The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Friday, July 8, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Friday, July 8, 2011

Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.

Fire to become increasingly important driver of atmospheric change in warming world (July 8, 2011) -- Researchers say it is likely that fire will become an increasingly important driver of atmospheric change as the world warms. ... > full story

Molecular gastronomy: Science behind the art of cooking (July 8, 2011) -- Molecular gastronomy (a scientific discipline that studies what happens when we cook) has a lot of untapped potential in Ireland, researchers say. ... > full story

Discovery of natural antibody brings a universal flu vaccine a step closer (July 8, 2011) -- Annually changing flu vaccines with their hit-and-miss effectiveness may soon give way to a single, near-universal flu vaccine, according to a new report. Researchers describe an antibody that, in animal tests, can prevent or cure infections with a broad variety of influenza viruses, including seasonal and potentially pandemic strains. ... > full story

Research bolsters importance of horseshoe crab spawning for migrating shorebirds (July 7, 2011) -- Speculation that the welfare of a small, at-risk shorebird is directly tied to horseshoe crab populations is in part supported by new scientific research, according to a new study. ... > full story

Global investments in green energy up nearly a third to 1 billion (July 7, 2011) -- Wind farms in China and small-scale solar panels on rooftops in Europe were largely responsible for last year's 32 percent rise in green energy investments worldwide according to the latest annual report on renewable energy investment trends. Last year, investors pumped a record 1 billion into renewables -- about one-third more than the 0 billion invested in 2009, and a 540 percent rise since 2004. ... > full story

Sex is not about promoting genetic variation, researchers argue (July 7, 2011) -- Biology textbooks maintain that the main function of sex is to promote genetic diversity. But in a new article, two researchers say that's not the case. They propose that although diversity may result from a combination of genes, the primary function of sex is not about promoting diversity. Rather, it's about keeping the genome context -- an organism's complete collection of genes arranged by chromosome composition and topology -- as unchanged as possible, thereby maintaining a species' identity. ... > full story

Drug 'shield' helps target antibiotic resistant bacteria (July 7, 2011) -- A new technique which targets antibiotic-resistant bacteria and shields patients from the toxic parts of an antibiotic drug has now been developed. ... > full story

Evolution and domestication of seed structure shown to use same genetic mutation (July 7, 2011) -- For the first time, scientists have identified a mutation in plants that was selected twice -- during both natural evolution and domestication. The mutation has been identified as the source of variation in the evolution of fruit morphology in Brassica plants and it was also the source of key changes during the domestication of rice. ... > full story

Gray whales likely survived the Ice Ages by changing their diets (July 7, 2011) -- If ancient gray whale populations migrated and fed the same as today's whales, what happened during the Ice Ages, when their major feeding grounds disappeared? Paleontologists argue that gray whales utilized a range of food sources in the past, including herring and krill, in addition to the benthic organisms they consume today. As a result, pre-whaling populations were two to four times greater than today's population of around 22,000. ... > full story

Microalgae could be Texas' next big cash crop (July 7, 2011) -- Just as corn and peanuts stunned the world decades ago with their then-newly discovered multi-beneficial uses and applications, Texas scientists think microalgae holds even more promise. ... > full story

The rise and rise of the flying reptiles: Pterosaurs not driven into extinction by birds, study reveals (July 7, 2011) -- Pterosaurs, flying reptiles from the time of the dinosaurs, were not driven to extinction by the birds, but in fact they continued to diversify and innovate for millions of years afterward, according to new research. ... > full story

Can gulls smell out a good partner? Study suggests kittiwakes use body odor to assess genetically compatible mates (July 7, 2011) -- Male and female kittiwakes smell different from each other, according to new research. Their work also suggests that the birds' body odors might signal the genetic makeup of individual birds, and could be used in mate choice to assess the genetic compatibility of potential partners. ... > full story

