The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, February 23, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, February 23, 2012

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

Low levels of fallout from Fukushima, U.S. study finds (February 22, 2012) -- Fallout from the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power facility in Japan was measured in minimal amounts in precipitation in the United States in about 20 percent of 167 sites sampled in a nationwide U.S. study. ... > full story

Faster way to catch cells: New microfluidic device could be used to diagnose and monitor cancer and other diseases (February 22, 2012) -- Separating complex mixtures of cells, such as those found in a blood sample, can offer valuable information for diagnosing and treating disease. However, it may be necessary to search through billions of other cells to collect rare cells such as tumor cells, stem cells or fetal cells. Researchers have now demonstrated a new microfluidic device that can isolate target cells much faster than existing devices. Such technology could be used in applications such as point-of-care diagnostics and personalized medicine. ... > full story

New way to tap largest remaining treasure trove of potential new antibiotics (February 22, 2012) -- Scientists are reporting use of a new technology for sifting through the world's largest remaining pool of potential antibiotics to discover two new antibiotics that work against deadly resistant microbes, including the "superbugs" known as MRSA. ... > full story

Birds sing louder amidst the noise and structures of the urban jungle (February 22, 2012) -- Sparrows, blackbirds and the great tit are all birds known to sing at a higher pitch in urban environments. It was previously believed that these birds sang at higher frequencies in order to escape the lower frequencies noises of the urban environment. Now, researchers have discovered that besides noise, the physical structure of cities also plays a role in altering the birds' songs. ... > full story

Researchers take a step forward in transplanting pig cells to regenerate human cartilage (February 22, 2012) -- Researchers have recently studied the response of human NK cells against porcine chondrocytes. The results of the research indicate that these cells, characteristic of the innate immune system, play an important role in the rejection of xenotransplantation of porcine chondrocytes. ... > full story

What can animals' survival instincts tell us about understanding human emotion? (February 22, 2012) -- Can animals’ survival instincts shed additional light on what we know about human emotion? Neuroscientists pose this question in outlining a pioneering theory, drawn from two decades of research, that could lead to a more comprehensive understanding of emotions in both humans and animals. ... > full story

Earth's clouds are getting lower, NASA satellite finds (February 22, 2012) -- Earth's clouds got a little lower -- about one percent on average -- during the first decade of this century, finds a new NASA-funded university study based on NASA satellite data. The results have potential implications for future global climate. ... > full story

From Bass Strait to the Indian Ocean: Tracking a current (February 22, 2012) -- Deep-diving ocean "gliders" have revealed the journey of Bass Strait water from the Tasman Sea to the Indian Ocean. ... > full story

Tiny, implantable medical device can propel itself through bloodstream (February 22, 2012) -- For 50 years, scientists had searched for the secret to making tiny implantable devices that could travel through the bloodstream. Engineers have now demonstrated a wirelessly powered device that just may make the dream a reality. ... > full story

Newly identified oral bacterium linked to heart disease and meningitis (February 22, 2012) -- A novel bacterium, thought to be a common inhabitant of the oral cavity, has the potential to cause serious disease if it enters the bloodstream, according to a new study. ... > full story

Fried food risks: Toxic aldehydes detected in reheated oil (February 22, 2012) -- Researchers have been the first to discover the presence of certain aldehydes in food, which are believed to be related to some neurodegenerative diseases and some types of cancer. These toxic compounds can be found in some oils, such as sunflower oil, when heated at a suitable temperature for frying. ... > full story

Stratospheric superbugs offer new source of power (February 21, 2012) -- Bacteria normally found 30 kilometers above Earth have been identified as highly efficient generators of electricity. Bacillus stratosphericus -- a microbe commonly found in high concentrations in the stratosphere -- is a key component of a new 'super' biofilm that has been engineered by a team of scientists from Newcastle University. ... > full story

Caught in the act: Scientists discover microbes speciating (February 21, 2012) -- Not that long ago in a hot spring in Kamchatka, Russia, two groups of genetically indistinguishable microbes decided to part ways. They began evolving into different species – despite the fact that they still encountered one another in their acidic, boiling habitat and even exchanged some genes from time to time, researchers report. This is the first example of what the researchers call sympatric speciation in a microorganism. ... > full story

Rare fungus kills endangered rattlesnakes in southern Illinois (February 21, 2012) -- A small population of rattlesnakes that already is in decline in southern Illinois faces a new and unexpected threat in the form of a fungus rarely seen in the wild, researchers report. The finding matches reports of rattlesnake deaths in the northeast United States. ... > full story

Cell energy sensor mechanism discovered (February 21, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered more details about how an energy sensing “thermostat” protein determines whether cells will store or use their energy reserves. The researchers have shown that a chemical modification on the thermostat protein changes how it’s controlled. Without the modification, cells use stored energy, and with it, they default to stockpiling resources. When cells don’t properly allocate their energy supply, they can die off or become cancerous. ... > full story

