The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Monday, June 13, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Monday, June 13, 2011

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Tuning 'metasurface' with fluid in new concept for sensing and chemistry (June 13, 2011) -- Researchers have demonstrated a unique fluid-tuned "metasurface," a concept that may be useful in biomedical sensors and microwave-assisted chemistry. ... > full story

Silver from the Americas may have entered the Spanish economy later than thought (June 13, 2011) -- European metal dominated Spanish silver coinage up until the reign of Philippe III (1578-1621) and it was only in the 18th century that it was completely replaced by Mexican metal. Using mass spectrometry analyses, researchers have succeeded in determining the provenance of coinage circulating in Spain after 1492. These results call into question the hypothesis according to which the massive influx of metals from the New World was directly responsible for the inflation that occurred in Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries. ... > full story

Walking microdroplets collect viruses and bacteria (June 13, 2011) -- A barely visible, electric field-controlled droplet moves on an appropriately prepared surface, harvesting viruses, bacteria and protein molecules deposited on it. This is how a novel method of collecting bioparticles looks like in real life. The method has been for the first time successfully tested by a team of researchers Poland and France. The results of the tests have implications for the development of microsystems for chemical analyses, especially those dedicated to monitoring bioparticles present in the air. ... > full story

Chemistry with sunlight: Combining electrochemistry and photovoltaics to clean up oxidation reactions (June 12, 2011) -- Researchers can make the oxidation reactions used in the synthesis of organic molecules cleaner by hitching photovoltaics to electrochemistry. The idea is simple and yet it has huge implications. To underscore the simplicity of the idea, researchers used a solar cell sold on the Internet and intended to power toy cars to run a variety of chemical reactions. If their suggestion were widely adopted by the chemical industry, it would eliminate the toxic byproducts currently produced by a class of reactions commonly used in chemical synthesis -- and with them the environmental and economic damage they cause. ... > full story

Non-alcoholic wheat beer boosts athletes' health, sport doctors say (June 12, 2011) -- Amateur athletes have long suspected what sports medicine researchers in Germany have now made official: evidence, gathered during the world's largest study of marathons, that consumption of non-alcoholic weissbier, or wheat beer, has a positive effect on athletes' health. ... > full story

Citrate key in bone's nanostructure (June 12, 2011) -- Scientists have identified the composition that gives bone its outstanding properties and the important role citrate plays, work that may help science better understand and treat or prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis. ... > full story

Using waste heat from automobile exhaust (June 12, 2011) -- With the completion of a successful prototype, engineers have made a major step toward addressing one of the leading problems in energy use around the world today -- the waste of half or more of the energy produced by cars, factories and power plants. New technology is being developed to capture and use the low-to-medium grade waste heat that's now going out the exhaust pipe of millions of automobiles, diesel generators, or being wasted by factories and electrical utilities. ... > full story

Eight substances added to U.S. Report on Carcinogens, including formaldehyde, may increase cancer risk (June 12, 2011) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had added eight substances to its Report on Carcinogens, a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may put people at increased risk for cancer. The industrial chemical formaldehyde and a botanical known as aristolochic acids are listed as known human carcinogens. Six other substances -- captafol, cobalt-tungsten carbide (in powder or hard metal form), certain inhalable glass wool fibers, o-nitrotoluene, riddelliine, and styrene -- are added as substances that are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. ... > full story

Nighttime lights clarify economic activity: Combining lights and statistics may yield high-resolution global economic data (June 12, 2011) -- The glow of lights in a city at night means different things to different people. For some, the amazing hues along Broadway, the Las Vegas Strip or the Sunset Strip in Hollywood mean a fun night out. For an economist, these dazzling lights signify people's pockets are flush with cash; and in fact, a new study confirms it. ... > full story

Researchers link cell division and oxygen levels; Findings also solve long-standing paradox (June 12, 2011) -- Cells grow abundant when oxygen is available, and generally stop when it is scarce. Although this seems straightforward, no direct link ever has been established between the cellular machinery that senses oxygen and that which controls cell division. Now, researchers report that the MCM proteins, which promote cell division, also directly control the oxygen-sensing HIF-1 protein. ... > full story

