ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Wednesday, June 30, 2010
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Depressed mice could aid research on drug-resistant depression in humans (June 30, 2010) -- New research shows that a unique strain of laboratory mice has behavioral, hormonal, and neurochemical characteristics that are similar to those of human patients with drug-resistant forms of depression. The mice -- which have a defect in a gene -- are expected to be useful as a new model organism in the effort to develop more effective medications for specific forms of depression. ... > full story
Viral protein structure study offers HIV therapy hope (June 30, 2010) -- A new research project is helping further the understanding of HIV viral protein structure which could lead to new molecular medicines. ... > full story
When two parts of the Earth's crust break apart, this does not always cause massive volcanic eruptions (June 30, 2010) -- New research reveals that when two parts of the Earth's crust break apart, this does not always cause massive volcanic eruptions. The study explains why some parts of the world saw massive volcanic eruptions millions of years ago and others did not. ... > full story
Smarter lunchrooms lead kids to eat more salad (June 30, 2010) -- In a year-long study in an upstate New York middle school, researchers examined the effect of moving the salad bar to a more prominent location in the cafeteria. Results show that sales of certain salad bar items increased by 250-300 percent. ... > full story
Arctic climate may be more sensitive to warming than thought, says new study (June 30, 2010) -- A new study shows the Arctic climate system may be more sensitive to greenhouse warming than previously thought, and that current levels of Earth's atmospheric carbon dioxide may be high enough to bring about significant, irreversible shifts in Arctic ecosystems. ... > full story
Engineered antibodies directed against a promising therapeutic target on ovarian cancer cells (June 30, 2010) -- Stealthy and stubborn, ovarian cancer is a particularly vexing malignancy, difficult to diagnose in early stages and difficult to treat once it progresses further. However, research is now focusing on one of the most promising new approaches to dealing with the disease -- using engineered antibodies to target tumor cells while leaving healthy cells intact. ... > full story
Whiter clouds could mean wetter land (June 29, 2010) -- One proposed emergency fix for global warming is to seed clouds over the ocean to make them more reflective, reducing the solar radiation absorbed by the Earth. But the scheme could also change global rainfall patterns, raising concerns of water shortages on land. A new study suggests that the scheme could actually increase monsoonal rains and cause continents to become wetter, not drier, on average. ... > full story
Is this the perfect prawn? (June 29, 2010) -- After 10 years of careful breeding and research, scientists have developed what could be the world's most perfect prawn. ... > full story
Science uncovers the hidden secrets of world-famous paintings (June 29, 2010) -- The hidden secrets of some of the world's most famous paintings have been revealed, thanks to a partnership between the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the National Gallery. ... > full story
Conscious choice of food can substantially mitigate climate change, research finds (June 29, 2010) -- Reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products and improving agricultural practices could decrease global greenhouse gas emissions substantially. By 2055 the emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from agriculture could be cut by more than eighty percent, researchers have found in a new modeling study. ... > full story
Delta bulrush plant could help ease oil spill crisis, botanist says (June 29, 2010) -- A botanist who first profiled and named the delta bulrush says the plant has natural properties that could help reduce the impact of the Gulf oil spill on the Mississippi delta. ... > full story
Embryonic cell and adult pig islet transplants cure diabetes in rats (June 29, 2010) -- In a step toward curing diabetes in humans, scientists have alleviated the disease in rats using transplants from both embryonic and adult pigs. ... > full story
Bees help to beat MRSA bugs (June 29, 2010) -- Bees could have a key role to play in urgently needed new treatments to fight the virulent MRSA bug, according new research from Scotland. ... > full story
Even the midnight sun won't convince bees to work nights (June 29, 2010) -- Bees observe a strict working day, even in conditions of 24-hour sunlight. Researchers tagged worker bumblebees with a radio identifier, similar to an Oyster Card, which was used to monitor their movements during the constant light of the Arctic summer. ... > full story
Biologically inspired technology produces sugar from photosynthetic bacteria (June 29, 2010) -- Researchers have engineered photosynthetic bacteria to produce simple sugars and lactic acid. This innovation could lead to new, environmentally friendly methods for producing commodity chemicals in bulk. It could also lead to reduced carbon dioxide emissions, greater availability of biodegradable plastics, and the capture of harmful CO2 emissions from power plants and industrial facilities. ... > full story
Introducing Robofish: Leading the crowd in studying group dynamics (June 29, 2010) -- Scientists have created the first convincing robotic fish that shoals will accept as one of their own. The innovation opens up new possibilities for studying fish behavior and group dynamics, which provides useful information to support freshwater and marine environmental management, to predict fish migration routes and assess the likely impact of human intervention on fish populations. ... > full story
Teeth of cadavers reveal their identity (June 29, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have shown that a person's dental patterns can be used as proof of their identity with the same degree of reliability as DNA testing, the method that forensic police use to reveal the identity of dead bodies. The researchers came to their conclusion after analyzing the dental patterns of more than 3,000 people. ... > full story
