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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 7, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Mathematicians offer unified theory of dark matter, dark energy, altering Einstein field equations- Study demonstrates evolution of stereotypes
- Ready, steady, slow! Why top sportsmen might have 'more time' on the ball
- Rust never sleeps—Observations of electron hopping in iron oxide hold consequences for environment and energy
- Scientists cast doubt on renowned uncertainty principle
- Study finds how BPA affects gene expression, anxiety; Soy mitigates effects
- Who's the most influential in a social graph? New software recognizes key influencers faster than ever
- Researchers set world record for highest surface area material
- Diagnostic chest radiation before 30 may increase breast cancer risk
- Researchers emphasize evaluation of tradeoffs in battling urban heat island
- Gene mutation can allow proteins to gather, spark tumor growth
- Ancient, bottom-dwelling critter proves: Newer isn't always better
- Strategy developed to improve delivery of medicines to the brain
- Review: Kindle Fire HD screen is a big improvement
- EPA finds dogs are the best way to clear beaches of seagull guano
Space & Earth news
Survey finds adaptation to climate change on smallholder farms taking root
Smallholder farmers across East Africa have started to embrace climate-resilient farming approaches and technologies, according to new research recently published by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). At the same time, the survey evidence suggests that many of the changes in farming practices are incremental, rather than transformative in nature, and that high levels of food insecurity prevent many from making all of the changes needed in order to cope with a changing climate.
New Zealand court rejects global warming challenge
New Zealand's High Court on Friday dismissed a challenge launched by climate change sceptics against a government research agency's finding that the temperature had risen in the past century.
Metop-B weather satellite is ready for launch
Metop-B, the European polar orbiting weather satellite, designed and manufactured by Astrium, is now ready to launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Space Image: The Italian Boot
(Phys.org)—This oblique, night time panorama of much of Europe was photographed by one of the Expedition 32 crew members aboard the International Space Station flying approximately 240 miles above the Mediterranean Sea on Aug. 18, 2012.
Kyoto scheme sees billionth tonne of saved CO2
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a Kyoto Protocol device to curb greenhouse gases through market forces, has now issued a billion tonnes of carbon credits, the UN climate forum announced on Friday.
Istanbul—The earthquake risk of a megacity
Today the drilling starts for a seismic monitoring network on the Marmara Sea near Istanbul. Specially designed seismic sensors in eight boreholes on the outskirts of Istanbul and around the eastern Marmara Sea will monitor the seismic activity of the region with high precision. In each of the respective 300 meter deep holes several borehole seismometers will be permanently installed at various depths. These detect even barely perceptible earthquakes with very small magnitudes at a high resolution and can thus provide information about the earthquake rupture processes associated with these.
Next generation of advanced climate models needed, says new report
The nation's collection of climate models should advance substantially to deliver more detailed, smaller scale climate projections, says a new report from the National Research Council. To meet this need, the report calls for these assorted climate models to take a more integrated path and use a common software infrastructure while adding regional detail, new simulation capabilities, and new approaches for collaborating with their user community.
S.Africa lifts freeze on shale gas exploration
South Africa on Friday said it was lifting a freeze on shale gas exploration in a move condemned by environmentalists who fear that controversial fracking will pollute scarce water sources.
Climate: EU emissions down 2.5 percent in 2011
European greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.5 percent in 2011 over 2010, as a mild winter and increase in renewable energy use offset a rise in coal consumption and economic activity, estimates released on Friday said.
Singapore chokes on smoke from Indonesia
Singapore registered its worst level of air pollution for the year on Friday as smoke from forest fires in Indonesia blew over the city-state, triggering a health warning.
British team set to embark on ambitious Antarctic mission to penetrate, sample ancient buried lake
After 16 years of planning the countdown is on for one of the most ambitious scientific missions to Antarctica. In October a 12-man team of British scientists, engineers and support staff will make the 16,000 km journey from the UK to go deep into the heart of the frozen continent to collect samples of water and sediments from an ancient lake buried beneath three kilometers of ice. Their quest is to reveal vital secrets about the Earth's past climate and discover life forms that may live in subglacial Lake Ellsworth on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
Drinking water: lessons from a decade of extreme weather
(Phys.org)—While extreme weather events will inevitably impact water quality, the biggest risk to public health is not the intensity of these events but their increasingly close proximity to one another, UNSW researchers warn.
