The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, August 7, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, August 7, 2012

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How forests thrive after fires and volcanoes (August 6, 2012) -- Forests hammered by windstorms, avalanches and wildfires may appear blighted, but a researcher says such disturbances can be key to maximizing an area's biological diversity. In fact land managers can alter their practices to enhance such diversity, creating areas with a wide variety of species, including rare and endangered plants and animals, experts say. ... > full story

Researchers unlock secret of the rare 'twinned rainbow' (August 6, 2012) -- Scientists have yet to fully unravel the mysteries of rainbows, but a group of researchers have used simulations of these natural wonders to unlock the secret to a rare optical phenomenon known as the twinned rainbow. ... > full story

Microbes, sponges, and worms add to coral reef woes (August 6, 2012) -- Microbes, sponges, and worms -- the side effects of pollution and heavy fishing -- are adding insult to injury in Kenya's imperiled reef systems, according to a recent study. ... > full story

Forensic tools for catching poachers (August 6, 2012) -- The trade in ivory was largely outlawed in 1989, but poaching continues and remains a serious threat to the African elephant. Seizures of large amounts of ivory, sometimes over a ton, continue to occur. Scientists have now found a way to determine just where the ivory comes from. ... > full story

Seafood, wild or farmed? The answer may be both (August 6, 2012) -- Most people think of seafood as either wild or farmed, but in fact both categories may apply to the fish you pick up from your grocery store. An article recommends that when a combination of seafood production techniques are used, this be acknowledged in the marketplace. ... > full story

Limits of microbial life in an undersea volcano: Third of Earth's organisms live in rock and sediments (August 6, 2012) -- By some estimates, a third of the Earth's organisms by mass live in our planet's rocks and sediments, yet their lives and ecology are almost a complete mystery. Microbiologists have just revealed the first detailed data about a group of methane-exhaling microbes that live deep in the cracks of hot undersea volcanoes. ... > full story

Correlation between injection wells and small earthquakes discovered (August 6, 2012) -- Most earthquakes in the Barnett Shale region of north Texas occur within a few miles of one or more injection wells used to dispose of wastes associated with petroleum production such as hydraulic fracturing fluids, according to new research. None of the quakes identified in the two-year study were strong enough to pose a danger to the public. ... > full story

USGS science goes to Mars (August 6, 2012) -- With the Mars rover Curiosity's successful landing Sunday, Aug. 5, at 10:32 p.m. PDT, U.S. Geological Survey scientists continue their strategic role in the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), the most advanced mission yet to explore whether the Red Planet has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life. ... > full story

New bird species discovered in 'cloud forest' of Peru (August 6, 2012) -- A colorful, fruit-eating bird with a black mask, pale belly and scarlet breast – never before described by science – has been discovered following an expedition to the remote Peruvian Andes. ... > full story

Airborne technology helps manage elephants (August 6, 2012) -- For years, scientists have debated how big a role elephants play in toppling trees in South African savannas. Tree loss is a natural process, but it is increasing in some regions, with cascading effects on the habitat for many other species. Using high resolution 3-D mapping, scientists have for the first time quantitatively determined tree losses across savannas of Kruger National Park. They found that elephants are the primary agents. ... > full story

New approaches needed for uncovering, identifying, and treating buried chemical warfare material (August 6, 2012) -- The current approach for identifying and destroying buried chemical munitions and related chemical warfare materials uncovered during environmental remediation projects is neither reliable enough nor has the capability to efficiently tackle large-scale projects, says a new report. ... > full story

New Hampshire leads contiguous United States in percent tree cover (August 6, 2012) -- Tree cover in the nation's Lower 48 states covers 659 million acres, more than one-third of the nation, according to a US Forest Service study of national tree cover and impervious surfaces. New Hampshire leads the nation in percent tree cover (89 percent), followed by Maine (83 percent) and Vermont (82 percent). Percent tree cover is highest in Connecticut (67 percent) and lowest in Nevada (10 percent). ... > full story

Ecology and phylogenetics together offer new views of Earth's biodiversity (August 6, 2012) -- Scientists are taking a new look at Earth patterns, studying the biodiversity of yard plants in the US and that of desert mammals in Israel, studying where flowers and bees live on the Tibetan plateau and how willow trees in America's Midwest make use of water. ... > full story

Research links extreme summer heat events to global warming (August 6, 2012) -- A new statistical analysis by NASA scientists has found that Earth's land areas have become much more likely to experience an extreme summer heat wave than they were in the middle of the 20th century. ... > full story

