The EDGE: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, June 12, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, June 12, 2012

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Highest-energy light from a solar flare ever detected (June 11, 2012) -- During a powerful solar blast on March 7, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected the highest-energy light ever associated with an eruption on the sun. The discovery heralds Fermi's new role as a solar observatory, a powerful new tool for understanding solar outbursts during the sun's maximum period of activity. ... > full story

Global warming threat seen in fertile soil of northeastern U.S. forests (June 11, 2012) -- Vast stores of carbon in U.S. forest soils could be released by rising global temperatures, according to a new study. Scientists found that heating soil in Wisconsin and North Carolina woodlands by 10 and 20 degrees increased the release of carbon dioxide by up to eight times. They showed for the first time that most carbon in topsoil is vulnerable to this warming effect. ... > full story

New evidence supports theory of extraterrestrial impact (June 11, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered melt-glass material in a thin layer of sedimentary rock in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Syria. According to the researchers, the material -- which dates back nearly 13,000 years -- was formed at temperatures of 1,700 to 2,200 degrees Celsius (3,100 to 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit), and is the result of a cosmic body impacting Earth. ... > full story

Sick from your stomach: Bacterial changes may trigger diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (June 11, 2012) -- Larger-than-normal populations of specific gut bacteria may trigger the development of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and possibly fuel disease progression in people genetically predisposed to this crippling and confounding condition, say the researchers. ... > full story

Untangling knots, slipknots in species separated by a billion years of evolution (June 11, 2012) -- A new study examines structures of proteins that not only twist and turn themselves into knots, but also form slipknots that, if anybody could actually see them, might look like shoelaces for cells. ... > full story

Long-ignored enzyme turns out to be key to killing infectious bacteria (June 11, 2012) -- New research shows that an enzyme that has long been considered relatively useless to the immune response instead has an important role in setting up immune cells to kill infection-causing bacteria. ... > full story

Lessons from epigenome evolution (June 11, 2012) -- The sequencing of the human genome has provided a wealth of genetic information, yet the goal of understanding the function of every gene remains outstanding. New research suggests determining the purpose of genes through a new method they call "comparative epigenomics." ... > full story

Forgotten Annapolis immigration conflict uncovered (June 11, 2012) -- Archaeologists are uncovering a forgotten period of racial tension in Annapolis pitting Filipino immigrants against African-Americans. The surprisingly complex relations between the groups go back a century, occasionally marked by violence, but also by considerable social mixing and even intermarriage, the researchers say -- all propelled by changing racial practices at the Naval Academy. ... > full story

Recreational fishing causes Cape Cod salt marsh die-off (June 11, 2012) -- As recreational fishing activity has reduced predators in many of Cape Cod's salt marsh ecosystems, Sesarma crabs have feasted on grasses, causing dramatic die-offs of the marshes, according to a new study. The researchers assessed the "trophic cascade" in several experiments that also ruled out alternative explanations for the problem. ... > full story

More people, more environmental stress (June 11, 2012) -- Scientists have taken a critical look at the various factors that have long been prime climate-change suspects. One in particular: the role of population growth. ... > full story

Scientists correct Amazon water level gauges from space (June 11, 2012) -- NASA's laser satellite, ICESat, has been used to make corrections to water level gauges that are critical in monitoring water flow in the Amazon, the world's largest river. The new study will improve our understanding of water flows and floodplain processes. ... > full story

Immune cells in the gut may improve control of HIV growth (June 11, 2012) -- A new study may help clarify why some people infected with HIV are better able to control the virus. It may also pinpoint a target for treatment during early HIV infection aimed at increasing the supply of certain immune cells in the gut. ... > full story

Nanoparticles in polluted air, smoke & nanotechnology products have serious impact on health (June 11, 2012) -- New groundbreaking research has found that exposure to nanoparticles can have a serious impact on health, linking it to rheumatoid arthritis and the development of other serious autoimmune diseases. The findings have health and safety implications for the manufacture, use and ultimate disposal of nanotechnology products and materials. They also identified new cellular targets for the development of potential drug therapies in combating the development of autoimmune diseases. ... > full story

Global investment in renewable energy powers to record 7 billion (June 11, 2012) -- Solar generation surged past wind power to become the renewable energy technology of choice for global investors in 2011. Solar attracted nearly twice as much investment as wind, driving the renewable energy sector to yet another record-breaking year, albeit one beset with challenges for the industry, according to two new reports. ... > full story

Scientists reveal structure of bacterial chainmail (June 10, 2012) -- Scientists have uncovered the structure of the protective protein coat which surrounds many bacteria like a miniature suit of armor. The research has far ranging consequences in helping us understand how some pathogenic bacteria infect humans and animals, and could help us develop new vaccines. ... > full story

Undersea volcano gave off signals before eruption in 2011 (June 10, 2012) -- A team of scientists that last year created waves by correctly forecasting the 2011 eruption of Axial Seamount years in advance now says that the undersea volcano located some 250 miles off the Oregon coast gave off clear signals hours before its impending eruption. ... > full story

