The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Monday, June 20, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Monday, June 20, 2011

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Arctic snow can harbor deadly assassin: Killer fungal strains (June 20, 2011) -- Heavy and prolonged snowfall can bring about unexpected conditions that encourage fungal growth, leading to the death of plants in the Arctic, according to experts. A new international study confirms that while snow has an insulating effect which helps plants to grow bigger, heavy and prolonged snow can, in certain circumstances, also encourage the rapid and extensive growth of killer fungal strains. ... > full story

From seawater to freshwater with a nanotechnology filter (June 20, 2011) -- In a new article, researchers describe the role that carbon nanotubes could play in the desalination of water, providing a possible solution to the problem of the world's ever-growing population demanding more and more fresh drinking water. ... > full story

Finding reserves on the electrical grid (June 20, 2011) -- The weather determines how much energy wind turbine systems provide. The same applies to power line capacity. On cold and stormy days, this capacity is higher than on days with no wind and high mid-summer temperatures. An autonomously powered sensor network monitors power lines to find the reserves in the lines. ... > full story

Grab the leash: Dog walkers more likely to reach exercise benchmarks (June 20, 2011) -- Man's best friend may provide more than just faithful companionship: A new study shows people who owned and walked their dogs were 34 percent more likely to meet federal benchmarks on physical activity. The results show that promoting dog ownership and dog walking could help many Americans -- of which fewer than half meet recommended levels of leisure-time physical activity -- become healthier. ... > full story

Cave researchers explore stream-filled cavern at entrance to Jerusalem (June 19, 2011) -- Researchers have conducted an initial survey of what appears to be an important, ancient water source in a cave that was been discovered during excavation work for a new train station being constructed at the entrance to Jerusalem. ... > full story

Molecular movements could lead to new way to treat cancer (June 19, 2011) -- New research could point to a new way to treat aggressive types of cancer. Scientists have found that a molecule called Met is responsible for stimulating the growth and spread of cancer because it is relocating to the wrong part of the cell. Experiments in the lab suggest that moving Met molecules from the inside of the cell to the cell surface could halt the growth of cancer cells and even cause tumors to shrink. ... > full story

'Lost' bats found breeding on UK's Isles of Scilly (June 19, 2011) -- A biologist has discovered a "lost" species of bat breeding on the Isles of Scilly (UK). A pregnant female brown long-eared bat is the first of its species to be found on the islands for at least 40 years. ... > full story

Mimivirus isolated, genome amputated (June 19, 2011) -- In the absence of competition with other microorganisms, Mimivirus, the largest known DNA virus, loses 17% of its genome. ... > full story

More evidence vitamin D boosts immune response (June 18, 2011) -- Laboratory-grown gingival cells treated with vitamin D boosted their production of an endogenous antibiotic, and killed more bacteria than untreated cells, according to a new study. The research suggests that vitamin D can help protect the gums from bacterial infections that lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontitis affects up to 50 percent of the US population, is a major cause of tooth loss, and can also contribute to heart disease. Most Americans are deficient in vitamin D. ... > full story

New clues about protein linked to Parkinson's disease: Structural biologists measure energy difference between protein variants (June 18, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered structural clues about the protein linked to Parkinson's disease, which ultimately could lead to finding a cure for the degenerative neurological disorder. ... > full story

Dawn of agriculture took toll on health (June 18, 2011) -- When populations around the globe started turning to agriculture around 10,000 years ago, regardless of their locations and type of crops, a similar trend occurred: the height and health of the people declined. The pattern holds up across standardized studies of whole skeletons in populations, say researchers in the first comprehensive, global review of the literature regarding stature and health during the agriculture transition. ... > full story

Ocean's harmful low-oxygen zones growing, are sensitive to small changes in climate (June 18, 2011) -- Scientists report a connection between climate fluctuations and the habitability of marine ecosystems by modeling the expansion and contraction of low-oxygen zones that are dangerous for ocean life. The team found that the size of low-oxygen ocean regions is extremely sensitive to changes in their depth caused by oscillations in climate. ... > full story

