The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, June 7, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, June 7, 2012

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Ecologists call for preservation of planet's remaining biological diversity (June 6, 2012) -- Twenty years after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 17 ecologists are calling for renewed international efforts to curb the loss of Earth's biological diversity. The loss is compromising nature's ability to provide goods and services essential for human well-being, the scientists say. ... > full story

Variations in sex steroid gene expression can predict aggressive behaviors, bird study shows (June 6, 2012) -- A biologist has shown that natural variation in measures of the brain's ability to process steroid hormones predicts functional variation in aggressive behavior. The new work has found strong and significant relationships between aggressive behavior in free-living birds and the abundance of messenger RNA in behaviorally relevant brain areas for three major sex steroid processing molecules: androgen receptor, estrogen receptor and aromatase. ... > full story

Today's climate more sensitive to carbon dioxide than in past 12 million years (June 6, 2012) -- Until now, studies of Earth's climate have documented a strong correlation between global climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide; that is, during warm periods, high concentrations of CO2 persist, while colder times correspond to relatively low levels. ... > full story

Photosynthesis: A new way of looking at photosystem II (June 6, 2012) -- Using ultrafast, intensely bright pulses of X-rays scientists have obtained the first ever images at room temperature of photosystem II, a protein complex critical for photosynthesis and future artificial photosynthetic systems. ... > full story

Sensors detect contaminants in water in low concentrations (June 6, 2012) -- Many organic contaminants in the air and in drinking water need to be detected at very low-level concentrations. New research could be beneficial in detecting those contaminants. ... > full story

Role of fungus in digestive disorders explored (June 6, 2012) -- Researchers say their examination of the fungi in the intestines suggests an important link between these microbes and inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis. In the new study researchers identified and characterized the large community of fungi inhabiting the large intestine in a model of the disease. ... > full story

Gut immune cells keep beneficial microbes in their place (June 6, 2012) -- Resident immune cells in intestinal tissues of healthy humans, mice, and non-human primates are critical in limiting the location of commensal bacteria. If the cells are depleted commensal bacteria move to peripheral tissues and promote inflammation. The bacteria were all members of a group called Alcaligenes, indicating a selective pathway to contain commensal bacteria. ... > full story

To quit smoking, try eating more veggies and fruits (June 6, 2012) -- Eating more fruits and vegetables may help you quit smoking and stay tobacco-free for longer, according to a new study. It is the first longitudinal study on the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and smoking cessation. ... > full story

First photos ever of jaguars in Colombian oil palm plantation (June 6, 2012) -- Camera traps recently produced the first photographic evidence of wild jaguars with cubs in an oil palm plantation in Colombia. These rare photos confirm that in some cases, jaguars are willing to move through oil palm. Importantly, the photos come from a small plantation adjacent to a protected area with some indigenous habitat present - perhaps the best case scenario for fostering jaguar use of palm oil tracts. ... > full story

Arctic ice melt is setting stage for severe winters (June 6, 2012) -- A dramatic melt-off of Arctic sea ice due to climate change is hitting closer to home than millions of Americans might think – triggering a domino effect leading to increased odds of severe winter weather outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere's middle latitudes, according to new research. ... > full story

New technique for detecting mold contamination in homes and other buildings (June 6, 2012) -- With mold contamination of homes an ongoing concern – and a special threat to the 2.5 million foreclosed houses in the US, shuttered with little ventilation – scientists are reporting a new method to detect and identify low levels of airborne mold. The report describes a simple, fast method that could provide an early indication of potential contamination. ... > full story

New secrets from 'Bay of the Pirates' warship that sunk 2,300 years ago (June 6, 2012) -- A new study puts some finishing touches on the 2,300-year history of the beak-like weapon that an ancient warship used to ram enemy ships in the First Punic War, the conflict between ancient Rome and Carthage. The report also identifies a major threat that conservators must address in preserving this archaeological treasure for future generations. ... > full story

Evidence of impending tipping point for Earth (June 6, 2012) -- A group of 22 scientists worldwide argue that the Earth is frighteningly close to a tipping point that would send the globe irreversibly into a state that could spell disaster for humans. The group note that human pressures and climate change can irreversibly change local ecosystems. The fear is that Earth faces planet-wide change that will disrupt global animal and plant communities as well as water and food supplies. ... > full story

Warming climate sees tundra turn to forest (June 6, 2012) -- In just a few decades shrubs in the Arctic tundra have turned into trees as a result of the warming Arctic climate, creating patches of forest which, if replicated across the tundra, would significantly accelerate global warming. ... > full story

Complex world of gut microbes fine-tune body weight (June 6, 2012) -- Gut microbes have a significant effect on nutrient absorption and energy regulation. The composition of microbial communities is shown to vary with age, body weight, and variety of food ingested; as well as in response to bariatric surgery for obesity, use of antibiotics and many other factors. Based on current findings, the authors suggest that therapeutic modification of the gut microbiome may offer an attractive approach to future treatment of nutrition-related maladies, including obesity and a range of serious health consequences linked to under-nutrition. ... > full story

First complete sequencing of pear genome (June 6, 2012) -- Scientists have announced the first complete sequencing of pear genome. Pear (Pyrus spp.) is one of the major and oldest cultivated fruit trees in the temperate regions, which is likely to have originated during the Tertiary period (65-55 million years ago) in southwestern China. It is genetically diverse with more than 5,000 cultivars and accessions present all over the world that could be divided into two major groups, the European or "Occidental" pears and the Asiatic or "Oriental" pears. ... > full story

How plants make cocaine (June 6, 2012) -- Cocaine is one of the most commonly used (and abused) plant-derived drugs in the world, but we have almost no modern information on how plants produce this complex alkaloid. Researchers have just discovered a key reaction in cocaine formation in the coca plant from South America, and identified the responsible enzyme. This enzyme was shown to belong to the aldo-keto-reductase protein family revealing some exciting new insights into the evolution of cocaine biosynthesis. ... > full story

Legendary lost city of Ciudad Blanca may have been found with airborne LiDAR (June 6, 2012) -- Archaeologists have used airborne laser mapping to unveil archaeological ruins in a Honduran rainforest. An initial analysis of the LiDAR survey has identified ruins that could be those of Ciudad Blanca or other long-hidden sites. ... > full story

Gasification may convert mesquite and juniper wood to a usable bioenergy (June 6, 2012) -- Biomass gasification is being considered as a possible technology for converting at least 10 million acres of Texas brush into biofuel, according to a rangeland ecologist. ... > full story

Geoengineering could disrupt rainfall patterns (June 6, 2012) -- A geoengineering solution to climate change could lead to significant rainfall reduction in Europe and North America, a team of European scientists concludes. The researchers studied how models of the Earth in a warm, CO2-rich world respond to an artificial reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching the planet's surface. ... > full story

Calorie-restricted diet keeps heart young (June 6, 2012) -- People who restrict their caloric intake in an effort to live longer have hearts that function more like those in people who are 20 years younger. Researchers have found that a key measure of the heart’s ability to adapt to physical activity, stress and other factors, doesn’t decline nearly as rapidly in people who have significantly restricted their caloric intake. ... > full story

Dinosaurs lighter than previously thought (June 6, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new technique to accurately measure the weight and size of dinosaurs and discovered they are not as heavy as previously thought. ... > full story

Homo heidelbergensis was only slightly taller than the Neanderthal (June 6, 2012) -- The reconstruction of 27 complete human limb bones found in Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain) has helped to determine the height of various species of the Pleistocene era. Homo heilderbergensis, like Neanderthals, were similar in height to the current population of the Mediterranean. ... > full story

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