Researchers watch tiny living machines self-assemble (June 10, 2012) -- Enabling bioengineers to design new molecular machines for nanotechnology applications is one of the possible outcomes of a new study. Scientists have developed a new approach to visualize how proteins assemble, which may also significantly aid our understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which are caused by errors in assembly. ... > full story

Predicting the formation of new species (June 10, 2012) -- Why do some groups of species diversify – in just a few thousand years – to the point of forming a wide variety of new species, while others remain essentially unchanged for millions of years? This is one of the key questions for scientists investigating the emergence and decline of biodiversity. From various studies, it is known that speciation is influenced both by environmental factors (e.g. habitat diversity, climate) and by species-specific traits (e.g. coloration, behavior patterns). However, little is known about how the extrinsic and intrinsic factors interact. These interactions have now been explored in more detail. ... > full story

Anthropologists finds high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in breast milk of Amerindian women (June 9, 2012) -- Anthropologists have found high levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids in the breast milk of economically impoverished Amerindian woman as compared to women in the United States. ... > full story

Microbes discovered in extreme environment on South American volcanoes (June 8, 2012) -- Scientists looking for organisms that eke out a living in some of the most inhospitable soils on Earth has found a hardy few living on volcanoes that reaching nearly 20,000 feet in height. ... > full story

Engineered robot interacts with live fish (June 8, 2012) -- A bioinspired robot has provided the first experimental evidence that live zebrafish can be influenced by engineered robots. ... > full story

Parasitic plants steal genes from their hosts (June 8, 2012) -- The Malaysian parasitic plant Rafflesia cantleyi, with its 50cm diameter flowers, has 'stolen' genes from its host Tetrastigma rafflesiae. Analysis of these genes shows that their functions range from respiration to metabolism, and that some of them have even replaced the parasites own gene activity. ... > full story

Does cooperation require both reciprocity and alike neighbors? (June 8, 2012) -- Scientists have developed a new theoretical model on the evolution of cooperation. Evolution by definition is cold and merciless: it selects for success and weeds out failure. It seems only natural to expect that such a process would simply favour genes that help themselves and not others. Yet cooperative behaviour can be observed in many areas, and humans helping each other are a common phenomenon. Thus, one of the major questions in science today is how cooperative behaviour could evolve. ... > full story

Oceanic circulation: Heat loss strengthens the gyre circulation (June 8, 2012) -- A new study explains decadal variations in the oceanic circulation south of Greenland and Iceland. ... > full story

Environmental benefit of biofuels is overestimated, new study reveals (June 8, 2012) -- Two scientists are challenging the currently accepted norms of biofuel production. Calculations of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions from bioenergy production are neglecting crucial information that has led to the overestimation of the benefits of biofuels compared to fossil fuels, a new analysis shows. ... > full story

U.S. experienced second warmest May, warmest spring on record, NOAA reports (June 7, 2012) -- According to NOAA scientists, the average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during May was 64.3°F, 3.3°F above the long-term average, making it the second warmest May on record. The month's high temperatures also contributed to the warmest spring, warmest year-to-date, and warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895. ... > full story

Australia has two distinct white shark populations (June 7, 2012) -- A new scientific study has identified two distinct populations of white shark at the east and west of Bass Strait in Australian waters, prompting researchers to suggest the huge fish may need regional conservation plans. ... > full story

Rain may not always be a welcome thing to waterbirds (June 7, 2012) -- Scientists have found that waterbird communities can be the "canary in the coal mine" when it comes to detecting the health of urban estuary ecosystems. Their research revealed that the types of waterbirds that inhabit urban estuaries are influenced not only by urban development, but also by a far more natural process -- rain. ... > full story

Food-trade network vulnerable to fast spread of contaminants (June 7, 2012) -- Physicists and food science experts have recently published a rigorous analysis of the international food-trade network that shows the network's vulnerability to the fast spread of contaminants as well as the correlation between known food poisoning outbreaks and the centrality of countries on the network. ... > full story

Floating dock from Japan carries potential invasive species (June 7, 2012) -- When debris from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan began making its way toward the West Coast of the United States, there were fears of possible radiation and chemical contamination as well as costly cleanup. But a floating dock that unexpectedly washed ashore in Newport this week and has been traced back to the Japanese disaster has brought with it a completely different threat -- invasive species. ... > full story

Killer hospital bacteria: Cracking a superbug's armour (June 7, 2012) -- There's new hope for development of an antibiotic that can put down a lethal bacteria or superbug linked to the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients around the world. Researchers found a chink in the molecular armor of the pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. The bacteria first appeared in the 1970s and in the last decade it developed a resistance to most antibiotics. ... > full story

Immune system 'circuitry' that kills malaria in mosquitoes identified (June 7, 2012) -- For the first time, researchers have determined the function of a series proteins within the mosquito that transduce a signal that enables the mosquito to fight off infection from the parasite that causes malaria in humans. Together, these proteins are known as immune deficiency (Imd) pathway signal transducing factors, are analogous to an electrical circuit. As each factor is switched on or off it triggers or inhibits the next, finally leading to the launch of an immune response against the malaria parasite. ... > full story