The role of bacteria in asthma and the potential for antibiotic treatment (July 7, 2011) -- People with severe asthma are more likely to have antibodies against the disease-causing bacteria Chlamydia pneumoniae than the general population and in some cases antibiotic treatment can greatly improve symptoms according to new research. Moreover, patients who were treated on the basis of asthma severity with antibiotics had significant improvements in asthma symptoms and some even experienced a complete abolition of these symptoms. ... > full story

Climate change forces early spring in Alberta, Canada (July 7, 2011) -- A new study shows that climate change over the past 70 years has pushed some of the Alberta, Canada native wildflowers and trees into earlier blooming times, making them more vulnerable to damaging frosts, and ultimately, threatening reproduction. ... > full story

Mushroom lights up the night in Brazil: Researcher finds bioluminescent fungus not seen since 1840 (July 7, 2011) -- In 1840, renowned English botanist George Gardner reported a strange sight from the streets of Vila de Natividade in Brazil: A group of boys playing with a glowing object that turned out to be a luminescent mushroom. They called it "flor-de-coco," and showed Gardner where it grew on decaying fronds at the base of a dwarf palm. Gardner sent the mushroom to the Kew Herbarium in England where it was described and named Agaricus gardneri in honor of its discoverer. The species was not seen again until 2009. Researchers have now collected new specimens of a forgotten bioluminescent mushroom and reclassified it as, Neonothopanus gardneri. ... > full story

Gene secrets of the reef revealed: Genome of staghorn coral Acropora millepora sequenced (July 7, 2011) -- Australian scientists have sequenced the genome of the staghorn coral Acropora millepora, a major component of the Great Barrier Reef and coral reefs worldwide. This is the first animal genome project to be carried out entirely in Australia, and is an important milestone in Australian biotechnology and in the study of coral reefs. ... > full story

Being small has its advantages -- if you are a leaf (July 7, 2011) -- The size of leaves can vary by a factor of 1,000 across plant species; until now, the reason why has remained a mystery. A new study by an international team of scientists goes a long way toward solving it. ... > full story

Natural iron fertilization influences deep-sea ecosystems off the Crozet Islands (July 7, 2011) -- Geo-engineering schemes aimed at tackling global warming through artificial iron fertilization of the oceans would significantly affect deep-sea ecosystems, according to new research. ... > full story

With climate changes, polar bear and brown bear lineages intertwine (July 7, 2011) -- Polar bears' unique characteristics allow them to survive in one of the most extreme environments on Earth, but that survival is now threatened as rising temperatures and melting ice reshape the Arctic landscape. Now it appears that the stress of climate change, occurring both long ago and today, may be responsible for surprising twists in the bears' history and future as well. ... > full story

Seven new mice species discovered (July 7, 2011) -- After living incognito for millions of years in a remote area of a forested mountain range in the Philippines, seven new-found species of mice owe their recent discovery to DNA evidence and the biologist who deciphered it. ... > full story

Oceanographic campaign for the study of the large submarine valleys of Catalonia (July 7, 2011) -- The unmanned deepwater research vehicle Liropus 2000 will be used for the first time in a study of sea floor relief and the dynamic processes that take place along the continental margin of the Catalan coast, in particular in the submarine canyons of Cap de Creus, Palamós and Blanes. ... > full story

Rhesus monkeys appear to have a form of self-awareness not previously attributed to them, research suggests (July 6, 2011) -- In the first study of its kind in an animal species that has not passed a critical test of self-recognition, a cognitive psychologist has demonstrated that rhesus monkeys appear to have a sense of self-agency -- the ability to understand that they are the cause of certain actions -- and possess a form of self-awareness previously not attributed to them. ... > full story

Dealing with pollution, James Bond style (July 6, 2011) -- A new safe soil tester, a portable lab with a satellite link, offers an efficient and cost-effective way to test for a safe environment. The high-tech tester uses micro-organisms to detect toxicity of soils within minutes and maps the toxic hotspots with high precisions using its link to EU's Galileo satellite system. ... > full story

