The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, June 5, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, June 5, 2012

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Practical tool can 'take pulse' of blue-green algae status in lakes (June 4, 2012) -- Scientists have designed a screening tool that provides a fast, easy and relatively inexpensive way to predict levels of a specific toxin in lakes that are prone to blue-green algal blooms. ... > full story

Little cognitive benefit from soy supplements for older women (June 4, 2012) -- In a new study of the effects of soy supplements for postmenopausal women, researchers found no significant differences -- positive or negative -- in overall mental abilities between those who took supplements and those who didn't. ... > full story

Families of kids with staph infections have high rate of drug-resistant germ (June 4, 2012) -- Family members of children with a staph infection often harbor a drug-resistant form of the germ, although they don’t show symptoms, a team of researchers has found. ... > full story

Fossil discovery: More evidence for Asia, not Africa, as the source of earliest anthropoid primates (June 4, 2012) -- A new fossil primate from Myanmar illuminates a critical step in the evolution of early anthropoids. Afrasia closely resembles another early anthropoid, Afrotarsius libycus. The close similarity indicates that early anthropoids colonized Africa only shortly before the time when these animals lived. This was a pivotal step in primate and human evolution, because it set the stage for the later evolution of more advanced apes and humans there. ... > full story

Reign of the giant insects ended with the evolution of birds (June 4, 2012) -- Giant insects ruled the prehistoric skies during periods when Earth's atmosphere was rich in oxygen. Then came the birds. After the evolution of birds about 150 million years ago, insects got smaller despite rising oxygen levels, according to a new study. ... > full story

Mosquitoes fly in rain thanks to low mass (June 4, 2012) -- Even rain can't deter mosquitoes. The blood-sucking insect can fly in a downpour because of its strong exoskeletons and low mass render it impervious to falling drops. Researchers determined this using high-speed videography. ... > full story

How infectious disease may have shaped human origins (June 4, 2012) -- Scientists suggest that inactivation of two specific genes related to the immune system may have conferred selected ancestors of modern humans with improved protection from some pathogenic bacterial strains, such as Escherichia coli K1 and Group B Streptococci, the leading causes of sepsis and meningitis in human fetuses, newborns and infants. ... > full story

High blood caffeine levels in older adults linked to avoidance of Alzheimer’s disease (June 4, 2012) -- Those cups of coffee that you drink every day to keep alert appear to have an extra perk -- especially if you’re an older adult. A recent study monitoring the memory and thinking processes of people older than 65 found that all those with higher blood caffeine levels avoided the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in the two-to-four years of study follow-up. Moreover, coffee appeared to be the major or only source of caffeine for these individuals. ... > full story

Cannabinoid shown effective as adjuvant analgesic for cancer pain (June 4, 2012) -- An investigational cannabinoid therapy helped provide effective analgesia when used as an adjuvant medication for cancer patients with pain that responded poorly to opioids, according to results of a multicenter trial. ... > full story

Ancient jugs hold the secret to practical mathematics in Biblical times (June 4, 2012) -- Archaeologists and mathematicians alike have been puzzled for centuries by the use of spherical jugs in trade in the ancient world, and how merchants measured the volume of the commodities they held. Now researchers have revealed that these ancient cultures had their own unique means of measurement, accurate enough for business and other uses. ... > full story

Researchers achieve RNA interference, in a lighter package (June 4, 2012) -- Using a technique known as "nucleic acid origami," chemical engineers have built tiny particles made out of DNA and RNA that can deliver snippets of RNA directly to tumors, turning off genes expressed in cancer cells. ... > full story

Groundbreaking x-ray snapshots of active photosynthesis (June 4, 2012) -- Scientists are opening new avenues to understand photosynthesis and create artificial photosynthesis. Using x-ray analysis, they have managed to see the structure of molecules under conditions where photosynthesis can occur, and they have also found that calcium plays a critical role in decomposing water. ... > full story

Bug-bomb foggers are no match for bed bugs (June 4, 2012) -- Recent research shows "bug bombs" and foggers to be ineffective against bed bugs. ... > full story

Knowing yeast genome produces better wine (June 4, 2012) -- The yeast Dekkera bruxellensis plays an important role in the production of wine, as it can have either a positive or a negative impact on the taste. Researchers have analyzed the yeast’s genome giving wine producers the possibility to take control of the flavor development of the wine. ... > full story

Export extravaganza in human cells (June 4, 2012) -- In the first comprehensive census of human cells’ export workers, scientists found an unexpected variety of genes involved in transporting molecules to the cell membrane and beyond. ... > full story

Filming life in the fast lane (June 4, 2012) -- A new microscope enabled scientists to film a fruit fly embryo, in 3D, from when it was about two-and-a-half hours old until it walked away from the microscope as a larva. ... > full story

Molecular algebra in mammalian cells (June 4, 2012) -- Researchers have reprogrammed mammalian cells in such a way as to perform logical calculations like a pocket calculator. The cells owe this ability to one of the most complex gene networks that has ever been incorporated into a higher cell. ... > full story

Shape-shifting shell of retroviruses detailed (June 4, 2012) -- Scientists have for the first time uncovered the detailed structure of the shell that surrounds the genetic material of retroviruses, such as HIV, at a crucial and potentially vulnerable stage in their life cycle: when they are still being formed. The study provides information on a part of the virus that may be a potential future drug target. ... > full story

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

First genome-wide assessment of secretion in human cells (June 3, 2012) -- Scientists have revealed that 15% of the proteins encoded by the human genome contribute to the process of secretion in cells. This finding has been made possible through the assessment of more than 8 million individual cells. ... > 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

US and European energy supplies vulnerable to climate change (June 3, 2012) -- Higher water temperatures and reduced river flows in Europe and the United States in recent years have resulted in reduced production, or temporary shutdown, of several thermoelectric power plants, resulting in increased electricity prices and raising concerns about future energy security in a changing climate. A new study projects further disruption to supply, with a likely decrease in thermoelectric power generating capacity of between 6-19% in Europe and 4-16% in the United States for the period 2031-2060, due to lack of cooling water. ... > 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