The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, July 14, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, July 14, 2011

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Soil microbes accelerate global warming (July 14, 2011) -- More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes soil to release the potent greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide, new research shows. ... > full story

Spread of fungus-farming beetles is bad news for trees (July 14, 2011) -- Researchers have found that a subset of fungus-farming ambrosia beetles may be in the early stages of a global epidemic threatening a number of economically important trees, including avocados, poplars and oaks. ... > full story

Breathing restored after spinal cord injury in rodent model (July 14, 2011) -- Researchers bridged a spinal cord injury and biologically regenerated lost nerve connections to the diaphragm, restoring breathing in an adult rodent model of spinal cord injury. The work restored 80 to more than 100 percent of breathing function. ... > full story

Colorful boundary trespassers: Burrowing parrots crossed the Andes 120,000 years ago (July 14, 2011) -- The different populations of the South American burrowing parrot originated in Chile. The Andes of southern South America form a hostile mountain range with glaciers, salty deserts and high elevation steppes. Birds from more moderate climate zones cross this mountain range only rarely. Nevertheless, many species live on both sides of the Andes, as in the case of the burrowing parrot Cyanoliseus patagonus. ... > full story

Snow leopard population discovered in Afghanistan (July 13, 2011) -- Biologists have discovered a surprisingly healthy population of rare snow leopards living in the mountainous reaches of northeastern Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor, according to a new study. ... > full story

Insight into new drug resistance in hospital microbes (July 13, 2011) -- Hospitals struggle to prevent the infections that complicate treatment for cancer, joint replacement, heart surgery and other conditions. Hospital-acquired infections are often resistant to multiple antibiotics, leading to approximately 100,000 deaths and more than billion in additional health care costs yearly. New drugs are being developed to combat these infections, but resistance invariably emerges to these last-line drugs. Daptomycin, a new antibiotic approved by the FDA in 2003, is used to treat infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria, including staph and microbes known as enterococci. ... > full story

Twin ARTEMIS probes to study moon in 3-D (July 13, 2011) -- Almost 2 years ago, two of five THEMIS satellites were boosted from their orbits around Earth toward the moon. The first transitioned into a lunar orbit on June 27, while the second is destined to arrive on Sunday, July 17, to begin mapping the moon's surface magnetic fields and magnetic environment in 3-D. The probes, renamed the ARTEMIS mission, will also look for evidence of plasmoids produced by magnetic reconnection in Earth's magnetotail. ... > full story

Atomic structure discovered for a sodium channel that generates electrical signals in living cells (July 13, 2011) -- Scientists have determined the atomic structure of a sodium channel, a pore in membranes of excitable cells, such as brain or heart cells, that emit electrical signals. They gate charged particles crossing the cell membrane to generate electrical currents. These encode information in the brain and make heart muscle contract. Many medications and neurotoxins act on sodium channels. Never before have researchers obtained a high resolution crystal structure of all atoms of this complex protein molecule and their three dimensional relationships. ... > full story

Climate adaptation of rice (July 13, 2011) -- Rice -- which provides nearly half the daily calories for the world's population -- could become adapted to climate change and some catastrophic events by colonizing its seeds or plants with the spores of tiny naturally occurring fungi, new research shows. ... > full story

Molasses extract decreases obesity caused by a high-fat diet, research suggests (July 13, 2011) -- Experimental results suggests that dietary supplementation with molasses extract may provide a novel approach for weight management in humans. ... > full story

African and non-African populations intermixed well after migration out of Africa 60,000 years ago, genome studies show (July 13, 2011) -- Researchers have probed deeper into human evolution by developing an elegant new technique to analyze whole genomes from different populations. One key finding is that African and non-African populations continued to exchange genetic material well after migration out of Africa 60,000 years ago. This infers that interbreeding between these groups continued long after the original exodus. ... > full story

New understandings of circadian rhythms (July 13, 2011) -- A tiny plant called Arabidopsis thaliana just helped scientists unearth new clues about the daily cycles of many organisms, including humans. ... > full story

Popular fungicides failing, may cause hard choices for apple growers (July 13, 2011) -- Orchard growers have started finding that some of the most commonly used fungicides are no longer effective at controlling apple scab, according to a new study. ... > full story

Last dinosaur before mass extinction discovered (July 13, 2011) -- A team of scientists has discovered the youngest dinosaur preserved in the fossil record before the catastrophic meteor impact 65 million years ago. The finding indicates that dinosaurs did not go extinct prior to the impact and provides further evidence as to whether the impact was in fact the cause of their extinction. ... > full story

Cat litter to become an edible product? (July 13, 2011) -- Sepiolite is a porous clay material used for example in cat litter that absorbs more liquid than any other known mineral. A Franco-Spanish team of scientists has analyzed twenty different sepiolites extracted from mines around the world, using X-ray and electron diffraction. The results open the path to industrial synthesis of sepiolites and to the design of completely new materials for use in catalysis, energy storage and food. ... > full story