Origin of photosynthesis revealed: Genome analysis of 'living fossil' sheds light on the evolution of plants (February 21, 2012) -- Evolutionary biologists have shed light on the early events leading to photosynthesis, the result of the sequencing of 70 million base pair nuclear genome of the one-celled alga Cyanophora. They consider this study the final piece of the puzzle to understand the origin of photosynthesis in eukaryotes. ... > full story

Tohoku grim reminder of potential for Pacific Northwest North American megaquake (February 21, 2012) -- The March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake is a grim reminder of the potential for another strong-motion mega-earthquake along the Pacific Northwest coast, geophysicists say. ... > full story

Plant toughness: Key to cracking biofuels? (February 21, 2012) -- Along with photosynthesis, the plant cell wall is one of the features that most set plants apart from animals. A structural molecule called cellulose is necessary for the manufacture of these walls. Cellulose is synthesized in a semi-crystalline state that is essential for its function in the cell wall function, but the mechanisms controlling its crystallinity are poorly understood. New research reveals key information about this process. ... > full story

Is fructose being blamed unfairly for obesity epidemic? (February 21, 2012) -- Is fructose being unfairly blamed for the obesity epidemic? Or do we just eat and drink too many calories? Researchers reviewed more than 40 published studies on whether the fructose molecule itself causes weight gain. In 31 "isocaloric" trials they reviewed, participants ate a similar number of calories, but one group ate pure fructose and the other ate non-fructose carbohydrates. The fructose group did not gain weight. ... > full story

Molecular basis of touch sensation: Researchers identify new function of a well-known gene (February 21, 2012) -- A gene known to control lens development in mice and humans is also crucial for the development of neurons responsible for mechanosensory function, as neurobiologists have now discovered. They found that in mice in which they had removed the c-Maf gene in the nerve cells, touch sensation is impaired. This similarly applies to human carriers of a mutant c-Maf gene. ... > full story

Irish mammals under serious threat from 'invasional meltdown' (February 21, 2012) -- Some of Ireland's oldest inhabitants are facing serious threat and possible extinction because of foreign species, according to researchers. ... > full story

Ant colonies remember rivals' odor and compete like sports fans (February 21, 2012) -- A new study has shown that weaver ants share a collective memory for the odor of ants in rival nests, and use the information to identify them and compete, similar to how sports fans know each other instantly by their unique colors. ... > full story

Gases drawn into smog particles stay there (February 21, 2012) -- Airborne gases get sucked into stubborn smog particles from which they cannot escape, according to new findings. These finding could explain why air pollution models underestimate organic aerosols. ... > full story

Scientists unlock evolutionary secret of blood vessels (February 21, 2012) -- Scientists have shed light on how vertebrates evolved closed circulation systems designed to more effectively carry blood to organs and tissues. ... > full story

Evolution of staph 'superbug' traced between humans and livestock (February 21, 2012) -- A strain of the potentially deadly antibiotic-resistant bacterium known as MRSA has jumped from livestock to humans, according to a new study. ... > full story

Tadpoles adjust buoyancy to adapt to different environments (February 21, 2012) -- Survival and reproduction of many aquatic and semi-aquatic animals can depend upon how well they float. Tadpoles use various strategies to attain buoyancy, depending upon their stage of development and location in still or turbulent waters. Researchers have taken a closer look at the developing frog's strategies to achieve buoyancy. ... > full story

Iconic marine mammals are 'swimming in sick seas' of terrestrial pathogens (February 21, 2012) -- Parasites and pathogens infecting humans, pets and farm animals are increasingly being detected in marine mammals such as sea otters, porpoises, harbor seals and killer whales along the Pacific coast of the US and Canada, and better surveillance is required to monitor public health implications, according to a panel of scientific experts from Canada and the United States. ... > full story

Robotic dinosaurs on the way for next-gen paleontology (February 21, 2012) -- Researchers are bringing the latest technological advancements in 3-D printing to the study of ancient life. Using scale models of real fossils, for the first time, they will be able to test hypotheses about how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals moved and lived in their environments. ... > full story

Environmental pollutant level during pregnancy linked with grown daughters who are overweight (February 21, 2012) -- The levels of the environmental pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) that mothers had in their blood during pregnancy increased the risk of obesity in their daughters at 20 years of age. ... > full story

Eat and let die: Insect feeds on toxic plants for protection from predators (February 21, 2012) -- Certain insects, such as the African variegated grasshopper or the cinnabar moth, native in Europe and Asia, feed on toxic plants in order to protect themselves from predators. ... > full story