Chasing EHEC via computer: Scientists in Germany provide free access to enteric pathogen's genetic regulation data (June 12, 2011) -- Just a few genes make enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) extremely dangerous to humans. If it were not for these genes, EHEC would hardly differ from harmless enteric bacteria. Bioinformatics scientists from Germany want to exploit this similarity to find starting points for effective drugs against the EHEC pathogen. In a very short time, the scientists have constructed EhecRegNet, a database and analysis platform that incorporates all known interactions between enteric E. coli genes. Using integrated simulations, genetic switches for the dangerous EHEC genes can be identified much faster and used medically. The virtual laboratory will thus help biomedical scientists and pharmacists all over the world to develop new drugs. ... > full story

Photosynthesis mechanics: Tapping into plants is the key to combat climate change, says scientist (June 11, 2011) -- The mechanics behind photosynthesis in plants could be used in the fight against climate change, according to one scientist. ... > full story

Key function of enzyme involved in RNA processing described (June 11, 2011) -- Researchers have identified a cellular mechanism that is critical in maintaining normal cell function. They examined the function of TRAMP, a protein complex involved in the processing of RNA or ribonucleic acid within the cell. They identified a key function for the protein Mtr4p in a process that initiates the degradation of select RNAs, a necessary step in preserving normal cell function. ... > full story

'Super varieties' of wheat expected to boost yields and block deadly threat to food security (June 11, 2011) -- Five years after the launch of a global effort to protect the world's most important food crop from variants of Ug99, a new and deadly form of wheat rust, scientists say they are close to producing super varieties of wheat that will resist the potent pathogen, while boosting yields by as much as 15 percent. ... > full story

Communicating in a crisis: Researchers devise new technique to help rescuers communicate after terrorist attacks (June 11, 2011) -- In the aftermath of the London bombings mobile phones and radios stopped working making the already tricky rescue operation even more difficult. Now experts have developed a solution to ensure breakdowns in communication are a thing of the past for emergency workers responding to disasters. ... > full story

Earth from space: A gush of volcanic gas (June 11, 2011) -- A new image shows the huge plume of sulphur dioxide that spewed from Chile’s Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex, which lies in the Andes about 600 km south of Santiago. ... > full story

New constellations of species change ecosystems (June 11, 2011) -- Human activities that are causing global climate changes and destroying habitats in nature are leading to the extinction of many species from Earth's ecosystems. At the same time, many species are expanding the range of their habitat. In a new article, scientists offer suggestions for how research can get better at understanding species loss and the simultaneous gain of new species and how this affects the function of the ecosystem. ... > full story

Biologists uncover regulatory mechanism for gene expression in the visual system (June 10, 2011) -- Biologists have uncovered a key regulatory mechanism used for gene expression in the visual system. Their findings offer new insights into the complexity behind the genetic make-up of biological systems. ... > full story

Two isolates from E. coli outbreak sequenced (June 10, 2011) -- An outbreak of Escherichia coli causing a severe illness called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) began in Germany on May 2, 2011 and has killed more than 20 people and sickened more than 2,000. The organism causing the outbreak has been identified as a strain of E. coli O104:H4 that produces a Shiga toxin and causes an illness similar to infection with E. coli O157:H7. Two isolates from this outbreak have been sequenced. Both strains, TY-2482 and LB226692, have been annotated. ... > full story

Landsat satellite images compare before and after Massachusetts tornado (June 10, 2011) -- Satellites provide a lot of useful information and the Landsat 5 satellite captured an image of the long damage track created on June 1, 2011, when a tornado tracked from Springfield to Sturbridge, Mass. An earlier image is now available from 2010 that enables people to more clearly see the damage path the June 2011 twister created on its eastward track. ... > full story

Fighting oil-spills with air-bubbles (June 10, 2011) -- Curtains of air-bubbles are turning out to be a new method of fighting oil-spills. The bubbles gather up the oil efficiently, even in winds and strong currents, and keep it together in a "pool". ... > full story

New parallelization technique boosts computers' ability to model biological systems (June 10, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a new technique for using multi-core chips more efficiently, significantly enhancing a computer's ability to build computer models of biological systems. The technique improved the efficiency of algorithms used to build models of biological systems more than seven-fold, creating more realistic models that can account for uncertainty and biological variation. This could impact research areas ranging from drug development to the engineering of biofuels. ... > full story

