ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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NASA satellite improves pollution monitoring (July 27, 2010) -- NASA scientists use satellite precipitation data to improve water pollution monitoring models. ... > full story
Indonesia's puzzling Banda arc: New findings explain mystery behind geological development (July 27, 2010) -- The Banda arc -- a gigantic 1,000km long, 180-degree curve in eastern Indonesia -- has puzzled geologists for many years, with much debate and controversy surrounding its complex origin and evolution. A solution to this enigma, resolving many of the previous problems, has finally been found. ... > full story
Keeping trains on track: Early-warning hazard system for the world's railways (July 27, 2010) -- Researchers are collecting high-tech sensing data from satellites, airplanes, magnetic and soil sensors, and unmanned aircraft to devise a solution that will provide a reliable early-warning system for train operators. ... > full story
Converging weather patterns caused last winter's huge snows in U.S. (July 26, 2010) -- The memory of last winter's blizzards may be fading in this summer's searing heat, but scientists studying them have detected a perfect storm of converging weather patterns that had little relation to climate change. The extraordinarily cold, snowy weather that hit parts of the US East Coast and Europe was the result of a collision of two periodic weather patterns in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, a new study finds. ... > full story
Arctic voyage illuminating ocean optics (July 26, 2010) -- During NASA's ICESCAPE voyage to the Arctic, scientists have been looking at the phytoplankton in the Arctic's Chukchi Sea -- how many, how big and at what depths they are found. But there are other ways of looking at these small life forms. ... > full story
How monarch butterflies fly away home (July 26, 2010) -- Some North American monarchs born in the Midwest and Great Lakes fly directly west over the Appalachians and settle along the eastern seaboard. This finding is the first proof of longitudinal migration and solves the long-standing mystery of why monarchs always show up later on the east coast compared to the interior. The study also suggests conservation efforts must target the Great Lakes region. ... > full story
Archaeologists discover biggest rat that ever lived: Weight of about 6 kilograms (over 13 lb) (July 26, 2010) -- Archaeological research in East Timor has unearthed the bones of the biggest rat that ever lived, with a body weight around six kilograms. Today's biggest rats weigh around two kilograms and live in rainforests in the Philippines and New Guinea. ... > full story
Missing link in cell mitosis discovered: The role of protein in controlling cell division unveiled (July 26, 2010) -- A major discovery promises to revolutionize the way scientists think about key aspects of cellular lifecycle and offers a new avenue for cancer researchers to explore in their quest to one day slow down the progression of cancer. ... > full story
Meals as medicine: Anti-obesity effects of soy in rat model of menopause (July 26, 2010) -- A diet rich in soy prevents weight gain in post-menopausal female rats, according to new research. ... > full story
An alchemist’s dream: Lead-free electronics (July 26, 2010) -- It’s been said that the typical mobile phone contains roughly half of all elements found on the Periodic Table. One of the most problematic substances used in phones and other electronics is lead. But making lead-free electronics has proved problematic – until now. Researchers have now developed a method that enables the industrial production of a substance that can be used to replace lead in many electronic applications. ... > full story
Non-human sugar in biotech drugs causes inflammation, study finds (July 26, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that a kind of sugar molecule common to chimpanzees, gorillas and other mammals but not found in humans provokes a strong immune response in some people, likely worsening conditions in which chronic inflammation is a major issue. ... > full story
Storm elves and sprites recorded on video (July 26, 2010) -- A team of Spanish researchers has made a high-speed recording of elves and sprites in storms, fleeting and luminous electric phenomena produced in the upper layers of the atmosphere. ... > full story
New antibacterial material for bandages, food packaging, shoes (July 26, 2010) -- A new form of paper with the built-in ability to fight disease-causing bacteria could have applications that range from antibacterial bandages to food packaging that keeps food fresher longer to shoes that ward off foot odor. The new material consists of the thinnest possible sheets of carbon. ... > full story
The healing effects of forests (July 26, 2010) -- Forests -- and other natural, green settings -- can reduce stress, improve moods, reduce anger and aggressiveness and increase overall happiness. Forest visits may also strengthen our immune system by increasing the activity and number of natural killer cells that destroy cancer cells. ... > full story
Unaccounted feedbacks from climate-induced ecosystem changes may increase future climate warming (July 26, 2010) -- In addition to the carbon cycle-climate interactions that have been a major focus of modeling work in recent years, other biogeochemistry feedbacks could be at least equally important for future climate change. Experts argue that it is important to include these feedbacks in the next generation of Earth system models. ... > full story
How key enzyme repairs sun-damaged DNA (July 26, 2010) -- Researchers have long known that humans lack a key enzyme -- one possessed by most of the animal kingdom and even plants -- that reverses severe sun damage. For the first time, researchers have witnessed how this enzyme works at the atomic level to repair sun-damaged DNA. The discovery holds promise for future sunburn remedies and skin cancer prevention. ... > full story
