The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, October 13, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, October 13, 2011

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Natural processes can limit spread of arsenic in water, says study (October 13, 2011) -- A new study shows that deep sediments can grab naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater and take it out of circulation -- a finding that may help to keep wells safe elsewhere, including in the United States. ... > full story

How life might have survived 'snowball Earth' (October 13, 2011) -- New research indicates that simple life in the form of photosynthetic algae could have survived a "snowball Earth" event, living in a narrow body of water with characteristics similar to today's Red Sea. ... > full story

Scientists demonstrate the power of optical forces in blood cell identification (October 13, 2011) -- Biological analysis systems that rely on labels can be costly, labor intensive, and depend upon prior knowledge of the target in question. Researchers have developed a system that can detect optical pressure differences between populations or classes of cells. ... > full story

'Dark matter' of the genome revealed through analysis of 29 mammals (October 12, 2011) -- An international team of researchers has discovered the vast majority of the so-called "dark matter" in the human genome, by means of a sweeping comparison of 29 mammalian genomes. The team has pinpointed the parts of the human genome that control when and where genes are turned on. This map is a critical step in interpreting the thousands of genetic changes that have been linked to human disease. ... > full story

Feeding the world while protecting the planet: Global plan for sustainable agriculture (October 12, 2011) -- An international team of researchers from Canada, the US, Sweden and Germany has come up with a plan to double the world's food production while reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture. ... > full story

Nuclear receptors battle it out during metamorphosis in new fruit fly model (October 12, 2011) -- Growing up just got more complicated. Biochemistry researchers have shown for the first time that the receptor for a major insect molting hormone doesn't activate and repress genes as once thought. In fact, it only activates genes, and it is out-competed by a heme-binding receptor to repress the same genes during the larval to pupal transition in the fruit fly. ... > full story

Possible trigger for volcanic 'super-eruptions' discovered (October 12, 2011) -- The "super-eruption" of a major volcanic system occurs about every 100,000 years and is considered one of the most catastrophic natural events on Earth, yet scientists have long been unsure about what triggers these violent explosions. A new model points to a combination of temperature influence and the geometrical configuration of the magma chamber as a potential cause for these super-eruptions. ... > full story

Scientists move closer to predicting who will and will not fight off severe infections (October 12, 2011) -- Why are some people prone to severe infections, while others handle them with less difficulty? A new research report attempts to answer this question by shedding light on the genetic differences that influence our ability to fight off bacterial infections. ... > full story

Biologists use Sinatra-named fly to show how to see the blues -- and the greens (October 12, 2011) -- Biologists have identified a new mechanism for regulating color vision by studying a mutant fly named after Frank ('Ol Blue Eyes) Sinatra. Their findings focus on how the visual system functions in order to preserve the fidelity of color discrimination throughout the life of an organism. They also offer new insights into how genes controlling color detection are turned on and off. ... > full story

Researchers reconstruct genome of the Black Death; Bacteria found to be ancestor of all modern plagues (October 12, 2011) -- An international team has sequenced the entire genome of the Black Death, one of the most devastating epidemics in human history. ... > full story

Significant breakthrough in study of chlamydia (October 12, 2011) -- A breakthrough in the study of chlamydia genetics could open the way to new treatments and the development of a vaccine for this sexually transmitted disease. For decades research progress has been hampered because scientists have been prevented from fully understanding these bacteria as they have been unable to manipulate the genome of Chlamydia trachomatis. ... > full story

Metal shortages alert from leading geologists: Inexorable demand for consumer goods places strain on supply of metals (October 12, 2011) -- Geologists are warning of shortages and bottlenecks of some metals due to an insatiable demand for consumer products. ... > full story

Peanut allergy turned off by tricking immune system: New approach makes allergen appear safe and prevents life-threatening reaction (October 12, 2011) -- Researchers have turned off a life-threatening allergic response to peanuts by tricking the immune system into thinking the nut proteins aren't a threat to the body, according to a new preclinical study. The peanut tolerance was achieved by attaching peanut proteins onto blood cells and reintroducing them to the body -- an approach that ultimately may be able to target more than one food allergy at a time. ... > full story