NASA's 'Age of Aquarius' dawns with California launch (June 10, 2011) -- NASA's 'Age of Aquarius' has dawned with the launch of an international satellite carrying the agency-built Aquarius instrument that will measure the saltiness of Earth's oceans to advance our understanding of the global water cycle and improve climate forecasts. ... > full story

Venice to suffer fewer storm surges (June 10, 2011) -- Venice -- the "City of Dreams" -- may have one less nightmare to deal with following a finding that the frequency of extreme storm surge events generated by Adriatic Sea tempests could fall by about 30 percent by 2100. ... > full story

Meteorite holds clues to organic chemistry of early Earth (June 10, 2011) -- Carbonaceous chondrites are organic-rich meteorites that contain samples of the materials that took part in the creation of our planets nearly 4.6 billion years ago. The complex suite of organic materials found in carbonaceous chondrites can vary substantially. New research shows that most of these variations are the result of hydrothermal activity that took place within a few million years of the solar system's formation, when the meteorites were still part of larger bodies. ... > full story

How cells' sensing hairs are made (June 10, 2011) -- New research provides insights into how sensory hairs, or cilia, on the surface of cells are assembled. ... > full story

Adjustable valves gave ancient plants the edge (June 10, 2011) -- Controlling water loss is an important ability for modern land plants as it helps them thrive in changing environments. New research shows that water conserving innovations occurred very early in plants' evolutionary history. ... > full story

Chemists devise better way to prepare workhorse molecules (June 10, 2011) -- Scientists report a new environmentally friendly way to make substituted aromatic molecules that can be customized for different industrial needs. ... > full story

Saving wildlife with forensic genetics (June 10, 2011) -- Using forensic genetics techniques, the University of Arizona's Conservation Genetics Lab is working to protect wild animals and catch the criminals in cases of wildlife crime. ... > full story

Deaths and major morbidity from asbestos-related diseases in Asia likely to surge in next 20 years, experts warn (June 10, 2011) -- An alarming new article issues a serious warning of massive rises in deaths from asbestos-related lung diseases in Asia. Asian countries accounted for 64% of the global consumption of asbestos in the period of 2001-2007, a striking increase from 14% between 1920 and 1970. This is a result of unregulated asbestos import and use in many Asian countries. ... > full story

NASA goes below the surface to understand salinity (June 10, 2011) -- When NASA's Aquarius mission launches, its radiometer instruments will take a "skin" reading of the oceans' salt content at the surface. From these data of salinity in the top 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) of the ocean surface, Aquarius will create weekly and monthly maps of ocean surface salinity all over the globe for at least three years. To better understand what's driving changes and fluctuations in salinity -- and how those changes relate to an acceleration of the global water cycle and climate change -- scientists will go deeper. ... > full story

Genome sequence could reveal 'Achilles' heels' of important wheat disease (June 10, 2011) -- New research provides insights into how an important fungal disease is able to evade wheat's defenses. The researchers hope that the study, which reveals the fungus' complete genome sequence, will enable them to breed resistant crop plants or improve the use of pesticides. ... > full story

Significant litter of cheetah cubs born at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (June 10, 2011) -- Five cheetah cubs were born May 28 at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va. This litter is particularly significant to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for cheetahs because cheetah births in zoos across the country have dwindled. The SSP matches animals across the country to ensure genetic diversity in the population. This is the only litter of cheetahs born this year in a North American zoo. ... > full story

Why animals don't have infrared vision: Source of the visual system's 'false alarms' discovered (June 9, 2011) -- On rare occasion, the light-sensing photoreceptor cells in the eye misfire and signal to the brain as if they have captured photons, when in reality they haven't. For years this phenomenon remained a mystery. Neuroscientists have now discovered that a light-capturing pigment molecule in photoreceptors can be triggered by heat, as well, giving rise to these false alarms. ... > full story

Swine flu spread was much wider than first thought, scientists say (June 9, 2011) -- The swine flu outbreak of winter 2009-2010 was much more widespread than was previously realized, research suggests. ... > full story

Early agricultural piracy informs the domestication of rice (June 9, 2011) -- Researchers are casting new light on the origins of rice. By reconciling two theories, scientists show that the domestication of rice occurred at least twice independently but with extensive "borrowing" between the two subspecies. ... > full story

