ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Monday, July 12, 2010
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What’s killing farmed salmon? New virus may also pose risk to wild salmon (July 12, 2010) -- Epidemics of infectious disease are threatening the farmed fish industry, including one of its most popular products: farmed Atlantic salmon. A team of scientists has found evidence that the disease may be caused by a previously unknown virus. ... > full story
Big picture: Lipid ordering visualized in a living vertebrate organism (July 12, 2010) -- Scientists have obtained the first visualization of the inherent arrangement of lipid molecules in different tissues of a whole, living vertebrate organism. The research validates earlier studies done with primary cells and may lead to a new understanding of the physiological significance of plasma membrane organization. ... > full story
Computing power cracks egg shell problem (July 12, 2010) -- Researchers in the UK have applied computing power to crack a problem in egg shell formation. The work may also give a partial answer to the age old question "what came first the chicken or the egg?" ... > full story
Source of essential nutrients for mid-ocean algae discovered (July 12, 2010) -- For almost three decades, oceanographers have been puzzled by the ability of microscopic algae to grow in mid-ocean areas where there is very little nitrate, an essential algal nutrient. In a new study, researchers show that mid-ocean algae obtain nitrate from deep water, as much as 250 meters below the surface. This finding will help scientists predict how open-ocean ecosystems could respond to global warming. ... > full story
Majority of fevers in African children are not caused by malaria, study finds (July 12, 2010) -- In 2007, an estimated 656 million fevers occurred in African children aged 0-4 years, with 78 million children of the 183 million attending a public health care facility likely to have been infected with P. falciparum (range 60-103 million), the parasite that causes the most dangerous form of malaria. These findings come from a modelling system devised by experts from the Malaria Atlas Project. ... > full story
Archeologists explore rural Galilee and find ancient synagogue (July 12, 2010) -- Among various important discoveries, the 2010 Kinneret Regional Project discovered an ancient synagogue, in use at around 400 AD. This year’s archeological focus is the first systematic excavation on Horvat Kur, a village inhabited from the Early Roman through the Early Medieval periods located on a gentle hill two kilometers west of the Lake of Galilee. Thirty volunteers – mostly students of theology, religious studies, and archeology – and staff from the Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, Romania, Belgium, Spain, Israel, and Germany explore the material remains of the village life in Galilee, a region that features very prominently in Early Christian and Rabbinic tradition. ... > full story
Plant extract may be effective against inflammatory bowel disease (July 11, 2010) -- New research shows an extract made from a food plant in the Brassica family was effective in alleviating signs of ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel condition, in mice. ... > full story
New biofuels processing method for mobile facilities (July 11, 2010) -- Chemical engineers have developed a new method to process agricultural waste and other biomass into biofuels, and they are proposing the creation of mobile processing plants that would rove the Midwest to produce the fuels. ... > full story
Farmers to get rice-growing advice via text messages (July 11, 2010) -- Farmers in the "texting capital" of the world -- the Philippines -- will soon have nutrient management advice tailored specifically to their rice crops delivered to their mobile phones. ... > full story
NASA to fly into hurricane research this summer (July 11, 2010) -- Three NASA aircraft will begin flights to study tropical cyclones on Aug. 15 during the agency's first major U.S.-based hurricane field campaign since 2001. The Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes mission, or GRIP, will study the creation and rapid intensification of hurricanes. Advanced instruments from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., will be aboard two of the aircraft. ... > full story
Borne on the wing: Avian influenza risk in US wild songbirds mapped (July 11, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered that 22 species of passerines -- songbirds and perching birds -- in the contiguous U.S. are carriers of low-pathogenicity avian influenza. Pathogenicity is the ability of a germ to produce an infectious disease in an organism. The prevalence of influenza in waterfowl has long been known. But the researchers' analysis indicates that the number of songbird species with low-pathogenicity avian influenza is greater than the number in eight other avian orders, including waterfowl. ... > full story