Crop improvement and human medicine: Using proteins to target and manipulate specific genes (October 12, 2011) -- Scientists are using certain proteins to target and manipulate specific genes. That could lead to breakthroughs in understanding gene function and improving traits in livestock and plants, and even treating human genetic disorders. ... > full story

Eating your greens can change the effect of your genes on heart disease (October 12, 2011) -- A long-held mantra suggests that you can't change your family, the genes they pass on, or the effect of these genes. Now, scientists are attacking that belief. The researchers discovered the gene that is the strongest marker for heart disease can actually be modified by generous amounts of fruit and raw vegetables. ... > full story

Worms among first animals to surface after K-T extinction event, study finds (October 12, 2011) -- A new study of sediments laid down shortly after an asteroid plowed into the Gulf of Mexico 65.5 million years ago, an event that is linked to widespread global extinctions including the demise of big dinosaurs, suggests that lowly worms may have been the first fauna to show themselves following the global catastrophe. ... > full story

New 'genome mining' technique streamlines discovery from nature (October 12, 2011) -- A newly developed method for microscopically extracting, or "mining," information from genomes could represent a significant boost in the search for new therapeutic drugs and improve science's understanding of basic functions such as how cells communicate with one another. ... > full story

'Ghostwriting' the Torah? New algorithm distinguishes contributors to the Old Testament with high accuracy (October 12, 2011) -- A professor has developed a new computer algorithm to help unravel the different sources that contributed to the authorship of the scriptures. Sidestepping the problems of content-based analysis, his algorithm searches for patterns in writing style to give deeper insight into ancient writings such as the Bible. ... > full story

Why climate models underestimated Arctic sea ice retreat: No Arctic sea ice in summer by end of century? (October 12, 2011) -- In recent decades, Arctic sea ice has suffered a dramatic decline that exceeds climate model predictions. The unexpected rate of ice shrinkage has now been explained. Researchers argue that climate models underestimate the rate of ice thinning, which is actually about four times faster than calculations. This model bias is due to the poor representation of the sea ice southward drift out of the Arctic basin through the Fram Strait. When this mechanism was taken into account to correct the discrepancy between simulations and observations, results from the new model suggested that there will be no Arctic sea ice in summer by the end of the century. ... > full story

Mercury pollution in the Great Lakes region: Nearly forgotten, but not gone (October 12, 2011) -- The scope and intensity of mercury pollution in the Great Lakes region is much greater than previously reported, but additional mercury controls should bring needed improvement, according to a new summary of scientific research on the subject. ... > full story

Early Celtic 'Stonehenge' discovered in Germany's Black Forest (October 11, 2011) -- A huge early Celtic calendar construction has been discovered in the royal tomb of Magdalenenberg, nearby Villingen-Schwenningen in Germany's Black Forest. This discovery was made by researchers when they evaluated old excavation plans. The order of the burials around the central royal tomb fits exactly with the sky constellations of the Northern hemisphere. ... > full story

Herbal supplements may cause dangerous drug interactions in orthopaedic surgery patients, study suggests (October 11, 2011) -- Complementary and alternative medical treatments such as herbal supplements have become increasingly popular in the United States, especially among older patients and those with chronic pain. However, many of these products can have serious and potentially harmful side effects when combined with medications prescribed during and after surgery, according to a review article. ... > full story

Which direction are herbicides heading? (October 11, 2011) -- 2,4-D is coming back. What many might consider a "dinosaur" may be the best solution for growers fighting weed resistance today, said a professor of weed physiology. Researchers now suggest that tank-mixing auxinic herbicides with glyphosate may be the best short-term option available to farmers interested in broad-spectrum, postemergence weed control. ... > full story

New computer program promises to save the whales (October 11, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a computer program that enables regulators to evaluate the ecological and economic trade-offs between marine mammal conservation, whale watching and marine transportation activities in the Saint Lawrence Estuary. ... > full story

