ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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How respiratory tubes and capillaries form in flies (February 9, 2010) -- Scientists in Spain report on the formation of the small-diameter respiratory tubes of the fly Drosophila -- a process that resembles the development of the finest blood vessels, the capillaries, in mammals. ... > full story
New method for measuring fluid flow in algae could herald revolution for fluid mechanics (February 9, 2010) -- Researchers in fluid dynamics have studied algae to illuminate fluid mechanics. One of the researchers said, "Nature has long inspired researchers in fluid mechanics to explore the mechanical strategies used by living creatures. Where better to look for innovative solutions to a technological challenge than to organisms that have had millions of years to devise strategies for related challenges?" ... > full story
Evolution impacts environment: Fundamental shift in how biologists perceive relationship between evolution and ecology (February 9, 2010) -- The traditional view is that ecology shapes evolution. Some research has suggested, however, that evolutionary processes reciprocate by influencing ecology in turn. Now biologists present evidence that ecology and evolution are indeed reciprocally interacting processes, presenting a fundamental shift in our understanding of the relationship between evolution and ecology. The results represent a first significant step in showing that evolution cannot be ignored when studying ecological interactions. ... > full story
'Boutique' fish farms created for Ugandans to combat Lake Victoria's depleted fish supplies (February 9, 2010) -- In a unique project to combat depleted fish supplies in Lake Victoria, researchers have established 'boutique' fish farms in small villages around the Lake's shore in Uganda. ... > full story
Complete chemokine profile of a cell (February 9, 2010) -- Chemokines are a large group of proteins whose predominant function is to direct cell migration. They regulate many physiological and pathophysiological processes, in particular in the immune system. Researchers have now developed a simple method to efficiently identify all the chemokines produced by a single cell type, something that has not been possible before. ... > full story
Method of the future uses single-cell imaging to identify gene interactions (February 9, 2010) -- Cellular imaging offers a wealth of data about how cells respond to stimuli, but harnessing this technique to study biological systems is a daunting challenge. Researchers have now developed a novel method of interpreting data from single-cell images to identify genetic interactions within biological networks, offering a glimpse into the future of high-throughput cell imaging analysis. ... > full story
Small insect with a big heart: 'Giving' aphids endangered by their selflessness (February 8, 2010) -- One of the founding principles of Darwin's theory is that biological evolution has been shaped by the survival of the fittest. Things, however, are not always that simple as researchers have discovered while analyzing the social behavior of aphids. A few aphid species have "soldiers" who stop reproducing and instead contribute to the public good. Not only do they risk their lives to defend the nest from invaders, but they also mend and clean it. ... > full story
Conservation from space: Landscape diversity helps to conserve insects (February 8, 2010) -- Rugged, hilly landscapes with a range of different habitat types can help maintain more stable butterfly populations and thus aid their conservation, according to new findings. This has implications for how we might design landscapes better to help conserve species. ... > full story
Like escape artists, rotifers elude enemies by drying up and -- poof! -- they are gone with the wind (February 8, 2010) -- They haven't had sex in some 30 million years, but some very small invertebrates named bdelloid rotifers are still shocking biologists -- they should have gone extinct long ago. Researchers have discovered the secret to their evolutionary longevity: these rotifers are microscopic escape artists. When facing pathogens, they dry up and are promptly gone with the wind. ... > full story
Agricultural scientists turn to a wild oat to combat crown rust (February 8, 2010) -- Scientists are tapping into the DNA of a wild oat, considered by some to be a noxious weed, to see if it can help combat crown rust, the most damaging fungal disease of oats worldwide. ... > full story
Bees recognize human faces using feature configuration (February 8, 2010) -- Bees can be trained to recognize human faces, so long as the insects are tricked into thinking that the faces are oddly shaped flowers, new research shows. The insects use the arrangement of facial features to recognize and distinguish one face from another. ... > full story
Argonautes: A big turn-off for proteins (February 8, 2010) -- Scientists believe they may have figured out how genetic snippets called microRNAs are able to shut down the production of some proteins. ... > full story
Virology: Some viruses use fats to penetrate a cell (February 8, 2010) -- SV40 viruses use an amazing means of communication, in order to be able to penetrate into a cell: fats, whose structure must fit like a key in a lock. ... > full story
Carbonate veins reveal chemistry of ancient seawater (February 8, 2010) -- The chemical composition of our oceans is not constant but has varied significantly over geological time. In a new study, researchers describe a novel method for reconstructing past ocean chemistry using calcium carbonate veins that precipitate from seawater-derived fluids in rocks beneath the seafloor. ... > full story
Did bacteria develop into more complex cells much earlier in evolution than thought? (February 8, 2010) -- Biochemists have described the process by which bacteria developed into more complex cells and found this crucial step happened much earlier in the evolutionary timeline than previously thought. ... > full story
Cells send dirty laundry home to mom (February 8, 2010) -- Understanding how aged and damaged mother cells manage to form new and undamaged daughter cells is one of the toughest riddles of aging, but scientists now know how yeast cells do it. In a groundbreaking study, researchers in Sweden show how the daughter cell uses a mechanical "conveyor belt" to dump damaged proteins in the mother cell. ... > full story
Biofilms: Discovery of a new mechanism of virus propagation (February 8, 2010) -- Researchers have shown for the first time that certain viruses are capable of forming complex biofilm-like assemblies, similar to bacterial biofilms. These extracellular infectious structures may protect viruses from the immune system and enable them to spread efficiently from cell to cell. "Viral biofilms" would appear to be a major mechanism of propagation for certain viruses. They are therefore emerging as new and particularly attractive therapeutic targets. ... > full story
Road mapping could be key to curing TB (February 8, 2010) -- The complex chain of metabolic events in bacteria that lead to fatal diseases such as tuberculosis may be better understood using mathematical models, according to a new article. ... > full story
Important advance in imaging of cell death (February 8, 2010) -- Scientists have made progress in using a synthetic probe to target dead and dying cells in mammary and prostate tumors in living animals. ... > full story
Novel theory for mammalian stem cell regulation (February 8, 2010) -- Researchers propose a model of mammalian adult stem cell regulation that may explain how the coexistence of two disparate stem cell states regulates both stem cell maintenance and simultaneously supports rapid tissue regeneration. ... > full story
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
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