ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Monday, December 6, 2010
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Northern wildfires threaten runaway climate change, study reveals (December 6, 2010) -- A new study reveals that fires in the Alaskan interior have become more severe in the last decade, resulting in more carbon being released than is being stored. About half the world's soil carbon is locked in northern permafrost and peatland soils. The increased burning is shifting these ecosystems from a carbon sink to a carbon source. ... > full story
Satellite tracking campaign tests European abilities (December 6, 2010) -- An experimental tracking campaign using European facilities is helping determine how well existing telescopes and radars can work together to observe objects in Earth orbit. The results will be used to help design the European Space Agency's future Space Situational Awareness system. ... > full story
'Clueless' housekeeping genes are activated randomly, study finds (December 6, 2010) -- Scientists have made an unexpected finding about the method by which certain genes are activated. Contrary to what researchers have traditionally assumed, genes that work with other genes to build protein structures do not act in a coordinated way but instead are turned on randomly. The surprising discovery may fundamentally change the way scientists think about the way cellular processes are synchronized. ... > full story
El Nino: Better understanding of long-term changes in climate system (December 6, 2010) -- Scientists have been studying long-term climate variability associated with El Nino. The researchers' goal is to help climatologists better understand this global climate phenomenon that happens every two to eight years, impacting much of the world. ... > full story
Sows ears and silk purses: Packing more flavor into modern pork (December 6, 2010) -- Perhaps you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but scientists are reporting progress in pulling off the same trick with the notoriously bland flavor of pork. They are reporting new insights into the biochemical differences in the meat of an Italian swine renowned for its good flavor since the ancient Roman Empire and the modern "Large White" or Yorkshire hog, whose roots date back barely 125 years. ... > full story
Heat helped hasten life's beginnings on Earth, research suggests (December 5, 2010) -- New research investigating the effect of temperature on extremely slow chemical reactions suggests that the time required for evolution on a warm earth is shorter than critics might expect. ... > full story
Biologist tracks spiders' eyes to learn how tiny brains process information (December 5, 2010) -- Over the next year, spiders watching videos of their prey are going to help biologists understand how animals choose which visual elements to attend to in their environments. She believes we are on the verge of gaining important new knowledge about how brains and specialized sensory systems work together to process visual information. ... > full story
Early detection is possible for prion diseases, study suggests (December 5, 2010) -- A fast test to diagnose fatal brain conditions such as mad cow disease in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans could be on the horizon, according to a new study. Researchers have developed a highly sensitive and rapid new method to detect and measure infectious agents called prions that cause these diseases. ... > full story
Protein essential for cell division in blood-forming stem cells discovered (December 5, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that a protein known to regulate cellular metabolism is also necessary for normal cell division in blood-forming stem cells. Loss of the protein results in an abnormal number of chromosomes and a high rate of cell death. ... > full story
New approach to blocking malaria transmission developed (December 5, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a new approach to blocking malaria transmission. The research focuses on potential targets to inhibit transmission of the parasite Plasmodium that causes malaria. ... > full story
Electronic cigarettes are unsafe and pose health risks, study finds (December 5, 2010) -- How safe are electronic cigarettes or "e-cigarettes"? To address this question, researchers evaluated five e-cigarette brands and found design flaws, lack of adequate labeling, and several concerns about quality control and health issues. They conclude that e-cigarettes are potentially harmful and urge regulators to consider removing e-cigarettes from the market until their safety is adequately evaluated. ... > full story
Method developed to simultaneously desalinate water, produce hydrogen and treat wastewater (December 5, 2010) -- Fresh water and reusable energy. Humans are on a constant hunt for a sustainable supply of both. Water purification requires a lot of energy, while utility companies need large amounts of water for energy production. The goal is to find a low-energy-required treatment technology. Researchers may have discovered an answer. ... > full story
Global sea-level rise at the end of the last Ice Age interrupted by rapid 'jumps' (December 4, 2010) -- Researchers have estimated that sea-level rose by an average of about 1 meter per century at the end of the last Ice Age, interrupted by rapid "jumps" during which it rose by up to 2.5 meters per century. The findings will help unravel the responses of ocean circulation and climate to large inputs of ice-sheet meltwater to the world ocean. ... > full story
Blame the environment: Why vaccines may be ineffective for some people (December 4, 2010) -- A new discovery may explain why a tuberculosis vaccine is not as effective for some people as anticipated, and potentially explains why other vaccines do not work as well for some as they do for others. ... > full story
Novel metal catalysts may be able to turn greenhouse gases into liquid fuels (December 4, 2010) -- It sounds a bit like spinning straw into gold, but novel metal catalysts may be able to turn greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide into liquid fuels without producing more carbon waste in the process. ... > full story
