ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Tuesday, July 6, 2010
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'Digital embryo' gains wings: Now possible to film development of fruit fly and of zebrafish's eyes and brain (July 6, 2010) -- Scientists in Europe have captured fruit fly development on film, creating the Fly Digital Embryo. In a newly published study, they were also the first to clearly record how a zebrafish's eyes and mid-brain are formed. ... > full story
Virgin olive oil and a Mediterranean diet fight heart disease by changing how our genes function (July 6, 2010) -- Everyone knows olive oil and a Mediterranean diet are associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular disease, but a new research report offers a surprising reason why: these foods change how genes associated with atherosclerosis function. ... > full story
3,200-year-old bronze tablet identified as battle chariot linchpin (July 6, 2010) -- A 3,200-year-old round bronze tablet with a carved face of a woman, found at the El-ahwat excavation site near Katzir in central Israel, is part of a linchpin that held the wheel of a battle chariot in place. ... > full story
Our brains are more like birds' than we thought (July 5, 2010) -- For more than a century, neuroscientists believed that the brains of humans and other mammals differed from the brains of other animals, such as birds (and so were presumably better). Researchers have now found that a comparable region in the brains of chickens concerned with analyzing auditory inputs is constructed similarly to that of mammals. ... > full story
Ultrafine particles in air pollution may heighten allergic inflammation in asthma (July 5, 2010) -- Even brief exposure to ultrafine pollution particles near a freeway is potent enough to boost the allergic inflammation that exacerbates asthma, according to new research. ... > full story
Worm bites off enough to chew: Ingenious evolutionary trick (July 5, 2010) -- Dramatic scenes are played out under Ralf Sommer’s microscope: his research object, the roundworm Pristionchus pacificus bites another worm, tears open a hole in its side and devours the oozing contents. The squirming victim does not stand a chance in this duel: Caenorhabditis elegans may be a close relative of Pristionchus; unfortunately, however, it does not have the same strong "teeth". Pristionchus’ impressive hunting technique though is not the focus of interest for the biologists. Their concern is the development of its mouthparts. ... > full story
Mountain mice show adaptation to altitude (July 5, 2010) -- Mice at altitude have adapted to use oxygen more efficiently during exercise than their low-altitude counterparts by showing a fuel preference for carbohydrates over fats, Canadian and Peruvian scientists reveal. It is very likely that a similar strategy has also evolved in other mammals, including high-altitude native humans. ... > full story
Oil spills raise arsenic levels in the ocean, says new research (July 5, 2010) -- Oil spills can increase levels of toxic arsenic in the ocean, creating an additional long-term threat to the marine ecosystem, according to new research. ... > full story
Nanomachines in the powerhouse of the cell: Architecture of the largest protein complex of cellular respiration elucidated (July 5, 2010) -- Scientists in Germany have elucidated the architecture of the largest protein complex of the cellular respiratory chain.They discovered an unknown mechanism of energy conversion in this molecular complex. The mechanism is required to utilize the energy contained in food. ... > full story
Air pollution doesn't increase risk of preeclampsia, early delivery, study finds (July 5, 2010) -- While pregnant women may worry about the effects of air pollution on their health and that of their developing child, exposure to carbon monoxide and fine particles in the air during pregnancy does not appear to increase the risk of preterm delivery or preeclampsia -- a serious condition that arises only during pregnancy -- according to results of a new study. ... > full story
Wallabies and bats harbor 'fossil' genes from the most deadly family of human viruses (July 4, 2010) -- Modern marsupials may be popular animals at the zoo and in children's books, but new findings reveal that they harbor a "fossil" copy of a gene that codes for filoviruses, which cause Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers and are the most lethal viruses known to humans. ... > full story
Nutrition's potential to save sight (July 4, 2010) -- Scientists are finding that healthy eating can reduce not only health care costs, but also the decline of quality of life due to these diseases. ... > full story
Genetic inspiration could show the way to revolutionize information technology (July 4, 2010) -- Chemists in the UK have created a synthetic form of DNA that could transform how digital information is processed and stored. ... > full story
Excess nitrogen favors plants that respond poorly to rising CO<sub>2</sub> (July 3, 2010) -- As atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rise, so does the pressure on the plant kingdom. The hope among policymakers, scientists and concerned citizens is that plants will absorb some of the extra CO2 and mitigate the impacts of climate change. For a few decades now, researchers have hypothesized about one major roadblock: nitrogen. ... > full story
Volcanic ash research shows how plumes end up in the jet stream (July 3, 2010) -- A volcanologist has shown how the jet stream -- the area in the atmosphere that pilots prefer to fly in -- also seems to be the area most likely to be impacted by plumes from volcanic ash. ... > full story
Scientists find direct line from development to growth (July 3, 2010) -- It may seem intuitive that growth and development somehow go together so that plants and animals end up with the right number of cells in all the right places. But it is only now that scientists have gotten some of the first insights into how this critical coordination actually works in a plant. ... > full story
Molecular prosthesis against gout (July 3, 2010) -- Researchers in Switzerland have devised a new method for preventing and permanently eradicating the cause of gout. It involves implanting a biological network that regulates the uric acid levels autonomously. ... > full story
