ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Researchers fishing for cancer cure discover active DHA derivatives (March 2, 2010) -- The next treatment for cancer might come from fish says new research. In the study, scientists show that the omega-3 fatty acid, "docosahexaenoic acid" or "DHA," and its derivatives in the body kill neuroblastoma cancer cells. This discovery could lead to new treatments for a wide range of cancers, including neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, colon, breast and prostate cancers, among others. ... > full story
Forage plant wards off ruminant gastrointestinal nematode (March 2, 2010) -- A common pasture plant could help foraging ruminants ward off damaging gastrointestinal nematodes that can cause illness and death, scientists report. ... > full story
Understanding global climate change through new breakthroughs in polar research (March 2, 2010) -- Scientists have investigated the distribution and abundance of Antarctica's vast marine biodiversity with the Census of Antarctic Marine Life. ... > full story
'Biological clock' could be a key to better health, longer life (March 2, 2010) -- If you aren't getting a good, consistent and regular night's sleep, a new study suggests it could reduce your ability to handle oxidative stress, cause impacts to your health, increase motor and neurological deterioration, speed aging and ultimately cut short your life. That is, if your "biological clock" genes work the same way as those of a fruit fly. And they probably do. ... > full story
Tiny shelled creatures shed light on extinction and recovery 65 million years ago (March 1, 2010) -- An asteroid strike may not only account for the demise of ocean and land life 65 million years ago, but the fireball's path and the resulting dust, darkness and toxic metal contamination may explain the geographic unevenness of extinctions and recovery, according to geoscientists. ... > full story
Diffusion of a soluble protein through a sensory cilium (March 1, 2010) -- Scientists have, for the first time, measured the diffusion coefficient of a protein in a primary cilium and in other major compartments of a highly polarized cell. ... > full story
Pesticide atrazine can turn male frogs into females (March 1, 2010) -- The herbicide atrazine, one of the world's most widely used pesticides, wreaks havoc with the sex lives of adult male frogs, emasculating three-quarters of them and turning one in 10 into females, according to a new study. These changes occur at atrazine levels below what the EPA considers safe for drinking water. The changes skew sex ratios in the frog population and could be a major cause of amphibian decline worldwide. ... > full story
Simple math explains dramatic beak shape variation in Darwin's finches (March 1, 2010) -- In a new study, researchers demonstrate that simple changes in beak length and depth can explain the important morphological diversity of all beak shapes within Darwin's famous finches. Broadly, the work suggests that a few, simple mathematical rules may be responsible for complicated biological adaptations. ... > full story
Ancient DNA from rare fossil reveals that polar bears evolved recently and adapted quickly (March 1, 2010) -- DNA from a rare, ancient polar bear fossil is yielding information about the response of the species to the devastation wrought by past climate changes. Analyses of the fossil's DNA reveals key pieces of the evolutionary history of both polar bears and brown bears. The fossil's DNA is, by far, the oldest mammal mitochondrial genome to be sequenced -- about twice the age of the oldest genome sequence from a woolly mammoth. ... > full story
Beewolves protect their offspring with antibiotics; digger wasp larvae use bacteria against infections (March 1, 2010) -- Beewolves house beneficial bacteria on their cocoons that guarantee protection against harmful microorganisms. Scientists have discovered that bacteria of the genus Streptomyces produce a cocktail of nine different antibiotics and thereby fend off invading pathogens. Using imaging techniques based on mass spectrometry, the antibiotics could be displayed on the cocoon's surface. Moreover, it was shown that the use of different kinds of antibiotics provides effective protection against infection with a multitude of different pathogenic microorganisms. ... > full story
Fish can recognize a face based on UV pattern alone (March 1, 2010) -- Two species of damselfish may look identical -- not to mention drab -- to the human eye. But that's because, in comparison to the fish, all of us are essentially colorblind. A new study reveals that the fish can easily tell one species from another based entirely on the shape of the ultraviolet patterns on their faces. ... > full story
