ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Wednesday, January 18, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Wednesday, January 18, 2012

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Fruit flies watch the sky to stay on course (January 18, 2012) -- New research demonstrates that fruit flies keep their bearings by using the polarization pattern of natural skylight, bolstering the belief that many, if not all, insects have that capability. ... > full story

Intestinal worms may help promote healing (January 18, 2012) -- Intestinal worm infections may not be all bad, according to a new study. In research on mice immune reaction to the presence of intestinal worms was found to promote wound healing in the lungs. ... > full story

Simpler times: Did an earlier genetic molecule predate DNA and RNA? (January 18, 2012) -- Scientists have described the Darwinian evolution of functional TNA molecules from a large pool of random sequences. This is the first case where such methods have been applied to molecules other than DNA and RNA, or very close structural analogues thereof. One of the researchers said "the most important finding to come from this work is that TNA can fold into complex shapes that can bind to a desired target with high affinity and specificity." ... > full story

New way to learn about -- and potentially block -- traits in harmful pathogens (January 18, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a new way to identify the genes of harmful microbes, particularly those that have been difficult to study in the laboratory. ... > full story

Algae for your fuel tank (January 18, 2012) -- The available amount of fossil fuels is limited and their combustion in vehicle motors increases atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The generation of fuels from biomass as an alternative is on the rise. Scientists have now introduced a new catalytic process that allows the effective conversion of biopetroleum from microalgae into diesel fuels. ... > full story

Diverse ecosystems are crucial climate change buffer (January 17, 2012) -- Preserving diverse plant life will be crucial to buffer the negative effects of climate change and desertification in in the world's drylands, according to a new landmark study. ... > full story

Marijuana use associated with cyclic vomiting syndrome in young males (January 17, 2012) -- Researchers have found clear associations between marijuana use in young males and cyclic vomiting syndrome, where patients experience episodes of vomiting separated by symptom-free intervals. ... > full story

Boost for health? Researchers isolate protein linking exercise to health benefits (January 17, 2012) -- Scientists have isolated a natural hormone from muscle cells that triggers some of the key health benefits of exercise. The hormone, named irisin, switches on genes that convert white fat into "good" brown fat. The researchers call irisin a highly promising candidate for development as a novel treatment for diabetes, obesity and perhaps other disorders, including cancer. ... > full story

Solutions for a nitrogen-soaked world (January 17, 2012) -- Nitrogen is both an essential nutrient and a pollutant, a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion and a fertilizer that feeds billions, a benefit and a hazard, depending on form, location, and quantity. Agriculture, industry and transportation have spread nitrogen liberally around the planet, say scientists with complex and interrelated consequences for human and ecological health. ... > full story

Most recent European great ape discovered (January 17, 2012) -- Based on a hominid molar, scientists from Germany, Bulgaria and France have documented that great apes survived in Europe in savannah-like landscapes until seven million years ago. ... > full story

Short, sharp shock treatment for E. coli (January 17, 2012) -- A short burst of low voltage alternating current can effectively eradicate E. coli bacteria growing on the surface of even heavily contaminated beef, according to a new study. The technique offers an inexpensive and easy to implement approach to reducing the risk of food poisoning, which can occur despite handlers complying with hygiene standards. ... > full story

Climate adaptation difficult for Europe's birds (January 17, 2012) -- For the past 20 years, the climate in Europe has been getting warmer. Species of bird and butterfly which thrive in cool temperatures therefore need to move further north. However, they have difficulty adapting to the warmer climate quickly enough, as shown by new research. ... > full story

Early primate had transitional lemur-like grooming claw (January 16, 2012) -- A new study examines the first extinct North American primate with a toe bone showing features associated with the presence of both nails and a grooming claw, indicating our primate ancestors may have traded their flat nails for raised claws for functional purposes, much like pop icons Adele and Lady Gaga are doing today in the name of fashion. ... > full story

Evolution of complexity recreated using 'molecular time travel' (January 16, 2012) -- Scientists have now demonstrated how just a few small, high-probability mutations increased the complexity of a molecular machine more than 800 million years ago. By biochemically resurrecting ancient genes and testing their functions in modern organisms, the researchers showed that a new component was incorporated into the machine due to selective losses of function rather than the sudden appearance of new capabilities. ... > full story

Can we save the whales by putting a price on them? (January 16, 2012) -- Every year, anti-whaling groups spend millions of dollars on activities intended to end commercial whaling. And every year, commercial whaling not only continues, but grows. While protests, education, lobbying and dangerous confrontations on the high seas have saved some whales, the whaling industry shows no sign of shutting down -- or slowing down. Now, an economist and two marine scientists suggest a new strategy that they believe could save whales by putting a price on them. ... > full story