Giant pandas: Landscape has big effect on movement of genes within population (July 26, 2010) -- Genetic analysis of giant pandas has shown that features of their landscape have a profound effect on the movement of genes within their population. Researchers found that physical barriers, such as areas lacking bamboo plants and other forest foliage, can separate giant pandas into isolated genetic groups. ... > full story
Hijacked supplies for pathogens: Legionnaire’s disease bacteria tap into the material transport in immune cells (July 26, 2010) -- When it infects the lungs, the Legionnaire’s bacterium Legionella pneumophila causes acute pneumonia. The pathogen’s modus operandi is particularly ingenious: it infiltrates deliberately into cells of the human immune system and injects a host of proteins which then interfere in the normal cellular processes. Scientists have now discovered how Legionella reprogrammes the cells to ensure its own survival and to propagate. They examined a protein used by the pathogen to divert the material transport within the cells for its own purposes. ... > full story
Concealed patterns beneath life's variety: Synthesis of studies of how biodiversity changes reveals trends over space and time (July 26, 2010) -- Although it is well known that there are more species in the tropics than in higher latitudes, it is hard to study how the species in a sampling change in time and across large distances. A synthesis based on multiple studies reveals some surprising trends that suggest ways to more effectively explore how ecosystems develop. ... > full story
Amount of dust, pollen matters for cloud precipitation, climate change (July 26, 2010) -- Atmospheric scientists have discovered that an abundance of aerosol particles are needed to help form ice crystals in clouds, which can influence precipitation and climate change. ... > full story
How cells keep their guards in check (July 26, 2010) -- When cells are attacked by bacteria they use all means at their disposal to defend themselves. But cellular defense systems can damage the cells themselves and so need to be kept tightly in check. Recent results help us to understand how this is done and give pointers to new ways of combating disease. ... > full story
Straw residue helps keep nitrogen on the farm (July 26, 2010) -- A research study evaluated the potential for straw residue to retain legume-derived nitrogen in a corn cropping system. ... > full story
Researchers calculate the cost of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, call for carbon tax (July 25, 2010) -- Researchers are calling on policymakers to encourage the transition from coal-based electricity production to a system based on natural gas through a carbon tax. ... > full story
Sea lamprey research sheds light on how stress hormones evolved (July 25, 2010) -- Researchers are have identified a stress hormone in the sea lamprey, using the 500 million-year-old species as a model to understand the evolution of the endocrine system. ... > full story
Graphene oxide gets green: Environmentally friendly ways to make it in bulk, break it down (July 25, 2010) -- Scientists have found a way to synthesize graphene oxide in bulk in an environmentally friendly way, eliminating toxic and explosive chemicals from the process. They have also found a class of common bacteria breaks down graphene oxide into environmentally benign graphene. ... > full story
Disease genes that followed the Silk Road identified (July 25, 2010) -- Researchers have found susceptibility to Behcet's disease, a painful, inflammatory condition, to be associated with genes involved in the body's immune response. ... > full story
Nanoparticles in English ivy may hold the key to making sunscreen safer and more effective (July 25, 2010) -- Researchers have found that nanoparticles in ivy may protect skin from UV radiation at least four times better than the metal-based sunblocks found on store shelves today. ... > full story
'Super socks' help stem pollution runoff (July 25, 2010) -- Agricultural scientists have improved on an existing method for removing contaminants from storm water runoff. These findings could provide surface waters additional protection against runoff containing pollutants from point sources such as construction sites, storm waters and other urban landscapes. ... > full story
Microbicide containing engineered bacteria may inhibit HIV-1 (July 24, 2010) -- Researchers from the U.S. and abroad used bacteria inherent to the human vaginal tract to develop a live, topical microbicide that may induce production of HIV-1 protein inhibitors and ultimately prevent transmission of the virus. ... > full story
Virtual reality gives insight on protein structures (July 24, 2010) -- To understand a protein, it helps to get inside of it, and a professor has now figured out a way to do so. A new computer software program and projection system lets a person look at larger-than-life, 3-D structures of proteins in virtual reality. This allows scientists to walk inside, through or around the protein of interest for investigating its structure and function. ... > full story
Chokeberry extract found to regulate weight gain, blood glucose, and inflammation in rats (July 24, 2010) -- A new study finds that chokeberry extract inhibits weight gain in insulin-resistant animals and modulates multiple genes associated with adipose tissue growth, blood glucose regulation, and inflammatory pathways. ... > full story
Asia's most devastating droughts reconstructed (July 24, 2010) -- Asia's monsoon rains feed nearly half the world's population. A new study of tree rings provides a detailed record of at least four epic failures of the monsoon that have shaken Asia over the last thousand years. The study is expected not only to help historians understand how environment has affected the past, but to aid scientists trying to understand the potential for large-scale disruptions in the face of changing climate. ... > full story
