ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Study: No-fat, low-fat dressings don't get most nutrients out of salads (June 19, 2012) -- The vegetables in salads are chock-full of important vitamins and nutrients, but you won't get much benefit without the right type and amount of salad dressing, a new study shows. ... > full story
Specific bacteria linked to indoor water-damage and mold identified (June 19, 2012) -- Bacterial contamination in water-damaged buildings has been identified as a potential cause of health problems, including infection and respiratory conditions like asthma. An environmental health research team found evidence linking two specific strains of bacteria -- Stenotrophomonas and Mycobacterium -- to indoor mold from water damage. ... > full story
Hulk smash? Maybe not anymore: Scientists block excess aggression in mice (June 19, 2012) -- Pathological rage can be blocked in mice, researchers have found, suggesting potential new treatments for severe aggression, a widespread trait characterized by sudden violence, explosive outbursts and hostile overreactions to stress. ... > full story
New gravitational biology lab allows for testing in artificial gravity (June 19, 2012) -- NASA is expanding its existing capabilities for doing plant and animal tissue investigations on the International Space Station with the delivery of a new centrifuge scheduled for this summer. The centrifuge is a NASA and commercial industry collaboration, and will be housed in the NanoRacks facility. ... > full story
From pomegranate peel to nanoparticles (June 19, 2012) -- Food waste is a growing problem in many parts of the world, but discarded fruit peel, in the case of pomegranates, could be put to good use in the burgeoning field of nanotechnology according to new research. ... > full story
Schooling fish: Wild zebrafish assess risk through social learning (June 19, 2012) -- Scientists have investigated whether zebrafish use social learning to assess risk. They found that wild zebrafish, which are more timid than their domesticated counterparts, became emboldened after interacting with domesticated zebrafish. The opposite did not occur, however. ... > full story
Oxygen 'sensor' may shut down DNA transcription (June 19, 2012) -- A key component found in an ancient anaerobic microorganism may serve as a sensor to detect potentially fatal oxygen, researchers have found. This helps researchers learn more about the function of these components, called iron-sulfur clusters, which occur in different parts of cells in all living creatures. ... > full story
Antibacterials in personal-care products linked to allergy risk in children (June 19, 2012) -- Exposure to common antibacterial chemicals and preservatives found in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and other personal-care products may make children more prone to a wide range of food and environmental allergies, according to new research. ... > full story
Landsat sets the standard for maps of world's forests (June 18, 2012) -- Countries like Brazil are using data from NASA satellites to track and measure their forests in advance of a United Nations effort to reduce climate change by providing "carbon credits" for protected land. The concept is known as REDD+, which stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. It includes monitoring forest degradation and efforts in conservation and sustainable management. ... > full story
Link between vitamin C and twin seedlings can increase seed production in crops (June 18, 2012) -- Biochemists have found that increasing the level of dehydroascorbate reductase, a naturally occurring enzyme that recycles vitamin C in plants and animals, increases the vitamin's level and results in the production of twin and triplet seedlings in a single seed. The discovery's value lies in the potential to produce genetically identical seedlings and increase production of high-value crops. The extra seedlings per seed may also enhance per-seed survival chances for some species. ... > full story
Crucial immune fighter role of STING protein revealed (June 18, 2012) -- Researchers have unlocked the structure of a key protein that, when sensing certain viruses and bacteria, triggers the body's immediate immune response. ... > full story
Clues to nervous system evolution found in nerve-less sponge (June 18, 2012) -- Scientists have turned to the simple sponge to find clues about the evolution of the complex nervous system and found that, but for a mechanism that coordinates the expression of genes that lead to the formation of neural synapses, sponges and the rest of the animal world may not be so distant after all. ... > full story
Brothers in arms: Commensal bacteria help fight viruses (June 18, 2012) -- Healthy humans harbor an enormous and diverse group of bacteria and other bugs that live within their intestines. These microbial partners provide beneficial aid in multiple ways -- from helping digest food to the development of a healthy immune system. New research shows that commensal bacteria are essential to fight off viral infections. ... > full story
Discovery helps mice beat urinary tract infections (June 18, 2012) -- The bacteria that cause urinary tract infections may take advantage of a cellular waste disposal system that normally helps fight invaders, according to researchers. ... > full story
Chemists use nanopores to detect DNA damage (June 18, 2012) -- Scientists are racing to sequence DNA faster and cheaper than ever by passing strands of the genetic material through molecule-sized pores. Now, scientists have adapted this “nanopore” method to find DNA damage that can lead to mutations and disease. ... > full story
NOAA predicts a near-normal 2012 Atlantic hurricane season (June 18, 2012) -- Conditions in the atmosphere and the ocean favor a near-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin this season. ... > full story
