The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Monday, June 4, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Monday, June 4, 2012

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Expanding the genetic alphabet may be easier than previously thought (June 3, 2012) -- A new study suggests that the replication process for DNA -- the genetic instructions for living organisms that is composed of four bases (C, G, A and T) -- is more open to unnatural letters than had previously been thought. An expanded "DNA alphabet" could carry more information than natural DNA, potentially coding for a much wider range of molecules and enabling a variety of powerful applications, from precise molecular probes and nanomachines to useful new life forms. ... > full story

A different drummer: Engineers discover neural rhythms drive physical movement (June 3, 2012) -- In a significant departure from earlier models, neural engineers and neuroscientists have developed a new model for the brain activity underlying arm movements. Motor neurons do not represent external-world parameters as previously thought, but rather send a few basic rhythmic patterns down the spine to drive movement. The finding has implications in prosthetics, the understanding of motor disorders and other uses yet to be discovered. ... > full story

Scientists complete most comprehensive genetic analysis yet of corn (June 3, 2012) -- Scientists have completed the most comprehensive analysis to date of the corn genome. The team expects the achievement to speed up development of improved varieties of one of the world's most important agricultural commodities. The results should boost international efforts to increase yields, expand areas where corn can be cultivated and produce varieties better equipped to resist pests and disease. ... > full story

Wallflowers of the Earth system (June 3, 2012) -- In cities, the presence of algae, lichens, and mosses is not considered desirable and they are often removed from roofs and walls. It is, however, totally unfair to consider these cryptogamic covers, as the flat growths are referred to in scientific terms, just a nuisance. Scientists have discovered that these mostly inconspicuous looking growths take up huge amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide and nitrogen and fix it at the earth’s surface. Cryptogamic covers are responsible for about half of the naturally occurring nitrogen fixation on land and they take up as much carbon dioxide as is released yearly from biomass burning. These new findings will help to improve global flux calculations and climate models, in which up to now the carbon and nitrogen balance of the cryptogamic covers have been neglected. ... > full story

Computer-designed proteins programmed to disarm variety of flu viruses (June 1, 2012) -- Proteins found in nature, but that do not normally bind the flu, can be engineered to act as broad-spectrum antiviral agents against many flu virus strains, including H1N1 pandemic influenza. One engineered protein has a flu-fighting potency that rivals several monoclonal antibodies. The proteins are constructed via computer modeling to fit neatly onto a nano-sized target on flu viruses, and prevent that part of the virus from changing shape to infect cells. ... > full story

Where have all the hummingbirds gone? (June 1, 2012) -- The glacier lily as it's called, is a tall, willowy plant that graces mountain meadows throughout western North America. It flowers early in spring, when the first bumblebees and hummingbirds appear. ... > full story

Northern Lights process like untangling twisted strands of spaghetti? (June 1, 2012) -- Scientists have reached a milestone in describing how the northern lights work by way of a process called "magnetic reconnection." The process is best imagined as untangling twisted strands of spaghetti. ... > full story

Frog embryos may yield secrets of cancer cell migration (June 1, 2012) -- Developmental biologists are investigating craniofacial development in a frog model to better understand genetic control of cell migration. The work is expected to advance knowledge of how cancer cells migrate away from primary tumors to cause metastatic disease in new sites, among other processes. ... > full story

Plants previously thought to be 'stable' found to be responding to climate change (June 1, 2012) -- Many wild plant species thought to be "stable" in the face of climate change are actually responding to global warming, say researchers. ... > full story

Unmanned NASA storm sentinels set for hurricane study (June 1, 2012) -- Ah, June. It marks the end of school, the start of summer ... and the official start of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, which got off to an early start in May with the formation of Tropical Storms Alberto and Beryl. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters are calling for a near-normal hurricane season this year. But whether the season turns out to be wild or wimpy, understanding what makes these ferocious storms form and rapidly intensify is a continuing area of scientific research, and is the focus of the NASA-led Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) airborne mission that kicks off this summer. ... > full story