Super-tough seed coat keeps Michaux's sumac on critically endangered list (October 11, 2011) -- It is one of the rarest shrubs in the southeastern United States, and for scientists trying to save it, the critically endangered Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii) is not cooperating. ... > full story

Most vertebrates -- including humans -- descended from ancestor with sixth sense (October 11, 2011) -- A new study that caps more than 25 years of work finds that the vast majority of vertebrates -- some 30,000 species of land animals (including humans) and a roughly equal number of ray-finned fishes -- descended from a common ancestor that had a well-developed electroreceptive system. ... > full story

Mushroom compound appears to improve effectiveness of cancer drugs, study suggests (October 11, 2011) -- A compound isolated from a wild, poisonous mushroom growing in a southwest China forest appears to help a cancer killing drug fulfill its promise, researchers report. ... > full story

Health benefits of broccoli require the whole food, not supplements (October 11, 2011) -- New research has found that if you want some of the many health benefits associated with eating broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables, you need to eat the real thing -- a key phytochemical in these vegetables is poorly absorbed and of far less value if taken as a supplement. ... > full story

Sexual selection by sugar molecule helped determine human origins, researchers say (October 11, 2011) -- Researchers say that losing the ability to make a particular kind of sugar molecule boosted disease protection in early hominids, and may have directed the evolutionary emergence of our ancestors, the genus Homo. ... > full story

Certain dietary supplements associated with increased risk of death in older women, study suggests (October 11, 2011) -- Consuming dietary supplements, including multivitamins, folic acid, iron and copper, among others, appears to be associated with an increased risk of death in older women, according to a new report. ... > full story

Form follows family -- not function: Humans and chimpanzees have similar long bone shape (October 11, 2011) -- Although humans and chimpanzees move quite differently, muscle attachment sites at their thighbones are similar. This result has major consequences for the interpretation of fossil hominin finds. ... > full story

Baltic Sea contributes carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, study shows (October 11, 2011) -- The Baltic Sea emits more carbon dioxide than it can bind. Local variations have increased the exposure of the Bay of Bothnia. These are the results from a study of how carbon dioxide flows between the water of the Baltic Sea and the atmosphere, carried out by scientists in Sweden. ... > full story

'Non-invasive' cultivar? Buyer beware (October 11, 2011) -- Cultivars of popular woody ornamental plants that have reduced viable seed production and are being advertised as "non-invasive" in the horticultural and nursery industries are probably nonetheless quite capable of spawning invasions, according to researchers. More rigorous testing, or complete sterility, should be required to allow claims that a cultivar of a potentially invasive species is environmentally safe. ... > full story

Critical minerals ignite geopolitical storm (October 11, 2011) -- The clean energy economy of the future hinges on a lot of things, chief among them the availability of the scores of rare earth minerals and other elements used to make everything from photovoltaic panels and cellphone displays to the permanent magnets in cutting edge new wind generators. And right out of the gate trouble is brewing over projected growth in demand for these minerals and the security of their supplies. ... > full story

Long-lost Lake Agassiz offers clues to climate change (October 11, 2011) -- What caused water levels to drop in immense yet long-vanished Lake Agassiz? New research suggests that conditions 12,000 years ago encouraged evaporation. Not long ago, geologically speaking, a now-vanished lake covered a huge expanse of today's Canadian prairie. Although Lake Agassiz is gone, questions about its origin and disappearance remain. Answers to those questions may provide clues to our future climate. ... > full story

Gene technology can help food crops must to withstand harsher weather (October 11, 2011) -- Rapid population growth and a swiftly changing climate compound the challenges of ensuring a secure global food supply. Genetically modified plants could help to solve the problem, believes Norwegian a crop researcher. By 2050, 70 per cent more food will need to be produced worldwide on roughly the same area of farmland to keep up with global population growth. At the same time, major changes in climate are expected to occur. Some agricultural researchers believe that in order to ensure a secure global food supply, we will have to use every existing means -- including genetically modified organisms (GMO). ... > full story