Scientists discover huge phytoplankton bloom in ice-covered waters (June 7, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered a massive bloom of phytoplankton beneath ice-covered Arctic waters. Until now, sea ice was thought to block sunlight and limit the growth of microscopic marine plants living under the ice. ... > full story

Scientists identify first gene in programmed axon degeneration (June 7, 2012) -- Researchers have described a gene – dSarm/Sarm1 – responsible for actively promoting axon destruction after injury. The research provides evidence of an exciting new therapeutic target that could be used to delay or even stop axon decay. ... > full story

Highly contagious honey bee virus transmitted by mites (June 7, 2012) -- Researchers report that the parasitic 'Varroa' mite has caused the deformed wing virus to proliferate in honey bee colonies. This association is now thought to contribute to the world-wide spread and probable death of millions of honey bee colonies. The current monetary value of honey bees as commercial pollinators in the United States alone is estimated at about - billion annually. ... > full story

Armored caterpillar could inspire new body armor (June 7, 2012) -- Military body armor and vehicle and aircraft frames could be transformed by incorporating the unique structure of the club-like arm of a crustacean that looks like an armored caterpillar, according to new findings. ... > full story

Pregnancy: Why mother's immune system does not reject developing fetus as foreign tissue (June 7, 2012) -- Researchers have made an important discovery that partially answers the long-standing question of why a mother’s immune system does not reject a developing fetus as foreign tissue. ... > full story

New twist on old chemical process could boost energy efficiency significantly (June 7, 2012) -- An unappreciated aspect of chemical reactions on the surface of metal oxides could be key in developing more efficient energy systems, including more productive solar cells or hydrogen fuel cells efficient enough for automobiles. ... > full story

Steel-strength plastics: Durable plastic may replace metals (June 7, 2012) -- Chemists have been working hard to develop a more biodegradable plastic to reduce pollution and protect the environment. Now a researcher has taken a different approach -- creating plastics as strong and durable as steel. ... > full story

City kids more likely to have food allergies than rural ones: Population density is key factor, study finds (June 7, 2012) -- Children living in urban centers have a much higher prevalence of food allergies than those living in rural areas, according to a new study, which is the first to map children's food allergies by geographical location in the United States. In particular, kids in big cities are more than twice as likely to have peanut and shellfish allergies. ... > full story

Photovoltaic cells tap underwater solar energy (June 7, 2012) -- Scientists have developed solar cells capable of producing sufficient power to operate electronic sensor systems underwater at depths of nine meters. ... > full story

Caribbean wins the seaweed Olympics (June 7, 2012) -- Coral reefs might seem to be tranquil environments but in fact a battle is constantly waged between corals and seaweeds fighting over space. Scientists have known for some time that seaweeds can gain the upper hand if corals are damaged by hurricanes or excessively warm sea temperatures that cause coral bleaching. But a new study reveals that Caribbean seaweeds are the equivalent of Olympian athletes compared those found on coral reefs elsewhere. ... > full story

Predicting the oceans of the future with a mini-lab (June 7, 2012) -- Scientists have created a mini-lab in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The device can simulate predicted future ocean conditions -- such as rising carbon dioxide levels -- and their effects on ecosystems such as coral. ... > full story

Vampire jumping spiders identify victims by their antennae (June 7, 2012) -- Ravenous Evarcha culicivora jumping spiders -- vampire spiders -- have very specific tastes: they prefer to dine on blood-engorged female Anopheles mosquitoes. So how do they pick out female Anopheles from all other insects? Biologists have discovered that the spiders identify their victims by their antennae alone, even though the details of the antennae are too tiny to be seen by humans. ... > full story

Slime moulds work on computer games (June 7, 2012) -- British computer scientists are taking inspiration from slime to help them find ways to calculate the shape of a polygon linking points on a surface. Such calculations are fundamental to creating realistic computer graphics for gaming and animated movies. The quicker the calculations can be done, the smoother and more realistic the graphics. ... > full story

Virgin male moths think they're hot when they're not (June 7, 2012) -- When a virgin male moth gets a whiff of female sex attractant, he’s quicker to start shivering to warm up his flight muscles, and then takes off prematurely when he’s still too cool for powerful flight. So his headlong rush to reach the female first may cost him the race. ... > full story

Fish show autism-like gene expression in water with psychoactive pharmaceuticals (June 6, 2012) -- Psychoactive medications in water affect the gene expression profiles of fathead minnows in a way that mimics the gene expression patterns associated with autism spectrum disorder in genetically susceptible humans, according to new research. ... > full story

Stealth behavior allows cockroaches to seemingly vanish (June 6, 2012) -- Cockroaches, known for their stealth behavior, have a strategy up their sleeve only recently discovered by biologists. They are able to quickly disappear under ledges by flinging themselves off at full speed, grabbing the edge with hook-like claws on their hind legs, and swinging like a pendulum to land upside down underneath. Such a behavior was reproduced by a six-legged robot using Velcro strips. ... > full story