The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Friday, June 29, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Friday, June 29, 2012

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

Palladium-gold nanoparticles clean TCE a billion times faster than iron filings (June 27, 2012) -- In the first side-by-side tests of a half-dozen palladium- and iron-based catalysts for cleaning up the carcinogen TCE, scientists have found that palladium destroys TCE far faster than iron -- up to a billion times faster in some cases. ... > full story

Physics of going viral: Rate of DNA transfer from viruses to bacteria measured (June 27, 2012) -- Researchers have been able, for the first time, to watch viruses infecting individual bacteria by transferring their DNA, and to measure the rate at which that transfer occurs. Shedding light on the early stages of infection by this type of virus -- a bacteriophage -- the scientists have determined that it is the cells targeted for infection, rather than the amount of genetic material within the viruses themselves, that dictate how quickly the bacteriophage's DNA is transferred. ... > full story

Scientists measure soot particles in flight (June 27, 2012) -- For the first time, air-polluting soot particles have been imaged in flight down to nanometer resolution. Pioneering a new technique scientists snapped the most detailed images yet of airborne aerosols. ... > full story

Ancient human ancestors had unique diet (June 27, 2012) -- When it came to eating, an upright, 2-million-year-old African hominid had a diet unlike virtually all other known human ancestors, says a new study. ... > full story

Dying trees in Southwest set stage for erosion, water loss in Colorado River (June 27, 2012) -- New research concludes that a one-two punch of drought and mountain pine beetle attacks are the primary forces that have killed more than 2.5 million acres of pinyon pine and juniper trees in the American Southwest during the past 15 years, setting the stage for further ecological disruption -- including more water loss in the Colorado River basin. ... > full story

Diabetes reversed in mice using stem cells (June 27, 2012) -- Scientists have reversed diabetes in mice using stem cells. Scientists have shown that human stem cell transplants can successfully restore insulin production and reverse diabetes in mice. Crucially, they re-created the "feedback loop" that enables insulin levels to automatically rise or fall based on blood glucose levels. ... > full story

Happy accident answers cell signal controversy (June 27, 2012) -- Using a new tool allowing proteins in a living cell to be manipulated in real time, researchers have stumbled across the answer to a longstanding debate about where and how a certain protein is turned on in the cell. Scientists show that protein kinase A is also activated in the nucleus rather than inside the cell’s body, a challenge to traditional beliefs. ... > full story

Most new pesticides have roots in natural substances (June 27, 2012) -- Scientists who search for new pesticides for use in humanity's battle of the bugs and other threats to the food supply have been learning lessons from Mother Nature, according to a new analysis. It concludes that more than two out of every three new pesticide active ingredients approved in recent years had roots in natural substances produced in plants or animals. ... > full story

Role of urban greenery in CO<sub>2</sub> exchange demonstrated (June 27, 2012) -- In what might be the first study to report continuous measurements of net CO2 exchange of urban vegetation and soils over a full year or more, scientists conclude that not only is vegetation important in the uptake of the greenhouse gas, but also that different types of vegetation play different roles. ... > full story

Significant cardiovascular risk with low carbohydrate-high protein diets, experts warn (June 27, 2012) -- Women who regularly eat a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease (such as heart disease and stroke) than those who do not, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Evidence of oceanic 'green rust' offers hope for the future (June 27, 2012) -- "Green rust" played a key role in making the Earth habitable and may now have an equally important role to play in cleaning it up for the future. Green rust is a highly reactive iron mineral which experts hope could be used to clean up metal pollution and even radioactive waste. ... > full story

Half of inhaled soot particles from diesel exhaust, fires gets stuck in the lungs (June 27, 2012) -- The exhaust from diesel-fueled vehicles, wood fires and coal-driven power stations contains small particles of soot that flow out into the atmosphere. The soot is a scourge for the climate but also for human health. Now for the first time, researchers have studied in detail how diesel soot gets stuck in the lungs. The results show that more than half of all inhaled soot particles remain in the body. ... > full story

Nanoscopic look at an estuary's green algae (June 27, 2012) -- The pico is a very small unit, even smaller than the nano as it is the equivalent of 10-12. A biologists has been studying green algae of this imperceptible size in the Bilbao estuary, paying particular attention to the area beyond the Nervión estuary. This has enabled him to identify six genera and eleven nano- and picoplanktonic species that until now had not been catalogued in these waters. ... > full story

New mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis discovered (June 27, 2012) -- Scientists have identified a new mechanism of bacterial pathogenesis. Bacteria that cause chronic infections have an amazing but yet poorly known ability to subvert immune response, live and produce offspring, enter and wake up from a dormant phase to cause, in some instances, deadly complications. ... > full story

Marine energy doubled by predicting wave power (June 26, 2012) -- The energy generated from our oceans could be doubled using new methods for predicting wave power. New research could pave the way for significant advancements in marine renewable energy, making it a more viable source of power. The researchers devised a means of accurately predicting the power of the next wave in order to make the technology far more efficient, extracting twice as much energy as is currently possible. ... > full story