May 2012 global temperatures second warmest on record (June 18, 2012) -- The globally-averaged temperature for May 2012 marked the second warmest May since record keeping began in 1880. May 2012 also marks the 36th consecutive May and 327th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average. ... > full story
Dating evidence: Relics could be of John the Baptist (June 18, 2012) -- New dating evidence supports claims that bones found under a church floor in Bulgaria may be of John the Baptist, who is described in the Bible as a leading prophet and relative of Jesus Christ. Scientists dated a knucklebone from the right hand to the 1st century AD, a date which fits with the widely held view of when he would have lived. The researchers say they were surprised when they discovered the very early age of the remains adding, however, that dating evidence alone cannot prove the bones to be of John the Baptist. ... > full story
'Facebook for animals' tested on wild great tits (June 18, 2012) -- A new way of analyzing the social networks that link individual animals to each other has been tested on wild great tits. ... > full story
Natural exposure to gamma rays in background radiation linked to childhood leukemia (June 18, 2012) -- New findings demonstrate that there are small effects of radiation even at very low doses. ... > full story
Million-year-old groundwater in Maryland water supply (June 18, 2012) -- A portion of the groundwater in the upper Patapsco aquifer underlying Maryland is over a million years old. A new study suggests that this ancient groundwater, a vital source of freshwater supplies for the region east of Washington, DC and Baltimore, was recharged over periods of time much greater than human timescales. ... > full story
Key part of plants' rapid response system revealed (June 18, 2012) -- Scientists have revealed the workings of a switch that activates plant hormones, tags them for storage or marks them for destruction. ... > full story
Peaches, plums, nectarines give obesity, diabetes slim chance (June 18, 2012) -- Peaches, plums and nectarines have bioactive compounds that can potentially fight-off obesity-related diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to new studies. ... > full story
Carbon is key for getting algae to pump out more oil (June 18, 2012) -- Overturning two long-held misconceptions about oil production in algae, scientists show that ramping up the microbes' overall metabolism by feeding them more carbon increases oil production as the organisms continue to grow. The findings may point to new ways to turn photosynthetic green algae into tiny "green factories" for producing raw materials for alternative fuels. ... > full story
Reflected infrared light unveils never-before-seen details of Renaissance paintings (June 18, 2012) -- When restoring damaged and faded works of art, artists often employ lasers and other sophisticated imaging techniques to study intricate details, analyze pigments, and search for subtle defects not visible to the naked eye. To refine what can be seen during the restoration process even further, a team of Italian researchers has developed a new imaging tool that can capture features not otherwise detectable with the naked eye or current imaging techniques. ... > full story
Seeping Arctic methane has serious implications for Florida coastline (June 18, 2012) -- All of the methane escaping into the atmosphere causes more melting ice, oceanographers say, which causes sea levels to rise and could affect coastal real estate values -- sooner rather than later. ... > full story
Wild almond tree oil may combat obesity, diabetes (June 18, 2012) -- A future weapon in the battle against obesity and diabetes could come in the form of an oil derived from the seeds of wild almond trees, according to researchers. ... > full story
Antitoxin strategy may help target other pathogens (June 18, 2012) -- “Beads on a string” approach may reduce cost and development time for agents that neutralize and clear pathogenic molecules. ... > full story
Ancient warming greened Antarctica, study finds (June 17, 2012) -- A new study finds ancient Antarctica was much warmer and wetter than previously suspected. The climate was suitable to support substantial vegetation -- including stunted trees -- along the edges of the frozen continent. ... > full story
Sustainability index that looks beyond GDP launched (June 17, 2012) -- The world's fixation on economic growth ignores a rapid and largely irreversible depletion of natural resources that will seriously harm future generations, according to a report which unveils a new indicator aimed at encouraging sustainability -- the Inclusive Wealth Index (IWI). The IWI looks beyond the traditional economic and development yardsticks of GDP and HDI to include a full range of assets such as manufactured, human and natural capital. ... > full story
Expansion of forests in the European Arctic could result in the release of carbon dioxide (June 17, 2012) -- Carbon stored in Arctic tundra could be released into the atmosphere by new trees growing in the warmer region, exacerbating climate change, scientists have revealed. ... > full story
Lariats: How RNA splicing decisions are made (June 17, 2012) -- Lariats are discarded byproducts of RNA splicing, the process by which genetic instructions for making proteins are assembled. A new study has found hundreds more lariats than ever before, yielding new information about how splicing occurs and how it can lead to disease. ... > full story
No Earth impact in 2040: NASA releases workshop data and findings on asteroid 2011 AG5 (June 15, 2012) -- Researchers anticipate that asteroid 2011 AG5, discovered in January 2011, will fly safely past and not impact Earth in 2040. Observations to date indicate there is a slight chance that AG5 could impact Earth in 2040. Experts are now confident that in the next four years, analysis of space and ground-based observations will show the likelihood of 2011 AG5 missing Earth to be greater than 99 percent. ... > full story
