia coli bacteria that might not indicate an environmental hazard. ... > full story
Social wasps show how bigger brains provide complex cognition (April 12, 2011) -- Across many groups of animals, species with bigger brains often have better cognitive abilities. But it's been unclear whether overall brain size or the size of specific brain areas is the key. New findings by neurobiologists suggest that both patterns are important: bigger-bodied social wasps had larger brains and devoted up to three times more of their brain tissue to regions that coordinate social interactions, learning, memory and other complex behaviors. ... > full story
Tissue engineers use new system to measure biomaterials, structures (April 12, 2011) -- As cells assemble into a donut shape and ascend a hydrogel cone, they do work and thereby reveal the total power involved in forming a three-dimensional structure. That measure not only could help tissue engineers understand their living building materials better, but could also add insight to the understanding of natural tissue formation. ... > full story
St. John's wort compound: Potential benefit of synthetic hypericin for recurrent brain tumors (April 12, 2011) -- Researchers have found that a synthetic version of hypericin, a compound naturally found in St. John's wort, may be a promising treatment for patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors. ... > full story
New citrus variety is very sweet, juicy and low-seeded (April 12, 2011) -- Juicy. Extremely Sweet. Visually attractive. Easy to peel. Low seeded. These are the fine qualities that mark "KinnowLS," the latest citrus variety released by researchers at the University of California, Riverside. Large-sized for a mandarin, the fruit has an orange rind color. The rind is thin and extremely smooth. The 10-11 segments in each fruit are fleshy and deep orange in color. "KinnowLS" matures during February through April and does well in hot climates. ... > full story
Delhi air quality regulations improve respiratory health (April 12, 2011) -- Scientists have used remote sensing imagery to look directly at the effects of air quality on health. Researchers found that radical regulations to improve air quality in Delhi at the turn of the millennium had a positive impact on the health of the population, especially among low-income men. ... > full story
Louisiana, Florida residents differ on views of long-term effects of oil spill (April 12, 2011) -- One year after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion on the Gulf Coast, new research shows that despite the roughly equivalent economic compensation, Louisiana and Florida residents differ in perceptions about the current and long-term effects of the largest marine oil spill in US history. ... > full story
Penguins that shun ice still lose big from a warming climate (April 11, 2011) -- Fluctuations in penguin populations in the Antarctic are linked more strongly to the availability of their primary food source than to changes in their habitats, according to a new study. This research indicates that species often considered likely "winners" of changing conditions, such as large-scale ice melting, may actually end up as the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. ... > full story
Blueberries may inhibit development of fat cells (April 11, 2011) -- The benefits of blueberry consumption have been demonstrated in several nutrition studies, more specifically the cardio-protective benefits derived from their high polyphenol content. Blueberries have shown potential to have a positive effect on everything from aging to metabolic syndrome. Researchers recently examined whether blueberries could play a role in reducing one of the world's greatest health challenges: obesity. ... > full story
Diesel-engine exhaust filter reduces harmful particles by 98 percent (April 11, 2011) -- A commercially available particle trap can filter microscopic pollutants in diesel-engine exhaust and prevent about 98 percent of them from reaching the air, according to new research. ... > full story
Squid and octopuses experience massive acoustic trauma from noise pollution in the oceans (April 11, 2011) -- Noise pollution has been shown to cause physical and behavioral changes in marine life, especially in dolphins and whales, which rely on sound for daily activities. Now a new study found that squid, octopus and cuttlefish exhibited massive acoustic trauma in the form of severe lesions in their auditory structures following exposure to low frequency sound. ... > full story
Fracking controversy: Using water, sand and chemicals to extract natural gas from shale (April 11, 2011) -- The turmoil in oil-producing nations is triggering turmoil at home, as rising oil prices force Americans to pay more at the pump. Meanwhile, there's a growing industry that's promising jobs and access to cheaper energy resources on American soil, but it's not without its controversy. ... > full story