Ancient algae: Genetically engineering a path to new energy sources? (July 13, 2011) -- A team of researchers is making a connection between prehistoric times and the present -- ancient algae that can produce their own biofuel -- that could result in genetically creating a replacement for oil and coal shale deposits. Their discovery could have fundamental implications for the future of Earth's energy supplies. ... > full story

Newly discovered molecule essential to resetting 'body clocks' (July 13, 2011) -- A new study exploring the mechanism behind resetting the internal "body clocks" of insects has found a new molecule essential to the resynchronization process. ... > full story

Intelligent street lighting saves up to 80% on energy (July 13, 2011) -- Scientists in the Netherlands are currently testing an intelligent street lighting system which uses up to 80% less electricity than the current systems and is also cheaper to maintain. ... > full story

Biologists identify new strategy used by bacteria during infection (July 13, 2011) -- Biologists identified a new way in which bacteria hijack healthy cells during infection, which could provide a target for new antibiotics. ... > full story

Landscape change leads to increased insecticide use in U.S. Midwest, study finds (July 13, 2011) -- The continued growth of cropland and loss of natural habitat have increasingly simplified agricultural landscapes in the U.S. Midwest. A new study concluded that this simplification is associated with increased crop pest abundance and insecticide use, consequences that could be tempered by perennial bioenergy crops. ... > full story

A novel enzymatic catalyst for biodiesel production (July 13, 2011) -- Continuous production of biodiesel can now be envisaged thanks to a novel new catalyst. Biofuel production provides an alternative to fossil fuels. Biodiesels, for instance, are processed products based on oils from oleaginous plants such as oilseed rape, palm, sunflower and soybeans. They result from a chemical reaction, catalyzed in either an acidic or preferably a basic medium, between a vegetable oil (90%) and an alcohol (10%). ... > full story

No substantial link between swine flu vaccine and Guillain-Barre syndrome, experts confirm (July 13, 2011) -- Adjuvanted vaccines used during the 2009 swine flu pandemic did not increase the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome substantially, if at all, finds a large Europe-wide study. ... > full story

Innovative system for producing carpets (July 13, 2011) -- In Europe 700 million square meters of carpets are produced each year, and in the United States the volume is ten times higher. Researchers have now developed an enzyme-based biological technology that paves the way for manufacturing carpets that are much lighter, sustainable, biodegradable, and 100% recyclable. A wool carpet manufactured using this innovative system is a completely natural and biodegradable product. At the end of its useful life the entire product can be shredded and turned into organic material, which can then be used, for example, as fertilizer for growing plants. ... > full story

Biologists discover an 'evening' protein complex that regulates plant growth (July 13, 2011) -- Farmers and other astute observers of nature have long known that crops like corn and sorghum grow taller at night. But the biochemical mechanisms that control this nightly stem elongation, common to most plants, have been something of a mystery to biologists -- until now. ... > full story

Pesticide pathways into the atmosphere (July 12, 2011) -- Scientists have found that herbicide volatilization consistently resulted in herbicide losses that exceed losses from field runoff. ... > full story

Border fences pose threats to wildlife on US-Mexico border, study shows (July 12, 2011) -- Current and proposed border fences between the United States and Mexico pose significant threats to wildlife populations, with those animals living in border regions along the Texas Gulf and California coasts showing some of the greatest vulnerability, a new study shows. ... > full story

Greener disaster alerts: Low-energy wireless sensor networks warn of hurricanes, earthquakes (July 12, 2011) -- New software allows wireless sensor networks to run at much lower energy, according to researchers. The technology could improve efficiency for hurricane and other natural disaster warning systems. ... > full story

One in 10 species could face extinction: Decline in species shows climate change warnings not exaggerated, research finds (July 12, 2011) -- One in 10 species could face extinction by the year 2100 if current climate change impacts continue, according to new research examining studies on the effects of recent climate change on plant and animal species and comparing this with predictions of future declines. ... > full story

Eating nuts daily could help control Type 2 diabetes and prevent complications, study suggests (July 12, 2011) -- Eating nuts every day could help control Type 2 diabetes and prevent its complications, according to new research. ... > full story

Long distance: Research shows ancient rock under Haiti came from 1,000+ miles away (July 12, 2011) -- Earthquakes and volcanoes are known for their ability to transform Earth's surface, but new research in the Caribbean has found they can also move ancient Earth rock foundations more than 1,000 miles. ... > full story

Switch from corn to grass would raise ethanol output, cut emissions (July 12, 2011) -- Growing perennial grasses on the least productive farmland now used for corn ethanol production in the US would result in higher overall corn yields, more ethanol output per acre and better groundwater quality, researchers report in a new study. The switch would also slash emissions of two potent greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. ... > full story

Lie of the land beneath glaciers influences impact on sea levels (July 12, 2011) -- Fresh research into glaciers could help scientists better predict the impact of changing climates on global sea levels. ... > full story