A look back: Scientists raced to estimate oil flow from Deepwater Horizon Macondo well (July 6, 2011) -- The first two weeks of June 2010 were a blur for six Berkeley Lab scientists. As the world focused on the ongoing crisis in the Gulf of Mexico after the blowout of BP's Deepwater Horizon Macondo well, the scientists dropped everything to estimate how much oil was flowing from the mangled wellhead. Their research is recounted in a new article. ... > full story

New force driving Earth's tectonic plates (July 6, 2011) -- Bringing fresh insight into long-standing debates about how powerful geological forces shape the planet, from earthquake ruptures to mountain formations, scientists have identified a new mechanism driving Earth's massive tectonic plates. ... > full story

Mercury vapor released from broken compact fluorescent light bulbs can exceed safe exposure levels for humans, study finds (July 6, 2011) -- Once broken, a compact fluorescent light bulb continuously releases mercury vapor into the air for weeks to months, and the total amount can exceed safe human exposure levels in a poorly ventilated room, according to a new study. ... > full story

A mother's salt intake could be key to prenatal kidney development (July 6, 2011) -- New animal study has drawn an association between pregnant mothers' sodium intake and their newborn's kidney development. ... > full story

Eggs' antioxidant properties may help prevent heart disease and cancer, study suggests (July 6, 2011) -- One of nature's most perfect foods may be even better for us than previously thought. While eggs are well known to be an excellent source of proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals, researchers recently discovered they also contain antioxidant properties, which helps in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. ... > full story

Cod stick to their own shipwreck (July 6, 2011) -- Adult cod have, one would think, the entire ocean at their disposal, and yet apparently each individual cod still chooses 'their own' local shipwreck, which they swim back to faithfully day after day. This is just one of the fascinating results from research using acoustic tags which has yielded new insights into what cod get up to below the surface of the sea. ... > full story

Bigger than football: Study shows sports can help communities recover from disaster (July 6, 2011) -- A new study shows that organized sports can be a powerful tool for helping to rebuild communities in the wake of disasters. The research focused specifically on the role of professional football in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. ... > full story

Termites' digestive system could act as biofuel refinery (July 6, 2011) -- One of the peskiest household pests, while disastrous to homes, could prove to be a boon for cars, according to a new study. ... > full story

Researchers push the boundary with high carbon emission scenarios (July 6, 2011) -- Researchers have, for the first time, modeled a climate system with extremely high carbon emissions in an attempt to test the boundaries of the current computer simulation programs that inform us. ... > full story

Naked mole-rat genome: Scientists sequence DNA of cancer-resistant rodent (July 6, 2011) -- Scientists have generated the first whole-genome sequencing data of the naked mole-rat, a rodent that is resistant to cancer and lives for more than 30 years. The naked mole-rat is native to the deserts of East Africa and has unique physical traits that allow it to survive in harsh environments for many years. It has a lack of pain sensation in its skin and has a low metabolic rate that allows it to live underground with limited oxygen supply. ... > full story

New salmonella-based 'clean vaccines' aid the fight against infectious disease (July 6, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a technique to make recombinant attenuated salmonella vaccines safer and more effective. The group demonstrated that a modified strain of salmonella showed a five-fold reduction in virulence in mice, while preserving strong immunogenic properties. ... > full story

Air pollution linked to learning and memory problems, depression (July 6, 2011) -- Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to physical changes in the brain, as well as learning and memory problems and even depression, new research in mice suggests. While other studies have shown the damaging effects of polluted air on the heart and lungs, this is one of the first long-term studies to show the negative impact on the brain. ... > full story

Functioning small intestine created in laboratory experiments (July 6, 2011) -- Researchers have successfully created a tissue-engineered small intestine in mice that replicates the intestinal structures of natural intestine -- a necessary first step toward someday applying this regenerative medicine technique to humans. ... > full story

Fisher decline documented in California (July 6, 2011) -- Researchers have reported a 73-percent decline in the density of fishers -- a house-cat sized member of the weasel family and candidate for endangered species listing -- on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation in northwestern California between 1998 and 2005. ... > full story