Spotty, strong convection seen in NASA imagery helps Irwin regain tropical storm status (October 11, 2011) -- Tropical Storm Irwin almost appeared down for the count, but spotty areas of flaring convection provided a clue to forecasters that he wasn't ready to give up yet. The cloud top temperatures were measured by a NASA instrument at a frigid -112 Fahrenheit, indicating they're very high and powerful. ... > full story

NASA sees large Tropical Storm Banyan stretched over southern Philippines (October 11, 2011) -- Tropical Storm Banyan's center may still be at sea, but NASA satellite data today shows the western edge of the storm already over the southern Philippines. ... > full story

NASA gets an icy cold wink from Hurricane Jova's eye (October 11, 2011) -- Several NASA satellites have been following Hurricane Jova since birth and over the last day, Jova's eye has "winked" at them. ... > full story

Giant 'kraken' lair discovered: Cunning sea monster that preyed on ichthyosaurs (October 10, 2011) -- Long before whales, the oceans of Earth were roamed by a very different kind of air-breathing leviathan. Snaggle-toothed ichthyosaurs larger than school buses swam at the top of the Triassic Period ocean food chain, or so it seemed before paleontologist Mark McMenamin took a look at some of their remains in Nevada. Now he thinks there was an even larger and more cunning sea monster that preyed on ichthyosaurs: a 'kraken' of such mythological proportions it would have sent Captain Nemo running for dry land. ... > full story

Study shows how bookmarking genes pre-cell division hastens their subsequent reactivation (October 10, 2011) -- By observing and measuring the kinetics of activation of a single gene locus in a cell before it divides and comparing it with the same gene's reactivation in newly formed daughter cells, scientists have discovered how how bookmarking a gene pre-division causes it to get reactivated post-division. ... > full story

Ancient climate change has left a strong imprint on modern ecosystems (October 10, 2011) -- As Earth’s climate cycles between warm and cool periods, species often must move to stay within suitable conditions. Scientists have now mapped how fast species have had to migrate in the past to keep up with changing climate. They found that small-ranged species – which constitute much of Earth’s biodiversity – are concentrated in regions where little migration has been required. Predicted climate change will drastically increase the required migration rates in many of these locations, putting their unique faunas at risk. ... > full story

Abundance of tuna in the first days of life is influenced by cannibalism (October 10, 2011) -- Two new studies have shown that the coexistence of tuna larvae of different species and sizes in the spawning areas is essential for the survival of such early life stages, since cannibalism can constitute a significant fraction of natural mortality during this period. ... > full story

Smarter toxins help crops fight resistant pests (October 10, 2011) -- An international collaboration has found that a small genetic manipulation restores the efficacy of crop-protecting toxins derived from bacteria against pest insects that have become resistant. ... > full story

Scientists determine alternative insecticide dramatically reduces malaria transmission (October 10, 2011) -- Indoor spraying with the insecticide bendiocarb has dramatically decreased malaria transmission in many parts of Benin, new evidence that insecticides remain a potent weapon for fighting malaria in Africa despite the rapid rise of resistance to an entire class of mosquito-killing compounds, according to a new study. ... > full story

Gray jays' winter survival depends on food storage, study shows (October 10, 2011) -- A new study shows that gray jays hoping to survive and reproduce through Canada's harsh winters need to be able to store food in the right kinds of trees. ... > full story

New method to diagnose sinusitis could reduce use of antibiotics, Swedish research suggests (October 10, 2011) -- Research from Sweden suggests a new method of diagnosing sinusitis. The results offer the potential to reduce the use of antibiotics and the costs of the disease to society. ... > full story

Children's food choices are affected by direct advertising and parental influence, study suggests (October 10, 2011) -- Directly advertising food items to children worries many parents and health care providers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association have expressed concern about the negative impact of advertising on children's healthy food choices. A new study explores the relationship between fast food advertisements, parental influence, and the food choices made by children. ... > full story

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