Tapeworm drug inhibits colon cancer metastasis (June 17, 2011) -- A compound that for about 60 years has been used as a drug against tapeworm infection is also apparently effective against colon cancer metastasis, as studies using mice have shown. The compound silences a gene that triggers the formation of metastases in colon cancer. Researchers in Germany made this discovery in collaboration with researchers in the U.S. Plans are already underway to conduct a clinical trial. ... > full story

Size matters -- in virulent fungal spores -- and suggests ways to stop a killer (June 17, 2011) -- Scientists have found that larger fungal spores can be more lethal. Their findings about two different spore sizes of the fungus Mucor circinelloides, a pathogen that kills half or more of its victims, could help to develop new treatments and fight other types of fungal infections. Mucor infection is in the news as an environmental fungus contracted by people who had trauma in the wake of tornadoes in Joplin, Mo. ... > full story

Nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbiont promises trove of natural products (June 17, 2011) -- Soil-dwelling bacteria of the genus Frankia have the potential to produce a multitude of natural products, including antibiotics, herbicides, pigments, anticancer agents, and other useful products, according to new research. ... > full story

How the immune system fights back against anthrax infections (June 17, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered how the body's immune system launches its survival response to the notorious and deadly bacterium anthrax. The findings describe key emergency signals the body sends out when challenged by a life-threatening infection. ... > full story

Gatekeepers: How microbes make it past tight spaces between cells (June 17, 2011) -- There are ten microbial cells for every one human cell in the body, and microbiology dogma holds that there is a tight barrier protecting the inside of the body from outside invaders, in this case bacteria. Bacterial pathogens can break this barrier to cause infection and researchers wondered how microbes get inside the host and circulate in the first place. They tested to see if microbes somehow weaken host cell defenses to enter tissues. ... > full story

Where have all the flowers gone? High-mountain wildflower season reduced, affecting pollinators like bees, hummingbirds (June 17, 2011) -- It's summer wildflower season in the Rocky Mountains, a time when high-peaks meadows are dotted with riotous color. But for how long? Once, wildflower season in montane meadow ecosystems extended throughout the summer months. But now scientists have found a fall-off in wildflowers at mid-season. ... > full story

Heightened immunity to colds makes asthma flare-ups worse, study suggests (June 17, 2011) -- People often talk about "boosting" their immunity to prevent and fight colds. Nutritional supplements, cold remedies and fortified foods claim to stave off colds by augmenting the immune system. But new research suggests that tempering the immune response -- rather than enhancing it -- in asthma patients might be a better strategy when combating cold symptoms. ... > full story

Lyme disease bacteria take cover in lymph nodes (June 17, 2011) -- The bacteria that cause Lyme disease appear to hide out in the lymph nodes, triggering a significant immune response, but one that is not strong enough to rout the infection, report researchers. ... > full story

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

Consumers express their concern about the EHEC bacteria (June 17, 2011) -- The news coverage of the deadly EHEC bacteria outbreak in Europe came as a bombshell. Researchers examined 6132 reactions of Belgian newspaper readers after reading the first news reports. As expected, people are scared and worried, but governmental trust decreases fear and leads to a higher intention to keep on eating fresh produce. ... > full story

Simulation models offer clarity with regard to energy transition decisions (June 17, 2011) -- As a way of eliminating energy-guzzling incandescent light bulbs from our supermarket shelves, a tax on incandescent light bulbs would be just as effective as an outright ban. Subsidizing new technology, such as Led lighting, could actually reduce its sales, as this can lead to a relatively large number of people buying a light with teething problems, giving the new technology a bad name. ... > full story

For third consecutive year, Spanish Institute of Oceanography obtains massive bluefin tuna spawnings in captivity (June 17, 2011) -- Scientists from the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO) have once again obtained viable bluefin tuna spawnings in their facilities in Murcia without the need for hormonal induction. A new opportunity to study the way in which this endangered species reproduces in captivity. The researchers are confident that they will achieve far greater results than those obtained over the past two years wherein survival rates of between 73 and 110 days respectively, were obtained. ... > 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

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