The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Friday, June 17, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Friday, June 17, 2011

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Landsat 5 satellite helps emergency managers fight largest fire in Arizona history (June 17, 2011) -- The largest fire in the history of the state of Arizona continues to burn and emergency managers and responders are using satellite data from a variety of instruments to plan their firefighting containment strategies and mitigation efforts once the fires are out. ... > full story

Zebra mussel invasion in Spain is irreversible, experts say (June 17, 2011) -- Scientists have characterizes eleven zebra mussel populations in the Ebro and the Júcar River Basin District and concludes that the arrival of this exotic species to Spanish river basins is "virtually irreversible". These research results, however, will help devise specific control strategies. ... > full story

Scientists develop a fatty 'kryptonite' to defeat multidrug-resistant 'super bugs' (June 17, 2011) -- "Super bugs," which can cause wide-spread disease and may be resistant to most, if not all, conventional antibiotics, still have their weaknesses. A team of Canadian scientists discovered that specific mixtures of antimicrobial agents presented in lipid (fatty) mixtures can significantly boost the effectiveness of those agents to kill the resistant bacteria. ... > full story

Plants teach humans a thing or two about fighting diseases (June 17, 2011) -- Avoiding germs to prevent sickness is commonplace for people. Wash hands often. Sneeze into your elbow. Those are among the tips humans learn. But plants, which are also vulnerable to pathogens, have to fend it alone. They grow where planted, in an environment teeming with microbes and other substances ready to attack. Texas scientists have learned from plants' immune response new information that could help understand humans' ability to ward off sickness. ... > full story

Scientists learn how horseweed shrugs off herbicide (June 17, 2011) -- A team of scientists was able to follow molecules of the glyphosate-based Roundup herbicides as they entered a resistant weed and to discover exactly how the plant disarms it. In a new paper, they describe a herbicide application technique that can be used to outfox the resistance mechanism they had discovered. ... > full story

Important aspects of signaling across cell membranes in plants revealed (June 16, 2011) -- Every living plant cell and animal cell is surrounded by a membrane that helps it communicate with other cells and the outside world. These cellular membranes contain receptor molecules that serve as the cell's eyes and ears. ... > full story

Fly larvae used to remove organic waste on an industrial scale (June 16, 2011) -- Researchers have used fly larvae to reduce animal feces and manure in a sustainable manner. ... > full story

A knockout resource for mouse genetics: Mouse gene knockout resource will empower mammalian gene studies for a generation (June 16, 2011) -- Researchers report that they have knocked out almost 40 percent of the genes in the mouse genome. The results are founded on a novel, efficient production line that targets each specific gene in turn. This developing resource will be essential in our understanding of the role of genes in all mammals -- including humans. The completed resource will power studies in models of human disease. ... > full story

Neutrons, simulations reveal details of molecule that complicates next-generation biofuels (June 16, 2011) -- A first-of-its-kind combination of experiment and simulation at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory is providing a close-up look at the molecule that complicates next-generation biofuels. Lignin, a major component of plant cell walls, aggregates to form clumps, which cause problems during the production of cellulosic ethanol. The exact shape and structure of the aggregates, however, have remained largely unknown. Researchers have revealed the surface structure of lignin aggregates down to 1 angstrom -- the equivalent of a 10 billionth of a meter or smaller than the width of a carbon atom. ... > full story

Old, large, living trees must be left standing to protect nesting animals, study shows (June 16, 2011) -- Old trees must be protected to save the homes of more than 1,000 different bird and mammal species who nest, says a new study. Most animals can't carve out their own tree holes and rely on holes already formed. The study found that outside of North America, most animals nest in tree holes formed by damage and decay, a process that can take several centuries. ... > full story

Port of Athens was once an island, French-Greek team finds (June 16, 2011) -- Piraeus, the main port of Athens, was an island from 4 800 -- 3 400 BC, in other words 4 500 years before the Parthenon was built on the Acropolis. This discovery was made by a French-Greek team who studied and dated sediments collected in the Piraeus area. ... > full story

First self-powered device with wireless data transmission (June 16, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting development of the first self-powered nano-device that can transmit data wirelessly over long distances. Researchers say it proves the feasibility of a futuristic genre of tiny implantable medical sensors, airborne and stationary surveillance cameras and sensors, wearable personal electronics, and other devices that operate independently without batteries on energy collected from the environment. ... > full story

What will climate change and sea level rise mean for barrier islands? (June 16, 2011) -- A new survey of barrier islands offers the most thorough assessment to date of the thousands of small islands that hug the coasts of the world's landmasses. The study offers new insight into how the islands form and evolve over time -- and how they may fare as the climate changes and sea level rises. ... > full story

Golden algae responsible for killing millions of fish is less toxic in sunlight (June 16, 2011) -- A new study has found that sunlight decreases the toxicity of golden algae, which kills millions of fish in the southern United States every year. ... > full story

