ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Wednesday, March 24, 2010
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Are hand sanitizers better than handwashing against the common cold? (March 24, 2010) -- A new study suggests that hand sanitizers containing ethanol are much more effective at removing rhinovirus from hands than washing with soap and water. Sanitizers containing both ethanol and organic acids significantly reduced recovery of the virus from hands and rhinovirus infection up to 4 hours following application. ... > full story
Indian spice may delay liver damage and cirrhosis, study suggests (March 24, 2010) -- Curcumin, one of the principal components of the Indian spice turmeric, seems to delay the liver damage that eventually causes cirrhosis, suggests preliminary experimental research. ... > full story
Could smell play a role in the origin of new bird species? (March 24, 2010) -- Two recently diverged populations of a southern California songbird produce unique odors, suggesting smell could contribute to the reproductive isolation that accompanies the origin of new bird species. ... > full story
Cup plant is potential new biomass/carbon storage crop (March 24, 2010) -- American researchers are exploring a native perennial called the cup plant as a potential new biomass crop that could also store carbon in its extensive root system and add biodiversity to biomass plantings. ... > full story
Marine conditions of Aralar mountain range of 120 million years ago (March 24, 2010) -- The Early Aptian (120 million years ago) was an age of intense volcanic activity on Earth, eruptions that emitted large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thus causing a revolution in the carbon cycle. As a consequence, great changes happened in the whole of the terrestrial system. A researcher in Spain has studied how these changes happened in the marine environment of the Aralar mountain range (at that time it was under the sea) in the Basque Country, and found more than one surprise. ... > full story
New method could revolutionize dating of ancient treasures (March 23, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a first-of-its-kind method for determining the age of ancient artifacts without causing damage to the objects. The method could help shed new light on the history of mummified bodies, old maps, cave paintings, and other treasures, they say. ... > full story
HIV vaccine strategy expands immune responses (March 23, 2010) -- Researchers have announced an HIV vaccination strategy that has been shown to expand the breadth and depth of immune responses in rhesus monkeys. Rhesus monkeys provide the best animal model currently available for testing HIV vaccines. ... > full story
Mouse work: New insights on a fundamental DNA repair mechanism (March 23, 2010) -- A team of researchers has demonstrated for the first time the specific activity of the protein NEIL3, one of a group responsible for maintaining the integrity of DNA in humans and other mammals. Their work sheds new light on a potentially important source of harmful DNA mutations. ... > full story
Destructive citrus disease affecting Florida could be combated with bacteria-resistant trees, early detection (March 23, 2010) -- Urgency, cooperation, and persistent management are needed among producers, processors, government officials, and scientists while solutions are developed and implemented to combat the citrus greening disease threatening Florida citrus production, says a new report from the National Research Council. ... > full story
New approach to water desalination could lead to small, portable units for disaster sites or remote locations (March 23, 2010) -- A new approach to desalination could lead to small, portable desalination units that could be powered by solar cells or batteries and could deliver enough fresh water to supply the needs of a family or small village. As an added bonus, the system would also remove many contaminants, viruses and bacteria at the same time. ... > full story
Ingredient in tequila plant may fight osteoporosis and other diseases (March 23, 2010) -- The plant that gave the world tequila contains a substance that seems ideal for use in a new genre of processed foods -- so-called "functional foods" -- with health benefits over and above serving as a source of nutrients, scientists report. ... > full story
Scientists share secret of how our cells make us tick (March 23, 2010) -- Scientists have shed light on a key control process within cells that helps ensure our bodies function efficiently. ... > full story
Precise model of tectonic-plate movements developed from 20-year study (March 23, 2010) -- When it comes to 3-D puzzles, Rubik's Cube pales in comparison with the latest creation from a team of geophysicists. They have just put the finishing touches on a 20-year effort to precisely describe the relative movements of the interlocking tectonic plates that make up about 97 percent of Earth's surface. ... > full story
Bird bones may be hollow, but they are also heavy (March 23, 2010) -- For centuries biologists have known that bird bones are hollow, and even elementary school children know that bird skeletons are lightweight to offset the high energy cost of flying. Nevertheless, many people are surprised to learn that bird skeletons do not actually weigh any less than the skeletons of similarly sized mammals. In other words, the skeleton of a two-ounce songbird weighs just as much as the skeleton of a two-ounce rodent. ... > full story
Mysterious stone spheres in Costa Rica investigated (March 23, 2010) -- Researchers are investigating the origin of the giant stone balls in Costa Rica that inspired the opening scenes of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." ... > full story
Growing by Biblical portions: Last Supper paintings over Millennium depict growing appetites (March 23, 2010) -- The sizes of the portions and plates in more than four dozen depictions of the Last Supper -- painted over the past 1,000 years -- have gradually grown bigger and bigger, according to a new study. ... > full story