By tracking water molecules, physicists hope to unlock secrets of life (March 1, 2010) -- The key to life as we know it is water, a tiny molecule with some highly unusual properties, such as the ability to retain large amounts of heat and to lose, instead of gain, density as it solidifies. It behaves so differently from other liquids, in fact, that by some measures it shouldn't even exist. Now scientists have made a batch of new discoveries about the ubiquitous liquid, suggesting that an individual water molecule's interactions with its neighbors could someday be manipulated to solve some of the world's thorniest problems -- from agriculture to cancer. ... > full story
Butterfly vision, wing colors linked (March 1, 2010) -- Butterfly experts have suspected for more than 150 years that vision plays a key role in explaining wing color diversity. Now, for the first time, research shows the truth in this theory -- at least in nine Heliconius species. ... > full story
Scientists crash test DNA’s replication machinery (March 1, 2010) -- Enzymes that travel along DNA to copy or transcribe it -- the crucial processes underlying cell replication and protein production -- aren't coordinated by a central dispatcher. In fact, they often collide. Now, researchers have discovered that when DNA-copying machines run head-on into proteins performing less critical tasks, they kick the obstacles aside and continue on their way. ... > full story
Tree-dwelling mammals climb to the heights of longevity (March 1, 2010) -- The squirrels littering your lawn with acorns as they bound overhead will live to plague your yard longer than the ones that aerate it with their burrows, according to a new study. Researchers found that tree-dwelling mammals live longer than those who live on the ground. Humans are an exception, but tree-dwelling ancestors may explain that. ... > full story
'Milk drops' under the tongue appear to treat milk allergies (March 1, 2010) -- Placing small amounts of milk protein under the tongues of children who are allergic to milk can help them overcome their allergies, according to the findings of a small study. ... > full story
Cancer, aging: Key interaction that controls telomeres discovered (March 1, 2010) -- In the dominoes that make up human cells, researchers have traced another step of the process that stops cells from becoming cancerous. ... > full story
Mountaintop mining poisons fish (March 1, 2010) -- Dead and deformed fish indicate selenium pollution from mountaintop coal mining is causing permanent damage to the environment and poses serious health risks, says a biologist. ... > full story
DNA sequence of extinct ancient cattle uncovered (March 1, 2010) -- Researchers, based in Ireland and Britain, have found the complete mitochondrial DNA genome sequence of ancient wild cattle using a sample from a 6,700 year-old bone. ... > full story
Global warming may hurt some poor populations, benefit others (March 1, 2010) -- The impact of global warming on food prices and hunger could be large over the next 20 years. But even as some poor populations are hurt, others would be helped out of poverty, according to a new study. ... > full story
E. coli as sole indicator of water pollution questioned (March 1, 2010) -- New research investigating pathogen survival in soils has found that E. coli can become integrated into the indigenous microbial community in soils and survive for more than nine years, considerably longer than scientists initially thought. ... > full story
Mouse model may provide insight into the schizophrenic brain (March 1, 2010) -- Schizophrenia is an incredibly complex and profoundly debilitating disorder that typically manifests in early adulthood but is thought to arise, at least in part, from pathological disturbances occurring during very early brain development. Now, a new study manipulates a known schizophrenia susceptibility gene in the brains of fetal mice to begin to unravel the complex link between prenatal brain development and maturation of information processing and cognition in adult animals. ... > full story
Easing egg allergies with eggs: Oral immunotherapy study shows it works (March 1, 2010) -- Children with egg allergies who consume increasingly higher doses of egg protein -- the very nutrient they react to -- appear to gradually overcome their allergies, tolerating eggs better over time and with milder symptoms, according to new research. ... > full story
Giant plankton-eating fishes roamed prehistoric seas, fossil evidence shows (February 28, 2010) -- Giant plankton-eating fishes roamed the prehistoric seas for over 100 million years before they were wiped out in the same event that killed off the dinosaurs, new fossil evidence has shown. ... > full story