Chemical quality of rivers revealed by small freshwater shrimp (July 11, 2010) -- Biological markers detect the presence of toxic substances in the environment. In implementing the European water framework directive, scientists use Gammarus, a small freshwater shrimp present in all rivers, as a marker. They observe the impact of contamination on the main vital functions of the animal, which thus serves as a sentinel for rivers. ... > full story
Antibody may help treat and prevent influenza outbreaks (July 10, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered a monoclonal antibody that is effective against "avian" H5N1, seasonal H1N1 and the 2009 "swine" H1N1 influenza. Scientists have shown that this antibody potently prevents and treats the swine H1N1 influenza in mouse models of the disease. ... > full story
Better barriers can help levees withstand wave erosion (July 10, 2010) -- A new barrier design could protect reservoir levees from the erosive forces of wind-driven waves, according new research. These findings could help lower the maintenance costs for constructed ponds in the lower Mississippi Delta where levee repairs can average per foot -- and sometimes are needed just five years after a reservoir is built. ... > full story
Honey bee venom may help design new treatments to alleviate muscular dystrophy, depression and dementia (July 10, 2010) -- Scientists researching a toxin extracted from the venom of the honey bee have used this to inform the design of new treatments to alleviate the symptoms of conditions such as muscular dystrophy, depression and dementia. ... > full story
New spin on drug delivery: Chemical engineers discover an enhanced delivery method of DNA payloads into cells (July 10, 2010) -- Chemical engineers have discovered how to "greatly enhance" the delivery of DNA payloads into cells. Lu's ultimate goal is to apply this technique to create genetically modified cells for cancer immunotherapy, stem cell therapy and tissue regeneration. ... > full story
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
For lambs, a pasture a week keeps blood suckers away (July 9, 2010) -- Deworming lambs can be minimized with rotational grazing and checking the animals' eye color, according to new research. ... > full story
Heat waves could be commonplace in the US by 2039 (July 9, 2010) -- Exceptionally long heat waves and other hot events could become commonplace in the United States in the next 30 years, according to a new study by climate scientists. ... > full story
First research trip across western Amazon yields surprising results (July 9, 2010) -- During his unprecedented expedition into the heart of the Amazon, Michigan State University geographer Bob Walker discovered surprising evidence that many of the Brazilian government's efforts to protect the environment are working. ... > full story
Changing climate could alter meadows' ecosystems, says researcher (July 9, 2010) -- A researcher who has been studying the meadows in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of the Rocky Mountains since 1992 believes changing climate could affect the diversity of plants and animals in the region. ... > full story
New technology reduces storage needs and costs for genomic data (July 9, 2010) -- A new computer data compression technique called Genomic SQueeZ will allow genetic researchers and others to store, analyze and share massive volumes of data in less space and at lower cost. ... > full story
Geoscientists find clues to why first Sumatran earthquake was deadlier than second (July 8, 2010) -- An international team of geoscientists has uncovered geological differences between two segments of an earthquake fault that may explain why the 2004 Sumatra Boxing Day Tsunami was so much more devastating than a second earthquake generated tsunami three months later. ... > full story
Why some communities embrace environmental conservation and others don't (July 8, 2010) -- Continued support for off-shore oil drilling by Gulf Coast residents who are dealing with one of the most devastating environmental disasters in US history might seem surprising, but new research shows that local factors such as unemployment and population growth influence views about the value of environmental conservation and regulation. ... > full story
Mojoceratops: New dinosaur species named for flamboyant frill (July 8, 2010) -- When Nicholas Longrich discovered a new dinosaur species with a heart-shaped frill on its head, he wanted to come up with a name just as flamboyant as the dinosaur's appearance. Over a few beers with fellow paleontologists one night, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind: Mojoceratops. With the publication of Longrich's paper describing his find in the Journal of Paleontology, the name is now official. ... > full story