Hadley Crater provides deep insight into martian geology
(Phys.org)—Recently engaged in providing support to the successful landing of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity rover, ESA's Mars Express has now returned to its primary mission of studying the diverse geology and atmosphere of the 'Red Planet' from orbit.
SDO enters its semiannual eclipse season
(Phys.org)—Twice a year, for three weeks near the equinox, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) moves into its eclipse season—a time when Earth blocks its view of the sun for a period of time each day.
Weighing the Ocean: Solving the biggest problem in sea level science
(Phys.org)—Oceanographers from Newcastle and Liverpool have thought of a novel way to measure the ocean – weigh it.
Blanket bogs need protection from climate change
(Phys.org)—Blanket bogs, which provide vital habitats for a unique range of plants, birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, are at risk of declining as a result of climate change.
NASA's colossal crawler gets souped-up for SLS
One of NASA's two iconic crawler-transporters—the 2,750-ton monster vehicles that have delivered rockets from Saturns to Shuttles to launch pads at Kennedy Space Center for nearly half a century—is getting an upgrade in preparation for NASA's new future in space flight.
Indonesian lives risked on 'world's most polluted' river
With dozens of bright green rice paddies, flocks of kites in the sky and children laughing nearby, at first glance the village of Sukamaju in western Java has all the charms of rural Indonesia.
NASA keeping an 'eye' on Hurricane Michael
Hurricane Michael's eye was so clear on new satellite imagery from NASA that the surface of the Atlantic Ocean could be seen through it.
NASA sees Hurricane Leslie's eye close
Hurricane Leslie appeared to "close its eye" on NASA satellite imagery as the storm heads east of Bermuda, like a little girl shutting her eyes tight on a wild amusement ride. Often when an eye becomes cloud-filled, its a sign that the storm is weakening, and Leslie did drop from a hurricane to a tropical storm on Sept. 7.
Stellar makeup impacts habitable zone evolution
(Phys.org)—A star's internal chemistry can doom a planet's life long before the star itself dies.
Researchers emphasize evaluation of tradeoffs in battling urban heat island
A team of researchers from Arizona State University have found that warming resulting from megapolitan expansion is seasonally dependent, with greatest warming occurring during summer and least during winter. Among the most practical ways to combat urbanization-induced warming – the painting of building's roofs white – was found to disrupt regional hydroclimate, highlighting the need for evaluation of tradeoffs associated with combating urban heat islands (UHI).
Technology news
Obama convention speech sets Twitter record
Barack Obama's prime-time address to the nation accepting the Democratic presidential nomination for 2012 broke a new Twitter record Thursday for political traffic, the site said.
Amazon says will create 2,000 jobs in Britain
Online retail giant Amazon announced Friday that it would create 2,000 jobs in Britain over the next two years with the opening of three new fulfilment centres.
Renesas introduces 32-bit RX21A group of microcontrollers with large memory capacity and built-in A/D converter
Renesas Electronics announced the RX21A Group of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) for smart meters with advanced functionality. The new MCUs are the first in the industry to combine large flash memory capacity of 512 KB and a 24-bit delta-sigma (Delta-sigma) A/D converter for high-resolution measurement.
GM to hiring up to 500 for Texas computer center
(AP)—General Motors says it will hire up to 500 people to staff a new computer center in Austin, Texas.
US man sentenced in a computer malware case
(AP)—A man has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison for selling access to botnets in a computer malware case.
'Darksiders II' tops video games titles in August
(AP)—U.S. retail sales of new video game hardware, software and accessories fell for the ninth straight month in August, according to research firm NPD Group.
Apple in talks for free Internet radio: report
US technology giant Apple is in talks to license music for broadcast on a custom online radio service modeled after Pandora, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Instagram officially part of Facebook
Instagram on Thursday became part of Facebook as the social network completed its billion-dollar acquisition of the smartphone photo-sharing service.
Revolutionised production of titanium components may revamp industry
Norwegian titanium companies have been granted funding to develop a brand-new production technology, which may mark the beginning of a revolution in industry worth billions.
