ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, December 2, 2011
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Probiotics effective in combating antibiotic-associated diarrhea, studies find; 'Good bugs' look promising as anti-inflammatory agents (December 2, 2011) -- In four different studies, researchers explored the effectiveness of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea; as an anti-inflammatory agent for patients with ulcerative colitis, psoriasis and chronic fatigue syndrome; and for people with abdominal discomfort and bloating who have not been diagnosed with a functional bowel disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome. ... > full story
Not all cellular reprogramming is created equal (December 2, 2011) -- Tweaking the levels of factors used during the reprogramming of adult cells into induced pluriopotent stem (iPS) cells can greatly affect the quality of the resulting iPS cells, according to researchers. This finding explains at least in part the wide variation in quality and fidelity of iPS cells created through different reprogramming methods. ... > full story
World's first captive breeding of Ozark hellbenders (December 1, 2011) -- After a decade-long effort, conservation experts report that Ozark hellbenders have been bred in captivity -- a first! Endangered in the wild, this amphibian has fossil records dating back 15 million years. Today its numbers are rapidly declining. ... > full story
Archaeologists find new evidence of animals being introduced to prehistoric Caribbean (December 1, 2011) -- An archaeological research team has found one of the most diverse collections of prehistoric non-native animal remains in the Caribbean, on the tiny island of Carriacou. The find contributes to our understanding of culture in the region before the arrival of Columbus, and suggests Carriacou may have been more important than previously thought. ... > full story
Stronger corn? Take it off steroids, make it all female (December 1, 2011) -- Researchers have taken corn off steroids and found that the results might lead to improvements in that and other crops. ... > full story
Body rebuilding: Researchers regenerate muscle tissue in mice (December 1, 2011) -- Scientists have regenerated functional muscle tissue in mice, opening the door for a new clinical therapy for major muscle trauma. The team used a novel protocol to coax human muscle cells into a stem cell-like state and grew the reprogrammed cells on biopolymer microthreads. Surprisingly, the microthreads seemed to accelerate the regeneration process by recruiting progenitor mouse muscle cells, suggesting that they alone could become a therapeutic tool. ... > full story
Aggression prevents the better part of valor ... in fig wasps (December 1, 2011) -- Researchers have confirmed a unique behavior within the male population of tiny fig wasps that pollinate fig trees -- they team up to help pregnant females, regardless of whether they have mated themselves. ... > full story
Trail of 'stone breadcrumbs' reveals the identity of one of the first human groups to leave Africa (December 1, 2011) -- A series of new archaeological discoveries in the Sultanate of Oman, nestled in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, reveals the timing and identity of one of the first modern human groups to migrate out of Africa, according to new research. ... > full story
New projection shows global food demand doubling by 2050 (December 1, 2011) -- Global food demand could double by 2050, according to a new projection. Producing that amount of food could significantly increase levels of carbon dioxide and nitrogen in the environment and cause the extinction of numerous species. But this can be avoided, the article shows, if the high-yielding technologies of rich nations are adapted to work in poor nations, and if all nations use nitrogen fertilizers more efficiently. ... > full story
Why evolutionarily ancient brain areas are important (December 1, 2011) -- Structures in the midbrain that developed early in evolution can be responsible for functions in newborns which in adults are taken over by the cerebral cortex. New evidence for this theory has been found in the visual system of monkeys. The scientists studied a reflex that stabilizes the image of a moving scene on the retina to prevent blur, the so-termed optokinetic nystagmus. ... > full story
Eating fish reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease, study finds (December 1, 2011) -- People who eat baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis may be improving their brain health and reducing their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. ... > full story
Chemical warfare of stealthy silverfish: Parasites hide by covering themselves in ants' scent (December 1, 2011) -- A co-evolutionary arms race exists between social insects and their parasites. Army ants share their nests with several parasites such as beetles, snails and spiders. They also share their food with the kleptoparasitic silverfish. New research shows that the silverfish manage to hide amongst the ants by covering themselves in the ant's chemical scent. ... > full story