Sierra Nevada 200-year megadroughts confirmed (June 1, 2012) -- The culmination of a comprehensive high-tech assessment of Fallen Leaf Lake -- a small moraine-bound lake at the south end of the Lake Tahoe Basin -- shows that stands of pre-Medieval trees in the lake suggest the region experienced severe drought at least every 650 to 1,150 years during the mid- and late-Holocene period. ... > full story

New compound could become 'cool blue' for energy efficiency in buildings (June 1, 2012) -- A new type of durable, environmentally-benign blue pigment has also been found to have unusual characteristics in reflecting heat -- it's a "cool blue" compound that could become important in new approaches to saving energy in buildings. ... > full story

Some butterfly species particularly vulnerable to climate change (June 1, 2012) -- A recent study of the impact of climate change on butterflies suggests that some species might adapt much better than others, with implications for the pollination and herbivory associated with these and other insect species. ... > full story

Plate tectonics cannot explain dynamics of Earth and crust formation more than three billion years ago (June 1, 2012) -- The current theory of continental drift provides a good model for understanding terrestrial processes through history. However, while plate tectonics is able to successfully shed light on processes up to three billion years ago, the theory isn't sufficient in explaining the dynamics of Earth and crust formation before that point and through to the earliest formation of planet, some 4.6 billion years ago. ... > full story

Even early human hands left prominent ecological footprints (June 1, 2012) -- Early human activity has left a greater footprint on today's ecosystem than previously thought, say researchers. ... > full story

Why is it so difficult to trace the origins of food poisoning outbreaks? (June 1, 2012) -- As illustrated by the 2011 E. coli outbreak in Germany, any delay in identifying the source of food poisoning outbreaks can cost lives and cause considerable political and economical damage. Scientists have now shown that difficulties in finding the sources of contamination behind food poisoning cases are inevitable due to the increasing complexity of a global food traffic network where food products are constantly crossing country borders, generating a worldwide network. ... > full story

All proteins that bind to RNA, including 300 new ones, catalogued (June 1, 2012) -- Scientists have cataloged all proteins that bind to RNA, finding 300 previously unknown to do so. The study could help to explain the role of genes that have been linked to diseases like diabetes and glaucoma. ... > full story

Nunavik sled dogs need first aid and care too (June 1, 2012) -- In Nunavik, there are many dogs – sled dogs, pets, and strays – but no veterinarian, so a veterinary student is designing and delivering a first aid guide for dogs in northern Quebec. ... > full story

Neuroscientists reach major milestone in whole-brain circuit mapping project (June 1, 2012) -- Neuroscientists have just reached an important milestone, publicly releasing the first installment out of 500 terabytes of data so far collected in their pathbreaking project to construct the first whole-brain wiring diagram of a vertebrate brain, that of the mouse. ... > full story

Silkmoth inspires novel explosive detector (June 1, 2012) -- Imitating the antennas of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, researchers have designed a system for detecting explosives with unparalleled performance. Made up of a silicon microcantilever bearing nearly 500,000 aligned titanium dioxide nanotubes, this device is capable of detecting concentrations of trinitrotoluene (TNT) of around 800 ppq (1) (i.e. 800 molecules of explosive per 10^15 molecules of air), thereby improving one thousand-fold the detection limit attainable until now. This innovative concept could also be used to detect drugs, toxic agents and traces of organic pollutants. ... > full story

Producing artificial bones from fish scales (June 1, 2012) -- Scientists have developed technology for producing artificial bones from fish scales and apatite. ... > full story

Catching solar particles infiltrating Earth's atmosphere (May 31, 2012) -- On May 17, 2012, an M-class flare exploded from the sun. They caused a shower of particles to cascade down toward Earth's surface. The shower created what's called a ground level enhancement (GLE). ... > full story