Vehicle fuel economy up for the first time since March
(Phys.org)—Fuel economy of all new vehicles sold in the United States is up for the first time in five months, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
3Qs: What the Apple-Samsung ruling means for design patents
(Phys.org)—A jury in San Jose, Calif., recently found that Samsung Electronics infringed on Apple's patents, awarding the iPod manufacturer more than $1 billion in damages. We asked Susan Barbieri Montgomery, executive professor of law and business at Northeastern University, to expound on a lesser-known form of intellectual property (IP): design-patent protection. Here, she discusses Apple's design patent on the physical design of the iPad (U.S. Patent No. D618,677) and whether the role of this patent will inspire a surge in applications for U.S. design-patent protection.
Could ancient Egyptians hold the key to 3D printed ceramics?
(Phys.org)—A 7,000 year old technique, known as Egyptian Paste (also known as Faience), could offer a potential process and material for use in the latest 3D printing techniques of ceramics, according to researchers at UWE Bristol.
Intel jolts sector with lowered outlook
Intel Corp. stunned the tech sector Friday by sharply cutting its revenue outlook for the current quarter, citing weak demand for personal computers and slower growth from emerging economies.
Pandora stock pounded by possible Apple entry
Pandora Media shares plunged Friday after reports said Apple is in talks to license music for a rival online radio service.
Email stress test: Experiment unplugs workers for 5 days
Slave to your email? Wonder what would happen if you had to do without it? University of California-Irvine informatics professor Gloria Mark was curious - so she recently led a study that separated 13 people from their email for five days and recorded what happened when they unplugged.
Hacker spaces offer havens for quirky ingenuity
In a cluttered fifth-floor studio in North Philadelphia, two huge pieces of plywood hang from the ceiling, pulsing in time with the music from a pair of high-end stereo speakers.
Sniffing out counterfeit electronics
At Integra Technologies, inspectors spend their days studying electronic parts to see if they are counterfeits.
Voice mail in decline with rise of text, loss of patience
Technology's ceaseless pursuit of efficiency appears to be claiming another victim: voice mail.
New York says you can't 'hail' taxi with app
In New York, you still must hail a taxi the old-fashioned way, by raising your arm, no smartphone apps allowed.
Security firms see rise in smartphone cyber-attacks
Cyber-crooks are increasingly taking aim at smartphones, following their prey as lifestyles migrate to Internet-linked mobile devices, according to new reports by online security firms.
Designer creates solar powered oven to cheaply freshen salt water
(Phys.org)—Designer Gabriele Diamanti has created a solar oven he calls the Eliodomestico (household-sun); its purpose is to boil saltwater to produce clean drinking water for people in places where such water is difficult or impossible to obtain. What's unique about the Eliodomestico is that it's been designed in such a way as to be easily built by local people, rather than elsewhere and shipped in. This way, the profits from making and selling the oven remain local.
Who's the most influential in a social graph? New software recognizes key influencers faster than ever
(Phys.org)—At an airport, many people are essential for planes to take off. Gate staffs, refueling crews, flight attendants and pilots are in constant communication with each other as they perform required tasks. But it's the air traffic controller who talks with every plane, coordinating departures and runways. Communication must run through her in order for an airport to run smoothly and safely.
Medicine & Health news
Argentine morgue baby leaves hospital
Argentina's "miracle baby," born premature and declared dead in April and then found alive 12 hours later at the morgue, has been cleared to go home, the hospital said Thursday.
New collaboration to develop treatments for liver disease
A new collaboration based at the University of Cambridge will aim to discover and develop new medicines to treat liver disease.
Feline friends?
A report showing that 350,000 people in the UK become infected with the Toxoplasma parasite each year has raised new concerns about its risks and has prompted a rethink of the dangers posed by cats.
Research shows gaps in unfit driver reporting
(Medical Xpress)—Ontario doctors are legally required to report patients they consider medically unfit to drive to the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) – yet they may not be doing it.
Vietnam hit by new 'highly-toxic' bird flu: reports
A new highly-toxic strain of the potentially deadly bird flu virus has appeared in Vietnam and is spreading fast, according to state media reports.
Study finds doctor and pharmacy shopping are linked to prescription drug overdose deaths
(Medical Xpress)—A published study conducted by researchers at West Virginia University has found that doctor and pharmacy shoppers are at a greater risk for drug-related death.
Dangerous air quality alert issued for toxic mold
The Midwest is under an air quality alert for dangerous levels of mold. The Midwest mold count today is 60,000 – well over the 50,000 threshold that signals a dangerous air quality warning.
