ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Monday, February 15, 2010
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Cone snails and spiders help neurobiologists investigate ion channels (February 15, 2010) -- Neurotoxins from cone snails and spiders help neurobiologists to investigate the function of ion channels in neurons. They have developed a system which for the first time allows the targeted, long-lasting investigation of ion channel function in mammals and also their blockade with neurotoxins. In transgenic mice they succeeded in blocking chronic pain by introducing a toxin gene into the organism. ... > full story
Virtual museum guide (February 15, 2010) -- Archaeological treasures are being brought to life by new software. Real images are enriched with digital information on a virtual tour through ancient buildings, creating a more vivid experience for the museum visitor. ... > full story
Built-in amps: How subtle head motions, quiet sounds are reported to the brain (February 15, 2010) -- Subtle head motions are amplified by inner-ear hair cells before the signal is reported to the brain, report scientists. In both the auditory and the vestibular systems, hair cell response is nonlinear: the lower the strength of the stimulus, the more the hair cell amplifies the signal. ... > full story
Vaccine possible: Hypothesis on the mystery of dengue virus infection confirmed (February 15, 2010) -- Scientists have now validated the long-held and controversial hypothesis that antibodies -- usually the "good guys" in the body's fight against viruses -- instead contribute to severe dengue virus-induced disease. The finding has major implications for the development of a first-ever vaccine against dengue virus, a growing public health threat which annually infects 50 to 100 million people worldwide, causing a half million cases of the severest form. ... > full story
Urbanization, export crops drive deforestation (February 15, 2010) -- The drivers of tropical deforestation have shifted in the early 21st century to hinge on growth of cities and the globalized agricultural trade, a new large-scale study concludes. The observations starkly reverse assumptions by some scientists that fast-growing urbanization and the efficiencies of global trade might eventually slow or reverse tropical deforestation. ... > full story
Benefits of badger culling not long lasting for reducing cattle TB, says study (February 15, 2010) -- Badger culling is unlikely to be a cost-effective way of helping control cattle TB in Britain, according to new research. Study authors say their findings suggest that the benefits of repeated widespread badger culling, in terms of reducing the incidence of cattle TB, disappear within four years after the culling has ended. ... > full story
Are high speed elephants running or walking? (February 14, 2010) -- Elephants can move fast, but can they ever be said to be truly "running"? Researchers have measured the colossal forces generated by high-speed elephants and found that the animals do conserve energy like runners by recycling it like a pogo stick, however, they do not bounce like runners. What is more they are three times more economical than human runners. ... > full story
Molecule with promising semiconductor properties created (February 14, 2010) -- Chemists have synthesized the first-ever stable derivative of nonacene, creating a compound that holds significant promise in the manufacture of flexible organic electronics such as large displays, solar cells and radio frequency identification tags. ... > full story
Beyond the abyss: Deep sea creatures build their homes from materials that sink from near the ocean surface (February 14, 2010) -- Evidence from the Challenger Deep -- the deepest surveyed point in the world's oceans -- suggests that tiny single-celled creatures called foraminifera living at extreme depths of more than ten kilometers build their homes using material that sinks down from near the ocean surface. ... > full story
Link between exploration well and Lusi mud volcano, strongest evidence to date shows (February 14, 2010) -- Nearly four years ago, a volcano of mud erupted in the middle of an Indonesian suburb, eventually inundating four villages, displacing 30,000 people and causing a gas line explosion that killed 13. The mud volcano continues to erupt today. A new report blames a drilling company that was drilling a gas exploration well, not a relatively mild and distant earthquake. ... > full story
Genetic secrets to jumping the species barrier (February 13, 2010) -- Scientists have pinpointed specific mutations that allow a common plant virus to infect new species. Understanding the genetics of the key interactions between viruses and hosts could provide insight to how some viruses manage to jump the species barrier and even give us a better idea of how animal diseases are generated. ... > full story
