ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, July 23, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
Salmonella contaminated pork may pose health risk for humans (July 23, 2010) -- German researchers have isolated a strain of Salmonella in pork that is closely related to the bacteria commonly found in chickens and linked to human food-borne illness. ... > full story
Biologists help save endangered pallid sturgeon (July 23, 2010) -- Fisheries researchers found one piece of a scientific puzzle that just may help save an endangered species from extinction. ... > full story
Better control of reproduction in trout and salmon may be in aquaculture's future (July 23, 2010) -- Fast-growing farm-raised salmon and trout that are sterile can now be produced using a method developed by agricultural scientists. Blocking reproduction can enhance growth, and is important for fish being reared in situations where reproduction is undesirable. ... > full story
Warmer climate could increase release of carbon dioxide by inland lakes (July 23, 2010) -- Much organically bound carbon is deposited on inland lake bottoms. A portion remains in the sediment, sometimes for thousands of years, while the rest is largely broken down to carbon dioxide and methane, which are released into the atmosphere. Swedish researchers have shown that carbon retention by sediment is highly temperature-sensitive and that a warmer climate would result in increased carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. ... > full story
Bio-based compound provides substitute for important raw material in plastic products (July 23, 2010) -- Soft drink bottles and fleece blankets are set to become more environmentally friendly. A Dutch researcher has made a bio-based compound that can act as a substitute for one of the most important raw materials for plastic products. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the new material a place in the top 12 of the most promising biological materials for the chemical industry. ... > full story
Could diabetes be in your bones? Link between metabolic disease, bone mass; Breakdown of bone keeps blood sugar in check (July 22, 2010) -- Our bones have much greater influence on the rest of our bodies than they are often given credit for, according to two new studies. Both studies offer new insights into the interplay between bone and blood sugar, based on signals sent via insulin and a bone-derived hormone known as osteocalcin. ... > full story
Smog might trigger cell death in the heart, study finds (July 22, 2010) -- An early study in rats provides the first direct indication that a major component of smog might trigger cell death in the heart, researchers report. ... > full story
Key compound of ozone destruction detected; Scientists disprove doubts in ozone hole chemistry (July 22, 2010) -- For the first time, scientists in Germany have successfully measured in the ozone layer the chlorine compound ClOOCl, which plays an important role in stratospheric ozone depletion. Doubts in the established models of polar ozone chemistry expressed by American researchers based on laboratory measurements are disproved by these new atmospheric observations. ... > full story
Cutting fat and calories can lower cancer risk in dogs and people (July 22, 2010) -- As many as 1 out of 3 cancer deaths in both humans and dogs could be prevented by reducing Omega-6 fatty acids and cutting calories, according to new research. ... > full story
Extreme archaeology: Divers plumb the mysteries of sacred Maya pools (July 22, 2010) -- Steering clear of crocodiles and navigating around massive submerged trees, a team of divers began mapping some of the 25 freshwater pools of Cara Blanca, Belize, which were important to the ancient Maya. In three weeks this May, the divers found fossilized animal remains, bits of pottery and -- in the largest pool explored -- an enormous underwater cave. The dives will continue later this summer. ... > full story
Climate uncertainties tied to economies of US states: California, Pacific Northwest and Colorado achieve positive net impacts; other states languish (July 22, 2010) -- A climate-change study that models the near-term effects of declining rainfall in each of the 48 US continental states makes clear the economic toll that could occur unless an appropriate amount of initial investment -- a kind of upfront insurance payment -- is made to forestall much larger economic problems down the road. ... > full story
Caterpillars crawl like none other: Unique means of animal locomotion has implications for robotics, human biomechanics (July 22, 2010) -- Biologists studying caterpillars have reported a unique "two-body" system of locomotion that has not previously been reported in any animal. The gut of the crawling caterpillar moves forward independently and in advance of the surrounding body wall and legs, not with them. This novel system may contribute to the caterpillars' extraordinary freedom of movement and provide insight for the design of soft-bodied robots. ... > full story
Wacky weather could squeeze Florida's citrus season (July 22, 2010) -- Citrus growers, beware. Florida winters are getting more extreme, causing plants to flower later and potentially shrinking the growing seasons for some of the state's most vital crops. ... > full story