Experts recommend screening adults for hypertriglyceridemia every five years
The Endocrine Society today issued a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in the blood and are associated with cardiovascular risk. The CPG, entitled "Evaluation and Treatment of Hypertriglyceridemia: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline" appears in the September 2012 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM), a publication of The Endocrine Society.
US grandmother gives birth to her own grandchild
(AP)—Emily and Mike Jordan couldn't help but feel anxious.
Raised antibody levels linked to greater long term risk of rheumatoid arthritis
Men and women with raised levels of an antibody known as rheumatoid factor in their blood have up to a 26-fold greater long term risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, finds a study published in the British Medical Journal today.
Improving diagnosis of thyroid nodules
Thyroid nodules are thought to be present in about half of all people, but very few of these are cancerous. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Cancer presents a set of diagnostic biomarkers which are able to distinguish between malignant and benign thyroid nodules.
Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease increases maternal stress, depression, and anxiety
Heart defects are the most common form of congenital malformations affecting newborns. Infants who were prenatally diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) are more stable and have better outcomes than infants who were diagnosed after birth. Diagnosing CHD in a fetus also allows mothers to educate themselves on heart malformations, consider their options, and potentially plan for intervention or surgery after birth. However, a new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics finds that, along with these benefits, maternal posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety are common after prenatal diagnosis of CHD.
OSA increases cardiovascular mortality in the elderly
Untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality in the elderly, and adequate treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may significantly reduce this risk, according to a new study from researchers in Spain.
Researchers study childhood melanoma characteristics
Melanoma, newly diagnosed in more than 76,000 Americans in 2011, is the most common and dangerous form of skin cancer. Melanoma is rare in children, accounting for 1 to 4 percent of all melanoma cases and just 3 percent of pediatric cancers. Just as adult cases of melanoma are increasing, pediatric melanoma is rising at the rate of 1 to 4 percent per year.
In body-conscious Brazil, half are now overweight
One of the world's most body-conscious countries, Brazil is now threatened by growing obesity rates, with half of the population already overweight.
Schizophrenia: does 'gene talk' help remove self-blame?
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from King's College London Institute of Psychiatry have analysed, for the first time, how relatives of people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia talk about genes to explain the presence of schizophrenia in the family. The researchers aimed to discover whether 'gene talk' helped alleviate parents' self-blame, especially that of mothers.
New hope for thousands of women with most aggressive breast cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists at The University of Nottingham have identified a protein which could help predict survival outcomes for women with the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.
Breast cancer patients with high density mammograms do not have increased risk of death
(Medical Xpress)—High mammographic breast density, which is a marker of increased risk of developing breast cancer, does not seem to increase the risk of death among breast cancer patients, according to a study led by Gretchen L. Gierach, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. The research was conducted in collaboration with investigators from the NCI-sponsored Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC).
Precautions for tick-borne disease extend "beyond lyme"
(Medical Xpress)—This year's mild winter and early spring were a bonanza for tick populations in the eastern United States. Reports of tick-borne disease rose fast.
Air quality device helps reduce children's exposure to smoke in the home
Providing parents who smoke with measurements of their homes indoor air quality (IAQ), in addition to usual smoking advice, leads to better IAQ and reduces children's exposure to second hand smoke.
Rehabilitation favoured over methadone according to study findings
The public does not value drug treatment generally but believes detoxification and rehabilitation is a better approach to drug treatment than methadone maintenance, according to a University of Aberdeen study, the findings of which were presented today at the British Science Festival.
Should food addiction be classified in similar terms as drug or alcohol addiction?
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists investigate whether food addiction should be classed as a mental disorder.
Parents prefer some, often less-effective, birth control methods for teens
Parents of teen girls are more ready to accept their daughters being offered birth control pills and condoms during doctor visits than other, more effective and long-acting contraceptive methods, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. The study also shows that the more that a parent respects their daughter's autonomy, the more likely that parent is to accept a doctor offering their teen any contraceptive.
Alzheimer's experts provide strategic roadmap to tackle the disease
This week, a strategic roadmap to help to the nation's health care system cope with the impending public health crisis caused Alzheimer's disease and related dementia will be published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. The plan aims to link the latest scientific findings with clinical care and bring together patients, families, scientists, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, and advocacy organizations behind a common set of prioritized goals. The consensus document is the outcome of a June meeting of leading Alzheimer's researchers, advocates and clinicians, who gathered as part of the Marian S. Ware Alzheimer Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
Influenza research: Can dynamic mapping reveal clues about seasonality?
