The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, February 16, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, February 16, 2012

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Time of year important in projections of climate change effects on ecosystems (February 15, 2012) -- Based on more than 25 years of data, ecologists looked at how droughts and heat waves affect grass growth during different months of the year. ... > full story

Extreme summer temperatures occur more frequently in U.S. now, analysis shows (February 15, 2012) -- Extreme summer temperatures are already occurring more frequently in the United States, and will become normal by mid-century if the world continues on a business as usual schedule of emitting greenhouse gases. By analyzing observations and results obtained from climate models, a new study has shown that previously rare high summertime (June, July and August) temperatures are already occurring more frequently in some regions of the 48 contiguous United States. ... > full story

Computer sleuthing helps unravel RNA's role in cellular function (February 15, 2012) -- Computer engineers may have just provided the medical community a new way of figuring out exactly how one of the three building blocks of life forms and functions. They have used a complex computer program to analyze RNA motifs – the subunits that make up RNA. ... > full story

Climate change may increase risk of water shortages in hundreds of US counties by 2050 (February 15, 2012) -- More than one in three counties in the US could face a "high" or "extreme" risk of water shortages due to climate change by the middle of the 21st century, according to a new study. The report concluded seven in 10 of the more than 3,100 counties could face "some" risk of shortages of fresh water. ... > full story

Out of Africa? Data fail to support language origin in Africa (February 15, 2012) -- Last year, a report claiming to support the idea that the origin of language can be traced to West Africa appeared in Science. The article caused quite a stir. Now a linguist has challenged its conclusions, in a commentary just published in Science. ... > full story

Prions play powerful role in the survival and evolution of wild yeast strains (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have tested nearly 700 wild yeast strains isolated from diverse environments for the presence of known and unknown prion elements, finding them in one third of all strains. All the prions appear capable of creating diverse new traits, nearly half of which are beneficial. These unexpected findings stand as strong evidence against the common argument that prions are merely yeast "diseases" or rare artifacts of laboratory culture. ... > full story

Lava formations in Western U.S. linked to rip in giant slab of Earth (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have proposed mass melting as a new force behind volcanic activity in the Columbia River region. ... > full story

Stretching helices help keep muscles together (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered that the elastic part of myomesin, a protein that links muscle filaments, can stretch to two and a half times its original length, unfolding in a way that was hitherto unknown. ... > full story

New defense mechanism against viruses and cancer identified (February 15, 2012) -- Scientists have found a fundamentally new mechanism how our defense system is ramped up when facing a viral intruder. Exploitation of this mechanism in vaccines sparks new hope for better prevention and therapy of infectious diseases and cancer. ... > full story

In the mouth, smoking zaps healthy bacteria (February 15, 2012) -- According to a new study, smoking causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria, leaving smokers more vulnerable to disease. ... > full story

NASA Landsat's thermal infrared sensor arrives at Orbital (February 15, 2012) -- A new NASA satellite instrument that makes a quantum leap forward in detector technology has arrived at Orbital Sciences Corp. in Gilbert, Ariz. There it will be integrated into the next Landsat satellite, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM). ... > full story

Teachers fly experiments on NASA reduced gravity flights (February 15, 2012) -- More than 70 teachers had an opportunity to experience what it feels like to float in space as they participated in the Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston last week. ... > full story

NASA science aircraft to travel the globe in 2012 (February 15, 2012) -- With missions scheduled throughout the year, 2012 is shaping up to be an extraordinary time for NASA's Airborne Science Program and Earth system science research. Multiple aircraft and specialized instruments will operate in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America this year in support of studies conducted by NASA and the Earth science community, improving scientists' understanding of our planet. ... > full story

Tiny chameleons discovered in Madagascar: Small enough to stand on the tip of a finger (February 15, 2012) -- Four new species of miniaturized lizards have been identified in Madagascar. These lizards, just tens of millimeters from head to tail and in some cases small enough to stand on the head of a match, rank among the smallest reptiles in the world. ... > full story

Short-term exposure to most major air pollutants associated with increased risk of heart attack (February 14, 2012) -- Short-term exposure (for up to 7 days) to all major air pollutants, with the exception of ozone, is significantly associated with an increased risk of heart attack, according to a new review article. ... > full story

Antibiotics ineffective for most sinus infections, study finds (February 14, 2012) -- Antibiotics that doctors typically prescribe for sinus infections do not reduce symptoms any better than an inactive placebo, according to investigators. ... > full story

Report seeks to integrate microbes into climate models (February 14, 2012) -- The models used to understand how Earth's climate works include thousands of different variables from many scientific including atmospherics, oceanography, seismology, geology, physics and chemistry, but few take into consideration the vast effect that microbes have on climate. Now, a new report offers a plan for integrating the latest understanding of the science of microbiology into climate models. ... > full story

Proteins in Yellowstone bacteria considered for biofuel inspiration (February 14, 2012) -- Studies of bacteria first found in Yellowstone's hot springs are furthering efforts toward commercially viable ethanol production from crops such as switchgrass. ... > full story