Brain's stem cells 'eavesdrop' to find out when to act (August 6, 2012) -- Working with mice, researchers say they have figured out how stem cells found in a part of the brain responsible for learning, memory and mood regulation decide to remain dormant or create new brain cells. Apparently, the stem cells “listen in” on the chemical communication among nearby neurons to get an idea about what is stressing the system and when they need to act. ... > full story

Hydraulic fracturing poses substantial water pollution risks, analysts say (August 6, 2012) -- Researchers find multiple potential threats to water sources posed by hydraulic fracturing as the jobs-producing practice expands. ... > full story

Scientists predict impact of ocean acidification on shellfish (August 6, 2012) -- An international study will help us to understand and predict the likely impact of ocean acidification on shellfish and other marine organisms living in seas from the tropics to the poles. ... > full story

New technology eliminates plant toxins (August 5, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a method to hinder unwanted toxins from entering the edible parts of plants such as the oilseed rape, which will make it suitable for animal feed. ... > full story

Sequencing of malaria genomes reveals challenges, opportunities in battle against parasite (August 5, 2012) -- Genetic variability revealed in malaria genomes newly sequenced by two multi-national research teams points to new challenges in efforts to eradicate the parasite, but also offers a better picture of its genetic composition, providing an initial roadmap in the development of vaccines to combat malaria. ... > full story

Link between cell division and growth rate: Puzzling question of how cells know when to progress through the cell cycle answered (August 5, 2012) -- It's a longstanding question in biology: How do cells know when to progress through the cell cycle? Researchers have now precisely measured the growth rates of single cells, allowing them to answer that fundamental question. They report that mammalian cells divide not when they reach a critical size, but when their growth rate hits a specific threshold. ... > full story

Crayfish species proves to be the ultimate survivor (August 3, 2012) -- Red swamp crayfish, known as one of the most successful invaders on Earth, is able to feed off the land as well as getting food from its usual source in the water. ... > full story

Ancient records shed light on Italian earthquakes (Aquila area) (August 3, 2012) -- When a damaging earthquake struck the area of L'Aquila in central Italy in 2009, it was the latest in the region's long history of strong and persistent quakes. But according to a new study the historical record on ancient and medieval earthquakes comes with its own shortcomings that must be addressed before the seismic history of L'Aquila can be useful in assessing the current seismic hazard in this area. ... > full story

Birds that live with varying weather sing more versatile songs (August 3, 2012) -- A new study of North American songbirds reveals that birds that live with fluctuating weather are more flexible singers. Mixing it up helps birds ensure that their songs are heard no matter what the habitat. ... > full story

Situation dire for threatened rhino species, researcher finds (August 3, 2012) -- A researcher hopes his recent finding confirming the extinction of the Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam pushes the public to protect the last remaining group of these prehistoric creatures living in Indonesia. ... > full story

Giant moa had climate change figured out (August 3, 2012) -- An international team of scientists has used ancient DNA from bones of giant extinct New Zealand birds to show that significant climate and environmental changes did not have a large impact on their populations. ... > full story

Researchers invent new tool to study single biological molecules (August 3, 2012) -- Researchers have developed new microscope technology to study single biological molecules with unprecedented accuracy and precision. ... > full story

Predatory beetles eavesdrop on ants' chemical conversations to find best egg-laying sites (August 3, 2012) -- Predatory beetles can detect the unique alarm signal released by ants that are under attack by parasitic flies, and the beetles use those overheard conversations to guide their search for safe egg-laying sites on coffee bushes. ... > full story

Invasive insects cause staggering impact on native tree (August 3, 2012) -- The beautiful, endemic and endangered cycad, Cycas micronesica was once a dominant forest tree on the island of Guam, but recent plant mortality predicts extirpation from Guam habitats by 2019. ... > full story

Killer infections targeted by hospital study (August 3, 2012) -- A major international study aims to prevent death and serious illness caused by one of the most common infections contracted by patients in hospitals. ... > full story

People with Allergies May Have Lower Risk of Brain Tumors (August 3, 2012) -- New research adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that there's a link between allergies and reduced risk of a serious type of cancer that starts in the brain. ... > full story

Bears, scavengers count on all-you-can-eat salmon buffet lasting for months (August 3, 2012) -- Watersheds need both steep, cold-running streams and meandering streams of warmer water to keep options open for salmon. Preserving that sort of varied landscape serves not just salmon, it provides an all-summer buffet that animals need to sustain themselves the rest of the year. ... > full story

Bacterial community inside the plant root: Plants choose soil bacteria that they allow into their roots (August 3, 2012) -- Soil is the most species-rich microbial ecosystem in the world. From this incredible diversity, plants specifically choose certain species, give them access to the root and so host a unique, carefully selected bacterial community from which they then benefit in a variety of ways. To achieve this, the plant's immune system must be able to tell which of these bacteria are friends and which foes. ... > full story