New picture of ancient ocean chemistry argues for chemically layered water (February 13, 2010) -- Biogeochemists have developed a dynamic three-dimensional model of Earth's early ocean chemistry that can significantly advance our understanding of how early animal life evolved on the planet. Working on rock samples from the Doushantuo Formation, South China, the research team is the first to show that Earth's early ocean chemistry during a large portion of the Ediacaran Period was far more complex than previously imagined. ... > full story
The biggest loser: Maternal obesity puts a load on her offspring that lasts a lifetime (February 13, 2010) -- As if there are not enough reasons for obese people to lose weight, a new research report adds several more. In a study involving rats, researchers found that obesity in mothers causes cellular programming in utero that predisposes offspring to inflammation-related disorders (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease and more) from birth, regardless of whether or not the offspring are obese themselves. ... > full story
Long-distance migration shapes butterfly wings (February 13, 2010) -- Monarch butterflies that migrate long distances have evolved significantly larger and more elongated wings than their stationary cousins, differences that are consistent with traits known to enhance flight ability in other migratory species. ... > full story
Sustainable fisheries needed for global food security (February 13, 2010) -- Increased aid from developed countries, earmarked specifically for sustainable seafood infrastructure in developing countries, could improve global food security, according to a new policy paper. ... > full story
Epigenetic signals differ across alleles (February 13, 2010) -- Researchers have identified numerous novel regions of the genome where the chemical modifications involved in controlling gene expression are influenced by either genetic variation or the parental origin of that particular stretch of DNA. This contradicts previous assumptions that epigenetic signals are generally equal across both copies of a given region of the genome, except at a small number of known imprinted genes. ... > full story
Human gait adapted for efficient walking at the cost of efficient running (February 12, 2010) -- Humans, other great apes and bears are among the few animals that step first on the heel when walking, and then roll onto the ball of the foot and toes. Now, a new study shows the advantage: Compared with heel-first walking, it takes 53 percent more energy to walk on the balls of your feet, and 83 percent more energy to walk on your toes. ... > full story
Herbal medicines can be lethal, pathologist warns (February 12, 2010) -- A forensic pathologist has sounded a worldwide warning of the potential lethal dangers of herbal medicines if taken in large quantities, injected, or combined with prescription drugs. ... > full story
Cholera and related diseases: Grasping bacterial 'friending' paves the way to disrupt biofilm creation (February 12, 2010) -- Finding a biological mechanism much like an online social network, scientists have identified the bacterial protein VpsT as the master regulator in Vibrio, the cause of cholera and other enteric diseases. This discovery provides a major tool to combat enteric disease. ... > full story
Dramatic changes in agriculture needed as world warms and grows (February 12, 2010) -- Scientists are urging dramatically changed ideas about sustainable agriculture to prevent a major starvation catastrophe by the end of this century among more than 3 billion people who live in the tropics. ... > full story
Toads anticipate the timing and impact of their landings (February 12, 2010) -- Humans may not have a leg up on toads, at least not when it comes to jumping and landing, according to new research. Researchers shows that toads, like humans, are capable of anticipating when and how hard they're going to land after a jump and activating muscles important in absorbing impact accordingly. ... > full story
How cholera bacteria becomes infectious (February 12, 2010) -- Researchers have described the structure of a protein called ToxT that controls the virulent nature of Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that causes cholera. Buried within ToxT, the researchers were surprised to find a fatty acid that appears to inhibit ToxT, which prevents the bacteria from causing cholera. ... > full story
Universal DNA reader will advance faster, cheaper sequencing efforts (February 12, 2010) -- Scientists have come up with a new twist in their efforts to develop a faster and cheaper way to read the DNA genetic code. They have developed the first, versatile DNA reader that can discriminate between DNA's four core chemical components -- the key to unlocking the vital code behind human heredity and health. ... > full story