Energy-storage capacity of ancient microorganism could lead to power source for synthetic cells (July 12, 2011) -- Researchers are studying one of the oldest known life forms, Archaea, to learn how they thrive in harsh environments. A new study shows that M. hungatei, a type of Archaea, contain granules that are incredibly efficient energy storage structures. ... > full story

Hypoallergenic dogs don't have lower household allergen levels than other dogs, study finds (July 12, 2011) -- Contrary to popular belief, so-called hypoallergenic dogs do not have lower household allergen levels than other dogs. That's the conclusion of a study by researchers who sought to evaluate whether hypoallergenic dogs have a lower dog allergen in the home than other dogs. Hypoallergenic dogs are believed to produce less dander and saliva and shed less fur. ... > full story

Tarantula's double beating heart revealed by MRI (July 12, 2011) -- A specialized magnetic resonance imaging scanner has been used on tarantulas for the first time, giving unprecedented videos of the spider's heart beating. The images showed possible "double beating," a type of contraction which has never been considered before. The non-invasive nature of MRI provides added insight. ... > full story

Malaria parasites use camouflage to trick immune defences of pregnant women (July 12, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered why malaria parasites are able to hide from the immune defenses of expectant mothers. ... > full story

'Resilience' of U.S. metros measured by online index developed by researchers (July 12, 2011) -- Which U.S. metro region is most likely to come out of the next recession, natural disaster or other regional "shock" relatively unscathed? Rochester, Minn. A little more battered might be College Station-Bryan, Texas. These two regions are ranked first and last, respectively, by a new online tool measuring more than 360 U.S. metros for their "regional resilience," or capacity to weather acute and chronic stresses. ... > full story

Forest trees remember their roots (July 12, 2011) -- When it comes to how they respond to the environment, trees may not be that different from humans. Recent studies showed that even genetically identical human twins can have a different chance of getting a disease. This is because each twin has distinct personal experiences through their lifetime. According to new research, it turns out that the same is likely true for forest trees as well. ... > full story

Climate change could turn oxygen-free seas from blessing to curse for zooplankton (July 12, 2011) -- Zooplankton can use specialized adaptations that allow them to hide from predators in areas of the ocean where oxygen levels are so low that almost nothing can survive, but they may run into trouble as these areas expand due to climate change. ... > full story

Plants in cities are an underestimated carbon store (July 12, 2011) -- Vegetation in towns and cities can make a significant contribution to carbon storage and, ecologists say, could lock away even more carbon if local authorities and gardeners planted and maintained more trees. ... > full story

Most of world's 'missing species' live in known hotspots, study finds (July 12, 2011) -- Most of the world's "missing" or undiscovered species live in regions already identified by scientists as conservation priorities, according to a new study. ... > full story

E. coli can survive in streambed sediments for months (July 12, 2011) -- Scientists have confirmed that the presence of Escherichia coli pathogens in surface waters could result from the pathogen's ability to survive for months in underwater sediments. ... > full story

Telomeres: Two genes linked to why they stretch in cancer cells (July 12, 2011) -- Scientists have provided more clues to one of the least understood phenomena in some cancers: why the "ends caps" of cellular DNA, called telomeres, lengthen instead of shorten. ... > full story

Researchers urge awareness of dietary iodine intake in postpartum Korean-American women who consume brown seaweed soup (July 12, 2011) -- Researchers have brought attention to the potential health impacts for Korean and Korean-American women and their infants from consuming brown seaweed soup. ... > full story

Owl study expands understanding of human stereovision (July 11, 2011) -- Using owls as a model, a new research study reveals the advantage of stereopsis, commonly referred to as stereovision, is its ability to discriminate between objects and background, not in perceiving absolute depth. The findings show that owls see in stereo much like humans do. ... > full story

When viruses infect bacteria: Looking in vivo at virus-bacterium associations (July 11, 2011) -- Viruses are the most abundant parasites on Earth. Well known viruses, such as the flu virus, attack human hosts, while viruses such as the tobacco mosaic virus infect plant hosts. More common, but less understood, are cases of viruses infecting bacteria known as bacteriophages, or phages. In part, this is due to the difficulty of culturing bacteria and viruses that have been cut off from their usual biological surroundings in a process called in vitro. Researchers have now used a clever technique to look at virus-bacterium interactions in vivo, that is, within an organism's normal state. ... > full story

California groundwater management trickles up from local sources (July 11, 2011) -- In a typical year, California gets about 30 percent of its water from groundwater wells. Yet when it comes to managing this precious resource, the state of California relies on a mixed bag of more than 2,000 local water agencies with varying degrees of authority. But some water districts have moved forward with innovative ideas on conservation -- even without state leadership. ... > full story

Genetic switch for limbs and digits found in primitive fish: Before animals first walked on land, fish carried gene program for limbs (July 11, 2011) -- Genetic instructions for developing limbs and digits were present in primitive fish millions of years before their descendants first crawled on to land, researchers report. The successful swap suggests that the recipe for limb development is conserved in species separated by 400 million years of evolution. ... > full story