Feathered friends: Ostriches provide clues to dinosaur movement (July 2, 2010) -- The flightless ostrich uses its wings as sophisticated air-rudders and braking aids when running at high speed and may provide valuable information about how its dinosaur ancestors used their feathered forelimbs to move more efficiently. A small leg muscle, if also present in dinosaurs may have reduced the energetic cost of carrying a heavy body. ... > full story
Discovery of a hepatitis C-related virus in bats may reduce outbreaks in humans (July 2, 2010) -- Viral hepatitis affects more than 500 million people worldwide and while vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B, this is not the case for hepatitis C, which affects as much as two percent of the population in the US. Now, scientists are reporting discovery of a virus related to hepatitis C in Asian bats, which may provide insights into the origins of the hepatitis C virus. ... > full story
Warmer is better: Invasive cane toads set to thrive under global warming (July 2, 2010) -- As global warming threatens many animal species with extinction, the cane toad is set to flourish with increasing temperature. This is a major cause for concern as the cane toad, once introduced to Australia as agricultural pest-control of the cane beetle, is an already highly invasive species and considered a pest in Australia. ... > full story
Tibetan adaptation to high altitude occurred in less than 3,000 years (July 2, 2010) -- Scientists have compared the genomes of 50 Tibetans living above 14,000 feet to 40 Han Chinese living at essentially sea level. They found that within the last 3,000 years, Tibetans evolved genetic mutations in a number of genes having to do with how the body deals with oxygen, making it possible for Tibetans to thrive at high altitudes while their Han relatives cannot. ... > full story
Three-legged dogs boost robot research (July 2, 2010) -- Scientists in Germany are examining how three-legged dogs move to help design and develop robots that can adapt in the event of an "injury." The new research looked at walking and running techniques in dogs with fore-limb or hind-limb amputations, using a treadmill and a set of high-tech infra-red cameras. ... > full story
Scrubbing CO<sub>2</sub> from atmosphere could be a long-term commitment (July 2, 2010) -- With carbon dioxide in the atmosphere approaching alarming levels, even halting emissions altogether may not be enough to avert catastrophic climate change. Could scrubbing carbon dioxide from the air be a viable solution? A new study suggests that while removing excess carbon dioxide would cool the planet, keeping carbon dioxide at low levels would require a long-term commitment spanning decades or even centuries. ... > full story
Killer whales and the mystery of human menopause (July 2, 2010) -- The evolutionary mystery of menopause is a step closer to being solved thanks to research on killer whales. A new study has found a link between killer whales, pilot whales and humans -- the only three known species where females stop breeding relatively early in their lifespan. ... > full story
Researchers identify what makes MRSA lethal (July 2, 2010) -- Scientists studying the so-called “superbug” MRSA have identified one of the components responsible for making it so deadly. Scientists have proven for the first time that a protein called FnBP is central to the bacteria's ability to invade the body's organs. ... > full story
New heat-tolerant beans released (July 2, 2010) -- New bean germplasm lines containing heat, drought and disease tolerance are being released by agricultural scientists. ... > full story
Extinction of woolly mammoth, saber-toothed cat may have been caused by human predators (July 1, 2010) -- A new analysis of the extinction of woolly mammoths and other large mammals more than 10,000 years ago suggests that they may have fallen victim to the same type of "trophic cascade" of ecosystem disruption that scientists say is being caused today by the global decline of predators such as wolves, cougars and sharks. ... > full story
Switching off your lights has a bigger impact than you might think, says new study (July 1, 2010) -- Switching off lights, turning the television off at the mains and using cooler washing cycles could have a much bigger impact on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power stations than previously thought, according to a new study. Researchers in the UK show that the figure used by government advisers to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide saved by reducing people's electricity consumption is up to 60 percent too low. ... > full story
Emissions of greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide underestimated, research suggests (July 1, 2010) -- The emission of the greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide has been structurally underestimated, as a result of the measuring methods used, according to new research from the Netherlands. ... > full story
Complex, multicellular life from over two billion years ago discovered (July 1, 2010) -- The discovery in Gabon of more than 250 fossils in an excellent state of conservation has provided proof, for the first time, of the existence of multicellular organisms 2.1 billion years ago. This finding represents a major breakthrough: until now, the first complex life forms (made up of several cells) dated from around 600 million years ago. These new fossils, of various shapes and sizes, imply that the origin of organized life is a lot older than is generally admitted, thus challenging current knowledge on the beginning of life. ... > full story
Exposure to secondhand smoke in the womb has lifelong impact, study finds (July 1, 2010) -- Newborns of nonsmoking moms exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy have genetic mutations that may affect long-term health, according to a new study. The abnormalities, which were indistinguishable from those found in newborns of mothers who were active smokers, may affect survival, birth weight and lifelong susceptibility to diseases like cancer. ... > full story