Using radiation to sterilize insect pests may protect California fruits and vegetables (December 1, 2011) -- A new study shows that radiation can be used to effectively sterilize the light brown apple moth, an invasive pest to the California wine industry, as well as fruit and vegetable growers. ... > full story
Abrupt permafrost thaw increases climate threat, experts say (December 1, 2011) -- As the Arctic warms, greenhouse gases will be released from thawing permafrost faster and at significantly higher levels than previous estimates, according to a survey of international experts. Permafrost thaw will release approximately the same amount of carbon as deforestation. However, the effect of thawing permafrost on climate will be 2.5 times greater because emissions include methane, a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. ... > full story
Rainfall suspected culprit in leaf disease transmission (December 1, 2011) -- Rainfalls are suspected to trigger the spread of a multitude of foliar (leaf) diseases, which could be devastating for agriculture and forestry. Instead of focusing on the large-scale, ecological impact of this problem, researchers are studying the phenomenon from a novel perspective: that of a single rain droplet. ... > full story
Texas drought visible in new national groundwater maps (December 1, 2011) -- The record-breaking drought in Texas that has fueled wildfires, decimated crops and forced cattle sales has also reduced levels of groundwater in much of the state to the lowest levels seen in more than 60 years, according to new national maps. ... > full story
A new model for understanding biodiversity (December 1, 2011) -- Biology researchers have developed a unified, spatially based understanding of biodiversity that takes into account the complex food webs of predators and prey. ... > full story
Earthquake friction effect demonstrated at the nanoscale (November 30, 2011) -- Earthquakes are some of the most daunting natural disasters that scientists try to analyze. Though Earth's major fault lines are well known, there is little scientists can do to predict when an earthquake will occur or how strong it will be. And, though earthquakes involve millions of tons of rock, a team of researchers has helped discover an aspect of friction on the nanoscale that may lead to a better understanding of the disasters. ... > full story
Biologists deliver neutralizing antibodies that protect against HIV infection in mice (November 30, 2011) -- Researchers have been studying a group of potent antibodies that have the ability to neutralize HIV in the lab; Their hope is to create a vaccine that makes antibodies with similar properties. Now, biologists have taken one step closer to that goal: They have developed a way to deliver these antibodies to mice and, in so doing, have effectively protected them from HIV infection. ... > full story
Engineered botulism toxins could have broader role in medicine (November 30, 2011) -- The most poisonous substance on Earth -- already used medically in small doses to treat certain nerve disorders and facial wrinkles -- could be re-engineered for an expanded role in helping millions of people with rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis and other diseases, scientists are reporting. ... > full story
Magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time (November 30, 2011) -- Scientists understand that Earth's magnetic field has flipped its polarity many times over the millennia. The answer, from the geologic and fossil records we have from hundreds of past magnetic polarity reversals, seems to be "no." ... > full story
Ancient cooking pots reveal gradual transition to agriculture (November 30, 2011) -- Humans may have undergone a gradual rather than an abrupt transition from fishing, hunting and gathering to farming, according to a new study of ancient pottery. Researchers in the UK analyzed cooking residues preserved in 133 ceramic vessels from the Western Baltic regions of Northern Europe to establish whether these residues were from terrestrial, marine or freshwater organisms. ... > full story
Setting the stage for life: Scientists make key discovery about the atmosphere of early Earth (November 30, 2011) -- Scientists have used the oldest minerals on Earth to reconstruct the atmospheric conditions present on Earth very soon after its birth. The findings are the first direct evidence of what the ancient atmosphere of the planet was like soon after its formation and directly challenge years of research on the type of atmosphere out of which life arose on the planet. ... > full story
