The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, February 28, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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

Deaths triple among football players, morning temperatures thought to play a role (February 27, 2012) -- Heat-related deaths among football players across the country tripled to nearly three per year between 1994 and 2009 after averaging about one per year the previous 15 years, according to an analysis of weather conditions and high school and college sports data. The study found for the eastern US, where most deaths occurred, morning heat index values were consistently higher in the latter half of the 30-year study period. ... > full story

Amoeba may offer key clue to photosynthetic evolution (February 27, 2012) -- The major difference between plant and animal cells is the photosynthetic process, which converts light energy into chemical energy. When light isn't available, energy is generated by breaking down carbohydrates and sugars, just as it is in animal and some bacterial cells. Two cellular organelles are responsible for these two processes: the chloroplasts for and the mitochondria. New research has opened a window into the early stages of chloroplast evolution. ... > full story

Research offers insight to how fructose causes obesity and other illness (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists have provided new insights into how fructose causes obesity and metabolic syndrome, more commonly known as diabetes. ... > full story

New fossil penguin from New Zealand may be the biggest ever (February 27, 2012) -- After 35 years, a giant fossil penguin has finally been completely reconstructed, giving researchers new insights into prehistoric penguin diversity. ... > full story

Traces of listeria found in Vancouver ready-to-eat fish products (February 27, 2012) -- A new study has found traces of the bacteria listeria in ready-to-eat fish products sold in metro Vancouver, Canada. ... > full story

Coral reef study traces indirect effects of overfishing (February 27, 2012) -- A study of the tropical coral reef system along the coastline of Kenya has found dramatic effects of overfishing that could threaten the long-term health of the reefs. ... > full story

'Universal' vaccines could finally allow for wide-scale flu prevention (February 27, 2012) -- Scientists have found that an emerging class of long-lasting flu vaccines called "universal" vaccines could for the first time allow for the effective, wide-scale prevention of flu by limiting the virus' ability to spread and mutate. A computational model showed that the vaccines could achieve unprecedented control of the flu virus both seasonally and during outbreaks of highly contagious new strains. ... > full story

Polysternon isonae, a new species of turtle that lived with dinosaurs in Isona (Spanish Pyrenees) (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered a turtle that lived near the end of the age of dinosaurs. Unlike other kinds of turtles, it seems that Polysternon did not survive the end of Cretaceous and went extinct with the dinosaurs. ... > full story

Reduction in U.S. carbon emissions attributed to cheaper natural gas (February 27, 2012) -- Lower emission from power plants in 2009 was driven by competitive pricing of natural gas versus coal, researchers say. ... > full story

Lethal effects of genetically modified Bt toxin confirmed on young ladybird larvae (February 27, 2012) -- Researchers confirm earlier findings that the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin Cry1Ab produced for pesticidal purposes by genetically modified (GM) Bt maize increases mortality in the young ladybird larvae (Adalia bipunctata L., two-spotted ladybird) in laboratory tests. These ladybird larvae are typical ‘non-target’ environmental goods which are not supposed to be harmed by the GM maize. ... > full story

Unusual weather: Arctic sea ice decline may be driving snowy winters seen in recent years in N. Hemisphere (February 27, 2012) -- A new study provides further evidence of a relationship between melting ice in the Arctic regions and widespread cold outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere. The study’s findings could improve seasonal forecasting of snow and temperature anomalies across northern continents. ... > full story

Study extends the 'ecology of fear' to fear of parasites (February 27, 2012) -- The ecology of fear, like other concepts from predator-prey theory, also extends to parasites, new research suggests. Raccoons and squirrels would give up food, the study demonstrated, if the area was infested with larval ticks. At some level, they are weighing the value of the abandoned food against the risk of being parasitized. ... > full story

Some bacteria attack using spring-loaded poison daggers (February 27, 2012) -- Bacteria have evolved different systems for secreting proteins. One, called a type VI secretion system, is found in about a quarter of all bacteria with two membranes. Despite being common, researchers have not understood how it works. Now scientists have figured out the structure of the type VI secretion system apparatus and proposed how it might work -- by shooting spring-loaded poison molecular daggers. ... > full story