Multiple sclerosis onset: Could mycobacteria play a role? (February 28, 2010) -- A non-pathogenic bacterium is capable to trigger an autoimmune disease similar to the multiple sclerosis in the mouse, the model animal which helps to explain how human diseases work. This is an unprecedented mechanism which could explain how this terrible central nervous system disease starts up in humans. ... > full story
Brown recluse spider is sometimes to blame when anemia strikes (February 28, 2010) -- As spring approaches and people return to outdoor activities, caution should be taken in areas of the country that are home to Loxosceles reclusa, also called the brown recluse spider. A new study found that when patients present with sudden anemia, but the cause is elusive, the brown recluse spider should be part of the differential diagnosis, at least in parts of the nation where the spider is regularly found. ... > full story
Novel way to study human inflammatory disease (February 28, 2010) -- A new study shows mice infected with the bacteria salmonella develop clinical signs consistent with a deadly and poorly understood human inflammatory disease, a finding that may lead to new therapies. ... > full story
Novel compound found effective against avian influenza virus (February 28, 2010) -- A novel compound is highly effective against the pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, including some drug-resistant strains, according to new research. ... > full story
Tropics: Global warming likely to significantly affect rainfall patterns (February 28, 2010) -- Ocean temperature patterns in the tropics and subtropics will change in ways that will lead to significant changes in rainfall patterns, according to new research. ... > full story
Choking is a leading cause of injury and death among children (February 28, 2010) -- Choking is a leading cause of injury and death among children, especially those younger than 4 years of age. The majority of choking-related incidents among children are associated with food, coins and toys. ... > full story
New process yields high-energy-density, plant-based transportation fuel (February 28, 2010) -- A team of engineers has developed a highly efficient, environmentally friendly process that selectively converts gamma-valerolactone, a biomass derivative, into the chemical equivalent of jet fuel. ... > full story
Large Earthquake Hits Chile, Generates Tsunami Across Pacific (February 27, 2010) -- An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of central Chile early morning on Saturday, February 27, 2010, about 200 miles southwest of the Chilean capital of Santiago, killing several hundred people and exposing millions of people to strong shaking that toppled many buildings. In addition, a tsunami triggered by the earthquake reverberated through the entire Pacific Ocean. ... > full story
Dolphin cognitive abilities raise ethical questions, says Emory neuroscientist (February 27, 2010) -- Many modern dolphin brains are significantly larger than those of humans and second in mass to the human brain when corrected for body size, says a scientist. Some dolphin brains exhibit features correlated with complex intelligence, including a large expanse of neocortical volume that is more convoluted than that of humans, extensive insular and cingulated regions, and highly differentiated cellular regions. This has ethical and policy considerations. ... > full story
Fueling the future with fish tank residue: Scientist discusses use of algae as biofuel (February 27, 2010) -- As Americans demand new and cleaner ways to meet the country's energy needs, researchers are turning to algae as a promising new fuel source. The approach has the potential to significantly reduce the nation's reliance on imported oil while contributing to rural economic development and lowering greenhouse emissions. ... > full story
Climate change and coral reefs: Coral species has developed the 'skills' to cope with rising temperatures (February 27, 2010) -- Marine reserves are increasingly important for species that are being forced by climate change to move to a new home, adapt to new conditions or die. Biologists have now compared the relative benefits of large and small protected areas in perpetuating populations. Interestingly they have also found a coral species that has developed the "skills" to cope with rising temperatures. ... > full story
Flower power may reduce resistance to breast cancer drug tamoxifen (February 27, 2010) -- Combining tamoxifen, the world's most prescribed breast cancer agent, with a compound found in the flowering plant feverfew may prevent initial or future resistance to the drug, say researchers. The finding provides new insight into the biological roots of that resistance, and also tests a novel way to get around it. ... > full story