Influenza outbreaks in the United States typically begin with the arrival of cold weather and then spread in seasonal waves across geographic zones. But the question of why epidemics can vary from one season to the next has baffled scientists.
hand held device reduces muscle pain in thirty minutes
Using a hand held device the size of a computer mouse for just 30 minutes could significantly change how people deal with, and recover from, the pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions.
Unemployment causes more mental health problems among Somalis in London than in Minneapolis
Somali immigrants to the UK and USA appear to integrate better and have fewer mental health problems if they are allowed to work and they receive practical support during the first few years of their time in the new country, according to a study led by researchers at Queen Mary, University of London (UK) and published in BioMed Central Public Health today.
J&J again seeks more approvals for clot blocker
(AP)—Johnson & Johnson has given the Food and Drug Administration additional data to on its new anticlotting drug, in a second attempt to get approval for more uses.
Characteristics of long-term gastric cancer survivors ID'd
(HealthDay)—Patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer who survive for longer than three years after diagnosis seem to have distinct demographic and pathologic characteristics, compared with those who do not survive, according to research published online Sept. 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Bolus epidural fentanyl cuts post-spinal decompression pain
(HealthDay)—Intraoperative bolus epidural fentanyl is effective at alleviating early postoperative pain after lumbar canal decompression, according to a study published online Aug. 27 in The Spine Journal.
Genetic counseling doesn't affect pre-diabetes behavior
(HealthDay)—Receiving genetic risk counseling does not significantly alter self-reported motivation or prevention program adherence for overweight individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in Diabetes Care.
Congenital disease linked to adipocyte development
(HealthDay)—Some patients with congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL), who lack adipocytes and develop severe insulin resistance, have a defect in adipocyte development that can be partially reversed, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in Diabetes.
Less pain after hysterectomy with vessel sealing
(HealthDay)—An electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealing procedure during vaginal hysterectomy leads to less pain during the evening after surgery and shorter operating time than conventional clamping and suturing, according to research published online Aug. 24 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Lettuce: buy bagged or not?
(HealthDay)—Six separate recalls of bagged lettuce since April haven't done much to bolster the public's confidence in pre-cut and pre-washed greens.
The plague: it's still with us
(HealthDay)—When Sierra Jane Downing's fever shot up to 107 degrees and she suffered a seizure, her parents knew their 7-year-old daughter had more than the flu.
Antibiotic therapy improves moderate exacerbations of mild-to-moderate COPD
Antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate improves moderate exacerbations in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and significantly prolongs the time between exacerbations, according to a new study from researchers in Spain.
Stress prompts some to retain as much salt as eating fries
When stressed, about 30 percent of blacks hold onto too much sodium, the equivalent of eating a small order of fast food French fries or a small bag of potato chips, researchers say.
Novel surgery removes rare tumor, rebuilds face and jaw
Using a novel surgical approach, it's possible to rebuild a functional lower jaw and mouth, and preserve a patient's ability to eat and speak after removing an invasive facial tumor, according to a new report from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
Study finds new benefit of coffee: It reduces pain
Scientists in Norway have more good news for coffee drinkers. Researchers have already found evidence that the drink - or the beans it's brewed from - can help with weight loss, reduce one's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia, boost muscle growth, protect against certain types of cancers and can even reduce one's risk of premature death, among many other benefits.
One million people commit suicide each year: WHO
One million people die by their own hand each year, accounting for more deaths than wars and murders put together, the World Health Organisation said Friday, calling for urgent action to address the problem.
Diagnostic chest radiation before 30 may increase breast cancer risk
Women carrying a mutation in the BRCA1- or BRCA2- genes (which control the suppression of breast and ovarian cancer) who have undergone diagnostic radiation to the chest before the age of 30 are more likely to develop breast cancer than those who carry the gene mutation but who have not been exposed, a study published in the British Medical Journal today reveals.