Chlorophyll can help prevent cancer -- but study raises other questions (January 16, 2012) -- A recent study found that the chlorophyll in green vegetables offers protection against cancer when tested against the modest carcinogen exposure levels most likely to be found in the environment. However, chlorophyll actually increases the number of tumors at very high carcinogen exposure levels. The research raises serious questions about whether traditional lab studies done with mice and high levels of toxic exposure are providing accurate answers to what is a real health risk, what isn't, and what dietary or pharmaceutical approaches are useful. ... > full story

New information on the waste-disposal units of living cells (January 16, 2012) -- Researchers have provided the most detailed look ever at the "regulatory particle" used by the proteasome - one of the most critical protein machines in living cells - to identify and degrade proteins marked for destruction. This new information holds implications for a broad range of vital biochemical processes, including transcription, DNA repair and the immune defense system. ... > full story

Cold winters caused by warmer summers, research suggests (January 16, 2012) -- Scientists have offered up a convincing explanation for the harsh winters recently experienced in the Northern hemisphere: increasing temperatures and melting ice in the Arctic regions creating more snowfall in the autumn months at lower latitudes. ... > full story

Wood-burning stoves: Harmful or safe? (January 16, 2012) -- Wood-burning stoves are a popular source of heating in many countries. However in recent years there has been much debate about the potential negative health effects associated with wood smoke. A researcher has now studied the influence of combustion conditions on the emissions and their health effects. ... > full story

Grain crops with lower carotene levels are less affected by parasitic plants (January 16, 2012) -- Grain crops that produce less carotene can produce more food, especially in Africa, as they are less affected by parasitic plants. Agricultural researchers studied processes and technologies that could improve the control of the parasitic weed Striga both in the lab and in the field. He discovered that rice plants that produce less carotene than usual are less infected by the Striga parasite. ... > full story

Bacterial infections: New laboratory method uses mass spectrometry to rapidly detect staph infections (January 15, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a new laboratory test that can rapidly identify the bacterium responsible for staph infections. The test uses mass spectrometry to quantify the number of Staphylococcus aureus organisms in a large number of samples in just a few hours. ... > full story

Improved method for protein sequence comparisons is faster, more accurate, more sensitive (January 15, 2012) -- Sequence comparisons are an essential tool for the prediction and analysis of the structure and functions of proteins. A new method developed by computational biologists permits sequence comparisons to be performed faster and more accurately than ever before. ... > full story

New clue in battle against Australian Hendra virus: African bats have antibodies that neutralize deadly virus (January 15, 2012) -- A new study on African bats provides a vital clue for unraveling the mysteries in Australia's battle with the deadly Hendra virus. ... > full story

Pythons and people take turns as predators and prey (January 15, 2012) -- People and giant snakes not only target each other for food -- they also compete for the same prey, according to a new study. ... > full story

What can be done to slow climate change? (January 14, 2012) -- Scientists have detailed 14 key air pollution control measures that, if implemented, could slow the pace of global warming, improve health and boost agricultural production. ... > full story

Evolution is written all over your face (January 13, 2012) -- Why are the faces of primates so dramatically different from one another? Biologists serving as "evolutionary detectives" studied the faces of 129 adult male primates from Central and South America, and offer answers. These faces evolved over at least 24 million years. ... > full story

Novel chemical route to form organic molecules (January 13, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered a novel chemical route to form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- complex organic molecules such as naphthalene carrying fused benzene rings -- in ultra-cold regions of interstellar space. ... > full story

Discovery of plant 'nourishing gene' brings hope for increased crop seed yield and food security (January 13, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered a "nourishing gene" which controls the transfer of nutrients from plant to seed -- a significant step which could help increase global food production. ... > full story

Blame your taste buds for liking fat: Receptor for tasting fat identified in humans (January 13, 2012) -- Why do we like fatty foods so much? We can blame our taste buds. In the first study to identify a human receptor that can taste fat, researchers report that our tongues recognize and have an affinity for fat and that variations in a gene can make people more or less sensitive to the taste of fat in foods. ... > full story

European mountain vegetation shows effects of warmer climate (January 13, 2012) -- Researchers from 13 countries report clear and statistically significant evidence of a continent-wide warming effect on mountain plant communities in Europe. ... > full story

Offsetting global warming: Molecule in Earth's atmosphere could 'cool the planet' (January 13, 2012) -- Scientists have shown that a newly discovered molecule in Earth's atmosphere has the potential to play a significant role in offsetting global warming by cooling the planet. ... > full story

The microbiome and disease: Gut bacteria influence the severity of heart attacks in rats (January 13, 2012) -- New research suggests the types and levels of intestinal bacteria may be used to predict a person's likelihood of having a heart attack, and manipulating these organisms may help reduce risk. This discovery may lead to new tests and therapies that physicians use to prevent and treat heart attacks. In addition, this research suggests probiotics may be able to protect the heart in patients undergoing heart surgery and angioplasty. ... > full story