Oil devastation found at major Gulf breeding site (July 22, 2010) -- Scientists working in the Gulf have documented what may be the worst oil spill devastation of a major bird colony so far. ... > full story
Gulf oil dispersants unlikely to be endocrine disruptors and have relatively low cell toxicity, tests find (July 22, 2010) -- Government scientists are reporting that eight of the most commonly used oil dispersants used to fight oil spills, such as the massive episode in the Gulf of Mexico, appear unlikely to act as endocrine disruptors -- hormone-like substances that can interfere with reproduction, development, and other biological processes. The tested dispersants also had a relatively low potential for cytotoxicity (cell death), with JD-2000 and SAF-RON GOLD showing the least potential. ... > full story
Genetic mismatch keeps yeast species distinct (July 22, 2010) -- How species form and what keeps them distinct from each other, even though they can interbreed, is a key question in evolution. Researchers have recently identified genes in three closely related yeast species that cause sterility, increasing our understanding of how species can remain distinct. ... > full story
Evidence of water in lunar rocks: Water on moon may be widespread, similar to Earth's (July 22, 2010) -- That dry, dusty moon overhead? Seems it isn't quite as dry as it's long been thought to be. Although you won't find oceans, lakes, or even a shallow puddle on its surface, a team of geologists has found structurally bound hydroxyl groups (i.e., water) in a mineral in a lunar rock returned to Earth by the Apollo program. ... > full story
Quitting smoking may minimize harmful bacteria and replenish healthy bacteria (July 22, 2010) -- Patients with chronic gum disease who quit smoking in addition to undergoing nonsurgical therapy not only demonstrated a lower abundance of harmful oral pathogens, but also an increase in health-associated bacteria. ... > full story
Nanotech coatings produce 20 times more electricity from sewage (July 22, 2010) -- Engineers have made a significant advance toward producing electricity from sewage, by the use of new coatings on the anodes of microbial electrochemical cells that increased the electricity production about 20 times. The findings bring the researchers one step closer to technology that could clean biowaste at the same time it produces useful levels of electricity -- a promising new innovation in wastewater treatment and renewable energy. ... > full story
Stem cells for eating and sex pinpointed (July 22, 2010) -- New research has identified the stem cells that generate three critical classes of nerve cells -- olfactory receptors, vomeronasal and gonadotropin releasing hormone neurons -- that are responsible for enabling animals and humans, to eat, interact socially and reproduce. ... > full story
Quantum entanglement in photosynthesis and evolution (July 22, 2010) -- Recently, academic debate has been swirling around the existence of unusual quantum mechanical effects in the most ubiquitous of phenomena, including photosynthesis, the process by which organisms convert light into chemical energy. In a new paper, these ideas are put to the test. ... > full story
Temperature constancy appears key to tropical biodiversity (July 22, 2010) -- The tropics owe their stunning biodiversity to consistent year-round temperatures, not higher temperatures or more sunlight, according to a novel survey of insect diversity at different latitudes and at different points in the planet's history. The finding may finally answer a question that has dogged scientists for centuries. ... > full story
Climate change causes larger, more plentiful marmots, study shows; Implications for many creatures that hibernate (July 22, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that changes in seasonal timing can increase body weight and population size simultaneously in a species -- findings likely to have implications for a host of other creatures, especially those that hibernate. ... > full story
Marriage patterns drive fertility decline (July 22, 2010) -- Researchers have applied an evolutionary "use it or lose it" principle when studying past marriage patterns, to show that marriage can influence the evolution of age-patterns of fertility. ... > full story
What causes hybrid vigor? Researchers find genetic 'noise' caused by surprising variation in gene activity (July 22, 2010) -- Plant scientists have provided a new solution to an old debate on why species hybrids can be more vigorous than their parents. The researchers found a type of genetic "noise" caused by a surprising degree of variation in gene activity even for highly similar traits in closely related species. They found that when species hybridize, some of the variation in gene activity may be canceled out, leading to greater vigor. ... > full story
Military greenhouse gas emissions: EPA should recognize environmental impact of protecting foreign oil, researchers urge (July 22, 2010) -- US military operations to protect oil imports coming from the Middle East are creating larger amounts of greenhouse gas emissions than once thought, new research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows. ... > full story