Manure provides higher returns than chemical fertilizers, economist says (June 29, 2010) -- No significant differences in corn yield were found between organic and chemical sources of nutrients, but a new study suggests that manure generates higher economic returns than anhydrous ammonia. ... > full story
Gene leads to longer shelf life for tomatoes, possibly other fruits (June 29, 2010) -- A researcher has found a sort of fountain of youth for tomatoes that extends their shelf life by about a week. Adding a yeast gene increases production of a compound that slows aging and delays microbial decay in tomatoes, and the results likely would transfer to most fruits. ... > full story
Outliving the Ice Age: Tale of a rhinoceros (June 29, 2010) -- Species extinction is a fundamental part of evolution: the best adapted species survive, while others die out. A new study shows why, after 800,000 years of successful survival, a species of rhinoceros suddenly disappeared. ... > full story
Western Mediterranean has warmed for more than a century, study finds (June 29, 2010) -- The longest sequences of temperature and salinity data analyzed (from 1900 to present) have confirmed the gradual warming of the waters of the western Mediterranean, according to new research. ... > full story
Science historian cracks the 'Plato code' (June 29, 2010) -- A science historian in the UK has cracked the "Plato Code" -- the long disputed secret messages hidden in the great philosopher's writings. The findings may revolutionize the history of the origins of Western thought. ... > full story
North America's first peoples more genetically diverse than thought, mitochondrial genome analysis reveals (June 29, 2010) -- The initial peopling of North America from Asia occurred approximately 15,000-18,000 years ago. However, estimations of the genetic diversity of the first settlers have remained inaccurate. In a new study, researchers have found that the diversity of the first Americans has been significantly underestimated, underscoring the importance of comprehensive sampling for accurate analysis of human migrations. ... > full story
Climate changes in the Atlantic can affect drought in distant regions (June 29, 2010) -- Cyclical changes in atmospheric pressure and sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic Ocean affect drought in the Sahel region on the southern Sahara rim. ... > full story
Competition matters: New study challenges long-held assumption about competition in disturbed ecosystems (June 29, 2010) -- Hurricanes, wildfires and influxes of pollutants create disturbances that can put ecological systems under extreme stress. Ecologists had believed that at times like these, competition between species becomes less important as all struggle to survive. But a new laboratory study of microscopic organisms subjected to varying degrees of acoustic disturbance now challenges that assumption -- and could lead ecologists to reconsider how organisms compete during challenging times. ... > full story
Cycad pest uses small size to hide from predators: Researchers look for small control organism (June 29, 2010) -- One way to keep from getting eaten is to run. But recent research shows that sometimes it's better to just hide. ... > full story
NOAA-supported scientists predict 'larger than average' Gulf dead zone (June 29, 2010) -- The northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, an underwater area with little or no oxygen known commonly as the "dead zone," could be larger than the recent average, according to a forecast by a team of NOAA-supported scientists. ... > full story
US approach to farming should change to meet new challenges, expanding needs, report says (June 29, 2010) -- U.S. farmers are under pressure to produce more, pollute less, fulfill consumer preferences, and make a living -- all with increasingly scarce natural resources and the uncertain effects of climate change, says a new report from the National Research Council. To help U.S. agriculture evolve to meet these demands, the report concludes, national agricultural policies and research programs should look beyond focusing only on low costs and high production and adopt a holistic perspective to farming that encompasses multiple end goals. ... > full story
Physics of the 'bends': New study helps explain decompression sickness (June 28, 2010) -- As you go about your day-to-day activities, tiny bubbles of nitrogen come and go inside your tissues. This is not a problem unless you happen to experience large changes in pressure, as scuba divers and astronauts may. During large, fast pressure drops, bubbles can grow, causing "the bends." A new study may provide a physical basis for the existence of these bubbles and help explain decompression sickness. ... > full story
Dark chocolate lowers blood pressure, research finds (June 28, 2010) -- For people with hypertension, eating dark chocolate can significantly reduce blood pressure. Researchers combined the results of 15 studies into the effects of flavanols, the compounds in chocolate which cause dilation of blood vessels, on blood pressure. ... > full story
'Velcro' effect in Guianese ants (June 28, 2010) -- In Guiana, symbiosis between Azteca ants and the Cecropia tree (or trumpet tree) is frequent. However, a surprising discovery has been made: one species of ant (Azteca andreae) uses the 'Velcro' principle to cling on firmly to the leaves of Cecropia and thus capture very large prey. ... > full story
Immune system important in fight against stomach cancer (June 28, 2010) -- Researchers have identified cells in the immune system that react to the stomach ulcer bacterium Helicobacter pylori, one of the risk factors for the development of stomach cancer. This discovery could lead to faster diagnosis and treatment as well as a better prognosis for patients with stomach cancer. ... > full story