Exploring the link between sunlight and multiple sclerosis (March 23, 2010) -- For more than 30 years, scientists have known that multiple sclerosis is much more common in higher latitudes than in the tropics. Because sunlight is more abundant near the equator, many researchers have wondered if the high levels of vitamin D engendered by sunlight could explain this unusual pattern of prevalence. ... > full story
How strong is your booze? True strength of alcohol revealed by new portable device (March 23, 2010) -- Both legitimate brewers and distillers -- and authorities on the track of illicit alcohol from home stills -- will soon have a helping hand. Measurement experts have unveiled a portable device to determine the strength of alcoholic drinks quickly and easily, almost anywhere. In a new study, the researchers show that their technique is just as accurate, and more sophisticated, than widely used lab-based methods. ... > full story
Fearless fish forget their phobias (March 23, 2010) -- Imagine if your fear of spiders, heights or flying could be cured with a simple injection. Research suggests that one day this could be a reality. ... > full story
How dinosaurs rose to prominence (March 23, 2010) -- How did dinosaurs become rulers of Earth more than 200 million years ago? Widespread volcanism and a spike in atmospheric carbon dioxide wiped out half of all plant species, and extinguished early crocodile relatives that had competed with the earliest dinosaurs, according to experts. ... > full story
Evolution of primordial chemical sensor, nociception, sniffed out (March 23, 2010) -- Whenever you choke on acrid cigarette smoke, feel like you're burning up from a mouthful of wasabi-laced sushi, or cry while cutting raw onions and garlic, your response is being triggered by a primordial chemical sensor conserved across some 500 million years of animal evolution, report scientists. ... > full story
Seafarers' scourge provides hope for biofuel future (March 23, 2010) -- For centuries, seafarers were plagued by wood-eating gribble that destroyed their ships, and these creatures continue to wreak damage on wooden piers and docks in coastal communities. But new research is uncovering how the tiny marine isopod digests could hold the key to converting wood and straw into liquid biofuels. ... > full story
Chagas disease surveillance focuses on palms, undercover bugs (March 23, 2010) -- Failure to detect disease vectors may result in increased disease risk. The first systematic study in the Amazon of surveillance techniques for the bugs that transmit Chagas disease takes into account the fact that sticky traps and manual searches often miss bugs living in palm trees. ... > full story
Apples for me, potato chips for you: Consumers buy healthier foods for themselves (March 23, 2010) -- Feel like Mom is pushing dessert? According to a new study consumers choose foods that are less healthy when they are purchasing for others. ... > full story
Walnuts slow prostate tumors in mice, study finds (March 23, 2010) -- Walnut consumption slows the growth of prostate cancer in mice and has beneficial effects on multiple genes related to the control of tumor growth and metabolism, researchers have found. ... > full story
Alcohol in moderation is good for sick hearts too, Italian study suggests (March 23, 2010) -- A new study shows that moderate consumption, one or two glasses of wine a day or the equivalent amounts of beer or other alcoholic beverages, significantly reduces the risk of death from any cause in those who already suffered from ischemic vascular disease. ... > full story
World has underestimated climate-change effects, expert argues (March 23, 2010) -- The world's policymakers have underestimated the potential dangerous impacts that man-made climate change will have on society, say a professor of earth and atmospheric sciences. ... > full story
Cracking the plant-cell membrane code (March 23, 2010) -- To engineer better crops and develop new drugs to combat disease, scientists look at how the sensor-laden membranes surrounding cells interact with their environment. But remarkably little is known about how proteins interact with these protective structures. For the first time for any multicellular organism, researchers have analyzed 3.4 million potential protein/membrane interactions and have found 65,000 unique relationships. ... > full story
Fishing discard ban could damage sea bird success, scientists warn (March 23, 2010) -- A proposed EU ban on throwing unwanted fish overboard from commercial boats could put one of the North Sea's most successful sea birds at risk, say researchers. ... > full story
Smelling scenery in stereo: Desert ants perceive odor maps in navigation (March 22, 2010) -- Desert ants are well-known for their remarkable orientation: they use a compass along with a step counter and visible landmarks to locate their nest. After researchers discovered that these ants can navigate also by using olfactory cues, they now found that the animals even can take advantage of the distribution of different odors in a map-like manner by utilizing their antennae to smell their environment in stereo. ... > full story
Eating less meat and dairy products won't have major impact on global warming, export argues (March 22, 2010) -- Consuming less meat and dairy products will fail to reverse global warming -- despite continual claims that link greenhouse-gas production to eating meat-rich diets, according to one expert. In a recent report, an air quality specialist discusses this popular misconception and describes why he believes it is steering society away from solutions to the global crisis. ... > full story
Sticky environmental problem with carpet tiles solved (March 22, 2010) -- A new adhesive for use in carpet tiles could help dramatically reduce their impact on the environment. The powerful adhesives currently used to bind the layers of carpet tiles together make it challenging to recycle them. In Europe, around 70 million kilograms of carpet tile waste is incinerated or sent to landfill sites every year. ... > full story