Study describes health effects of occupational exposures in Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant workers (July 22, 2010) -- A five-year study into the causes of deaths of workers at Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant shows significantly lower death rates from all causes and cancer in general when compared to the overall United States population. This is known by occupational health researchers as the "healthy worker effect." However, death from lymphatic and bone marrow cancers such as leukemia or multiple myeloma were slightly above national rates. ... > full story
Need for protection against ticks that carry Lyme disease confirmed by new research (July 21, 2010) -- Research on the population of black-legged ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease from host animals to humans, reinforces that it is important to take preventative measures when spending time outdoors. ... > full story
Stormwater model to inform regulators on future development projects (July 21, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a computer model that will accurately predict stormwater pollution impacts from proposed real-estate developments -- allowing regulators to make informed decisions about which development projects can be approved without endangering water quality. The model could serve as a blueprint for similar efforts across the United States. ... > full story
Finding frugal aliens: 'Benford beacons' concept could refocus search for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life (July 21, 2010) -- By looking at the point-of-view of ET civilizations sending beacons, an astrophysicist and microwave-expert brother advocate new approach for SETI to find signals of intelligent alien life. ... > full story
Engineered stem cells may limit heart attack damage, improve function (July 21, 2010) -- Implanting tiny plastic scaffolds seeded with genetically engineered stem cells reduced organ damage and led to better cardiac function after a heart attack, according to new research. ... > full story
CSI at the service of cellulose synthesis: Plant researchers identify protein involved in formation of cellulose (July 21, 2010) -- Grains, vegetables and fruit taste delicious and are important sources of energy. However, humans cannot digest the main component of plants - the cellulose in the cell wall. Even in ruminants, animals that can metabolize cellulose, the digestibility of the cell wall plays a crucial role in feed utilization. Scientists are therefore looking for ways of increasing the digestibility of animal feed, and of utilizing plant cell walls to generate energy. To do this they must first understand how plant cells develop their cell walls from cellulose and identify the genes and proteins involved. Scientists have now discovered a hitherto unknown protein required for cellulose production. ... > full story
International law failing to protect coral reefs and tropical fish, experts argue (July 21, 2010) -- International law has failed to protect coral reefs and tropical fish from being decimated by a growing collectors market, but US reforms can lead the way towards making the trade more responsible, ecologically sustainable and humane, according to a group of 18 experts. ... > full story
Primitive frogs do a belly flop: Study shows that frogs evolved jumping before they refined landing (July 21, 2010) -- Sometimes divers, to their own painful dismay, do belly flops. But did you ever see a frog belly flop? That's just what primitive living frogs do, according to a new study looking at the evolution of frog jumping and landing. They found that frogs became proficient at jumping before they perfected landing. This evolutionary split, characterized by an inability to rapidly rotate the limbs forward during flight in order to land front legs first, might also explain why primitive frogs' back legs are out-of-phase with one another when they swim. ... > full story
Do cleaning products cause breast cancer? (July 21, 2010) -- Women who report greater use of cleaning products may be at higher breast cancer risk than those who say they use them sparingly. Researchers asked more than 1500 women about their cleaning product usage and found that women who reported using more air fresheners and products for mold and mildew control had a higher incidence of breast cancer. ... > full story
New methodology improves winter climate forecasting (July 21, 2010) -- It's hot out right now, but new research will help us know what to expect when the weather turns cold. Researchers have developed a new methodology that improves the accuracy of winter precipitation and temperature forecasts. The tool should be valuable for government and utility officials, since it provides key information for use in predicting energy consumption and water availability. ... > full story
Poplar tree protein can be used to shrink memory elements and increase computer memory density (July 21, 2010) -- Scientists in Israel have succeeded in showing how it is possible to greatly expand the memory capacity of future computers through the use of memory units based on silica nanoparticles combined with protein molecules obtained from the poplar tree. ... > full story