Novel double-stranded DNA structure produced through mechanical stretching (August 3, 2012) -- Researchers’ findings address a scientific debate that had lasted for 16 years over the existence of a double-stranded DNA structure. ... > full story

How the cell swallows (August 3, 2012) -- Scientists have combined the power of two kinds of microscope to produce a 3-dimensional movie of how cells ‘swallow’ nutrients and other molecules by engulfing them. The study is the first to follow changes in the shape of the cell’s membrane and track proteins thought to influence those changes. It also provides ample data to investigate this essential process further. ... > full story

Strawberry extract protects against UVA rays, study suggests (August 3, 2012) -- An experiment has shown that strawberry extract added to skin cell cultures acts as a protector against ultraviolet radiation as well as increasing its viability and reducing damage to DNA. The study opens the door to the creation of photoprotective cream made from strawberries. ... > full story

Mapping the future of climate change in Africa (August 2, 2012) -- The African continent is especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change because it relies on rain-fed agriculture and many of its countries have a low adaptive capacity. The Climate Change and African Political Stability Program (CCAPS) has created a web tool that uses historical data to map the different levels of vulnerability to climate change at the sub-national level. The web tool will soon incorporate vulnerability measurements based on future climate projections, derived from simulations run on the Ranger supercomputer. ... > full story

Research into oaks helps us understand climate change (August 2, 2012) -- Biologists are tracking the evolution of the live oaks of eastern North America, seeking to understand how the trees adapted to climate change during glacial periods. ... > full story

Extinction risk factors for New Zealand birds today differ from those of the past (August 2, 2012) -- What makes some species more prone to extinction? A new study of nearly 300 species of New Zealand birds -- from pre-human times to the present -- reveals that the keys to survival today differ from those of the past. The results are important for the growing number of studies that try to predict which species could be lost in the future based on what kinds of species are considered most threatened today, the researchers say. ... > full story

New bat virus could hold key to Hendra virus (August 2, 2012) -- Australian scientists have discovered a new virus in bats that could help shed light on how Hendra and Nipah viruses cause disease and death in animals and humans. ... > full story

Mountains, seaway triggered North American dinosaur surge (August 2, 2012) -- The rise of the Rocky Mountains and the appearance of a major seaway that divided North America may have boosted the evolution of new dinosaur species, according to a new study. ... > full story

Plant-based compound slows breast cancer in a mouse model (August 2, 2012) -- The natural plant compound phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) hinders the development of mammary tumors in a mouse model with similarities to human breast cancer progression, according to a new study. ... > full story

Influenza virus replication: Catching the cap-snatcher (August 2, 2012) -- Researchers have determined the detailed three-dimensional structure of part of the flu virus' RNA polymerase, an enzyme that is crucial for influenza virus replication. The research was done on the 2009 pandemic influenza strain but it will help scientists to design innovative drugs against all the different influenza strains. ... > full story

Target for potent first-strike influenza drugs identified (August 2, 2012) -- Compounds blocking an enzyme universal to all influenza viruses may allow development of new antiviral drugs that also avoid the problem of drug resistance. ... > full story

Vaporizing Earth in computer simulations to aid search for super-Earths (August 2, 2012) -- Scientists have vaporized the Earth -- if only by simulation, that is mathematically and inside a computer. They weren't just practicing their evil overlord skills. By baking model Earths, they are trying to figure out what astronomers should see when they look at the atmospheres of super-Earths in a bid to learn the planets' compositions. ... > full story

Animation research could offer unparalleled control of characters without skeletons (August 2, 2012) -- Computer-generated characters have become so lifelike in appearance and movement that the line separating reality is almost imperceptible at times. But while bipeds and quadrupeds have reigned supreme in CG animation, attempts to create and control their skeleton-free cousins using similar techniques has proved time-consuming and laborious. Researchers have found a possible solution to this challenge by developing a way to simulate and control movement of computer-generated characters without a skeletal structure. ... > full story

Deep-sea squid can 'jettison arms' as defensive tactic (August 2, 2012) -- A researcher has observed a never-before-seen defensive strategy used by a small species of deep-sea squid in which the animal counter-attacks a predator and then leaves the tips of its arms attached to the predator as a distraction. ... > full story

Photonics: Sensing on the way (August 2, 2012) -- Hollow optical fibers containing light-emitting liquids hold big promises for biological sensing applications. ... > full story

Bacteria-immune system 'fight' can lead to chronic diseases, study suggests (August 2, 2012) -- A "fight" between bacteria normally living in the intestines and the immune system, kicked off by another type of bacteria, may be linked to two types of chronic disease. ... > full story

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