Study confirms safety, cancer-targeting ability of nutrient in broccoli, other vegetables, researchers say (June 9, 2011) -- Sulforaphane, one of the primary phytochemicals in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables that helps them prevent cancer, has been shown for the first time to selectively target and kill cancer cells while leaving normal prostate cells healthy and unaffected. The findings are another important step forward for the potential use of sulforaphone in cancer prevention and treatment. ... > full story

'Biological circuit' components developed; New microscope technique for measuring them (June 9, 2011) -- Electrical engineers have long been toying with the idea of designing biological molecules that can be directly integrated into electronic circuits. Researchers have developed a way to form these structures so they can operate in open-air environments, and, more important, have developed a new microscope technique that can measure the electrical properties of these and similar devices. ... > full story

Canine connection: Study explores how dogs think and learn about human behavior (June 9, 2011) -- Dog owners often attest to their canine companion's seeming ability to read their minds. How do dogs learn to beg for food or behave badly primarily when we're not looking? According to one research team, the way that dogs come to respond to the level of people’s attentiveness tells us something about the ways dogs think and learn about human behavior. Their research suggests it is down to a combination of specific cues, context and previous experience. ... > full story

Huge ancient language dictionary finished after 90 years (June 9, 2011) -- An ambitious project to identify, explain and provide citations for the words written in cuneiform on clay tablets and carved in stone by Babylonians, Assyrians and others in Mesopotamia between 2500 B.C. and A.D. 100 has been completed after 90 years of labor. ... > full story

Aircraft systems in the environmental chamber (June 9, 2011) -- How can air transport be made more environmentally compatible, economical and sustainable? A flight test facility in Germany is soon to be expanded with the installation of a thermal test bench for aircraft systems, with the aim of achieving efficient energy management onboard. ... > full story

Competition between females leads to infanticide in some primates (June 9, 2011) -- An international team of scientists has shed light on cannibalism and infanticide carried out by primates, documenting these acts for the first time in the mustached tamarin (Saguinus mystax). The mothers, which cannot raise their infants without help from male group members, commit infanticide in order to prevent the subsequent death of their offspring if they are stressed and in competition with other females. ... > full story

Can evolution outpace climate change? Tiny seashore animal suggests not (June 9, 2011) -- Animals and plants may not be able to evolve their way out of the threat posed by climate change, according to a new study of a tiny seashore animal. ... > full story

An alternative to antibiotics (June 9, 2011) -- Antibiotics are among the greatest achievements of medical science. But lately the former multipurpose weapon fails in the battle against infectious diseases. Bacteria are increasingly developing resistance to antibiotics. Researchers have now found a therapeutic equivalent which could replace penicillin and related pharmaceuticals. ... > full story

Ecology biased against non-native species? (June 9, 2011) -- Nineteen eminent ecologists issue a call to "end the bias against non-native species" in a new commentary. Often called aliens, hitchhikers or invasives, non-native species could just as easily be coined "abductees" whose transport links to activities by humans, some scientists say. ... > full story

Water's surface not all wet: Some water molecules split the difference between gas and liquid (June 9, 2011) -- At any one time, one quarter of water molecules in the uppermost layer have one hydrogen atom in water and the other vibrating freely above. Such molecules straddle gas and liquid phases, according to a new study that bears on atmospheric chemistry and raises the question of how exactly to define the air-water boundary. ... > full story

Stable temperatures boost biodiversity in tropical mountains, study finds (June 9, 2011) -- We often think of rainforests and coral reefs as hotspots for biodiversity, but mountains are treasure troves for species too -- especially in the tropics, scientists say. But what drives montane biodiversity? The diversity of plants and animals in tropical mountain ranges may have something to do with the stable seasonal temperatures found in the tropics relative to higher latitudes, says a new study. ... > full story

Asteroid served up 'custom orders' of life's ingredients (June 9, 2011) -- Some asteroids may have been like "molecular factories" cranking out life's ingredients and shipping them to Earth via meteorite impacts, according to scientists who've made discoveries of molecules essential for life in material from certain kinds of asteroids and comets. Now it appears that at least one may have been less like a rigid assembly line and more like a flexible diner that doesn't mind making changes to the menu. ... > full story