ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, July 16, 2010
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Rescuing fruit flies from Alzheimer's disease (July 16, 2010) -- Fruit fly males -- in which the activity of an Alzheimer's disease protein is reduced by 50 percent -- show impairments in learning and memory as they age, scientists have found. What's more, the researchers were able to prevent the age-related deficits by treating the flies with drugs such as lithium, or by genetic manipulations that reduced nerve-cell signaling. ... > full story
Insight into why low calorie diet can extend lifespan -- even if adopted later in life (July 16, 2010) -- Research is providing new insight into why a restricted diet can lead to a longer lifespan and reduced incidence of age-related diseases for a wide variety of animals. Scientists have known for some time that a restricted diet can extend the lifespan of certain animals but this work shows how it affects aging mechanisms - and significantly has also shown that the effects occur even if the restricted diet is adopted later in life. ... > full story
What plant genes tell us about crop domestication (July 16, 2010) -- Archeobotanists argue that plant domestication involved much trial and error in many different geographic regions over a long period of time. A genetic technique that allows domesticated and wild strains of the same plant to be compared shows that domestication requires only simple genetic changes. Yet the findings don't contradict the archeobotanical data. ... > full story
Luteolin stars in study of healthful plant compounds (July 16, 2010) -- New studies are providing some of the missing details about how natural compounds in plants may protect us against inflammation. ... > full story
New role for the JNK protein: Long known to help cells respond to stress, JNK also controls cell cycle (July 16, 2010) -- New findings show that JNK, a protein already well known for other duties, also regulates the cell cycle. ... > full story
Bacterial diversity of Tablas de Daimiel National Park in Spain: 265 new phylum groups discovered (July 16, 2010) -- A team of Spanish scientists has studied the bacteria - micro organisms that are "essential" for important processes such as nitrogen and carbon-fixing and decomposition of matter - in the Tablas de Daimiel National Park. The scientists discovered 265 new phylum groups by using DNA analysis. ... > full story
First malaria-proof mosquito: Genetic manipulation renders them completely immune to the parasite (July 15, 2010) -- For years, researchers worldwide have attempted to create genetically altered mosquitoes that cannot infect humans with malaria. Those efforts fell short because the mosquitoes still were capable of transmitting the disease-causing pathogen, only in lower numbers. Now for the first time, entomologists have succeeded in genetically altering mosquitoes in a way that renders them completely immune to the parasite. ... > full story
How human immune response to virus is triggered at the atomic level (July 15, 2010) -- A team of biochemists has identified the molecular mechanism by which an immune response is triggered by the invading viruses, according to recent research. ... > full story
Sri Lankan children affected by war, tsunami, daily stressors (July 15, 2010) -- Two studies on Sri Lankan children affected by trauma found that both daily stressors and traumatic events contribute to children's psychological health. The first study, of 400 adolescents who survived the 2004 tsunami, found that poverty and family violence were major sources of continuing stress. The second study, of 1,400 children affected by both the tsunami and civil war, focused on the cumulative effect of multiple stressors on children's later functioning. ... > full story
Tiny marine microbes exert influence on global climate: Microorganisms display a behavior characteristic of larger animals (July 15, 2010) -- New research indicates that the interactions of microscopic organisms around a particular organic material may alter the chemical properties of the ocean and ultimately influence global climate by affecting cloud formation in the atmosphere. ... > full story
Scientists develop new way to grow adult stem cells in culture (July 15, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a technique they believe will help scientists overcome a major hurdle to the use of adult stem cells for treating muscular dystrophy and other muscle-wasting disorders that accompany aging or disease: They've found that growing muscle stem cells on a specially developed synthetic matrix that mimics the elasticity of real muscle allows them to maintain their self-renewing properties. ... > full story