New role for RNAi discovered: Epigenetic memory may pass RNA silencing from one generation to the next (June 26, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a mechanism related to RNAi that scans for intruders not by recognizing dsRNA or some other aberrant feature of the foreign sequence, but rather by comparing the foreign sequences to a memory of previously expressed native RNA. Once identified, an "epigenetic memory" of the foreign DNA fragments is created and can be passed on from one generation to the next, permanently silencing the gene. ... > full story

NASA satellites see wildfires across Colorado (June 26, 2012) -- NASA's Aqua satellite captured a natural-color image of Colorado wildfires raging on June 23, 2012. ... > full story

Scientists find new primitive mineral in meteorite (June 26, 2012) -- In 1969, an exploding fireball tore through the sky over Mexico, scattering thousands of pieces of meteorite across the state of Chihuahua. More than 40 years later, the Allende meteorite is still serving the scientific community as a rich source of information about the early stages of our solar system's evolution. Recently, scientists discovered a new mineral embedded in the space rock -- one they believe to be among the oldest minerals formed in the solar system. ... > full story

Reminders of mortality increase concern for environmental legacy (June 26, 2012) -- When we turn on the A/C in the summer, our first thought is probably one of relief. If it's 100 degrees in the shade, we're probably not thinking about how our decision might influence the environmental legacy we leave for future generations. But new research suggests that reminders of our own mortality may encourage us to keep future generations in mind as we make decisions. ... > full story

Moderate coffee consumption offers protection against heart failure, study suggests (June 26, 2012) -- While current American Heart Association heart failure prevention guidelines warn against habitual coffee consumption, some studies propose a protective benefit, and still others find no association at all. Amidst this conflicting information, new research attempts to shift the conversation from a definitive yes or no, to a question of how much. ... > full story

Asthma linked to congested highways: Those living near heavily traveled interstate have higher rates of disease (June 26, 2012) -- Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, found that living near a heavily congested highway correlates with a higher presence of asthma. ... > full story

Thunderstorms have longer reach than thought: Storm researcher calls for new air safety guidelines (June 26, 2012) -- Aircraft turbulence guidelines should be rewritten after new research revealed thunderstorms could produce unexpected turbulence more than 100 km away from storm cells. ... > full story

Seeing inside tissue for no-cut surgeries: Researchers develop technique to focus light inside biological tissue (June 26, 2012) -- Imagine if doctors could perform surgery without ever having to cut through your skin. Or if they could diagnose cancer by seeing tumors inside the body with a procedure that is as simple as an ultrasound. Thanks to a new technique, all of that may be possible in the not-so-distant future. ... > full story

Curry spice, omega-3 fatty acid preserve walking ability following spinal-cord injury (June 26, 2012) -- Researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. The findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck. ... > full story

Exposure to environmental chemicals in the womb reprograms the rodent brain to disrupt reproduction (June 26, 2012) -- Prenatal exposure to the environmental contaminants polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, causes long-term changes to the developing brain that have adverse effects on reproductive function later in life, a new study finds. ... > full story

Phthalate, environmental chemical is linked to higher rates of childhood obesity (June 26, 2012) -- Obese children show greater exposure than nonobese children to a phthalate, a chemical used to soften plastics in some children’s toys and many household products, according to a new study, which found that the obesity risk increases according to the level of the chemical found in the bloodstream. ... > full story

BPA exposure in pregnant mice changes gene expression of female offspring (June 26, 2012) -- Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A, or BPA, a chemical found in many common plastic household items, can cause numerous genes in the uterus to respond differently to estrogen in adulthood, according to a study using a mouse model. ... > full story

NOAA: Data from new satellite implemented in record time; Meteorologists are now using information for weather forecasts (June 26, 2012) -- Data flowing from a new generation of instruments onboard the Suomi NPP satellite, a joint NASA/NOAA mission, are being used in NOAA's global numerical weather forecast system a record seven months after launch, nearly three times faster than previous missions. After a rigorous and accelerated evaluation period, meteorologists began using the new data in operational weather models on May 22, 2012. These models are the foundation for all public and private weather forecasts in the United States. ... > full story

Transgenic technique 'eliminates' a specific neural circuit in brain of primates (June 26, 2012) -- Biologists have developed a gene transfer technique that can "eliminate" a specific neural circuit in non-human primates for the first time. ... > full story

Biologists reveal potential 'fatal flaw' in iconic sexual selection study (June 26, 2012) -- A classic study from more than 60 years ago that reportedly showed that males are more promiscuous and females more choosy in selecting mates may be wrong, say life scientists who are the first to repeat the historic experiment using the same methods. ... > full story

Romancing the firefly (June 26, 2012) -- While a female firefly's initial assessment of potential mates is based on males' luminescent flashes, once a pair makes physical contact, sexy flashes no longer matter. Instead, it's males that have larger nuptial gifts (a protein-packed sperm package that helps females produce more eggs) that mate more often and father more offspring. ... > full story

Pollutants may contribute to illness and becoming overweight (June 26, 2012) -- Lack of physical activity and poor diet alone cannot explain the dramatic rise in obesity and diabetes occurring in many countries, believe some researchers. It is time to face the possibility that hazardous chemicals may also share part of the blame. ... > full story