Antarctic ice shelf collapse possibly triggered by ocean waves (February 12, 2010) -- Extremely long waves could have initiated 2008 collapse events. Depicting a cause-and-effect scenario that spans thousands of miles, scientists discovered that ocean waves originating along the Pacific coasts of North and South America impact Antarctic ice shelves and could play a role in their catastrophic collapse. ... > full story
Antibiotics as active mutagens in the emergence of multidrug resistance (February 12, 2010) -- Multidrug resistant bacteria such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pose a major problem for patients, doctors, and the pharmaceutical industry. To combat such bacteria, it is critical to understand how resistance is developed in the first place. New research shows that low doses of antibiotics can produce mutant strains that are sensitive to the applied antibiotic but have cross-resistance to other antibiotics. ... > full story
Marshall Islands research could lead to resettlement after nuclear tests (February 12, 2010) -- Through Laboratory soil cleanup methods, residents of Bikini, Enjebi and Rongelap Islands -- where nuclear tests were conducted on the atolls and in the ocean surrounding them in the 1950s -- could have lower radioactive levels than the average background dose for residents in the United States and Europe. ... > full story
Chemists create synthetic 'gene-like' crystals for carbon dioxide capture (February 12, 2010) -- Chemists report creating a synthetic "gene," which could capture heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide contributes to global warming, rising sea levels and increased acidity of oceans. ... > full story
Dietary formula that maintains youthful function into old age (February 12, 2010) -- Researchers develop dietary formula that maintains youthful function into old age. ... > full story
Baked rhubarb could help fight cancer (February 12, 2010) -- Eating rhubarb baked in a crumble is not only tasty it may also be the best way to take advantage of its health benefits, and could lead to the development of new cancer treatments. ... > full story
Models of sea level change during ice-age cycles challenged (February 12, 2010) -- Theories about the rates of ice accumulation and melting during the Quaternary Period -- the time interval ranging from 2.6 million years ago to the present -- may need to be revised, due to new research findings. ... > full story
Mescal worm test shows DNA leaks into preservative liquids (February 12, 2010) -- Just because you don't swallow the worm at the bottom of a bottle of mescal doesn't mean you have avoided the essential worminess of the potent Mexican liquor, according to scientists. They have discovered that the liquid itself contains the DNA of the agave butterfly caterpillar -- the famously tasty mescal "worm." ... > full story
New screening system for hepatitis C (February 12, 2010) -- A newly designed system of identifying molecules for treating hepatitis C should enable scientists to discover novel and effective therapies for the dangerous and difficult-to-cure disease of the liver, say chemical engineers who helped develop the screening system. The system enables researchers to study the effects of molecules that obstruct all aspects of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) life cycle. ... > full story
Virus pulls bait and switch on insect vectors (February 12, 2010) -- A common plant virus lures aphids to infected plants by making the plants more attractive, but when the insects taste the plant, they quickly leave for tastier, healthier ones. In the process, the insects rapidly transmit the disease, according to entomologists. ... > full story
Low levels of antibiotics cause multidrug resistance in 'superbugs' (February 12, 2010) -- A new study by biomedical engineers indicates that treating bacteria with levels of antibiotics insufficient to kill them produces germs that are cross-resistant to a wide range of antibiotics. ... > full story
Environmental disaster in southern Spain compared with Cretaceous mass extinction (February 12, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have compared the disaster caused by the Aznalcóllar spillage in the Doñana National Park in Andalusia 11 years ago with the biggest species extinction known to date. What do these two disasters have in common? The scientists say that carrying out comparisons of this kind will make it possible to find out how ecosystems recover following mass extinctions. ... > full story
Moderate fertilizer use could double African banana yields, study shows (February 12, 2010) -- A fertilizer-use study by researchers on East African highland bananas showed that moderate application of mineral fertilizers could double the production of the crop. However, the study also found that majority of the banana growers in the region do not use fertilizers, missing out on the opportunity to maximize their crop's food security and economic potentials. Over 70 million people in the East African highlands depend on banana as their primary source of food and income. ... > full story