Brain size associated with longevity in mammals (July 15, 2010) -- Mammals with larger brains in relation to body size tend to live longer according to researchers who analyzed almost 500 mammal species and obtaining new data on the relation between brain size and lifespan. ... > full story
Team develops non-toxic oil recovery agent (July 15, 2010) -- A team of chemists has developed a non-toxic, recyclable agent that can solidify oil on salt water so that it can be scooped up like the fat that forms on the top of a pot of chilled chicken soup. The agent could potentially be used to recover oil lost in the British Petroleum (BP) spill in the Gulf of Mexico. ... > full story
Scientists assess impact of Icelandic volcanic ash on ocean biology (July 15, 2010) -- An international team of oceanographers investigating the role of iron on ocean productivity in the northerly latitudes of the Atlantic Ocean will assess the impact of ash from the recent Icelandic volcano eruption on ocean biology. The five-week expedition started out on July 4, 2010. ... > full story
Conflicted meat-eaters may deny that meat-animals have the capacity to suffer, study finds (July 15, 2010) -- People who wish to escape the ‘meat paradox’ -- i.e., simultaneously disliking hurting animals and enjoying eating meat -- may do so by denying that the animal they ate had the capacity to suffer, researchers in the UK have found in a new study. Those participating in the study also reported a reduced range of animals to which they felt obligated to show moral concern. These ranged from dogs and chimps to snails and fish. ... > full story
Retrovirus replication process different than thought (July 15, 2010) -- How a retrovirus, like HIV, reproduces and assembles new viruses is different than previously thought, according to new research. Understanding the steps a virus takes for assembly could allow development of a way to prevent the spread of retroviral diseases. ... > full story
New light on Leonardo Da Vinci’s faces (July 15, 2010) -- How did Leonardo Da Vinci manage to paint such perfect faces? For the first time a quantitative chemical analysis has been done on seven paintings from the Louvre Museum (including the Mona Lisa) without extracting any samples. This shows the composition and thickness of each layer of material laid down by the painter. ... > full story
Fossil find puts a face on early primates (July 15, 2010) -- When paleontologist Iyad Zalmout went looking for fossil whales and dinosaurs in Saudi Arabia, he never expected to come face-to-face with a significant, early primate fossil. ... > full story
Footloose glaciers crack up: New detailed observations of what happens when glaciers float on ocean surface (July 15, 2010) -- Glaciers that lose their footing on the seafloor and begin floating behave very erratically, according to a new study. Floating glaciers produce larger icebergs than their grounded cousins and do so at unpredictable intervals, researchers find. ... > full story
Fast food chains have significantly decreased trans fats in cooking oils, study finds (July 15, 2010) -- Five major fast food chains have significantly decreased trans fats in the oils they use to cook food, according to new research. ... > full story
Blind mice can 'see' thanks to special retinal cells (July 15, 2010) -- A new study shows mice without rods and cones function can still see -- and not just light, but also patterns and images -- thanks to a third kind of photosensitive cell in the retina. ... > full story
Noninvasive probing of geological core samples (July 15, 2010) -- Tools to measure a core sample's electrical anisotropy have been sadly lacking, according to a group of researchers. To solve this problem, they found inspiration in a type of logging technology currently used by the modern oil industry. They created a device capable of noninvasively measuring electrical conductivity. ... > full story
Carbon sequestration: Steam process could remove carbon dioxide to regenerate amine capture materials (July 15, 2010) -- Researchers have demonstrated a relatively simple regeneration technique that could utilize waste steam to remove carbon dioxide from solid amine materials used to capture the greenhouse gas from the flue gases of coal-burning facilities. This steam-stripping technique could produce concentrated carbon dioxide ready for sequestration -- while readying the amine materials for further use. ... > full story
Finding diamonds: Scientists' work improves odds (July 15, 2010) -- While prospectors and geologists have been successful in finding diamonds through diligent searching, one professor and his team's work could help improve the odds by focusing future searches in particular areas. ... > full story
Pigs provide clues on cystic fibrosis lung disease (July 15, 2010) -- Aided by a new experimental model, scientists are a step closer to understanding how cystic fibrosis (CF) causes lung disease in people with the condition. The findings could help improve treatments for lung disease, which causes most of the deaths and disability among people with CF. ... > full story