RNA interference cancer treatment? Delivering RNA with tiny sponge-like spheres (February 27, 2012) -- For the past decade, scientists have been pursuing cancer treatments based on RNA interference -- a phenomenon that offers a way to shut off malfunctioning genes with short snippets of RNA. However, one huge challenge remains: finding a way to efficiently deliver the RNA. Scientists have now come up with a novel delivery vehicle in which RNA is packed into microspheres so dense that they withstand degradation until they reach their destinations. The new system knocks down expression of specific genes as effectively as existing delivery methods, but with a much smaller dose of particles. ... > full story

Frontal attack or stealth? How subverting the immune system shapes the arms race between bacteria and hosts (February 27, 2012) -- Why is it that Mycobacterium tuberculosis can cause tuberculosis with as little as 10 cells, whereas Vibrio cholerae requires the host to ingest up to tens of millions of cells to cause cholera? This is the question that scientists have just answered. ... > full story

In vino veritas: Promiscuous yeast hook up in wine-making vats (February 26, 2012) -- Humans aren't the only species that like to get busy with a glass of bubbly. Turns out, the common baker's yeast has indulged in a frenzy of amorous frolicking in the fermentation vats of winemakers for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years, with interesting results. ... > full story

Ancient Arabic writings help scientists piece together past climate (February 26, 2012) -- Ancient manuscripts written by Arabic scholars can provide valuable meteorological information to help modern scientists reconstruct the climate of the past, a new study has revealed. The research analyses the writings of scholars, historians and diarists in Iraq during the Islamic Golden Age between 816-1009 AD for evidence of abnormal weather patterns. ... > full story

Volcanoes deliver two flavors of water (February 26, 2012) -- By analyzing submarine volcanic glass from the Manus Basin, scientists found unexpected changes in hydrogen and boron isotopes from the deep mantle. They expected to see the "fingerprint" of seawater. But discovered evidence of seawater distilled from a more ancient plate descent, preserved for as long as one billion years. The data indicate that these ancient "slabs" can return to the upper mantle, and that rates of hydrogen exchange may not conform to experiments. ... > full story

Glow and be eaten: Marine bacteria use light to lure plankton and fish (February 26, 2012) -- Not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes it is just bacteria trying to get ahead in life. Many sea creatures glow with a biologically produced light. This phenomenon, known as bioluminescence, is observed, among others, in some marine bacteria which emit a steady light once they have reached a certain level of concentration (a phenomenon called "quorum sensing") on organic particles in ocean waters. Though this was a known occurrence, the benefits of producing light remained unclear. Now, researchers have unraveled the mystery of why the marine bacteria glow. It has to do with what might be called "the survival of the brightest." ... > full story

Promising new technique to rescue the immune system (February 26, 2012) -- Researchers report on a promising new technique that potentially could turn immune system killer T cells into more effective weapons against infections and possibly cancer. ... > full story

European Neanderthals were on the verge of extinction even before the arrival of modern humans (February 25, 2012) -- Most Neanderthals in Europe died off around 50,000 years ago, new research suggests. The previously held view of a Europe populated by a stable Neanderthal population for hundreds of thousands of years up until modern humans arrived must therefore be revised, researchers say. ... > full story

Bird brains follow the beat (February 24, 2012) -- By training birds to ‘get rhythm’, scientists uncover evidence that our capacity to move in time with music may be connected with our ability to learn speech. ... > full story

NASA pinning down where 'here' is better than ever (February 24, 2012) -- Before our Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation devices can tell us where we are, the satellites that make up the GPS need to know exactly where they are. For that, they rely on a network of sites that serve as "you are here" signs planted throughout the world. The catch is, the sites don't sit still because they're on a planet that isn't at rest, yet modern measurements require more and more accuracy in pinpointing where "here" is. To meet this need, NASA is helping to lead an international effort to upgrade the four systems that supply this crucial location information. ... > full story

Erosional origin of linear dunes on Earth and Saturn's moon Titan (February 24, 2012) -- Linear dunes, widespread on Earth and Saturn's moon, Titan, are generally considered to have been formed by deposits of windblown sand. It has been speculated for some time that some linear dunes may have formed by "wind-rift" erosion, but this model has commonly been rejected due to lack of sufficient evidence. Now, new research indicates that erosional origin models should not be ruled out. ... > full story

