Current Event Articles
ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's.
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
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 storyDark 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 storyImmune 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 storyBattle 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 storyHigh 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 storyAgent 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 storyTechnique 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 storySame 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
Carbon sequestration: Boon or burden? (June 28, 2010) -- The idea to sequester carbon is gaining support as a way to avoid global warming. For example, the European Union plans to invest billions of Euros to develop carbon capture and storage whereby carbon dioxide will be extracted and stored underground. But how effective is this procedure and what are the long-term consequences of leakage for the climate? Research has now cast light on these issues. ... > full story
Improved telescope sees through atmosphere with pinpoint sharpness (June 28, 2010) -- A sharp view of the starry sky is difficult, because the atmosphere constantly distorts the image. A Dutch researcher has developed a new type of telescope mirror, which quickly corrects the image. His prototypes are required for future large telescopes, but also gives old telescopes a sharper view. ... > full story
Tropical biodiversity is about the neighbors (June 28, 2010) -- Rare plant species are much more negatively affected by the presence of their own species as neighbors than are common species. This may explain how biodiversity arises and is maintained. ... > full story
Scientific expertise lacking among 'doubters' of climate change, says new analysis (June 27, 2010) -- An analysis of the scientific prominence and expertise of climate researchers shows that the few who are unconvinced of human-caused climate change rank far below researchers who are convinced. Most news media accounts fail to include that context when reporting claims from the doubters. ... > full storyAgriculture's next revolution -- perennial grain -- within sight (June 27, 2010) -- Earth-friendly perennial grain crops, which grow with less fertilizer, herbicide, fuel, and erosion than grains planted annually, could be available in two decades, according to researchers. Perennial grains would be one of the largest innovations in the 10,000 year history of agriculture, and could arrive even sooner with the right breeding programs. ... > full story
Global wind shifts may have ushered in warmer climate at end of last ice age (June 27, 2010) -- Scientists still puzzle over how Earth emerged from its last ice age, an event that ushered in a warmer climate and the birth of human civilization. Most scientists say that the trigger, at least initially, was an orbital shift that caused more sunlight to fall across Earth's northern half. But how did the south warm up so fast? ... > full storyMessenger RNAs are regulated in far more ways than previously appreciated (June 27, 2010) -- One way of regulating protein levels in cells is to shorten the lifespan of messenger RNAs (mRNAs), intermediary molecules that get translated into proteins. Researchers have now discovered that mRNAs can be targeted for destruction by several modes and molecules, highlighting a previously unanticipated complexity in the control and regulation of the cell's genetic messages. ... > full story
Mechanism that may trigger degenerative disease identified (June 26, 2010) -- A mechanism that regulates stem-cell differentiation in mice testes suggests a similar process that may trigger degenerative disease in humans, according to a reproductive physiologist. ... > full story
Climate change complicates plant diseases of the future (June 26, 2010) -- Human-driven changes in the earth's atmospheric composition are likely to alter plant diseases of the future. Researchers are studying the impact of elevated carbon dioxide, elevated ozone and higher atmospheric temperatures on plant diseases that could challenge crops in these changing conditions. ... > full story
Pleasing to the eye: Even brooding female birds are sensitive to visual stimulation (June 26, 2010) -- In a breeding experiment with Houbara bustards -- a North African bird species with a very distinctive courtship behavior -- scientists have concluded that visual stimulation from attractive males of the same species positively affects brooding females, improving offspring growth. ... > full story
Scientists create 3-D models of whole mouse organs (June 26, 2010) -- Engineers have for the first time created 3-D models of whole intact mouse organs, a feat they accomplished using fluorescence microscopy. ... > full storyAggressive action to reduce soot emissions needed to meet climate change goals, experts say (June 26, 2010) -- Without aggressive action to reduce soot emissions, the time table for carbon dioxide emission reductions may need to be significantly accelerated in order to achieve international climate policy goals such as those set forth in last December's Copenhagen Accord, according to a new study. ... > full story
Virus works with gene to cause Crohn's-like illness (June 25, 2010) -- Scientists have shown that a specific virus can interact with a mutation in the host's genes to trigger disease. The observation may help explain why many people with disease risk genes do not actually develop disease. ... > full story
Four-leaf clover gives up its secrets (June 25, 2010) -- Ending a period of "bad luck" for clover researchers, scientists report finding the gene that turns ordinary three-leaf clovers into the coveted four-leaf types. Masked by the three-leaf gene and strongly influenced by environmental condition, molecular markers now make it possible to detect the presence of the gene for four-leaves and for breeders to work with it. ... > full story
Ecological change in the abyss: The Amperima event (June 25, 2010) -- Even in the dark abyss of the deep ocean animal communities can undergo rapid, widespread and radical changes. Scientists are monitoring these changes and understanding the mechanisms responsible. ... > full storySmall amount of common preservative increases toxins from harmful bacteria in food, study finds (June 25, 2010) -- In response to consumer demand for more natural food, the food industry has reduced the amount of preservatives in food over recent years. A common preservative is acetic acid, which is used to stop bacterial growth in dressings, sauces, cheese and pickles. However, new research shows that a small amount of acetic acid does not have the intended effect, but rather the opposite -- it increases the amount of toxin from the harmful bacteria in the food. ... > full story
NASA radar images show how Mexico quake deformed Earth (June 25, 2010) -- Minerals in northern Mars craters seen by two orbiters suggest that a phase in Mars' early history with conditions favorable to life occurred globally, not just in the south. ... > full story
Biomedical scientist concerned about effects of oil spill on human health (June 25, 2010) -- A biomedical researcher says that some of the same chemicals found in diesel fumes and cigarette smoke are also found in the tar balls produced as a result of the oil spill, and he is worried about the effect they will have on the health of clean-up workers and wildlife. ... > full storyFreshwater fish eyes: Great home for parasites (June 25, 2010) -- The limited immune response in the eyes of freshwater fishes has created a great home for parasites, according to new research. The study provides a lens into the evolutionary world of the larval flukes that parasitize Canadian fish. ... > full story
Sight restored to mice afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa (June 25, 2010) -- Swiss researchers have just restored sight to mice afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa. The results have been confirmed ex-vivo, on human tissue cultures. Thanks to a complementary clinical approach, the team has now determined the types of patient who could benefit from this therapy. ... > full story
Earth-like planets may be ready for their close-up (June 25, 2010) -- Many scientists speculate that our galaxy could be full of places like Pandora from the movie "Avatar" -- Earth-like worlds in solar systems besides our own. ... > full story
Adios El Niño, hello La Niña? (June 25, 2010) -- The latest image of Pacific Ocean sea surface heights from the NASA/European Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason-2 oceanography satellite, dated June 11, 2010, shows that the tropical Pacific has switched from warm (red) to cold (blue) during the last few months. ... > full story
Behavior breakthrough: Like animals, plants demonstrate complex ability to integrate information (June 25, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that a plant's strategy to capture nutrients in the soil is the result of integration of different types of information. They found plants also have the ability to integrate information about the location of both food and competitors. As a result, plants demonstrate unique behavioral strategies to capture soil resources. ... > full story
Higher wetland methane emissions caused by climate warming 40,000 years ago (June 25, 2010) -- 40,000 years ago rapid warming led to an increase in methane concentration. The culprit for this increase has now been identified. Mainly wetlands in high northern latitudes caused the methane increase. This result refutes an alternative theory dis-cussed amongst experts, the so-called "clathrate gun hypothesis." ... > full storyCopyright 1995-2010 © ScienceDaily LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of use.
