ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Saturday, July 10, 2010
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Fireflies blink in synch to send a clear message (July 10, 2010) -- For decades, scientists have speculated about why some fireflies exhibit synchronous flashing, in which large groups produce rhythmic, repeated flashes in unison -- sometimes lighting up a whole forest at once. Now, the first experiments on the function of this phenomenon suggest that synchronous flashing preserves female fireflies' recognition of suitable mates. ... > full story
Marijuana derivative could be useful for pain treatment (July 10, 2010) -- A new compound similar to the active component of marijuana (cannabis) might provide effective pain relief without the mental and physical side effects of cannabis, according to a new study. ... > full story
Wild cat found mimicking monkey calls; Predatory trickery documented for the first time in wild felids in Americas (July 9, 2010) -- In a fascinating example of vocal mimicry, researchers have documented a wild cat species imitating the call of its intended victim: a small, squirrel-sized monkey known as a pied tamarin. This is the first recorded instance of a wild cat species in the Americas mimicking the calls of its prey. ... > full story
Tiny clays curb big earthquakes (July 9, 2010) -- California's San Andreas fault is notorious for repeatedly generating major earthquakes and for being on the brink of producing the next "big one" in a heavily populated area. But the famously violent fault also has quieter sections, where rocks easily slide against each other without giving rise to damaging quakes. ... > full story
Origins of multicellularity: All in the family (July 9, 2010) -- One of the most pivotal steps in evolution -- the transition from unicellular to multicellular organisms -- may not have required as much retooling as commonly believed, scientists have found. A comparison of the genomes of the multicellular algae Volvox carteri and its closest unicellular relative Chlamydomonas reinhardtii revealed that multicellular organisms may have been able to build their more complex molecular machinery largely from the same list of parts that was already available to their unicellular ancestors. ... > full story
Nematodes vanquish billion dollar pest (July 9, 2010) -- Diabrotica virgifera virgifera beetle larvae (known as western corn rootworm) wreak havoc on maize, causing an estimated billion of damage every year to US agriculture. Knowing that Heterorhabditis bacteriophora nematodes kill the pest, researchers in Switzerland have successfully improved the nematode's response to a chemical, (E)-beta-caryophyllene, released by damaged maize roots, to attract the nematodes directly to the pest in a bid to produce an environmentally safe pesticide. ... > full story
Biologists find a way to lower tumor risk in stem cell therapies (July 9, 2010) -- Biologists have discovered a way to limit the formation of teratomas. They have identified a new signaling pathway critical for unlimited self propagation of embryonic stem cells. Using small molecule compounds that inhibit this pathway, the scientists were able to dramatically reduce the potential of embryonic stem cells to form teratomas. ... > full story
Redwood forest ecosystem of northern California depends on fog to stay hydrated during rainless summers (July 9, 2010) -- As the mercury rises outdoors, it's a fitting time to consider the effects of summertime droughts and global warming on ecosystems. Complex interactions among temperature, water cycling, and plant communities create a tangled web of questions that need to be answered as we face a rapidly changing climate. Researchers recently tackled one aspect of the challenging question of how climate change can impact plant communities that obtain water from fog. ... > full story
Intoxicating fragrance: Jasmine as valium substitute (July 9, 2010) -- Instead of a sleeping pill or a mood enhancer, a nose full of jasmine from Gardenia jasminoides could also help, according to researchers in Germany. They have discovered that the two fragrances Vertacetal-coeur (VC) and the chemical variation (PI24513) have the same molecular mechanism of action and are as strong as the commonly prescribed barbiturates or propofol. ... > full story
Adding nutrients to oceans could enhance transfer of carbon dioxide from atmosphere to deep ocean (July 9, 2010) -- Adding nutrients to the sea could decrease viral infection rates among phytoplankton and enhance the efficiency of the biological pump, a means by which carbon is transferred from the atmosphere to the deep ocean, according to a new mathematical modeling study. The findings have implications for ocean geoengineering schemes proposed for tackling global warming. ... > full story
Alternative evolution: Why change your own genes when you can borrow someone else's? (July 9, 2010) -- It has been a basic principle of evolution for more than a century that plants and animals can adapt genetically in ways that help them better survive and reproduce. Biologists now document a clear example of a new mechanism for evolution. ... > full story
Don't let your termites grow up to be mommies: Researchers find 'key ingredient' that regulates termite caste system (July 9, 2010) -- An entomologist has for the first time shown which specific chemicals are used by some termite queens to prevent other termites in the colony from becoming mommies like themselves. ... > full story
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