ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Monday, February 8, 2010
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Genetic analysis helps spot sugarcane rusts (February 8, 2010) -- Scientists have analyzed rust fungi from more than 160 sugarcane samples from 25 countries to provide a valuable resource for plant breeders and pathologists who are searching for genetic resistance to the deadly orange and brown rusts. ... > full story
Migrating insects fly in the fast lane (February 8, 2010) -- Scientists shed new light on the flight behaviors that enable insects to undertake long-distance migrations, and highlights the remarkable abilities of these insect migrants. ... > full story
Characteristics of Earthquakes that Have Caused Exceptional Ground Accelerations and Velocities (February 8, 2010) -- A new study identifies earthquakes through July 2007 that have produced 100 of the strongest peak accelerations and 100 of the strongest peak velocities ever recorded. ... > full story
How well do scientists understand how changes in Earth's orbit affect long-term natural climate trends? (February 7, 2010) -- The notion that scientists understand how changes in Earth's orbit affect climate well enough for estimating long-term natural climate trends that underlie any anthropogenic climate change is challenged by new research findings. ... > full story
First measurement of energy released from a virus during infection (February 7, 2010) -- For the first time, scientists have directly measured the energy associated with the expulsion of viral DNA, a pivotal discovery toward fully understanding the physical mechanisms that control viral infection and designing drugs to interfere with the process. ... > full story
Link between birth defect gastroschisis and the agricultural chemical atrazine found (February 7, 2010) -- New findings demonstrate a link between the birth defect gastroschisis and the agricultural chemical atrazine. Gastroschisis is a type of inherited congenital abdominal wall defect in which the intestines, and sometimes other organs, develop outside the fetal abdomen through an opening in the abdominal wall. The incidence of gastroschisis is on the rise, increasing two to four times in the last 30 years. ... > full story
Earlier glacial melt rate revised downward, but recent melt is accelerating dramatically (February 7, 2010) -- Glaciologists have shown that previous studies have largely overestimated mass loss from Alaskan glaciers over the past 40 years. Recent data from the SPOT 5 and ASTER satellites have enabled researchers to extensively map mass loss in these glaciers, which contributed 0.12 mm/year to sea-level rise between 1962 and 2006, rather than 0.17 mm/year as previously estimated. However, the spectacular acceleration in mass loss since the mid-1990s, corresponding to a contribution of 0.25 to 0.30 mm/year to sea-level rise, is not in question and proves to be a worrying indication of future sea-level rise. ... > full story
Instruments to study space weather set for NASA launch (February 7, 2010) -- A million instrument package set for launch Feb. 9 by NASA should help scientists better understand the violent effects of the sun on near-Earth space weather that can affect satellites, power grids, ground communications systems and even astronauts and aircraft crews. ... > full story
First discovery of the female sex hormone progesterone in a plant (February 7, 2010) -- In a finding that overturns conventional wisdom, scientists are reporting the first discovery of the female sex hormone progesterone in a plant. Until now, scientists thought that only animals could make progesterone. A steroid hormone secreted by the ovaries, progesterone prepares the uterus for pregnancy and maintains pregnancy. ... > full story
Biologists determine microRNA activity is suppressed in mouse ovum (February 7, 2010) -- Scientists studying RNA activity, the so-called dark matter of the biological world, may have found the first event in reprogramming a differentiated oocyte into pluripotent blastomeres of the embryo. ... > full story
How the butterflies got their spots (February 6, 2010) -- How two butterfly species have evolved exactly the same striking wing color and pattern has intrigued biologists since Darwin's day. Now, scientists have found "hot spots" in the butterflies' genes that they believe will explain one of the most extraordinary examples of mimicry in the natural world. ... > full story
Secrets to superb malting barleys explored (February 6, 2010) -- Agricultural scientists are discovering more about what goes on inside malting barley grains as they germinate, or sprout, in the malt house. ... > full story
World's first in-depth study of the malaria parasite genome (February 6, 2010) -- Groundbreaking research could lead to the development of more potent drugs or a vaccine for malaria. Scientists have scored a world first in successfully using transcriptional profiling to uncover hitherto unknown gene expression (activity) patterns in malaria. ... > full story
Leaves whisper their properties through ultrasound (February 6, 2010) -- The water content of leaves, their thickness, their density and other properties can now be determined without even having to touch them. Researchers in Spain have presented an innovative technique that enables plant leaves to be studied using ultrasound in a quick, simple and noninvasive fashion. ... > full story
Sweet! Sugar plays key role in cell division (February 6, 2010) -- Using an elaborate sleuthing system they developed to probe how cells manage their own division, scientists have discovered that common but hard-to-see sugar switches are partly in control. ... > full story
Super material will make lighting cheaper and fully recyclable (February 6, 2010) -- With the use of the new super material graphene, Swedish and American researchers have succeeded in producing a new type of lighting component. It is inexpensive to produce and can be fully recycled. ... > full story
'Zen' bats hit their target by not aiming at it (February 5, 2010) -- New research shows Egyptian fruit bats find a target by NOT aiming their guiding sonar directly at it. Instead, they alternately point the sound beam to either side of the target. The new findings suggest that this strategy optimizes the bats' ability to pinpoint the location of a target, but also makes it harder for them to detect a target in the first place. ... > full story