Fish weight-watchers (June 16, 2011) -- Telling your partner to watch her weight is not recommended -- unless you're a male cleaner fish, according to a new study. ... > full story

Life after 'Snowball Earth': New fossils suggest rapid recovery of life after global freeze (June 16, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered hundreds of microscopic fossils in rocks dating back nearly 710 million years, around the time when the planet emerged from a global glaciation, or "Snowball Earth," event. The fossils are remnants of tiny, amoeba-like organisms that likely survived the harsh post-glacial environment by building armor and reaching out with microscopic "feet" to grab minerals from the environment, cobbling particles together to make protective shells. ... > full story

E. coli bacteria more likely to develop resistance after exposure to low levels of antibiotics (June 16, 2011) -- E. coli bacteria exposed to three common antibiotics were more likely to develop antibiotic resistance following low-level antibiotic exposure than after exposure to high concentrations that would kill the bacteria or inhibit their growth, according to a timely article. ... > full story

What makes a plant a plant? (June 16, 2011) -- Although scientists have been able to sequence the genomes of many organisms, they still lack a context for associating the proteins encoded in genes with specific biological processes. To better understand the genetics underlying plant physiology and ecology -- especially in regard to photosynthesis -- a team of researchers has identified a list of proteins encoded in the genomes of plants and green algae, but not in the genomes of organisms that don't generate energy through photosynthesis. ... > full story

Early French had a taste for beer (June 16, 2011) -- A new study unveils archaeobotanical evidence of beer brewing in Iron Age France. ... > full story

Scientists override errant form of genetic signaling for first time: Changing genetic 'red light' to green holds promise for treating disease (June 16, 2011) -- Researchers found a new way to surpass a common mutation that is estimated to cause a third of genetic disorders. The mutation causes the body to create shortened, disabled proteins, which lead to disease like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and cancer. The newly discovered approach directs the body to create normal, full-length proteins and could aid the development of treatment strategies to change the course of these, and other debilitating genetic conditions. ... > full story

'Glowing hands' in the waiting room improves kids' handwashing (June 16, 2011) -- Hand-hygiene in children was improved with the use of a glowing gel that, when black lit, illustrates bacteria on hands, even after washing. ... > full story

Dating an ancient episode of severe global warming (June 16, 2011) -- Using sophisticated methods of dating rocks, scientists have pinned down the timing of the start of an episode of an ancient global warming known as the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, with implications for the triggering mechanism. ... > full story

When singing mice choose a mate, a skillful song gets the gal (June 16, 2011) -- Like rock stars of the rodent world, the flashiest performers of a Central American mouse species get the most attention from the ladies, a new study shows. ... > full story

Leaky genes put evolution on the fast track, researchers find (June 16, 2011) -- Small genetic mutations that add up over time could create an evolutionary express lane that leads to the rapid development of new traits, researchers report. ... > full story

Using olive oil in your diet may prevent a stroke (June 16, 2011) -- A new study suggests that consuming olive oil may help prevent a stroke in older people. ... > full story

The mushroom with no name (June 16, 2011) -- A rare species of fungus discovered growing in Scotland has been chosen to feature in a nationwide competition to give it a name. ... > full story

Landsat 5 satellite sees Mississippi River floodwaters lingering (June 16, 2011) -- In a Landsat 5 satellite image captured June 11, 2011, flooding is still evident both east and west of the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Miss. Standing water is most apparent, however, in the floodplain between the Yazoo and Mississippi rivers north of Vicksburg. ... > full story

Fortifying corn masa flour with folic acid could prevent birth defects, March of Dimes says (June 16, 2011) -- Fortifying corn masa flour with the B vitamin folic acid could prevent more serious birth defects of the brain and spine in the Hispanic community, according to a March of Dimes commentary. ... > full story

New supercomputer will chase novel genes (June 16, 2011) -- A new supercomputer having Northern Europe's largest 'shared memory' can quickly and efficiently process the enormous quantities of genetic information, which is key to advances in green biotechnology, using DNA from tens of thousands of microorganisms to create new cell factories. ... > full story

NASA satellite gallery shows Chilean volcano plume moving around the world (June 15, 2011) -- Since its eruption in early June, several NASA satellites have captured images of the ash plume from the eruption of the Chilean Volcano called Puyehue-Cordón Caulle and have tracked it around the world. NASA has collected them in an image gallery that shows the progression of the plume around the southern hemisphere. ... > full story

'SpongeBob' mushroom discovered in the forests of Borneo (June 15, 2011) -- A researcher has discovered Spongiforma squarepantsii, a new species of mushroom almost as strange as its cartoon namesake. ... > full story

Evidence of a natural origin for banned drug that plumps up livestock (June 15, 2011) -- There may be a natural solution to the mystery of how small amounts of a banned drug that disrupts thyroid function and plumps up livestock gets into their bodies -- and the bodies of humans, scientists are reporting. Their study reports the first evidence that the substance can form naturally in feed and food. ... > full story