Lightning-made waves in Earth's atmosphere leak into space (November 30, 2011) -- NASA's Vector Electric Field Instrument aboard the US Air Force's Communications/Navigation Outage Forecast System satellite has detected Schumann resonance from space. This comes as a surprise, since current models of Schumann resonance predict these waves should be caged at lower altitude, between the ground and a layer of Earth's atmosphere called the ionosphere. ... > full story
Genetic buzzer-beater genes may save fish (November 30, 2011) -- Two distinct populations of rainbow trout -- one in Alaska, the other in Idaho -- share a genetic trait that could have huge implications for fisheries conservation and management, an eight-member research team reports. ... > full story
Making a light-harvesting antenna from scratch: Biomimetic antenna for gathering sunlight may one day transform solar-powered devices (November 30, 2011) -- Scientists have succeeded in making a light-harvesting antenna from scratch. The new antenna, modeled on the chlorosome found in green bacteria, is a giant assembly of pigment molecules. Perhaps nature's most spectacular light-harvesting antennae, chlorosomes allow green bacteria to photosynthesize even in the dim light in ocean deeps. ... > full story
Sugar-sweetened beverages may increase cardiovascular risk in women, research suggests (November 30, 2011) -- Drinking two or more sugar-sweetened beverages a day may expand a woman's waistline and increase her risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to new research. ... > full story
Gone with the wind: Why the fast jet stream winds cannot contribute much renewable energy after all (November 30, 2011) -- The assumption that high jet steam wind speeds in the upper atmosphere correspond to high wind power has now been challenged by new research. Taking into account that the high wind speeds result from the near absence of friction and not from a strong power source, scientists found that the maximum extractable energy from jet streams is approximately 200 times less than reported previously. ... > full story
Marzipan Santas, elves and stollen: Real deal or cheap fakes? (November 30, 2011) -- With the December holidays a peak season for indulging in marzipan, scientists are reporting development of a new test that can tell the difference between the real thing -- a pricey but luscious paste made from ground almonds and sugar -- and cheap fakes made from ground soy, peas and other ingredients. ... > full story
3-D printer used to make bone-like material (November 30, 2011) -- It looks like bone. It feels like bone. For the most part, it acts like bone. And it came off an inkjet printer. Researchers have used a 3-D printer to create a bone-like material that can be used in orthopedic procedures, dental work, and to deliver medicine for treating osteoporosis. Paired with actual bone, it acts as a scaffold for new bone to grow on and ultimately dissolves with no apparent ill effects. ... > full story
Herbicide may affect plants thought to be resistant (November 30, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a fine-tuning mechanism involved in plant root growth that has them questioning whether a popular herbicide may have unintended consequences, causing some plants to need more water or nutrients. ... > full story
Elderly long-term care residents suffer cognitively during disasters (November 30, 2011) -- In a summer with unprecedented weather events, from tornadoes, floods, fires and hurricanes, researchers found that physiological changes associated with aging and the presence of chronic illness make older adults more susceptible to illness or injury, even death, during a disaster. ... > full story
Transplanted cells repair the brain in obese mice (November 30, 2011) -- Small numbers of properly selected neurons, transplanted into damaged brain areas in mice, are capable of restoring lost functions. Experiments on mice with a defect resulting in obesity and a series of measurements documenting efficiency of the neuron transplant method have now been carried out. ... > full story
Caribbean fisheries highly vulnerable to climate change, need to adapt (November 30, 2011) -- A new study predicts severe negative impacts, including loss and alteration of habitats, smaller and less-diverse fish stocks, and coral bleaching, and urges prompt action to help fisheries prepare. ... > full story
Walnut trees may not be able to withstand climate change (November 30, 2011) -- Warmer, drier summers and extreme weather events considered possible as the climate changes would be especially troublesome -- possibly fatal -- for walnut trees, according to researchers. ... > full story
Growing knowledge in space: Studying what effects microgravity has on plant cell walls, root growth patterns and gene regulation (November 30, 2011) -- Plants are critical in supporting life on Earth, and with help from an experiment that flew onboard space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 mission, they also could transform living in space. NASA's Kennedy Space Center partnered with the University of Florida, Miami University in Ohio and Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation to perform three different experiments in microgravity. The studies concentrated on the effects microgravity has on plant cell walls, root growth patterns and gene regulation within the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Each of the studies has future applications on Earth and in space exploration. ... > full story