Chemical substitution: On early Earth, iron may have performed magnesium's RNA folding job (May 31, 2012) -- Researchers have used experiments and numerical calculations to show that iron, in the absence of oxygen, can substitute for magnesium in RNA binding, folding and catalysis. The findings suggest that three billion years ago, on the early Earth, iron did the chemical work now done by magnesium. ... > full story

Dark chocolate could prevent heart problems in high-risk people (May 31, 2012) -- Daily consumption of dark chocolate can reduce cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, in people with metabolic syndrome (a cluster of factors that increases the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes), finds a new study ... > full story

'Safe' levels of arsenic in drinking water found to compromise pregnant/lactating mothers, offspring (May 31, 2012) -- Exposure to arsenic in drinking water at the level the US Environmental Protection Agency currently deems as safe in the United States (10 parts per billion) induces adverse health outcomes in pregnant and lactating mice and their offspring, concludes a new study. ... > full story

Weather patterns can be used to forecast rotavirus outbreaks (May 31, 2012) -- By correlating weather factors like temperature, rain and snowfall, a professor of civil and environmental engineering is able to predict the timing and intensity of rotavirus, a disease that causes extreme diarrhea, dehydration and thousands of death annually, particularly among children. Her research focused on one of the hardest-hit regions of the world, South Asia. ... > full story

A 'B12 shot' for marine algae? (May 31, 2012) -- Studying algal cultures and seawater samples from the Southern Ocean off Antarctica, marine biologists have revealed a key cog in the biochemical machinery that allows marine algae at the base of the oceanic food chain to thrive. They have discovered a previously unknown protein in algae that grabs an essential but scarce nutrient out of seawater, vitamin B12. ... > full story

Wildfire and an example of its important link to the ecosystem (May 31, 2012) -- A dilemma is smouldering -- even as wildfires top the current headlines. New research highlights the practice of aggressive fire suppression by using studies at Lake Tahoe as an active example. ... > full story

Life scientists view biodiversity through a whole new dimension: Body size, feeding rates (May 31, 2012) -- How can blue whales, the largest animals on the planet, survive by feeding on krill, shrimp-like creatures that are the size of a penny? According to life scientists, it's all a matter of dimensions. ... > full story

Structural clockwork of circadian rhythms (May 31, 2012) -- Scientists have determined the three-dimensional structure of two proteins that help keep the body's clocks in sync. The proteins, CLOCK and BMAL1, bind to each other to regulate the activity of thousands of genes whose expression fluctuates throughout the course of a day. ... > full story

Is there a 'healthy' obesity gene? (May 31, 2012) -- Researchers recently investigated whether a specific gene/enzyme could be help explain why some obese people do not get chronic diseases typically associated with obesity. ... > full story

New molecular structure offers first picture of a protein family vital to human health (May 31, 2012) -- The 20 proteins in the Wnt family are some of the most important proteins in controlling how an organism develops and grows, but for 30 years scientists have not known what these vital proteins actually look like. Researchers have solved the first structure of a Wnt protein, opening up new avenues of study for this biologically important molecule. ... > full story

X-ray laser probes biomolecules to individual atoms (May 31, 2012) -- Scientists have demonstrated how the world's most powerful X-ray laser can assist in cracking the structures of biomolecules, and in the processes helped to pioneer critical new investigative avenues in biology. ... > full story

Vertebrates share ancient neural circuitry for complex social behaviors, biologists find (May 31, 2012) -- Humans, fish and frogs share neural circuits responsible for a diversity of social behavior, from flashy mating displays to aggression and monogamy, that have existed for more than 450 million years, biologists have found. ... > full story

Sex: It's a good thing, study of primroses shows (May 31, 2012) -- Way more than fun and games, sexual reproduction appears to give an evolutionary advantage, biologists have discovered. ... > full story

Map could point way to fungus vaccine (May 31, 2012) -- Researchers have made breakthrough use of 3-D magnetic resonance technology to map the structure of Candida, a common fungus that is potentially deadly for individuals with impaired immune function. The work could pave the way for development of an effective vaccine. ... > full story