Noncoding RNAs alter yeast phenotypes in a site-specific manner (February 14, 2012) -- Scientists have shown for the first time how two long intergenic noncoding RNAs in brewer's yeast contribute to a location-dependent switch for the yeast FLO11 gene to toggle between active and inactive states. ... > full story

SIV infection may lead to increase in immune-suppressive Treg cells (February 14, 2012) -- Tissue in monkeys infected with a close relative of HIV can ramp up production of a type of T cell that actually weakens the body's attack against the invading virus. ... > full story

Tangled up in DNA: New molecule has potential to help treat genetic diseases and HIV (February 14, 2012) -- Chemists have created a molecule that's so good at tangling itself inside the double helix of a DNA sequence that it can stay there for up to 16 days before the DNA liberates itself, much longer than any other molecule reported. ... > full story

Chemists mimic nature to design better medical tests (February 14, 2012) -- Over their 3.8 billion years of evolution, living organisms have developed countless strategies for monitoring their surroundings. Chemists have adapted some of these strategies to improve the performance of DNA detectors. Their findings may aid efforts to build better medical diagnostics, such as improved HIV or cancer tests. ... > full story

Sobering future of wildfire dangers in U.S. west, researchers predict (February 14, 2012) -- The American West has seen a recent increase in large wildfires due to droughts, the build-up of combustible fuel, or biomass, in forests, a spread of fire-prone species and increased tree mortality from insects and heat. A research team warns that these conditions may be "a perfect storm" for more fires. ... > full story

Bumblebees get by with a little help from their honeybee rivals (February 14, 2012) -- Bumblebees can use cues from their rivals the honeybees to learn where the best food resources are, according to new research. In a new study, researchers trained a colony of bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) to use cues provided by a different species, the honeybee (Apis mellifera), as well as cues provided by fellow bumblebees to locate food resources on artificial flowers. ... > full story

Super high-resolution carbon estimates for endangered Madagascar (February 14, 2012) -- By combining airborne laser technology, satellite mapping, and ground-based plot surveys, a team of researchers has produced the first large-scale, high-resolution estimates of carbon stocks in remote and fragile Madagascar. The group has shown that it is possible to map carbon stocks in rugged geographic regions and that this type of carbon monitoring can be successfully employed to support conservation and climate-change mitigation under the United Nations initiative on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. ... > full story

Critical stage of embryonic development now observable (February 14, 2012) -- A novel approach in the study of the development of mammalian embryos has just been developed. The research enables scientists to view critical aspects of embryonic development which was previously unobservable. ... > full story

Malaria parasite goes bananas before sex (February 14, 2012) -- New research shows how the malaria parasite changes into a banana shape before sexual reproduction, a finding that could provide targets for vaccine or drug development and may explain how the parasite evades the human immune system. ... > full story

Fukushima at increased earthquake risk, scientists report (February 14, 2012) -- Seismic risk at the Fukushima nuclear plant increased after the magnitude 9 earthquake that hit Japan last March, scientists report. The new study, which uses data from over 6,000 earthquakes, shows the 11 March tremor caused a seismic fault close to the nuclear plant to reactivate. The research suggests authorities should strengthen the security of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to withstand large earthquakes that are likely to directly disturb the region. ... > full story

'Invisibility' cloak could protect buildings from earthquakes (February 14, 2012) -- Mathematicians have developed the theory for a Harry Potter style 'cloaking' device which could protect buildings from earthquakes. Scientists have been working on the theory of invisibility cloaks which, until recently, have been merely the subject of science fiction. In recent times, however, scientists have been getting close to achieving 'cloaking' in a variety of contexts. The new work focuses on the theory of cloaking devices which could eventually help to protect buildings and structures from vibrations and natural disasters such as earthquakes. ... > full story

Research reveals the true cost of a burger (February 14, 2012) -- Society could considerably reduce its carbon footprint if more of us switched to a vegetarian diet, according to new research. ... > full story

Turmeric-based drug effective on Alzheimer flies (February 14, 2012) -- Curcumin, a substance extracted from turmeric, prolongs life and enhances activity of fruit flies with a nervous disorder similar to Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. The study indicates that it is the initial stages of fibril formation and fragments of the amyloid fibrils that are most toxic to neurons. ... > full story

Plants use circadian rhythms to prepare for battle with insects (February 13, 2012) -- In a study of the molecular underpinnings of plants' pest resistance, biologists have shown that plants use circadian rhythms to both anticipate raids by hungry insects and to time the production of defensive hormones that protect against insect attack. The researchers demonstrated that when the plants' timing was shifted, the plants were defenseless against daytime-feeding caterpillars. ... > full story

Prolonged fructose intake not linked to rise in blood pressure, study suggests (February 13, 2012) -- Eating fructose over an extended period of time does not lead to an increase in blood pressure, according to new research. ... > full story

Link between sodium, calcium and heartbeat illuminated (February 13, 2012) -- Researchers have revealed, for the first time, one of the molecular mechanisms that regulates the beating of heart cells by controlling the movement of sodium in out of the cells -- and what calcium has to do with it. ... > full story

