The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Wednesday, June 6, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Wednesday, June 6, 2012

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New plant and fungus species discovered (June 5, 2012) -- In a single year, scientists at The New York Botanical Garden have discovered and described 81 new species of plants and fungi from around the world. Combining work in the field, laboratory research, and painstaking study in plant collections, scientists in 2011 correctly identified the palm species that Vietnamese villagers weave into hats, discovered more than a dozen new lichen species in America's most visited national park, and identified new species in a wide variety of plant families. ... > full story

Latin American and Asian cities lead way in planning for global warming (June 5, 2012) -- The cities that are most active in preparing for climate change are not necessarily the biggest or wealthiest. Instead, they are often places buffeted by natural disasters and increasing changes in temperature or rainfall. ... > full story

Overfed fruit flies develop insulin resistance; Represent new tool to study human diabetes (June 5, 2012) -- Researchers have demonstrated that adult fruit flies fed either high-carb or high-protein diets develop metabolic abnormalities, including insulin resistance, which is a hallmark of type 2 human diabetes. Fruit fly D. melanogaster has been used successfully to investigate multiple human diseases. The new study demonstrates that diet profoundly influences fruit fly physiology and health and that insulin-resistant flies provide a new research tool for investigating the molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance. ... > full story

Milk ingredient does a waistline good (June 5, 2012) -- A natural ingredient found in milk can protect against obesity even as mice continue to enjoy diets that are high in fat. The researchers liken this milk ingredient to a new kind of vitamin. ... > full story

Keeping up with embryogenesis: New microscope tracks cells as they move and divide (June 5, 2012) -- The transformation of a fertilized egg into a functioning animal requires thousands of cell divisions and intricate rearrangements of those cells. That process is captured with unprecedented speed and precision by a new imaging technology that lets users track each cell in an embryo as it takes shape over hours or days. ... > full story

Air pollution linked to chronic heart disease (June 5, 2012) -- Cardiac patients living in high pollution areas were found to be over 40 percent more likely to have a second heart attack when compared to patients living in low pollution areas, according to a new study. ... > full story

Halogen bonding helps design new drugs (June 5, 2012) -- Halogens particularly chlorine, bromine, and iodine – have a unique quality which allows them to positively influence the interaction between molecules. This “halogen bonding” has been employed in the area of materials science for some time, but is only now finding applications in the life sciences. ... > full story

Weak bridges identified in Texas (June 5, 2012) -- More than a dozen Gulf Coast bridges in or near Galveston, Texas, would likely suffer severe damage if subjected to a hurricane with a similar landfall as Hurricane Ike but with 30 percent stronger winds, according to researchers. ... > full story

How estrogens persist in dairy wastewater (June 5, 2012) -- Wastewater from large dairy farms contains significant concentrations of estrogenic hormones that can persist for months or even years, researchers report in a new study. In the absence of oxygen, the estrogens rapidly convert from one form to another; This stalls their biodegradation and complicates efforts to detect them, the researchers found. ... > full story

Divided public: Climate survey shows skepticism and alarm rising over the past decade (June 5, 2012) -- Two analyses highlight the growing polarization of public attitudes toward climate change, as well as the role “psychological distance” plays in levels of concern. ... > full story

Bigger refuges needed to delay pest resistance to biotech corn (June 5, 2012) -- To slow resistance of western corn rootworm beetles to genetically protected crops, much larger "refuge" acreages of conventional crops have to be planted, two experts – including one from the University of Arizona – warn in a paper published in the Journal of Economic Ecology. ... > full story

Protein knots gain new evolutionary significance (June 5, 2012) -- A new study suggests that protein knots, a structure whose formation remains a mystery, may have specific functional advantages that depend on the nature of the protein's architecture. ... > full story

Exceptional rise in ancient sea levels revealed (June 5, 2012) -- Since the end of the last ice age 21,000 years ago, our planet has seen ocean levels rise by 120 meters to reach their current levels. This increase has not been constant, rather punctuated by rapid accelerations, linked to massive outburst floods from the ice caps. The largest increase, known by paleoclimatologists as 'Melt-Water Pulse 1A', proved to be enigmatic in many respects. A study recently revealed the mysteries of this event, without doubt one of the most important in the last deglaciation. ... > full story

Retreating glaciers are a threat to biodiversity (June 5, 2012) -- The projected disappearance of small glaciers worldwide threatens to eliminate the water supply for numerous towns in valleys, such as the Ecuadorian capital Quito, fed by the rivers that flow down from the surrounding mountains. But retreating ice is also a threat to freshwater fauna. According to a new study the local and regional diversity of mountain aquatic fauna will be reduced considerably if predictions are realized. ... > full story

Rattlesnakes strike again, bites more toxic (June 5, 2012) -- Each year, approximately 8,000 Americans are bitten by venomous snakes. On average, 800 or so bites occur annually in California, home to an abundance of snake species, but only one family is native and venomous: rattlesnakes. In San Diego County, the number of rattlesnake bites is increasing as well as the toxicity of the attack. ... > full story

Understanding Atlantic and Pacific jet stream fluctuations (June 5, 2012) -- A recent study demonstrates the link between observed fluctuations of atmospheric jet streams and the theoretical concepts that describe why jet streams exist. Atmospheric jet streams are fast-flowing currents of air found approximately 10 km above sea level in the extratropical regions of both hemispheres. Because these jets influence regional weather patterns, there is great interest in understanding the factors that control their path, their strength and variations in both. ... > full story

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

How religion promotes confidence about paternity (June 4, 2012) -- Religious practices that strongly control female sexuality are more successful at promoting certainty about paternity, according to a new study. ... > full story

Energy-dense biofuel from cellulose close to being economical (June 4, 2012) -- A new process for creating biofuels has shown potential to be cost-effective for production scale, opening the door for moving beyond the laboratory setting. ... > 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