Neither birth nor death stops a flock, new theory shows (February 24, 2012) -- Neither births nor deaths stop the flocking of organisms. They just keep moving, says a theoretical physicist. The notion, he says, has implications in biology and eventually could point to new cancer therapies. ... > full story

Cunning super-parasitic wasps sniff out protected aphids and overwhelm their defenses (February 24, 2012) -- In the war between parasite and host, the parasitic wasp and the pea aphid are locked in a battle for survival. New research shows that this cunning parasite sniffs out differences between protected and unprotected aphids, and alters its egg-laying strategy, in order to overwhelm aphid defenses and ensure survival of wasp offspring. The wasp lays an egg inside the pea aphid, where the egg hatches and converts the aphid's insides into a wasp nursery. The wasp larva uses the still-living aphid as a food source, eventually pupating inside the aphid and emerging as a fully-formed mature wasp. However the pea aphid is not defenseless. It is protected by a bacterial symbiont. ... > full story

CFC substitutes: Good for the ozone layer, bad for climate? (February 24, 2012) -- The Montreal Protocol led to a global phase-out of most substances that deplete the ozone layer, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A happy side-effect of the gradual ban of these products is that the Earth’s climate has also benefited because CFCs are also potent greenhouse gases. However, now a "rebound effect" threatens to accelerate the rate of global warming. ... > full story

Female sex hormones can weaken the ability of fish to protect themselves against environmental toxins (February 24, 2012) -- It is well known that female sex hormones (estrogens) that end up in rivers and lakes, primarily via spillage from sewers and livestock farming, pose a threat to the environment. Some environmental toxins can also have the same impact as estrogens. One example of such substances are degradation products (metabolites) from the pollutant PCB. ... > full story

Car tracks beyond the asphalt (February 24, 2012) -- The contamination caused by road traffic not only affects the air, it also seeps under the asphalt and harms the adjacent soil and plants. A chemist has delved into the subject and studied the extent of the impact of the metals emitted by cars. Likewise, he has analyzed their consequences in the short, medium and long term. ... > full story

New strategies for treatment of infectious diseases (February 24, 2012) -- The immune system protects from infections by detecting and eliminating invading pathogens. These two strategies form the basis of conventional clinical approaches in the fight against infectious diseases. Scientists now propose that a third strategy needs to be considered: tolerance to infection, whereby the infected host protects itself from infection by reducing tissue damage and other negative effects caused by the pathogen or the immune response against the invader. ... > full story

Blood mystery solved: Two new blood types identified (February 23, 2012) -- You probably know your blood type: A, B, AB or O. You may even know if you're Rhesus positive or negative. But how about the Langereis blood type? Or the Junior blood type? Positive or negative? Most people have never even heard of these. Yet this knowledge could be "a matter of life and death." While blood transfusion problems due to Langereis and Junior blood types are rare worldwide, several ethnic populations are at risk. ... > full story

Mobile DNA elements can disrupt gene expression and cause biological variation, study shows (February 23, 2012) -- The many short pieces of mobile DNA that exist in the genome can contribute to important biological differences between strains of mice, according to a new study. The mobile DNA, sometimes called jumping genes, can disrupt gene expression even from a distance, with the disruption influenced by the gender of the parent that supplied it. The findings reveal a mechanism of natural variation in animals and humans that may apply to cancer and other diseases. ... > full story

Eating citrus fruit may lower women's stroke risk (February 23, 2012) -- Eating higher amounts of a compound in citrus fruits, especially oranges and grapefruit, may lower ischemic stroke risk. Women who ate high amounts of the compound had a 19 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke than women who consumed the least amount. ... > full story

Neurotoxins in shark fins: A human health concern (February 23, 2012) -- Sharks are among the most threatened of marine species worldwide due to unsustainable overfishing. They are primarily killed for their fins to fuel the growing demand for shark fin soup, which is an Asia delicacy. A new study has discovered high concentrations of BMAA in shark fins, a neurotoxin linked to neurodegenerative diseases in humans including Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig Disease (ALS). The study suggests that consumption of shark fin soup and cartilage pills may pose a significant health risk for degenerative brain diseases. ... > full story