Strategy developed to improve delivery of medicines to the brain
New research offers a possible strategy for treating central nervous system diseases, such as brain and spinal cord injury, brain cancer, epilepsy, and neurological complications of HIV. The experimental treatment method allows small therapeutic agents to safely cross the blood-brain barrier in laboratory rats by turning off P-glycoprotein, one of the main gatekeepers preventing medicinal drugs from reaching their intended targets in the brain.
Study finds how BPA affects gene expression, anxiety; Soy mitigates effects
New research led by researchers at North Carolina State University shows that exposure to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) early in life results in high levels of anxiety by causing significant gene expression changes in a specific region of the brain called the amygdala. The researchers also found that a soy-rich diet can mitigate these effects.
Gene mutation can allow proteins to gather, spark tumor growth
Prostate cancer is generally treated as if it's a single disease. But researchers have discovered a new type of the cancer that appears to affect 15 percent of patients, a finding that paves the way for better diagnosis and more targeted therapies down the road.
Ready, steady, slow! Why top sportsmen might have 'more time' on the ball
(Medical Xpress)—Professional ball game players report the sensation of the ball 'slowing-down' just before they hit it. Confirming these anecdotal comments, a new study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows that time is perceived to slow down during the period of action preparation, as the result of an increased intake of visual information.
Biology news
Mobile phone technology to tackle environmental threats
A mobile phone app developed at the University of Bristol has been rolled out nationally to help tackle a growing threat to the environment.
MSU researchers develop temperature-tolerant enzymes for advancing genetic manipulation tools
Researchers at Montana State University have found a method for creating more robust, temperature-tolerant enzymes that can be used as tools in the process of genetic manipulation.
Malay Archipelago bat not one, but two species
Genetic studies of Myotis muricola, otherwise known as the Wall-roosting Mouse-eared bat or Nepalese Whiskered Myotis , suggest that it consists of not one, but two distinct species.
Lifestyle of a killer
Parasitic dinoflagellates of the genus Hematodinium are a big problem for crab, prawn and shrimp fisheries across the world. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Aquatic Biosystems has found that, in wild European brown shrimp (Crangon crangon), these parasites have bacteria-like endosymbionts. The presence of these endosymbionts indicates a previously unknown side to the lifecycle of Hematodinium.
Immature switchgrass could help cellulosic ethanol industry
(Phys.org)—A gene that keeps switchgrass forever young could have far-reaching implications for the development of the plant as a biofuel crop, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
'Trojan horse' effect may explain jellyfish blooms
(Phys.org)—Man-made structures such as harbours, tourist facilities, oil rigs and aquaculture farms provide ideal sanctuaries for jellyfish polyps to flourish and may explain an apparent increase in jellyfish blooms in many coastal waters around the world.
Grandma is one happy Hippocampus
(Phys.org)—Our understanding of the population dynamics, longevity and reproductive habits of the seahorse species Hippocampus whitei (White's Seahorse) has been significantly expanded thanks to newly published research from UTS doctoral candidate David Harasti.
Plants cry for help when an attack can be expected
Eggs of insect pests deposited on plants trigger the production of scents by plants that affect different plant community members probably helping the plant to get rid of the pest before it becomes harmful.
The birdy smell of a compatible partner
New evidence shows that birds may choose their mate with the help of smell. They prefer a dissimilar mate because this gives their young a more efficient immune system. This has been shown in a new study by researchers from Lund University in Sweden, in a Swedish-French collaboration.
The controlled cell
(Phys.org)—An interdisciplinary effort at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) addressed the question of how mRNA content, which is translated into proteins, is regulated in the cell. Supported by the Swiss initiative for systems biology (SystemsX.ch), experimental biologists and computer scientists teamed up to contrast epigenomic data of histone modifications with post-transcriptional read-outs. Their study, published as a featured article in the journal Molecular Systems Biology, gives answer to a quantitative question in gene regulation.
EPA finds dogs are the best way to clear beaches of seagull guano
(Phys.org)—A slew of researchers working for the US Environmental Protection Agency have found that the best way to clear public beaches of bird guano and the hazardous bacteria that result, is to unleash trained dogs to harass them into moving elsewhere. The team has written a paper describing their results and have had it published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Ancient, bottom-dwelling critter proves: Newer isn't always better
Tiny sea creatures called rhabdopleurids reside on the ocean floor, building homes of collagen on the shells of dead clams. Rhabdopleurid colonies are small, and the critters are by no means the dominant animals in their ecosystem.
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