How fast can microbes break down oil washed onto Gulf beaches? (July 8, 2010) -- A new study is investigating how quickly the Deepwater Horizon oil carried into Gulf of Mexico beach sands is being degraded by the sands' natural microbial communities, and whether native oil-eating bacteria that wash ashore with the crude are helping or hindering that process. ... > full story
Fish oil may reduce risk of breast cancer (July 8, 2010) -- A recent report adds to the growing evidence that fish oil supplements may play a role in preventing chronic disease. ... > full story
'Magical thinking' about islands an illusion? Biologist refutes conventional thinking on evolution (July 8, 2010) -- Exotic island fauna is a product of evolution, but nothing more than one would expect to see by "chance," according to research that shows there's nothing extraordinary about evolutionary processes on islands. A biologist in Israel and colleagues have conducted a number of scientific studies comparing evolutionary patterns of island and mainland ecosystems, and the results refute the idea that islands operate under different, "magical" rules. ... > full story
Two new species of pancake batfishes discovered from area engulfed by oil spill (July 8, 2010) -- Two new species of fish from the Gulf of Mexico that walk on their fins and sit-and-wait for prey are described in a new research paper. This highlights the undescribed biodiversity of the area effected by the Gulf oil spill. ... > full story
No substantial quality difference between organically and conventionally produced eggs, study finds (July 8, 2010) -- There's no substantial quality difference between organically and conventionally produced eggs. That's one of a number of findings in a new agricultural study examining various aspects of egg quality. ... > full story
Amid the murk of 'gut flora,' vitamin D receptor emerges as a key player (July 8, 2010) -- Within the human digestive tract is a teeming mass of hundreds of types of bacteria, a potpourri of microbes numbering in the trillions that help us digest food and keep bad bacteria in check. Scientists have found that the vitamin D receptor is a key player amid the gut bacteria -- what scientists refer to as the "gut flora." ... > full story
Dig discovers ancient Britons were earliest North Europeans (July 8, 2010) -- Archeologists have unearthed the earliest evidence of human occupation in Britain. Their findings demonstrate that ancient humans occupied Britain over 800,000 years ago, marking the first known settlement in northern Europe -- far earlier than previously thought. ... > full story
Biologists identify a new clue into cellular aging (July 8, 2010) -- The ability to combat some age-related diseases may rest with scientists unlocking clues about the molecular and cellular processes governing aging. The underlying theory is that if the healthy portion of an individual's life span can be extended, it may delay the onset of certain age-related diseases. In the search to understand these molecular processes, researchers have uncovered an important new DAF-16 isoform that helps to regulate longevity. ... > full story
Turning back the cellular clock: Method developed for tracking adult stem cells as they regress (July 8, 2010) -- For the first time, scientists have succeeded in tracking the progression of reprogrammed stem cells through live imaging to learn more about how they are reprogrammed, and how the new cells evolve over time. This will allow researchers to develop techniques and choose the right cells for replacement therapy and give invaluable insight into how these cells will eventually react in the human body. ... > full story
Energy yield of ‘cheap’ solar panels raised from 7 to 9 percent (July 8, 2010) -- Researchers have shown how the energy yield of relatively cheap solar panels, made of amorphous silicon, can be considerably raised: from around 7 percent to 9 percent. ... > full story
Revolutionary medical dressing uses nanotechnology to fight infection (July 8, 2010) -- Researchers are using nanotechnology to develop a medical dressing which will detect and treat infection in wounds. Scientists in the UK are working together with teams across Europe and Australia to create an advanced wound dressing. The dressing will work by releasing antibiotics from nanocapsules triggered by the presence of disease-causing pathogenic bacteria, which will target treatment before the infection takes hold. ... > full story
Road surface purifies air by removing nitrogen oxides, researchers in the Netherlands find (July 8, 2010) -- Road surfaces can make a big contribution to local air purity. This conclusion can be drawn from the first test results on a road surface of air-purifying concrete. This material reduces the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 25 to 45 per cent. ... > full story
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