Sensing self and non-self: New research into immune tolerance (February 13, 2012) -- Cancer cells can undergo unchecked proliferation, producing self-antigens that are tolerated by the immune system, rather than being targeted for destruction. At the opposite extreme, autoimmune disorders can result when healthy cells in the body are misidentified as hazards. Researchers now examine how CD8 T cells -- critical weapons in the body's defensive arsenal -- are regulated when they transition from this tolerant state to an activated state and back. ... > full story

Air pollution linked to cognitive decline in women (February 13, 2012) -- A large, prospective study indicates that chronic exposure to particulate air pollution may accelerate cognitive decline in older adults. ... > full story

Even moderate air pollution can raise stroke risks (February 13, 2012) -- Air pollution, even at levels generally considered safe by federal regulations, increases the risk of stroke by 34 percent, researchers have found. ... > full story

Radiation treatment generates cancer stem cells from less aggressive breast cancer cells, study suggests (February 13, 2012) -- Breast cancer stem cells are thought to be the sole source of tumor recurrence and are known to be resistant to radiation therapy and don’t respond well to chemotherapy. Researchers report for the first time that radiation treatment -- despite killing half of all tumor cells during every treatment -- transforms other cancer cells into treatment-resistant breast cancer stem cells. Researchers stressed that breast cancer patients should not be alarmed by the study findings and should continue to undergo radiation if recommended by their oncologists. ... > full story

Explosive evolution need not follow mass extinctions, study of ancient zooplankton finds (February 13, 2012) -- Fossil record of graptoloids challenges the theory that immediately after a mass extinction, species develop new physical traits at a rapid pace. ... > full story

Fish of Antarctica threatened by climate change (February 13, 2012) -- A study of the evolutionary history of Antarctic fish and their "anti-freeze" proteins illustrates how tens of millions of years ago a lineage of fish adapted to newly formed polar conditions -- and how today they are endangered by a rapid rise in ocean temperatures. ... > full story

Love, chocolate good for the heart, says cardiologist (February 13, 2012) -- Being involved in a healthy, loving relationship is good for the heart, says a cardiologist. People who are married or who are in close, healthy relationships tend to be less likely to smoke, are more physically active and are more likely to have a well-developed social structure, she said. They are also more likely to have lower levels of stress and anxiety in their day-to-day lives. ... > full story

Where big fish take shelter has big impact on their ability to cope with climate change (February 13, 2012) -- The choices big fish make on where to shelter could have a major influence on their ability to cope with climate change, say scientists. In research aimed at understanding the process of fish population decline when coral reefs sustain major damage, scientists have found that big fish show a marked preference for sheltering under large, flat table corals. ... > full story

Scientist works to detach protein that HIV uses as protective shield (February 13, 2012) -- One of the frustrations for scientists working on HIV/AIDS treatments has been the human immunodeficiency virus' ability to evade the body's immune system. Now a researcher has discovered a compound that could help put the immune system back in the hunt. ... > full story

More than just packaging, the genome affects the way our genes change and develop, researcher says (February 13, 2012) -- Since Charles Darwin first put forth the theory of evolution, scientists have been trying to unlock the mysteries of genetics. But research on the genome -- the organism's entire hereditary package encoded in DNA and RNA -- has been less extensive. There is a tendency to think of the genome as a static and passive container of information. A critical new paradigm now redefines the genome as a dynamic structure that can impact genes themselves. ... > full story

Research yields better seasonal climate forecasts (February 13, 2012) -- Arctic sea ice is rapidly retreating. Within a few decades the North Pole could be completely ice-free in summer. How will that affect our weather? In the research project "Seasonal Predictability over the Arctic Region" (SPAR), scientists in Norway have made some discoveries that may lead to more reliable seasonal forecasts. ... > full story

Starve a virus, feed a cure? (February 12, 2012) -- A protein that protects some of our immune cells from the most common and virulent form of HIV works by starving the virus of the molecular building blocks that it needs to replicate. While researchers hope the work will one day lead to a way to make anti-HIV drugs more effective by increasing their potency against the virus, they're also excited about its implications for our knowledge of other pathogens, such as herpes viruses. ... > full story

Molecular secrets of ancient Chinese herbal remedy discovered (February 12, 2012) -- For roughly two thousand years, Chinese herbalists have treated Malaria using a root extract, commonly known as Chang Shan, from a type of hydrangea that grows in Tibet and Nepal. More recent studies suggest that halofuginone, a compound derived from this extract's bioactive ingredient, could be used to treat many autoimmune disorders as well. Now, researchers have discovered the molecular secrets behind this herbal extract's power. ... > full story

How a protein protects cells from HIV infection (February 12, 2012) -- A novel discovery reveals a mechanism by which the immune system tries to halt the spread of HIV. Harnessing this mechanism may open up new paths for therapeutic research aimed at slowing the virus’ progression to AIDS. ... > full story

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