Prion leaves lasting mark on memory (February 5, 2010) -- Prions are a special class of proteins best known as the source for mad cow and other neurodegenerative diseases. Despite this negative reputation, a prion may also have important and very positive roles in brain function. The researchers suggest that a prion-like protein may participate in memory in higher eukaryotes, from sea slugs on up. ... > full story
Commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations, new study finds (February 5, 2010) -- Extensive commercial fishing endangers dolphin populations in the Mediterranean, according to a new study by researchers in Israel. ... > full story
How sperm get a move on; discovery suggests new target for male contraception (February 5, 2010) -- Most of us probably think of sperm as rather active little cells, swimming with quick movements of their "tail" or flagella. But actually sperm's motility is in fact short lived. When in the male reproductive tract they have to rest easy, lest they wear themselves out prematurely and give up any chance of ever finding an egg. ... > full story
Engineers aim to make air travel greener (February 5, 2010) -- Carbon emissions from air travel could be reduced, thanks to a new collaboration between engineers in the UK and the aerospace industry. The million project will investigate new ways of using composite materials for wing panels in aircraft. The research will be using carbon fibres that are curved within flat plates to produce damage-tolerant, buckle-free structures. ... > full story
New material absorbs, conserves oil (February 5, 2010) -- Researchers make new material to clean up oil spills in factories or on the ocean, and conserve the oil. ... > full story
Dinosaur had vibrant colors, microscopic fossil clues reveal (February 5, 2010) -- Deciphering microscopic clues hidden within fossils, scientists have uncovered the vibrant colors that adorned a feathered dinosaur extinct for 150 million years. ... > full story
It looks, feels and tastes like chicken, but it's made of soy (February 5, 2010) -- Sure, some delicacies might taste just like chicken, but they usually feel and look much different. Soy meat alternatives, such as the soy burger, have become more popular recently, with increased sales of eight percent from 2007 to 2008. Now, scientists have created a soy substitute for chicken that is much like the real thing. The new soy chicken also has health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and maintaining healthy bones. ... > full story
Oceans reveal further impacts of climate change (February 5, 2010) -- The increasing acidity of the world's oceans -- and that acidity's growing threat to marine species -- are definitive proof that the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is causing climate change is also negatively affecting the marine environment. ... > full story
Video of virus in action shows viruses can spread faster than thought possible (February 5, 2010) -- New video footage of a virus infecting cells is challenging what researchers have long believed about how viruses spread, suggesting that scientists may be able to create new drugs to tackle some viruses. ... > full story
Seabed biodiversity of the Straits of Magellan and Drake Passage (February 5, 2010) -- A study of animals visible to the naked eye and living in and on the seabed -- the "macrobenthos" -- of the Straits of Magellan and Drake Passage will help scientists understand the biodiversity, biogeography and ecology of the Magellanic region. ... > full story
Europe seeks alternatives to natural latex from Asia (February 5, 2010) -- Some natural latexes are the main ingredient in the extraction of natural rubber, an indispensable raw material for all kinds of industries and essential for the manufacture of surgical gloves, condoms or tyres. All the latex used in Europe is imported, extracted fundamentally from the the Hevea brasiliensis tree. The largest producers in the world are Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, three Asian countries that have practically the worldwide monopoly of this resource. In order to find alternatives to this commercial dependence and promote the cultivation of latex-producing plant species in the European Union, a research project is being undertaken in which 12 technological centres, universities and companies related to this matter are taking part. ... > full story
Ancient human teeth show that stress early in development can shorten life span (February 5, 2010) -- Ancient human teeth are telling secrets that may relate to modern-day health: Some stressful events that occurred early in development are linked to shorter lifespans. "Prehistoric remains are providing strong, physical evidence that people who acquired tooth enamel defects while in the womb or early childhood tended to die earlier, even if they survived to adulthood," says anthropologist George Armelagos, who recently published the first summary of prehistoric evidence for the Barker hypothesis. ... > full story
Scientists ID a protein that splices and dices genes (February 5, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that the protein MRG15, which previously had been known to affect cell growth and aging, also directs the gene-splicing machinery. As people or animals age, this machinery can go awry, producing nonsense proteins. The finding thus has potential implications for therapies to treat both cancer and aging. ... > full story
Fewer honey bee colonies and beekeepers throughout Europe (February 5, 2010) -- The number of bee colonies in Central Europe has decreased over recent decades. In fact, the number of beekeepers has been declining in the whole of Europe since 1985. ... > full story
Potential evolutionary role for same-sex attraction (February 4, 2010) -- Male homosexuality doesn't make complete sense from an evolutionary point of view. One possible explanation is what evolutionary psychologists call the "kin selection hypothesis." What that means is that homosexuality may convey an indirect benefit by enhancing the survival prospects of close relatives. ... > full story