Where the wild veggies are: Cultivated cucumber and melon originated in Asia and Australia (July 21, 2010) -- Cucumbers and melons are familiar items on our market stands. Botanists have now shown that both plants originated in Asia. The cucumber traces its ancestry to the slopes of the Himalayas, but, surprisingly, the closest living wild relative of the melon is found in Australia. ... > full story
Flower organ's cells make random decisions that determine size (July 21, 2010) -- The sepals of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana -- commonly known as the mouse-eared cress -- are characterized by an outer layer of cells that vary widely in their sizes, and are distributed in equally varied patterns and proportions. Scientists have long wondered how the plant regulates cell division to create these patterns. Melding time-lapse imaging and computer modeling, a team of scientists has provided a somewhat unexpected answer to this question. ... > full story
Drilling down to the nanometer depths of leaves for biofuels (July 21, 2010) -- By imaging the cell walls of a zinnia leaf down to the nanometer scale, energy researchers have a better idea about how to turn plants into biofuels. A team has used four different imaging techniques to systematically drill down deep into the cells of Zinnia elegans. ... > full story
New way to target viruses could make antiviral drugs more effective (July 21, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new way to target viruses which could increase the effectiveness of antiviral drugs. Instead of attacking the virus itself, the method developed at the University of Edinburgh alters the conditions which viruses need to survive and multiply. ... > full story
Expedition to Mid-Cayman Rise identifies unusual variety of deep sea vents (July 21, 2010) -- The first expedition to search for deep-sea hydrothermal vents along the Mid-Cayman Rise has turned up three distinct types of hydrothermal venting, report marine biologists. The work was conducted to search extreme environments for geologic, biologic, and chemical clues to the origins and evolution of life. ... > full story
First-of-its-kind map details the height of the globe's forests (July 21, 2010) -- Using satellite data, scientists have produced a first-of-its kind map that details the height of the world's forests. Although there are other local- and regional-scale forest canopy maps, the new map is the first that spans the entire globe based on one uniform method. ... > full story
Computer program predicts MRSA bacteria's next move (July 21, 2010) -- Researchers are using computers to identify how one strain of dangerous bacteria might mutate in the same way a champion chess player tries to anticipate an opponent's strategies. The predictive software could result in better drug design to beat antibiotic-resistant mutations. ... > full story
Rapid losses of Africa's native livestock threaten continent's food supply, experts warn (July 21, 2010) -- Urgent action is needed to stop the rapid and alarming loss of genetic diversity of African livestock that provide food and income to 70 percent of rural Africans and include a treasure-trove of drought- and disease-resistant animals, according to a new analysis presented at a major gathering of African scientists and development experts. ... > full story
Rapid growth in adolescence leads to fewer offspring, biologists find (July 21, 2010) -- Biologists working on guppies report that rapid growth responses to increased food availability after a period of growth restriction early in life have repercussions in adulthood. Based on their experiments, the biologists found that female guppies that grew rapidly as juveniles produced fewer offspring than usual. The research sheds light on how organisms, including humans, respond to changes in their environment, such as food availability. ... > full story
Probiotics use in mothers limits eczema in their babies, study finds (July 21, 2010) -- Women who drank milk with a probiotic supplement during and after their pregnancy cut the incidence of eczema in their children by almost half compared to mothers who drank a placebo, researchers have shown. ... > full story
NOAA ship Fairweather maps aid shipping through Bering Straits (July 21, 2010) -- As Arctic ice recedes, countries are looking forward to faster, safer and more efficient sea routes across the top of the world. Responding to a request from the US Navy, US Coast Guard, Alaska Maritime Pilots and the commercial shipping industry, NOAA sent one of its premier surveying vessels, NOAA Ship Fairweather, to detect navigational dangers in critical Arctic waters that have not been charted for more than 50 years. ... > full story
| This message was sent from ScienceDaily to cellphone.plan.newsarticles@blogger.com. It was sent from: ScienceDaily, 1 Research Court, Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20850. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below. | Email Marketing by
 | |
To update/change your profile click here 