Malaria vaccination strategy provides model for superior protection (June 15, 2011) -- A new study uncovers a powerful strategy for eliciting an immune response that can combat the parasite during multiple stages of its complex life cycle and describes what may be the most effective next-generation vaccination approach for malaria. ... > full story

European experts propose method to harmonize nuclear emergency plans (June 15, 2011) -- A team of European radiological protection specialists has developed a method to calculate benchmark values to help establish whether the local population should be required to take shelter or be evacuated or relocated following a nuclear accident. The study shows that these levels are more restrictive in wet environments than in dry ones. ... > full story

Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets may reduce both tumor growth rates and cancer risk (June 15, 2011) -- Eating a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet may reduce the risk of cancer and slow the growth of tumors already present, according to a new study. ... > full story

Wild winds: Changes in weather patterns creating more severe storms (June 15, 2011) -- A climate expert attributes the increase in the number and severity of tornadoes and severe storms in 2011 to a change in weather patterns. ... > full story

'Casanova gene' in female songbirds: Females inherit 'infidelity gene' from their fathers (June 15, 2011) -- It is assumed that many bird species are monogamous, yet infidelity is a widespread phenomenon. The advantage for the male seems obvious as in this way he can increase the number of his offspring. A female, however, mostly faces costs. The cuckolded partners often reduce their parental care. In addition, the extra lovers also may transmit diseases. Nevertheless, some females actively seek such contacts. Researchers investigated a large number of zebra finches and found a possible explanation for this behaviour. In a genetic long-term study they found that females inherit the disposition for their infidelity from their fathers. ... > full story

Using recycled cardboard in food packaging risks contaminating food with mineral oils, study finds (June 15, 2011) -- Harmful mineral oils from the printing inks used on cardboard can migrate into food if recycled cardboard is used for food packaging. It may contaminate food even if the recycled cardboard is used for the corrugated card transport box that holds individual packs. In tests on experimental packs of fine noodles, researchers in Zurich, Switzerland, found that food rapidly absorbed 10 times the recommended limit for concentration of these contaminating oils from the transport box. ... > full story

Wired for sound: A small fish's brain illustrates how people and other vertebrates produce sounds (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers have identified regions of a fish brain that reveal the basic circuitry for how humans and other vertebrates generate sound used for social communication. ... > full story

'Thermal pollution' in rivers not fully mediated by gravel augmentation (June 15, 2011) -- Although adding gravel to a river to replace lost sediments won't likely cool the whole river channel, it can create cool water refuges that protect fish from thermal pollution, according to a new study. ... > full story

Daytime sleepiness is associated with an increased craving for carbs among teens (June 15, 2011) -- In a new study, the intensity of self-reported craving for carbohydrates among 262 high school seniors increased in a linear relationship with the severity of subjective daytime sleepiness. The odds of having a strong craving for carbs were 50 percent higher among those with excessive daytime sleepiness. The rate of depression also was higher among students who had a strong craving for carbohydrates (34 percent) than among students who had little or no craving for carbs (22 percent). ... > full story

3-D tracking of single molecules inside cells using new multifocal plane microscopy method (June 15, 2011) -- Researchers are using a novel 3-D cell imaging method for studying the complex spatial-temporal dynamics of protein transport, providing a solution to this fundamental problem in cell biology. ... > full story

Rainwater harvest study finds roofing material affects water quality (June 15, 2011) -- Using rainwater from your roof to water plants seems simple enough, right? But a new study finds that the type of roofing material used can make a big difference in water quality. ... > full story

Stress may lead to better bird parenting (June 14, 2011) -- Birds with high levels of stress hormones have the highest mating success and offer better parental care to their brood, according to new biology research. ... > full story

Flooding of farmland does not increase levels of potentially harmful flame retardants in milk, study suggests (June 14, 2011) -- As millions of acres of farmland in the US Midwest and South recover from Mississippi River flooding, scientists report that river flooding can increase levels of potentially harmful flame retardants in farm soils. But the higher levels apparently do not find their way into the milk produced by cows that graze on these lands, according to a new study. ... > full story

Why hair turns gray: Communication between hair follicles and melanocyte stem cells key to mystery (June 14, 2011) -- A new study has shown that, for the first time, Wnt signaling, already known to control many biological processes, between hair follicles and melanocyte stem cells can dictate hair pigmentation. ... > full story

New cell type offers immunology hope (June 14, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered a new type of cell in the immune system. The new cell type, a kind of white blood cell, belongs to a family of T-cells that play a critical role in protection against infectious disease. Their findings could ultimately lead to the development of novel drugs that strengthen the immune response against particular types of infectious organisms. ... > full story

Salivating over wheat plants may net Hessian flies big meal or death (June 14, 2011) -- The interaction between a Hessian fly's saliva and the wheat plant it is attacking may be the key to whether the pest eats like a king or dies like a starving pauper, according to a new study. ... > full story