Enlisting a drug discovery technique in the battle against global warming (February 4, 2010) -- Scientists in Texas are reporting that a technique used in the search for new drugs could also be used in the quest to discover new, environmentally friendly materials for fighting global warming. Such materials could be used to capture the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from industrial smokestacks and other fixed sources before it enters the biosphere. ... > full story
Water movements can shape fish evolution (February 4, 2010) -- Researchers have found that the hydrodynamic environment of fish can shape their physical form and swimming style. ... > full story
Imaging method for eye disease used to eye art forgeries (February 4, 2010) -- Scientists in Poland are describing how a medical imaging technique has taken on a second life in revealing forgery of an artist's signature and changes in inscriptions on paintings that are hundreds of years old. ... > full story
Spherical cows help to dump metabolism law (February 4, 2010) -- Apparently, the mysterious "3/4 law of metabolism" -- proposed by Max Kleiber in 1932, printed in biology textbooks for decades, and described as "extended to all life forms" from bacteria to whales -- is just plain wrong. "Actually, it's two-thirds," says University of Vermont mathematician Peter Dodds. A new paper of his helps overturn almost 80 years of near-mystical belief in a 3/4 exponent used to describe the relationship between the size of animals and their resting metabolism. ... > full story
Link between human birth defect syndrome, cancer metastasis explored (February 4, 2010) -- Some cells are natural rule-breakers. Neural crest cells for example, not only migrate throughout the body during development (most cells are more selective in their wandering), they are also more developmentally flexible than their predecessors (a no-no for nearly all cell types). Now researchers have shown that a protein that controls DNA accessibility is responsible for the cells' unruly ways. ... > full story
Learning from climate's sedimental journey (February 4, 2010) -- By analyzing sediments up to 4,000 years old, an environmental scientist is hoping to provide a tool to help predict future climate change. Ancient records of what was happening with climate conditions can be used with regional climate models to tell a story of what happened in the past and to correlate it to the present and the future. Current models typically use data only for the last 100 years or less and may miss wet and dry periods from past millennia. ... > full story
Scientists find ideal target for malaria therapy (February 4, 2010) -- Scientists have identified a protein made by the malaria parasite that is essential to its ability to take over human red blood cells. ... > full story
Immune protein fends off exotic virus (February 4, 2010) -- A study shows that antiviral proteins called type I interferons (IFNs) are needed to fend off infection with an exotic mosquito-borne virus called Chikungunya virus. This pathogen, which causes high fevers and severe joint pain, triggered a recent epidemic in Southeast Asia, infecting more than 30 percent of the population in some areas. ... > full story
Shark virgin birth study shows offspring can survive long term (February 4, 2010) -- Shark pups born to virgin mothers can survive over the long-term, according to new research. The study shows for the first time that some virgin births can result in viable offspring. ... > full story
Quantum mechanics at work in photosynthesis: Algae familiar with these processes for nearly two billion years (February 4, 2010) -- Chemists have made a major contribution to the emerging field of quantum biology, observing quantum mechanics at work in photosynthesis in marine algae. ... > full story
New class of AIDS drug? Two compounds lay foundation, help combat drug-resistant virus strains (February 4, 2010) -- A team of scientists has identified two compounds that act on novel binding sites for an enzyme used by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. The discovery lays the foundation for the development of a new class of anti-HIV drugs to enhance existing therapies, treat drug-resistant strains of the disease, and slow the evolution of drug resistance in the virus. ... > full story
Chemists discover how antiviral drugs bind to and block flu virus (February 4, 2010) -- Researchers have determined where an antiviral drug binds to and blocks a channel necessary for the flu virus to spread. The team also discovered that the drug spins in the channel, meaning there could be room for developing drugs that do a better job blocking the channel and stopping the flu. ... > full story
Bad news for mosquitoes: Scent receptor research may lead to better traps, repellents (February 4, 2010) -- Researchers have found more than two dozen scent receptors in malaria-transmitting mosquitoes that detect compounds in human sweat, a finding that may help scientists to develop new ways to combat a disease that kills 1 million people annually. ... > full story
Malaria's key survival protein identified, offering drug hope (February 4, 2010) -- Researchers in Australia have identified a key protein used by the malaria parasite to transform human red blood cells, ensuring the parasite's survival. Their discovery means researchers have a clear target against which to develop a new class of anti-malarial drugs that destroy the parasite. ... > full story
Is iron from soil a factor in algal blooms? (February 4, 2010) -- Scientists are studying the part that iron from Australia's iron-rich soil plays in the algal blooms that plague parts of the eastern coast line during summer. ... > full story
Haiti earthquake a reminder that disasters are preventable, expert says (February 4, 2010) -- Amid all the commentary focused on the historic tragedy in Haiti, a tough but important fact -- disasters are preventable -- has gone virtually unmentioned, according to a nationally recognized expert on disasters. ... > full story
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