Gene affecting the ability to sleep discovered in fruit flies (February 20, 2012) -- On the surface, it's simple: when night falls, our bodies get sleepy. But behind the scenes, a series of complex molecular events, controlled by our genes, is hard at work to make us groggy. Now, research suggests that a newly identified gene known as insomniac may play a role in keeping us asleep. By cloning and testing this gene in fruit flies researchers say they have discovered an entirely new mechanism by which sleep is regulated. ... > full story

300-million-year-old forest discovered preserved in volanic ash (February 20, 2012) -- Pompeii-like, a 300-million-year-old tropical forest was preserved in ash when a volcano erupted in what is today northern China. Paleobotanists have reconstructed this fossilized forest, lending insight into the ecology and climate of its time. ... > full story

Taking Earth's pulse: Scientists unveil a new economic and environmental index (February 20, 2012) -- A growing world population, mixed with the threat of climate change and mounting financial problems, has prompted researchers to measure the overall "health" of 152 countries around the world. ... > full story

High definition polarization vision discovered in cuttlefish (February 20, 2012) -- Cuttlefish have the most acute polarization vision yet found in any animal, researchers have discovered by showing them movies on a modified LCD computer screen to test their eyesight. ... > full story

Conservation risk highest off coasts of Canada, Mexico, Peru and New Zealand (February 20, 2012) -- Researchers have identified conservation "hot spots" around the world where the temptation to profit from overfishing outweighs the appetite for conservation. ... > full story

Water management and climate change in ancient Maya city (February 20, 2012) -- There are new findings from inside a cave and a key cultural and religious center for the ancient Maya. ... > full story

New species of bat, Hipposideros griffini, discovered in Vietnam (February 20, 2012) -- A distinctive echolocation frequency led to the discovery of a new species of bat within the genus Hipposideros. Although this bat is similar to the species Hipposideros armiger, differences in acoustics, size, and DNA between these bats led to the identification of the new species. This new member of the bat community, which has been found in two locations in Vietnam, has been given the scientific name Hipposideros griffini. ... > full story

Bird stewards increase the effectiveness of protected beaches (February 20, 2012) -- Bird stewards – individuals who police protected beaches and educate the public about the birds who inhabit it – greatly increase the effectiveness of protected beaches, a new survey finds. ... > full story

Studying the evolution of life's building blocks (February 20, 2012) -- Studying the origin of life at its building blocks offers a unique perspective on evolution, says a researcher. ... > full story

Rainforest plant combats multi-resistant bacterial strains (February 20, 2012) -- Aggressive infections in hospitals are an increasing health problem worldwide. The development of bacterial resistance is alarming. Now a young Danish scientist has found a natural substance in a Chilean rainforest plant that effectively supports the effect of traditional treatment with antibiotics. ... > full story

Global permafrost zones in high-resolution images on Google Earth (February 20, 2012) -- Thawing permafrost will have far-reaching ramifications for populated areas, infrastructure and ecosystems. A geographer in Switzerland reveals where it is important to confront the issue based on new permafrost maps – the most precise global maps around. They depict the global distribution of permafrost in high-resolution images and are available on Google Earth. ... > full story

How the tiger got its stripes: Proving Turing's tiger stripe theory (February 19, 2012) -- Researchers have provided the first experimental evidence confirming a great British mathematician's theory of how biological patterns such as tiger stripes or leopard spots are formed. ... > full story

Yosemite's alpine chipmunks take genetic hit from climate change (February 19, 2012) -- Global warming has driven Yosemite's alpine chipmunks to higher ground, prompting a startling decline in the species' genetic diversity, according to a new study. The genetic erosion occurred in the relatively short span of 90 years, highlighting the rapid threat changing climate can pose to a species. ... > full story

Glaciers: A window into human impact on the global carbon cycle (February 19, 2012) -- New clues as to how the Earth's remote ecosystems have been influenced by the industrial revolution are locked, frozen in the ice of glaciers. ... > full story

A classic model for ecological stability revised, 40 years later (February 19, 2012) -- A famous mathematical formula which shook the world of ecology 40 years ago has been revisited and refined. ... > full story

Faulty fat sensor implicated in obesity and liver disease (February 19, 2012) -- Defects in a protein that functions as a dietary fat sensor may be a cause of obesity and liver disease, according to a new study. The findings highlight a promising target for new drugs to treat obesity and metabolic disorders. ... > full story

Surprising molecular switch: Lipids help control the development of cell polarity (February 19, 2012) -- In a standard biology textbook, cells tend to look more or less the same from all sides. But in real life cells have fronts and backs, tops and bottoms, and they orient many of their structures according to this polarity explaining, for example, why yeast cells bud at one end and not the other. ... > full story

New brain connections form in clusters during learning (February 19, 2012) -- New connections between brain cells emerge in clusters in the brain as animals learn to perform a new task, according to a new study. The findings reveal details of how brain circuits are rewired during the formation of new motor memories. ... > full story