Mechanism prevents alterations in neuronal production during embryonic development (June 26, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered a mechanism that prevents alterations in neurogenesis, the process of neuronal formation, during the development of the nervous system in vertebrates. The study relates these distortions to the natural presence of a molecule that inhibits the neuronal formation at the regions adjacent to the tissue suitable for neurogenesis. ... > full story

Simpler lifestyle found to reduce exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (June 26, 2012) -- A lifestyle that features fresh foods and limited use of products likely to contain environmental chemicals has been shown to reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as BPA and phthalates, in a small population study. EDCs are linked to a number of adverse health complications including neuro-developmental delays, behavioral issues and fertility problems. They are produced by the millions of pounds per year and found extensively in a range of products that contain certain plastics. ... > full story

New toilet turns human waste into electricity and fertilizer (June 26, 2012) -- Scientists have invented a new toilet system that will turn human waste into electricity and fertilizers and also reduce the amount of water needed for flushing by up to 90 per cent compared to current toilet systems in Singapore. ... > full story

Prenatal exposure to common household chemical, phthalate, increases risk for childhood eczema (June 26, 2012) -- Prenatal exposure to a ubiquitous household chemical called butylbenzyl phthalate can increase a child's risk for developing eczema, according to new research. ... > full story

Nanodiamonds cut through dirt to bring back 'bling' to low temperature laundry (June 26, 2012) -- Nanodiamonds, pieces of carbon less than ten-thousandths the diameter of a human hair, have been found to help loosen crystallized fat from surfaces in a project that transforms the ability of washing powders to shift dirt in eco-friendly low-temperature laundry cycles. ... > full story

The academic jungle: Ecosystem model reveals why women are driven out of science (June 26, 2012) -- Understanding how a species battles to sustain itself in a challenging habitat is a cornerstone of ecological research; now scientists have applied this approach to science itself to discover why women are being driven out of academia. Their results reveals how a gender imbalance in science and academia is maintained by institutional barriers. ... > full story

Atlantic heat constrains Arctic sea ice extent (June 26, 2012) -- The Arctic sea ice cover is a sensitive indicator of climate variability and change. Researchers have for the first time quantified how Atlantic heat influences the sea ice extent in the Barents Sea, where the retreat in Arctic winter sea ice is the most pronounced. ... > full story

Researchers develop new method for analyzing cell function (June 26, 2012) -- Researchers have developed an open-source software that will make it significantly easier to process bioimaging data. The software, named BioImageXD, will help in analyzing cell and tissue functions. ... > full story

Human insulin suppresses mosquito immune system: increasing cases of type II diabetes could abet malaria’s spread (June 26, 2012) -- Human insulin suppresses the mosquito immune system, according to a new article. And while mosquitoes and malaria might seem to go together like baseball and hotdogs, mosquitoes' immunological resistance to the malaria parasite actually slows its spread among people. ... > full story

NASA sees Tropical Storm Debby's clouds blanket Florida (June 25, 2012) -- Like a white blanket, Tropical Storm Debby's clouds covered the entire state of Florida in a NASA satellite image. Two satellites have captured imagery that shows Tropical Storm Debby has thrown a large white blanket of clouds over the state of Florida, and it doesn't seem like that blanket is going to lift quickly as Debby moves slowly north. ... > full story

Math formula leads researchers to source of pollution (June 25, 2012) -- The leaking of environmentally damaging pollutants into our waters and atmosphere could soon be counteracted by a simple mathematical algorithm, according to researchers. ... > full story

Geoflow: Space station experiments shed light on conditions deep inside Earth (June 25, 2012) -- ESA astronaut André Kuipers is running experiments on the International Space Station that are shedding light on conditions deep inside Earth. Orbiting some 400 km above us, Geoflow is offering insights into the inner workings of our planet. ... > full story

Eating garbage: Bacteria for bioremediation (June 25, 2012) -- A 150-foot-high garbage dump in Colombia, South America, may have new life as a public park. Researchers have demonstrated that bacteria found in the dump can be used to neutralize the contaminants in the soil. ... > full story

Ozone exposure linked to potential heart attacks (June 25, 2012) -- Young, healthy adult volunteers exposed for two hours to ozone developed physiological changes associated with cardiovascular ailments, according to a small study. ... > full story

Greenland ice may exaggerate magnitude of 13,000-year-old deep freeze (June 25, 2012) -- Ice samples pulled from nearly a mile below the surface of Greenland glaciers have long served as a historical thermometer, adding temperature data to studies of the local conditions up to the Northern Hemisphere’s climate. But the method — comparing the ratio of oxygen isotopes buried as snow fell over millennia — may not be such a straightforward indicator of air temperature. ... > full story

Mercury mineral evolution tied to Supercontinent assembly over last 3 billion years (June 25, 2012) -- Mineral evolution posits that Earth's near-surface mineral diversity gradually increased through an array of chemical and biological processes. A dozen different species in interstellar dust particles that formed the solar system have evolved to more than 4500 species today. New work demonstrates that the creation of most minerals containing mercury is fundamentally linked to several episodes of supercontinent assembly over the last 3 billion years. ... > full story