How hot did Earth get in the past? Team of scientists uncovers new information (July 6, 2011) -- The question seems simple enough: What happens to Earth's temperature when atmospheric carbon dioxide levels increase? The answer is elusive. However, clues are hidden in the fossil record. A new study provides a much clearer picture of Earth's temperature approximately 50 million years ago when CO2 concentrations were higher than today. The results may shed light on what to expect in the future if CO2 levels keep rising. ... > full story

Dietary leucine may fight pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome: Study shows improvements in animals with amino acid in diet (July 6, 2011) -- A new study suggests that adding the amino acid leucine to their diets may help those with pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome. ... > full story

Food-process engineering: Environmentally friendly process to improve storage stability of probiotics (July 6, 2011) -- Probiotic bacteria are rapidly gaining ground as healthy food supplements. However, the production of this "functional food" has its pitfalls: only few probiotic bacterial strains are robust enough to survive conventional production processes. Researchers have now developed a particularly gentle method that allows the use of thus far unutilized probiotics. The outcome is beneficial for both manufacturers and consumers: it's energy and cost efficient -- and it makes probiotics less perishable. ... > full story

Environs prompt advantageous gene mutations as plants grow; changes passed to progeny (July 5, 2011) -- Researchers have found that the environment not only weeds out harmful and useless genetic mutations in plants through natural selection, but actually influences helpful mutations, and that these beneficial changes are passed on to the next generation. ... > full story

Genome analysis will reveal how bacteria in our guts make themselves at home (July 5, 2011) -- Researchers have published the genome sequence of a gut bacterium to help understand how these organisms evolved their symbiotic relationships with their hosts. ... > full story

Fifty-year search for calcium channel ends: Cell's power generator depends on long-sought protein (July 5, 2011) -- After decades of failed efforts, researchers have discovered, through a combination of digital database mining and laboratory assays, the linchpin protein that drives mitochondria's calcium machinery. ... > full story

One skull + two brains = four objects in mind (July 5, 2011) -- A new study by neuroscientists could be put to immediate use in designing more effective cognitive therapy, smarter brain games, better "heads up displays," and much more. ... > full story

Kinetochores prefer the 'silent' DNA sections of the chromosome (July 5, 2011) -- The protein complex responsible for the distribution of chromosomes during cell division is assembled in the transition regions between heterochromatin and euchromatin. The centromere is a specialized region of the chromosome, on which a protein complex known as the kinetochore is assembled. During cell division, the kinetochore provides a point of attachment for molecules of the cytoskeleton, thereby mediating the segregation of chromosomes to the two opposing cell poles. Scientists have investigated the factors that play an essential role in the development of the kinetochore. According to new findings, both the organization of the chromosomes and epigenetic marks determine the location where a kinetochore and, eventually, a centromere can form. ... > full story

Hot springs microbe yields record-breaking, heat-tolerant enzyme (July 5, 2011) -- Scientists looking for unusual cellulose-digesting enzymes, called cellulases, have found one that works at a higher temperature, 109 Celsius, than any others found to date. The cellulase comes from an Archaea found in a Nevada hot spring. Enzymes like this may prove useful in reaction chambers where plant fiber (lignocellulose) is digested to release cellulose. The cellulase could then convert this cellulose to sugar to be fermented into biofuel. ... > full story

Australian volcano eruptions overdue, new study confirms (July 5, 2011) -- Latest research into the age of volcanos in parts of Australia has confirmed that certain regions are overdue for an eruption, potentially affecting thousands of local residents. ... > full story

Nature uses screws and nuts: Previously unknown musculoskeletal system discovered in weevils (July 5, 2011) -- A musculoskeletal system so far unknown in the animal world was recently discovered in weevils. The hip of Trigonopterus oblongus does not consist of the usual hinges, but of joints based on a screw-and-nut system. This first biological screw thread is about half a millimeter in size and was studied in detail using synchrotron radiation. ... > full story