Lifestyle of naked mole-rats holds lifesaving clues (February 23, 2012) -- A biologist thinks the subterranean lifestyle of the naked mole-rat may hold clues to keeping brain cells alive and functioning when oxygen is scarce, as during a heart attack. The key may lie in how brain cells regulate their intake of calcium, he says. ... > full story

Climate change, increasing temperatures alter bird migration patterns (February 23, 2012) -- Birds in eastern North America are picking up the pace along their yearly migratory paths. The reason, according to researchers, is rising temperatures due to climate change. ... > full story

Key to growth differences between species (February 23, 2012) -- The tiny, little-noticed jewel wasp may provide some answers as to how different species differ in size and shape. And that could lead to a better understanding of cell growth regulation, as well as the underlying causes of some diseases. ... > full story

Earliest horses show past global warming affected body size of mammals (February 23, 2012) -- As scientists continue developing climate change projection models, paleontologists studying an extreme short-term global warming event have discovered direct evidence about how mammals respond to rising temperatures. Researchers have now found a correlation between temperature and body size in mammals by following the evolution of the earliest horses about 56 million years ago: As temperatures increased, their body size decreased. ... > full story

Disarming the botulinum neurotoxin (February 23, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered how botulinum neurotoxin, a potential bioterrorism agent, survives the hostile environment in the stomach on its journey through the human body. Their study reveals the first 3D structure of a neurotoxin together with its bodyguard, a protein made simultaneously in the same bacterium. This new information reveals the toxin's weak spot -- a point in the journey that can be targeted with new therapeutics. ... > full story

Classic Maya Civilization collapse related to modest rainfall reductions, research suggests (February 23, 2012) -- The disintegration of the Maya Civilization may have been related to relatively modest reductions in rainfall, according to new research. Rather modest rainfall reductions between times when the Classic Maya Civilization flourished and its collapse - between AD 800-950, seems to have caused the collapse. These reductions amount to only 25 to 40 per cent in annual rainfall, but they were large enough for evaporation to become dominant over rainfall, and open water availability was rapidly reduced, researchers say. ... > full story

Illegal orangutan trader prosecuted (February 23, 2012) -- Sumatra has made its first ever successful sentence of an illegal orangutan owner and trader in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. ... > full story

Aircraft of the future could capture and re-use some of their own power (February 23, 2012) -- Tomorrow's aircraft could contribute to their power needs by harnessing energy from the wheel rotation of their landing gear to generate electricity. They could use this to power their taxiing to and from airport buildings, reducing the need to use their jet engines. This would save on aviation fuel, cut emissions and reduce noise pollution at airports. ... > full story

'Storm of the century' may become 'storm of the decade' (February 23, 2012) -- Researchers report that projected increases in sea level and storm intensity brought on by climate change would make devastating storm surges -- the deadly and destructive mass of water pushed inland by large storms -- more frequent in low-lying coastal areas. Regions such as the New York City metropolitan area that currently experience a disastrous flood every century could instead become submerged every one or two decades. ... > full story

For fish, fear smells like sugar (February 23, 2012) -- When one fish gets injured, the rest of the school takes off in fear, tipped off by a mysterious substance known as "Schreckstoff" (meaning "scary stuff" in German). Now, researchers have figured out what that scary stuff is really made of. ... > full story

U.S. urban forests losing ground (February 23, 2012) -- National results indicate that tree cover in urban areas of the United States is declining at a rate of about 4 million trees per year. ... > full story

Bisphenol A exposure linked to increased risk of future onset of heart disease (February 23, 2012) -- Bisphenol A (BPA) is a controversial chemical widely used in the plastics industry. A new study followed people over a 10-year time period and shows that healthy people with higher urine concentrations of BPA were more likely to later develop heart disease. ... > full story

How cells brace themselves for starvation (February 23, 2012) -- Cells that repress their "bad time" pumps when a nutrient is abundant were much more efficient at preparing for starvation and at recovering afterward than the cells that had been genetically engineered to avoid this repression. ... > full story

Blue light culprit in red tide blooms (February 23, 2012) -- Researchers have uncovered the specific mechanism that triggers phytoplankton to release their powerful toxins into the environment. ... > full story

This message was sent to jmabs1@gmail.com from:

ScienceDaily | 1 Research Court, Suite 450 | Rockville, MD 20850

Email Marketing by