Positioning enzymes with ease (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a superior method for immobilizing enzymes on surfaces, deftly controlling their orientation, improving their efficiency and rendering them more stable. ... > full story
Electric Yellowstone: Conductivity image hints supervolcano plume is bigger than thought (April 11, 2011) -- Geophysicists have made the first large-scale picture of the electrical conductivity of the gigantic underground plume of hot and partly molten rock that feeds the Yellowstone supervolcano. The image suggests the plume is even bigger than it appears in earlier images made with earthquake waves. ... > full story
Letting there be more mosquitoes may lead to fewer malaria deaths, say researchers (April 11, 2011) -- It may seem counter-intuitive at first but letting mosquitoes grow up and breed may be part of the solution to tackling the devastating impact of malaria. Researchers have used mathematical modeling to examine why conventional insecticides used against the insects that transmit the disease responsible for millions of deaths a year, can quickly become ineffective in areas of intensive use. Their answers may lead to unprecedented advances in malaria control. ... > full story
New technique tracks viral infections, aids development of antiviral drugs (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a method to rapidly measure thousands of cells and quickly determine the presence of viruses. ... > full story
EPA's draft health assessment for formaldehyde needs improvement, experts say (April 11, 2011) -- A US Environmental Protection Agency draft assessment of the potential health effects associated with formaldehyde exposure needs substantial revision, experts say. ... > full story
Health halo effect: Don't judge a food by its organic label (April 11, 2011) -- Some organic foods shown to be surrounded by a "health halo" that is not based on science. Psychologists have long recognized that how we perceive a particular trait of a person can be influenced by how we perceive other traits of the same individual. An example of this would be judging an attractive person as intelligent, just because he or she is good-looking. A growing literature suggests that the halo effect may also apply to foods, and ultimately influence what and how much we eat. ... > full story
What sea squirts can teach us about the heart (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists are working to develop better diagnostics and therapies to manage heart defects in newborns. An obscure filter-feeding sea animal holds the promise of helping them unravel the complex mechanisms underlying heart formation and develop new diagnostics for congenital heart defects. ... > full story
Odd corn plant provides insight into how corn makes hormones (April 11, 2011) -- It's a corn plant only a geneticist could love. Its ears -- if it makes them at all -- resemble small, chubby, lime-green caterpillars, not exactly something you want to dig your teeth into. To top it off, the corn plant stands only about three feet tall, at full maturity, and has few leaves. By using a positional cloning technique and molecular markers, scientists were able to pinpoint the absent gene in this plant, which they named vanishing tassel2 or vt2. The gene encodes an enzyme, called tryptophan aminotransferase, important for making auxin, an important growth hormone in plants. ... > full story
Ozone reduces fungal spoilage of fruits and vegetables (April 11, 2011) -- Storing fruits and vegetables in ozone-enriched environments reduces spoilage. Scientists explain how ozone treatment could be a safe, effective replacement for pesticides as it leaves no residue on foods. ... > full story
Big picture of how interferon-induced genes launch antiviral defenses revealed (April 11, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists have carried out a comprehensive, systematic evaluation of the antiviral activity of interferon-induced factors. The findings are a first step toward unraveling how these naturally occurring molecules work to inhibit viruses. ... > full story
West Antarctic warming triggered by warmer sea surface in tropical Pacific (April 11, 2011) -- New research shows that rising sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean drive atmospheric circulation that has caused some of the largest shifts in Antarctic climate in recent decades. ... > full story
Accelerated lab evolution of biomolecules could yield new generation of medicines (April 11, 2011) -- Scientists have harnessed the prowess of fast-replicating bacterial viruses, also known as phages, to accelerate the evolution of biomolecules in the laboratory. The work could ultimately allow the tailoring of custom pharmaceuticals and research tools from lab-grown proteins, nucleic acids, and other such compounds. ... > full story
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