Early exposure to milk protein from cows increases allergy resistance later in life, study finds (July 15, 2010) -- A researcher in Israel has found that babies who are fed cow milk protein early, in the form of infant formula, seem to be protected from developing an allergy to the same protein later in life. ... > full story
Waterborne diseases could cost over 0 million annually in US (July 15, 2010) -- Hospitalizations for three common waterborne diseases cost the health care system as much as 9 million annually, according to new research. ... > full story
Who's queen? Insulin signaling key to caste development in bees (July 14, 2010) -- What makes a bee grow up to be a queen? Scientists have long pondered this mystery. Now, researchers have fit a new piece into the puzzle of bee development -- a piece that also illuminates understanding about our own development and aging. The study shows that a key protein in the insulin signaling pathway plays a strong role in caste development among bees. ... > full story
Tornado safety: What is the safest room in the house? (July 14, 2010) -- For 18 horrific hours on April 3, 1974, a cataclysmic group of tornados spun through and sacked 13 states and one Canadian province, ravaging some 900 square miles and killing 148 people. An iconic photo snapped afterwards speaks a thousand words: amid devastation, one thing remained intact: an interior bathroom of a single house, whose walls had not been connected to the rest of the house. ... > full story
Plavix may be treatment for dogs at risk of thromboembolic disease (July 14, 2010) -- Companion animals that have a long-term need for anticoagulant drug therapies may soon find help in a top-selling antiplatelet drug marketed to humans: clopidogrel, commonly known by the trade-name Plavix. Researchers have found that clopidogrel may be a safe and effective treatment for dogs that need long-term anticoagulant therapy. ... > full story
Opening the gate to the cell's recycling center (July 14, 2010) -- In cells, as in cities, disposing of garbage and recycling anything that can be reused is an essential service. In both city and cell, health problems can arise when the process breaks down. ... > full story
Cashew seed extract an effective anti-diabetic, study shows (July 14, 2010) -- Cashew seed extract shows promise as an effective anti-diabetic, according to a new study. The investigation analyzed the reputed health benefits of cashew tree products on diabetes, notably whether cashew extracts could improve the body's response to its own insulin. ... > full story
Elusive ant queen pheromone tracked down (July 14, 2010) -- Much like humans, social insects such as ants and bees behave differently when their mother is not around. Workers are thought to perceive the presence of their mother queen using her unique pheromones. New research in ants has tracked down the elusive queen pheromone for the first time and revealed that workers are capable of developing ovaries in preparation for laying eggs in absence of pheromones. ... > full story
Triceratops and Torsaurus were same dinosaur at different stages (July 14, 2010) -- Triceratops and Torosaurus were the same dinosaur at different stages of growth, according to new research. Since the late 1800s, scientists have believed that Triceratops and Torosaurus were two different types of dinosaurs. Triceratops had a three-horned skull with a rather short frill, whereas Torosaurus had a much bigger frill with two large holes through it. ... > full story
Tea may contain more fluoride than once thought, research shows (July 14, 2010) -- Black tea, a Southern staple and the world's most consumed beverage, may contain higher concentrations of fluoride than previously thought, which could pose problems for the heaviest tea drinkers, researchers say. ... > full story
New generation of biological scaffolds (July 14, 2010) -- Scientists in the UK are conducting research into how biological scaffolding can pave the way for off- the-shelf tissue transplants. ... > full story
Great apes 'play' tag to keep competitive advantage (July 14, 2010) -- Gorillas hit-and-run in 'games' of tag in the same way humans do and for the same reason -- to keep their competitive advantage, a new study has found. It is the first study to show apes, like humans, will hit a playmate then run in order to try to get away with the upper hand. ... > full story
New research on rapidly-disappearing ancient plant offers hope for species recovery (July 14, 2010) -- "Living fossil" cycads now number about 300 species, and many of these species are endangered, especially those on islands like Guam. New molecular research on a threatened species, Cycas micronesica, shows these plants are not relics and that there is hope in careful management of the remaining plants. ... > full story