First U.S. large demonstration-scale injection of CO<sub>2</sub> from a biofuel production facility begins (November 30, 2011) -- The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium has begun injecting carbon dioxide for the first million-tonne demonstration of carbon sequestration in the United States. The CO2 will be stored permanently in the Mt. Simon Sandstone more than a mile beneath the Illinois surface at Decatur. ... > full story
New thinking required on wildlife disease, experts say (November 29, 2011) -- Scientist say much more could be done to predict the likelihood and spread of serious disease -- such as tuberculosis or foot-and-mouth disease -- in Australian wildlife and commercial stock. ... > full story
'Look at that!' Ravens gesture with their beaks to point out objects to each other (November 29, 2011) -- Pointing and holding up objects in order to attract attention has so far only been observed in humans and our closest living relatives, the great apes. Researchers now provide the first evidence that ravens (Corvus corax) also use so called deictic gestures in order to test the interest of a potential partner or to strengthen an already existing bond. ... > full story
E. coli bacteria engineered to eat switchgrass and make transportation fuels (November 29, 2011) -- Strains of E. coli bacteria were engineered to digest switchgrass biomass and synthesize its sugars into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The switchgrass, which is among the most highly touted of the potential feedstocks for advanced biofuels, was pre-treated with ionic liquid, a key to the success of this study. ... > full story
Environment and diet leave their prints on the heart (November 29, 2011) -- A new study, which set out to investigate DNA methylation in the human heart and the "missing link" between our lifestyle and our health, has now mapped the link in detail across the entire human genome. ... > full story
Earth's past gives clues to future changes (November 29, 2011) -- Scientists are a step closer to predicting when and where earthquakes will occur after taking a fresh look at the formation of the Andes, which began 45 million years ago. ... > full story
Madagascar dinosaur bone is most massive osteoderm ever found (November 29, 2011) -- What more can we learn about long-necked dinosaurs that we don't already know? Researchers have found that Madagascar dinosaurs carried giant, hollow bones in their skin that may have helped them survive the harsh environments they inhabited. This discovery has shed new light on the anatomy and function of these bones in the biggest animals to ever walk on land. ... > full story
Coffee may protect against endometrial cancer, study suggests (November 29, 2011) -- Long-term coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk for endometrial cancer, according to a recent study. ... > full story
How bacteria can break down hazardous environmental pollutants (November 29, 2011) -- Researchers now understand how bacteria can break down phosphonic acids, persistent and potentially hazardous environmental pollutants found in many common medicinal products, detergents and herbicides. ... > full story
How bats 'hear' objects in their path (November 29, 2011) -- By placing real and virtual objects in the flight paths of bats, scientists have shed new light on how echolocation works. The researchers found that it is not the intensity of the echoes that tells the bats the size of an object but the 'sonar aperture', that is the spread of angles from which echoes impinge on their ears. ... > full story
Scientists determine how antibody recognizes key sugars on HIV surface (November 29, 2011) -- HIV is coated in sugars that usually hide the virus from the immune system. Newly published research reveals how one broadly neutralizing HIV antibody actually uses part of the sugary cloak to help bind to the virus. The antibody binding site, called the V1/V2 region, represents a suitable HIV vaccine target, according to the scientists who conducted the study. ... > full story
First system developed for assessing the odds of life on other worlds (November 29, 2011) -- A modeling expert has proposed a new system for classifying exoplanets using two different indices -- an Earth Similarity Index for categorizing a planet's more earth-like features and a Planetary Habitability Index for describing a variety of chemical and physical parameters that are theoretically conducive to life in more extreme, less Earth-like conditions. ... > full story
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