Sea creatures' sex protein provides new insight into diabetes (March 22, 2010) -- A genetic accident in the sea more than 500 million years ago has provided new insight into diabetes. New research findings could help to explain a rare form of the disease that causes sufferers to urinate more than three liters every day. ... > full story
Spying on a cellular director in the cutting room (March 22, 2010) -- Like a film director cutting out extraneous footage to create a blockbuster, the cellular machine called the spliceosome snips out unwanted stretches of genetic material and joins the remaining pieces to fashion a template for protein production. But more than box office revenues are at stake: if the spliceosome makes a careless cut, disease likely results. Researchers have now managed to spy on the splicing process in single molecules. ... > full story
Fossilized feces research produces new evidence related to giant crocodile (March 22, 2010) -- Ancient bite marks and fossilized feces discovered in Georgia are providing new details about a giant crocodile that roamed the Southeast United States about 79 million years ago. ... > full story
Detecting fake wine vintages: It's an (atomic) blast (March 22, 2010) -- Two decades of atomic bomb testing in the atmosphere are yielding a new test to determine whether that Bordeaux or burgundy really is from a vintage year and a commands premium price or actually is a counterfeit vin ordinaire or cheap plonk worth much less. ... > full story
Evolution more rapid than Darwin thought (March 22, 2010) -- Evolution can proceed much more rapidly than has long been thought. This is shown in new research on the impact of genetics and the environment on the color patterns of pygmy grasshoppers. ... > full story
Incorporating biofunctionality into nanomaterials for medical, environmental devices (March 22, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered how to use atomic layer deposition to incorporate "biological functionality" into complex nanomaterials, which could lead to a new generation of medical and environmental health applications. For example, the researchers show how the technology can be used to develop effective, low-cost water purification devices that could be used in developing countries. ... > full story
E-waste: Crude recycling methods used in developing countries contaminate air, water and soil, researchers say (March 22, 2010) -- A proposed US ban on the export of electronics waste won't accomplish its goal of stopping crude methods of recycling "e-waste" -- especially junked computers -- that are resulting in environmental damage in developing countries, researchers say. A new paper calls into question conventional thinking that trade bans can prevent "backyard recycling" of electronics waste -- primarily old and obsolete computers -- in developing countries. ... > full story
New bacteria strain points the way toward 'super sourdough' bread (March 22, 2010) -- Researchers have unveiled a potentially additive-free, more healthful sourdough loaf that could even taste better. More healthful breads of other kinds could be baked using a new bacterial ingredient in sourdough as well. ... > full story
Multifunctional polymer neutralizes both biological and chemical weapons (March 22, 2010) -- In an effort to mirror the ability of biological tissues to respond rapidly and appropriately to changing environments, scientists have synthesized a single, multifunctional polymer material that can decontaminate both biological and chemical toxins. ... > full story
Seaweed to tackle rising tide of obesity (March 22, 2010) -- In a new study, scientists in the UK have shown that by adding seaweed fiber to the diet you can reduce fat digestion by up to 75 percent. ... > full story
Researchers discover two new ways to kill TB bacteria; Findings could help tame extremely drug-resistant strains (March 22, 2010) -- Researchers have found two novel ways of killing the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, a disease responsible for an estimated two million deaths each year. The findings could lead to a potent TB therapy that would also prevent resistant TB strains from developing. ... > full story
Brewing up a gentler java: Dark-roasted coffee contains stomach-friendly ingredient (March 22, 2010) -- Stomach irritation preventing almost two out of every 10 people from enjoying coffee. Now, scientists report the discovery of several substances that may be among the culprits responsible for brewing up heartburn and stomach pain in every cup. ... > full story
Mastery of rare-earth elements vital to America's security (March 22, 2010) -- Used in everything from batteries to electric motors, rare earth elements are vital to America's security, a senior metallurgist at the US Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, told members of the Investigations & Oversight Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Technology. Yet, the great majority of rare earth mining and production currently takes place in China. ... > full story
Beluga sturgeon in Caspian Sea reclassified as 'critically endangered' (March 22, 2010) -- Beluga sturgeon in the Caspian Sea have been reclassified as "critically endangered" placing them on IUCN's Red List, providing strong evidence that fishing and international trade should be halted and a stock-rebuilding plan should be initiated immediately. Beluga sturgeon populations have been decimated in part due to unrelenting exploitation for black caviar -- the sturgeon's unfertilized eggs -- considered the finest in the world. ... > full story
Fungi can change quickly, pass along infectious ability (March 22, 2010) -- Fungi have significant potential for "horizontal" gene transfer, a new study has shown, similar to the mechanisms that allow bacteria to evolve so quickly, become resistant to antibiotics and cause other serious problems. ... > full story
Rapid increases in tree growth found in US (March 22, 2010) -- Rapid increases in tree growth in the US, slower tree growth in the tropics, new ideas about biodiversity, new methods for monitoring forest carbon stocks: These are among the mid-term results from the HSBC Climate Partnership. ... > full story
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