Scientists tie DNA repair to key cell signaling network (June 15, 2012) -- Researchers have found a surprising connection between a key DNA-repair process and a cellular signaling network linked to aging, heart disease, cancer and other chronic conditions. ... > full story
Bugs have key role in farming approach to storing CO2 emissions (June 15, 2012) -- Tiny microbes are at the heart of a novel agricultural technique to manage harmful greenhouse gas emissions. ... > full story
Nanotechnology used to harness power of fireflies (June 15, 2012) -- Scientists have found a new way to harness the natural light produced by fireflies using nanoscience. Their breakthrough produces a system that is 20 to 30 times more efficient than those produced during previous experiments. ... > full story
The boys are bad: Older male ants single out younger rivals for death squad (June 15, 2012) -- Male Cardiocondyla obscurior ants are diphenic (either winged or wingless). New research demonstrates that the dominant wingless (ergatoid) male is able to identify potential rivals before they emerge from their pupae. Constant patrolling of the nest ensures that this male is able to bite or chemically tag rivals as soon as they emerge from their pupae. Chemically tagged ants are quickly destroyed by workers. ... > full story
Studying soil to predict the future of Earth's atmosphere (June 15, 2012) -- Soil plays an important role in controlling the planet's atmospheric future according to new research. Researchers found that the interaction between plants and soils controls how ecosystems respond to rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. ... > full story
BPA exposure effects may last for generations (June 15, 2012) -- Exposure to low doses of Bisphenol A (BPA) during gestation had immediate and long-lasting, trans-generational effects on the brain and social behaviors in mice, according to a recent study. ... > full story
New solar active region spitting out flares (June 14, 2012) -- An active region on the sun, numbered AR 1504, rotated into view over the left side of the sun on June 10, 2012. The region fired off two M-class flares and two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on June 13 and June 14, 2012. ... > full story
Study suggests expanded concept of 'urban watershed' (June 14, 2012) -- Within two decades, 60 percent of the world's population will live in cities, and coping with the resulting urban drinking water and sanitation issues will be one of the greatest challenges of this century. A new study presents a new conceptual framework that addresses characteristics of watersheds that are affected by urban land uses. ... > full story
Catching some rays: Organic solar cells make a leap forward (June 14, 2012) -- Organic solar cells are becoming more efficient thanks to a new set of discoveries that alter their behaviors at the electronic level. ... > full story
Breast milk kills HIV and blocks its oral transmission in humanized mouse (June 14, 2012) -- Although breastfeeding is attributed to a significant number of HIV infections in infants, most breastfed babies are not infected with HIV, despite prolonged and repeated exposure. HIV researchers have been left with a conundrum: does breast milk transmit the virus or protect against it? New research explores this paradox in a humanized mouse model, demonstrating that breast milk has a strong virus killing effect and protects against oral transmission of HIV. ... > full story
Amazon was not all manufactured landscape, scientist says (June 14, 2012) -- Population estimates for the Amazon basin just before Europeans arrived range from 2 to 10 million people. A new reconstruction of Amazonian prehistory suggests that large areas of western Amazonia were sparsely inhabited. This clashes with the belief that most of Amazonia, including forests far removed from major rivers, was heavily occupied and modified. ... > full story
Uranium-series dating reveals Iberian paintings are Europe's oldest cave art (June 14, 2012) -- Paleolithic paintings in El Castillo cave in Northern Spain date back at least 40,800 years -- making them Europe's oldest known cave art, according to new research. Scientists found that the practice of cave art in Europe began up to 10,000 years earlier than previously thought, indicating the paintings were created either by the first anatomically modern humans in Europe or, perhaps, by Neanderthals. ... > full story
Grasshoppers frightened by spiders affect whole ecosystem (June 14, 2012) -- Grasshoppers ‘stressed’ by spiders affect the productivity of our soil. A grasshopper who is in fear of an attacker, such as a spider, will enter a situation of stress and will consume a greater quantity of carbohydrate-rich plants -- similar to humans under stress who might eat more sweets. ... > full story
Atomic-resolution view of a receptor reveals how stomach bacterium avoids acid (June 14, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered how the bacterium Helicobacter pylori navigates through the acidic stomach, opening up new possibilities to inactivate its disease-causing ability without using current strategies that often fail or are discontinued because of side effects. ... > full story
Quirky fruit fly gene could point way to new cancer drugs (June 14, 2012) -- Researchers are taking advantage of a quirk in the evolution of fruit fly genes to help develop new weapons against cancer. ... > full story
| This message was sent to jmabs1@gmail.com from: ScienceDaily | 1 Research Court, Suite 450 | Rockville, MD 20850 | Email Marketing by  |
No comments:
Post a Comment