Wandering albatross alters its foraging due to climate change (January 13, 2012) -- Wandering albatrosses have altered their foraging due to changes in wind fields in the southern hemisphere during the last decades. Since winds have increased in intensity and moved to the south, the flight speed of albatrosses increased and they spend less time foraging. As a consequence, breeding success has improved and birds have gained 1 kilogram. ... > full story

The case of the dying aspens (January 12, 2012) -- Over the past 10 years, the death of forest trees due to drought and increased temperatures has been documented on all continents except Antarctica. This can in turn drive global warming by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by trees and by releasing carbon locked up in their wood. New research offers evidence for the physiological mechanism governing tree death in a drought. ... > full story

Some 'low-gluten' beer contains high levels of gluten (January 12, 2012) -- Beer tested in a new study, including some brands labeled "low-gluten," contains levels of hordein, the form of gluten present in barley, that could cause symptoms in patients with celiac disease, the autoimmune condition treated with a life-long gluten-free diet, scientists are reporting. ... > full story

Diet rich in slowly digested carbs reduces markers of inflammation in overweight and obese adults (January 12, 2012) -- Among overweight and obese adults, a diet rich in slowly digested carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes and other high-fiber foods, significantly reduces markers of inflammation associated with chronic disease, according to a new study. Such a "low-glycemic-load" diet, which does not cause blood-glucose levels to spike, also increases a hormone that helps regulate the metabolism of fat and sugar. ... > full story

In ancient Pompeii, trash and tombs went hand in hand (January 12, 2012) -- Trash and tombs went hand in hand in ancient Pompeii. That's according to research that provides new insights into daily life of that city before the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. ... > full story

Retreating glaciers threaten water supplies (January 12, 2012) -- Glaciers are retreating at an unexpectedly fast rate according to research done in Peru's Cordillera Blanca. This may threaten water supplies. ... > full story

World's smallest vertebrate: Tiny frogs discovered in New Guinea (January 12, 2012) -- Biologists just discovered two new species of frogs in New Guinea, one of which is now the world's tiniest known vertebrate, averaging only 7.7 millimeters in size -- less than one-third of an inch. It ousts Paedocypris progenetica, an Indonesian fish averaging more than 8 millimeters, from the record. ... > full story

Bacteria's move from sea to land may have occurred much later than thought (January 12, 2012) -- A new analysis indicates the shift of soil bacteria Azospirillum may have occurred only 400 million years ago, rather than approximately two billion years earlier as originally thought. ... > full story

Honeybee deaths linked to seed insecticide exposure (January 12, 2012) -- Honeybee populations have been in serious decline for years, and scientists may have identified one of the factors that cause bee deaths around agricultural fields. ... > full story

Colorado mountain hail may disappear in a warmer future (January 12, 2012) -- Summertime hail could all but disappear from the eastern flank of Colorado's Rocky Mountains by 2070, according to a new modeling study. Less hail damage could be good news for gardeners and farmers, but a shift from hail to rain can also mean more runoff, which could raise the risk of flash floods, she said. ... > full story

Identifying sloth species at a genetic level (January 12, 2012) -- Identifying species, separating out closely related species and managing each type on its own, is an important part of any animal management system. Some species, like the two types of two-toed sloth, are so close in appearance and behavior that differentiation can be challenging. Conservation researchers have developed a mechanism for identifying these reclusive species from each other. ... > full story

Plasma treatment zaps viruses before they can attack cells (January 12, 2012) -- Researchers have tested a pre-emptive anti-viral treatment on a common virus known to cause respiratory infections. ... > full story

Why do dew drops do what they do on leaves? (January 12, 2012) -- Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore once wrote, "Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf." Now, a new study is finally offering an explanation for why small dew drops do as Tagore advised and form on the tips, rather than the flat surfaces, of leaves. ... > full story

Scientists paint new picture of dance between protein and binding partners (January 12, 2012) -- Using a blend of technologies, scientists have painted a new picture of how biochemical information can be transmitted through the modification of a protein. Previously, scientists believed that during the pairing of proteins and their binding partners ("ligands"), proteins modified their shape while ligands remained stable. The new study shows this one-size-fits-all solution is not entirely accurate. ... > full story

New cores from glacier in Eastern European Alps may yield new climate clues (January 12, 2012) -- Researchers are beginning their analysis of what are probably the first successful ice cores drilled to bedrock from a glacier in the eastern European Alps. ... > full story

Paddlefish sensors tuned to detect signals from zooplankton prey (January 12, 2012) -- Neurons fire in a synchronized bursting pattern in response to robust signals indicating nearby food. ... > full story

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