Researchers fighting bacterial infections zero in on microorganism's soft spots (July 14, 2010) -- In any battle, sizing up one's opponent is a critical first step. For researchers fighting a bacterial infection, that means assessing every nook and cranny of the malicious microorganism and identifying which to attack. In Spain, scientists are devising maneuvers they hope will take out bacteria at their molecular knees, and they are optimistic a recent advance will yield therapies for a number of infections, including antibiotic-resistant strains delivering blow after blow across the globe. ... > full story
Ancient birds from North America colonized the South, thanks to Panama land bridge (July 14, 2010) -- Scientists studying ancient species migration believe northern birds had the ability to colonize continents that southern species lacked. The research reveals how the ancient 'land bridge' of Panama, which first connected North and South America, caused an uneven species migration, leading to a new understanding of species diversity today. ... > full story
Divide and conquer: Genes decide who wins in the body's battle against cancer (July 14, 2010) -- A landmark study is the first to identify a life-or-death "cell competition" process in mammalian tissue that suppresses cancer by causing cancerous cells to kill themselves. Central to the discovery was the researchers' identification of "Mahjong" -- a gene that can determine the winners of the competition through its close relationship with another powerful protein player. ... > full story
Nearly 5 percent exposed to dengue virus in Florida's Key West, report suggests (July 14, 2010) -- An estimated 5 percent of the Key West, Fla., population -- over 1,000 people -- showed evidence of recent exposure to dengue virus in 2009, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health. ... > full story
NASA's 3-D animation of Typhoon Conson's heavy rainfall and strong thunderstorms (July 14, 2010) -- Imagine seeing a typhoon from space, and seeing it in three dimensions. That's what the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite can do with any typhoon, and just did with Typhoon Conson. TRMM's 3-D look at tropical cyclones provide scientists with information on the height of towering thunderstorms and the rate of rainfall in them, and Conson has high thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. ... > full story
Facial recognition at first glance: Humans and monkeys perceive faces of kin immediately (July 14, 2010) -- We meet a multitude of people on a daily basis: the nice waitress in the coffee shop around the corner, the bus driver or the colleagues at the office. Without the ability to recognize faces at first glance we would not be able to distinguish between people. Monkeys also possess the remarkable ability to differentiate faces of group members and to extract the relevant information about the individual directly from the face. ... > full story
What secrets are stored in the roots of corn plants? (July 14, 2010) -- With corn being a critical US crop expected to help feed livestock and people around the world and also be a source for the production of clean energy, plant breeders are continually seeking ways to make the plants more productive. To better understand the role corn roots play in this regard, an agricultural engineer and a crop scientist have teamed up to examine corn root complexity and how it impacts corn development. ... > full story
NASA releases GOES-13 satellite movie of the life and times of Hurricane Alex (July 14, 2010) -- NASA's GOES Project has just released a "movie" of satellite imagery showing the life and times of 2010's only June hurricane. From birth to death, the GOES-13 satellite kept an eye on the life and times of Hurricane Alex for two weeks in June 2010. ... > full story
Sea levels rising in parts of Indian Ocean; Greenhouse gases play role, study finds (July 13, 2010) -- Newly detected rising sea levels in parts of the Indian Ocean, including the coastlines of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, Sri Lanka, Sumatra and Java, appear to be at least partly a result of human-induced increases of atmospheric greenhouse gases, according to a new study. ... > full story
Viscosity at the nanoscale: Intriguing 50-year-old puzzle solved (July 13, 2010) -- At a snail's pace – this is how proteins should move inside living cells where viscosity of environment exceeds the viscosity of water by a million times. However, proteins move not much slower than in water. While looking for a solution to this puzzle, scientists from Poland have discovered a new principle of physics. ... > full story
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