Monkey lip smacks provide new insights into the evolution of human speech (May 31, 2012) -- Scientists have traditionally sought the evolutionary origins of human speech in primate vocalizations. But unlike these primate calls, human speech is produced using movements of the tongue, lips and jaw. Speech is also learned, while primate vocalizations are mostly innately structured. New research supports the idea that human speech evolved less from vocalizations than from communicative facial gestures. ... > full story

How cells communicate to activate notch signaling (May 31, 2012) -- Researchers have shown for the first time that the mechanical force produced by cell-cell interactions is critical for programming by the Notch signaling system. ... > full story

Highway through Amazon worsens effects of climate change, provides mixed economic gains (May 31, 2012) -- Paving a highway across South America is providing lessons on the impact of road construction elsewhere. ... > full story

Geoengineering for global warming: Increasing aerosols in atmosphere would make sky whiter (May 31, 2012) -- One idea for fighting global warming is to increase the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere, scattering incoming solar energy away from Earth's surface. But scientists theorize that this solar geoengineering could have a side effect of whitening the sky during the day. New research indicates that blocking 2 percent of the sun's light would make the sky three-to-five times brighter, as well as whiter. ... > full story

Mystery of monarch butterfly migration takes new turn (May 31, 2012) -- A prevailing theory contends that eastern and western monarchs are genetically distinct, and that genetic mechanisms trigger their divergent migratory paths. An analysis by biologists, however, finds that the two groups are genetically mixed, suggesting environmental factors may be the key to the butterflies' choice of winter homes, and where they wind up in the spring. The distinction is important to help better understand their behavior, and to conserve the monarch flyways. ... > full story

New device warns workers of high levels of airborne metals in minutes rather than weeks (May 31, 2012) -- Scientists are reporting development of a new paper-based device that can warn workers that they are being exposed to potentially unhealthy levels of airborne metals almost immediately, instead of the weeks required with current technology. The device costs about one cent to make and could prevent illness in the millions of people who work with metal. ... > full story

Blanch your weeds, study suggests (May 31, 2012) -- You don't need to spray weedkiller to remove the weeds between your paving stones. Six treatments throughout the summer with either boiling water, steam or careful flaming will dispatch even the hardiest of unwanted plants. ... > full story

Grazing snails rule the waves (May 31, 2012) -- Coral reefs and seashores largely look the way they do because large fish and urchins eat most of the seaweed that might otherwise cover them, but a major new study has found that the greatest impact of all comes from an unexpected quarter -- small marine snails. ... > full story

New type of biosensor is fast, super-sensitive (May 31, 2012) -- A whole new class of biosensor that can detect exceptionally small traces of contaminants in liquids in just 40 minutes has now been developed. Known as a biochemiresistor, it meets a long-standing challenge to create a sensor that is not only super-sensitive to the presence of chemical compounds but responds quickly. It has countless potential uses for detecting drugs, toxins and pesticides for biomedical or environmental analysis. ... > full story

Rewriting DNA to understand what it says (May 31, 2012) -- Our ability to "read" DNA has made tremendous progress in the past few decades, but the ability to understand and alter the genetic code, that is, to "rewrite" the DNA-encoded instructions, has lagged behind. A new study advances our understanding of the genetic code: It proposes a way of effectively introducing numerous carefully planned DNA segments into genomes of living cells and of testing the effects of these changes. New technology speeds up DNA "rewriting" and measures the effects of the changes in living cells. ... > full story

Genetic discovery unlocks biosynthesis of medicinal compound in poppy (May 31, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered a complex gene cluster responsible for the synthesis of the medicinal compound noscapine. ... > full story

'Like a jet through solid rock:' Volcanic arc fed by rapid fluid pulses (May 31, 2012) -- The depths of Earth are anything but peaceful: large quantities of liquids carve their way through the rock as fluids, causing magma to form. Scientists have now shown that the fluids flow a lot faster through solid rock than previously assumed. ... > full story