Better weather forecasts with a map showing atmospheric vapor (February 12, 2010) -- Weather forecasts, satellite navigation in cars and the inspection of dikes or natural gas fields: these applications using satellite data would all be even more accurate if we knew more about the distribution of water vapor in the atmosphere, according to researchers. ... > full story
Resistant wheat goes for the gut to protect against Hessian flies (February 11, 2010) -- Resistant wheat plants stave off attacks by Hessian fly larvae by essentially destroying the fly's midgut and its ability to absorb nutrients, according to a new study. ... > full story
Archaeological 'time machine' greatly improves accuracy of early radiocarbon dating (February 11, 2010) -- Researchers have produced a new archaeological tool which could answer key questions in human evolution. The new calibration curve, which extends back 50,000 years, is a major landmark in radiocarbon dating -- the method used by archaeologists and geoscientists to establish the age of carbon-based materials. ... > full story
Biologist discovers 'stop' signal in honey bee communication (February 11, 2010) -- Honey bees warn their nest mates about dangers they encounter while feeding with a special signal that's akin to a "stop" sign for bees. When foragers were attacked by competitors from nearby colonies fighting for food at an experimental feeder, they produced a specific signal to stop nest mates from recruiting others to the dangerous location. ... > full story
Chocoholic mice fear no pain (February 11, 2010) -- Ever get a buzz from eating chocolate? Scientists have shown that chocolate-craving mice are ready to tolerate electric shocks to get their fix. ... > full story
3-D structure of bullet-shaped virus with potential to fight cancer, HIV revealed (February 11, 2010) -- A recent study demonstrates that with advanced imaging technique, the vesicular stomatitis virus can be modified to serve as an anti-cancer agent because it displays high selectivity in killing cancer cells while sparing normal cells. It can also be engineered as a potent vaccine against HIV/AIDS. ... > full story
Geographers help map devastation in Haiti (February 11, 2010) -- In the wake of the earthquake in Haiti, geography students are participating in a global effort to enhance the international response and recovery effort by helping to assess damage, using images hosted by Google Earth and the Virtual Disaster Viewer, which shares imagery of disasters from various sources. ... > full story
Millimeter-scale, energy-harvesting sensor system can operate nearly perpetually (February 11, 2010) -- A newly developed 9 cubic millimeter solar-powered sensor system is the smallest that can harvest energy from its surroundings to operate nearly perpetually. ... > full story
Hot pepper relief: New category of painkillers on the way? (February 11, 2010) -- Research has opened the door for the advancement of a new category of painkillers, called TRPV1 antagonists. These drugs block the transient receptor potential vannilloid-1 (TRPV1) channel, which is the same receptor responsible for the sensation of hotness from hot peppers. ... > full story
Tigers in serious trouble around the world, including the US (February 11, 2010) -- As many Asian countries prepare to celebrate Year of the Tiger beginning Feb. 14, World Wildlife Fund reports that tigers are in crisis around the world, including here in the United States, where more tigers are kept in captivity than are alive in the wild throughout Asia. As few as 3,200 tigers exist in the wild where they are threatened by poaching, habitat loss, illegal trafficking and the conversion of forests for infrastructure and plantations. ... > full story
Infection-fighting antibodies made in plants as effective as costlier conventional version (February 11, 2010) -- The first head-to-head comparison of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies produced from plants versus the same antibodies produced from mammalian cells has shown that plant-produced antibodies can fight infection equally well. Scientists conducted the comparison as a test of the potential for treating disease in developing nations with the significantly less expensive plant-based production technique. ... > full story
Researchers map all fragile sites of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae's genome (February 11, 2010) -- Researchers have accomplished a technical breakthrough: they mapped all the fragile sites of a living organism, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The method used by the researchers can be applied to humans. ... > full story
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