Apples grow larger when cells don't divide, study shows (July 1, 2010) -- Horticultural experts found that an anomaly in some Gala apple trees causes some apples to grow much larger than others because cells aren't splitting. The findings showed that the new variety, called Grand Gala, is about 38 percent heavier and has a diameter 15 percent larger than regular Galas. ... > full story
Better way to battle mosquitoes: Research could provide more effective treatment against West Nile Virus (July 1, 2010) -- A Canadian study has found that rather than cleaning and treating catch basins in the spring with S-methoprene to control mosquitoes, authorities should clean catch basins in the fall, allow organic debris to accumulate, and then treat catch basins with S-methoprene in the spring. This method dramatically reduces the number of mosquitoes that make it to the adult stage and may have implications for West Nile virus. ... > full story
Some males react to competition like bonobos, others like chimpanzees (July 1, 2010) -- The average man experiences hormone changes similar to the passive bonobo prior to competition, but a "status-striving" man undergoes changes that mirror those found in a chimpanzee, say researchers. ... > full story
New technique improves efficiency of biofuel production (July 1, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a more efficient technique for producing biofuels from woody plants that significantly reduces the waste that results from conventional biofuel production techniques. The technique is a significant step toward creating a commercially viable new source of biofuels. ... > full story
Ovarian transplantation restores fertility to old mice and also lengthens their lives (July 1, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that when they transplant ovaries from young mice into aging female mice, not only does the procedure make the mice fertile again, but also it rejuvenates their behavior and increases their lifespan. ... > full story
Human-made global warming started with ancient hunters (July 1, 2010) -- Even before the dawn of agriculture, people may have caused the planet to warm up, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Genetic Code 2.0: Novel artificial proteins for industry and science (July 1, 2010) -- The creation of synthetic proteins plays an important role for economy and science. By the integration of artificial amino acids in proteins (genetic code engineering), their already existing qualities can be systematically improved, allowing new biological features to arise. Now, scientists in Germany have succeeded in taking another important step in this research area: For the first time, they were able to integrate three different synthetic amino acids into one protein in a single experiment. ... > full story
Flowering and freezing tolerance linked in wheat, study shows (July 1, 2010) -- New research by wheat geneticists could lead to new strategies for improving freezing tolerance in wheat, which provides more than one-fifth of the calories consumed by people around the world. ... > full story
Warmer ecosystems could absorb less atmospheric carbon dioxide (July 1, 2010) -- A predicted rise in global temperature of 4 C by 2100 could lead to a 13 percent reduction in ecosystems' ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, new research suggests. ... > full story
'Balanced' ecosystems seen in organic agriculture better at controlling pests, research finds (July 1, 2010) -- There really is a balance of nature, but as accepted as that thought is, it has rarely been studied. Now, researchers have found that more balanced animal and plant communities typical of organic farms work better at fighting pests and growing a better plant. ... > full story
Stability and utility of floating wind turbines shown in new study (July 1, 2010) -- While offshore wind turbines have already have been constructed as a renewable energy solution, they've traditionally been situated in shallow waters, where the tower extends directly into the seabed. Now a group of researchers in California has studied the feasibility of placing wind turbines on floating platforms. ... > full story
Ethical issues ignored in teaching, research of sustainability, expert argues (July 1, 2010) -- Just about everyone agrees that sustainability is a good thing. But why do we think that? Do we support sustainability for the right reasons? These are among the questions that are addressed in a new academic paper. ... > full story
CryoSat-2 exceeding expectations (July 1, 2010) -- Participants at the Living Planet Symposium have been hearing about the European Space's most recently launched mission, CryoSat-2. In orbit for almost three months, the satellite is in excellent health with scientists very encouraged by the first ice-thickness data presented at the symposium. ... > full story
System that controls sleep may be same for most mammals (June 30, 2010) -- In a novel mathematical model that reproduces sleep patterns for multiple species, an international team of researchers has demonstrated that the neural circuitry that controls the sleep/wake cycle in humans may also control the sleep patterns of 17 different mammalian species. ... > full story
Chromosomal variations found in early passage female embryonic stem cells (June 30, 2010) -- Scientists have uncovered that variations in X chromosome inactivation take place in very early passages of female human embryonic stem cells lines, information that will play an important role in ensuring the safety of cells grown for therapeutic use and a discovery that also may have implications in the development of cancer. ... > full story
Feast and famine: MRI reveals secrets of animal anatomy (June 30, 2010) -- Scientists have used Computer Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI to reveal, for the first time noninvasively, how a snake adapts its internal organs in preparation for a big meal and during digestion, until it has disappeared completely. The images could be valuable supplements to traditional textbook sketches, diminishing the need for invasive research and dissections. ... > full story
Key mechanism links virgin olive oil to protection against breast cancer (June 30, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have discovered a key mechanism by which virgin olive oil, in contrast to other vegetable oils, protects the body against breast cancer. ... > full story
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