Turning off the air conditioning helps save fuel, Swiss study finds (June 28, 2010) -- Automobile air conditioning systems do not run “free of charge”. In fact in the hot parts of the world they can account for up to thirty per cent of fuel consumption. Even in Switzerland, with its temperate climate, the use of air conditioning systems is responsible for about five per cent of total fuel usage, rising to around ten per cent in urban traffic, as shown by a new study. Furthermore, two thirds of the additional fuel usage could be saved if air conditioning systems were simply turned off when the air temperature falls below 18 degrees Celsius. ... > full story
Battle of the sexes exists in the plant world, too (June 28, 2010) -- Researchers have shown for the first time that in plants, fathers, as well as mothers, can influence the size of seeds. Their findings could open new avenues to increase crop yields and improve food security for an ever-growing global human population. ... > full story
Manipulating microbes in the gut may remedy disease and enhance health (June 28, 2010) -- We are what we eat, but who are "we?" New, high-powered genomic analytical techniques have established that as many as 1,000 different single-celled species coexist in relative harmony in every healthy human gut. ... > full story
Prepare for hotter and drier Southwestern US, climate experts urge (June 28, 2010) -- Prominent climate experts are calling for a "no-regrets" strategy for planning for a hotter and drier western North America. Their advice: use water conservatively and continue developing ways to harness energy from the sun, wind and Earth. ... > full story
High sugar content in packaged toddler and baby food products (June 28, 2010) -- More than half of foods specifically targeted to babies and toddlers in Canada have excessive sugar content, says a new study. ... > full story
Reseachers predict larger-than-average Gulf 'dead zone'; Impact of oil spill unclear (June 28, 2010) -- Researchers say this year's Gulf of Mexico "dead zone" is expected to be larger than average, continuing a decades-long trend that threatens the health of a 9 million fishery. The 2010 forecast, released by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), calls for a Gulf dead zone of between 6,500 and 7,800 square miles, an area roughly the size of Lake Ontario. ... > full story
Agent Orange exposure linked to Graves' disease in Vietnam veterans, study finds (June 28, 2010) -- Vietnam-War-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange appear to have significantly more Graves' disease, a thyroid disorder, than veterans with no exposure, a new study by endocrinologists has shown. ... > full story
BCG vaccination appears promising as a treatment for people with existing type 1 diabetes, Phase I trial results show (June 28, 2010) -- Researchers in Massachusetts have announced the completion of the Phase I BCG clinical trial in type 1 diabetes. Plans for the Phase II clinical study, which will continue the investigation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination as a treatment type 1 diabetes, are actively underway. ... > full story
Piglets open doors to study infant brain development (June 28, 2010) -- Events occurring during the development of an infant's brain can leave behind fingerprints. And researchers are interested in learning how these fingerprints can predict future behavioral problems such as cognitive deficits, anxiety disorders, depression and even autism. New research shows that the baby pig may provide some answers. ... > full story
Biodiversity's 'holy grail' is in the soil : Soil-borne pathogens drive tree diversity in forests, study shows (June 28, 2010) -- What determines plant diversity in a forest? It's a question even Charles Darwin wanted to unravel. But most research into forest diversity demonstrates only patterns of species survival and abundance rather than the reason for them -- until now. Scientists have now shown that soil-borne pathogens are one important mechanism that can maintain species diversity and explain patterns of tree abundance in a forest. ... > full story
Hop, jump and stick; Robots designed with insect instincts (June 28, 2010) -- A swarm of flying robots soars into a blazing forest fire. With insect-like precision and agility, the machines land on tree trunks and bound over rough terrain before deploying crucial sensors and tools to track the inferno and its effects. This is a scenario one researcher thinks may not be so far off. ... > full story
Why mercury is more dangerous in oceans (June 28, 2010) -- Even though freshwater concentrations of mercury are far greater than those found in seawater, it's the saltwater fish like tuna, mackerel and shark that end up posing a more serious health threat to humans who eat them. ... > full story
Technique enables precise control of protein activity in living cells (June 28, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a new technique called engineered allosteric regulation, which provides a new tool for scientists who study the interactions of proteins within living cells. ... > full story
Scientists grow new lungs using 'skeletons' of old ones (June 28, 2010) -- Tissue engineers' progress toward growing new lungs for transplantation or research has long been frustrated by the problem of coaxing stem cells to develop into the varied cell types that populate different locations in the lung. Now, researchers have found a possible solution by seeding mouse embryonic stem cells into "acellular" rat lungs -- organs whose original cells have been destroyed, leaving behind empty, lung-shaped scaffolds of structural proteins. ... > full story
Sea ice in the Arctic not recovering: Another critical minimum forecast (June 28, 2010) -- A critical minimum for Arctic sea ice can again be expected for late summer 2010, according to new projections by researchers in Germany. ... > full story
Same types of cell respond differently to stimulus, study shows (June 28, 2010) -- Using new technology that allows scientists to monitor how individual cells react in the complex system of cell signaling, researchers have uncovered a much larger spectrum of differences between each cell than ever seen before. ... > full story
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