Malicious software: Hiding the honeypots (February 27, 2010) -- Armies of networked computers that have been compromised by malicious software are commonly known as Botnets. Such Botnets are usually used to carry out fraudulent and criminal activity on the Internet. Now US computer scientists reveal that the honeypot trap designed to protect computers from Botnets are now vulnerable to attack because of advances in Botnet malware. ... > full story
Threat to monkey numbers from forest decline (February 27, 2010) -- Monkey populations in threatened forests are far more sensitive to damage to their habitat than previously thought. Numbers closely related to the type of habitat found between forest fragments, rather than the distance that separates them. ... > full story
Intelligent energy management for the home (February 27, 2010) -- In order to save energy, consumers need to be able to obtain up-to-date information at any time about the energy consumption of their appliances, and be able to control them while away from home. Scientists have developed two new applications that help consumers manage their power use. ... > full story
Presence of snails points to forest recovery (February 27, 2010) -- Researchers have studied the changes in the make-up of animal populations following forest fires, and have concluded that malacological fauna are a good indicator of forest recovery. The conclusions of this study will help to ensure that post-fire forestry operations that do not harm these species of mollusks, which are sensitive to microclimatic conditions of the soil and vegetation structure. ... > full story
The pig and its pancreas: A unique model for a common disease (February 26, 2010) -- The incidence of diabetes is rising worldwide. Using genetic engineering techniques in pigs, scientists at in Germany have created a new model of this metabolic disorder, which recapitulates many features of the disease, and promises to contribute significantly to improvements in diagnosis and therapy. ... > full story
Scientists unlock key enzyme using newly created 'cool' method (February 26, 2010) -- Scientists -- using a new cooling method they created -- have uncovered the inner workings of a key iron-containing enzyme, a discovery that could help researchers develop new medicines or understand how enzymes repair DNA. Taurine/alpha-ketoglutarate dioxygenase, known as TauD, is a bacterial enzyme that is important in metabolism. Enzymes in this family repair DNA, sense oxygen and help produce antibiotics. ... > full story
How to make French fries with less acrylamide (February 26, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a technique to to reduce acrylamide in French fries on an industrial scale. Acrylamide is a product that may cause cancer and was discovered in various foods. ... > full story
Large Iceberg breaks off Antarctica's Mertz Glacier (February 26, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered the calving of a large iceberg from Antarctica's Mertz Glacier. The iceberg -- 78 kilometres long with a surface area of roughly 2,500 square kilometres, about the size of Luxembourg -- broke off after being rammed by another iceberg, 97 kilometres long. The future position of the two giant icebergs will likely affect local ocean circulation, experts predict. ... > full story
Ancient DNA reveals caribou history linked to volcanic eruption (February 26, 2010) -- DNA recovered from ancient caribou bones reveals a possible link between several small unique caribou herds and a massive volcanic eruption that blanketed much of the Alaskan Yukon territory in a thick layer of ash 1,000 years ago, researchers report. ... > full story
Single-dose HIV DNA vaccine induces long-lasting immune response in monkeys (February 26, 2010) -- For the first time researchers from the U.S. and abroad have shown a single-dose HIV DNA vaccine can induce a long-lasting HIV-specific immune response in nonhuman primates, a discovery that could prove significant in the development of HIV vaccines. ... > full story
Does promiscuity prevent extinction? (February 26, 2010) -- Promiscuous females may be the key to a species' survival, according to new research. The study could solve the mystery of why females of most species have multiple mates, despite this being more risky for the individual. ... > full story
Single-dose H5N1 vaccine safe and effective in adults and elderly (February 26, 2010) -- Researchers from Hungary and the UK have developed a single-dose H5N1 influenza vaccine that induces a protective level of immunity against infection in healthy adult and elderly volunteers. The vaccine is the first single-dose regimen to be tested in elderly subjects and it fulfills all European Union and U.S. licensing criteria offering a promising influenza A virus vaccine candidate. ... > full story
Copyright 1995-2008 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
|
 To update/change your account click here  |
No comments:
Post a Comment