Cold-blooded mothers: Magpie parents seem to induce mortality of 'unwanted' chicks (July 24, 2010) -- A new pattern of nestling mortality was found in magpies' nests. Sons died more in the nests with more daughters and daughters died more in the nests with more sons. Researchers think that this pattern, that reinforces the original bias in brood sex composition, implies parental strategies being set as a "package," where specific initial sex composition of a brood is correlated with a specific parental "attitude" towards sons and daughters. ... > full story
Diabetes monitoring device benefits not just people but dogs and other animals, too (July 24, 2010) -- A researcher is using a continuous glucose monitoring device -- commonly used in humans with diabetes -- to help treat dogs and other animals. The device, which provides a detailed glucose picture of an animal over several days, will help pet owners manage their pets' diabetes. ... > full story
Hops helps reduce ammonia produced by cattle (July 24, 2010) -- An agricultural scientist may have found a way to cut the amount of ammonia produced by cattle, using a key ingredient of the brewer's art: hops. ... > full story
Cancer-metabolism link runs deep in humans, novel network algorithm suggests (July 23, 2010) -- Eighty years ago, the medical establishment believed cancer was caused by a dysfunction of metabolism, but the idea went out of vogue. Now, scientists are again looking at metabolism and its role in cancer and other common diseases. ... > full story
Supercomputer reproduces a cyclone's birth, may boost forecasting (July 23, 2010) -- Scientists have employed NASA's Pleiades supercomputer and atmospheric data to simulate tropical cyclone Nargis -- with the first model to replicate the formation of the tropical cyclone five days in advance. ... > full story
Medicine from moss: Bioreactor technique may offer hope to people with age-related blindness (July 23, 2010) -- Biologists in Germany have used a moss bioreactor to produce a human protein, the absence of which leads to age-related blindness in 50 million people. ... > full story
White eyes, foot-wide flowers, maroon plants: Researcher creating unique winter-hardy hibiscuses (July 23, 2010) -- With a little cross-breeding and some determination, plant physiologist and forage agronomist Dr. Dariusz Malinowski is trying to add more colors to the world of hibiscuses. Malinowski is working on breeding winter-hardy hibiscus in what started as a hobby about four years ago, but in the last year has been added to the strategic plan of the Vernon research program. ... > full story
How do cells die? Biophotonic tools reveal real-time dynamics in living color (July 23, 2010) -- Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is essential to normal development, healthy immune system function, and cancer prevention. The process dramatically transforms cellular structures but the limitations of conventional microscopy methods have kept much about this structural reorganization a mystery. ... > full story
High-resolution imaging expands vision research of live birds of prey (July 23, 2010) -- Bird observatories all over the world may benefit from a newly designed high-resolution imaging system used to study the retinal structure of live birds of prey. Researchers now reveal unprecedented 3-D information about the retina of four species of raptors -- two hawks and two owls -- using the noninvasive, powerful imaging tool. ... > full story
Identification of a gene essential to newborn babies' first breath (July 23, 2010) -- How do mammals prepare themselves in utero for a radical modification to their respiration at the time of birth, when they move abruptly from an aquatic medium to air? Researchers have identified a gene in the mouse that is essential to respiration and consequently to survival at birth. This work opens the way to better understanding respiratory disorders in humans, which can range from sleep apnea to sudden infant death syndrome. ... > full story
European Space Agency develops radar to watch for space hazards (July 23, 2010) -- As part of the European Space Agency's Space Situational Awareness activities, a new radar system will be developed to help safeguard space missions. The radar will detect hazardous objects in Earth orbit and trigger warnings that enable satellite operators to avoid collisions, making spaceflight safer for all. ... > full story
Scientists discover how deadly fungal microbes enter host cells (July 23, 2010) -- A research team has discovered a fundamental entry mechanism that allows dangerous fungal microbes to infect plants and cause disease. The discovery paves the way for the development of new intervention strategies to protect plant, and even some animal cells, from deadly fungal infections. ... > full story
Misuse of anesthesia could cause hepatitis virus transmission (July 23, 2010) -- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be transmitted during intravenous (IV) administration of anesthesia, according to a new study. ... > full story
Not enough hours in the day for endangered apes: Warming climate may change ape behaviour, resulting in loss of habitat (July 23, 2010) -- A study on the effect of global warming on African ape survival suggests that a warming climate may cause apes to run ‘out of time’. The research reveals that rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns have strong effects on ape behavior, distribution and survival, pushing them even further to the brink of extinction. ... > full story
Scientists confirm role for mysterious cell component -- the nucleolinus (July 23, 2010) -- Scientists have confirmed the role in cell division of a long-neglected cellular component, the nucleolinus. The nucleolinus is a structure observed in the nucleus of many cells, including invertebrate egg cells and some mammalian cells. While it was discovered more than 150 years ago, and other scientists have proposed that is involved in cell division, difficulties in visualizing the nucleolinus inside most cells have kept that hypothesis dormant. ... > full story
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
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