Interspecies electron transfer: Anaerobic bacteria found to cooperate (December 4, 2010) -- Microbiologists report that they have discovered a new cooperative behavior in anaerobic bacteria, known as interspecies electron transfer, that could have important implications for the global carbon cycle and bioenergy. ... > full story
New prion discovery reveals drug target for mad cow disease and related illnesses (December 4, 2010) -- In a new study, scientists have found that a protein our body uses to break up blood clots speeds up the progress of prion diseases. This substance, called plasminogen, is a new drug target for prion diseases in both humans and animals. ... > full story
Electrocution of birds and collision with power lines: Solutions to a global problem (December 4, 2010) -- Electrocution on power lines is a major threat to many bird species across the world, in particular endangered species such birds of prey, which show the greatest incidence of electrocution. A new study focuses on preventing bird electrocution through the identification and correction of high-risk pylons. ... > full story
Ozone hole affects upper-atmosphere temperature and circulation (December 4, 2010) -- Observations have shown differences in altitude and brightness between polar mesospheric clouds (clouds made of ice crystals in the upper mesosphere) in the Northern Hemisphere and those in the Southern Hemisphere. Various mechanisms have been suggested to explain the differences; a new study shows that the ozone hole in the stratosphere above Antarctica could be playing a key role in the temperature and circulation patterns in the mesosphere. ... > full story
Tooth decay to be a thing of the past? Enzyme responsible for dental plaque sticking to teeth deciphered (December 4, 2010) -- Scientists have deciphered the structure and functional mechanism of the glucansucrase enzyme that is responsible for dental plaque sticking to teeth. This knowledge will stimulate the identification of substances that inhibit the enzyme. Just add that substance to toothpaste, or even sweets, and caries could be a thing of the past. ... > full story
More efficient polymer solar cells fabricated (December 4, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a process for fabricating more efficient polymer solar cells. They discovered a textured substrate pattern that allows deposition of a uniformly thin light-absorbing layer. The result is a polymer solar cell that captures more light and produces more power. ... > full story
Preterm infants may need a boost to protect against invasitve pneumococcal disease (December 4, 2010) -- A new study suggests that preterm infants may not be fully protected against invasive pneumococcal disease under the current United Kingdom immunization schedule. ... > full story
Vitamins identified as key nutrient which may promote harmful algal blooms in coastal waters (December 4, 2010) -- Harmful algal blooms, which negatively affect coastal ecosystems, public health, economies and fisheries around the world, may be promoted by vitamins B-1 and B-12 according to new research. ... > full story
Do our bodies' bacteria play matchmaker? (December 3, 2010) -- Could the bacteria that we carry in our bodies decide who we marry? According to a new study, the answer lies in the gut of a small fruit fly. Scientists recently demonstrated that the symbiotic bacteria inside a fruit fly greatly influence its choice of mates. ... > full story
Africa can feed itself in a generation, experts say (December 3, 2010) -- Experts prepare a blueprint for sub-Saharan Africa's transition from food importer to exporter, starting with expansion of mobile communications, transportation, energy, technical education and regional markets. ... > full story
Many coastal wetlands likely to disappear this century, scientists say (December 3, 2010) -- Many coastal wetlands worldwide -- including several on the US Atlantic coast -- may be more sensitive than previously thought to climate change and sea-level rise projections for the 21st century, according to U.S. Geological Survey scientists. ... > full story
Dark matter could transfer energy in the Sun (December 3, 2010) -- Researchers have studied the effects of the presence of dark matter in the Sun. According to their calculations, low mass dark matter particles could be transferring energy from the core to the external parts of the Sun, which would affect the quantity of neutrinos that reach Earth. ... > full story
Anesthetic gases heat climate as much as one million cars do, new research shows (December 3, 2010) -- One kilo of anesthetic gas affects the climate as much as 1,620 kilos of carbon dioxide, according to a recent study carried out by a team of chemists and anesthesiologists. The amount of gas needed for a single surgical procedure is not high, but each year surgery related anesthetics affects the climate as much as would one million cars, states a new report. ... > full story
Farmers slowed down by hunter-gatherers: Our ancestors' fight for space (December 3, 2010) -- Agricultural -- or Neolithic -- economics replaced the Mesolithic social model of hunter-gathering in the Near East about 10,000 years ago. One of the most important socioeconomic changes in human history, this socioeconomic shift, known as the Neolithic transition, spread gradually across Europe until it slowed down when more northern latitudes were reached. Newly published research details a physical model that can potentially explain how the spreading of Neolithic farmers was slowed down by the population density of hunter-gatherers. ... > full story
The future of metabolic engineering: Designer molecules, cells and microorganisms (December 3, 2010) -- Metabolic engineers envision a future in which microorganisms are tailor-made to produce specific chemical products, such as biofuels and pharmaceuticals, from inexpensive and renewable starting materials. ... > full story
Polluted air increases obesity risk in young animals (December 3, 2010) -- Exposure to polluted air early in life led to an accumulation of abdominal fat and insulin resistance in mice even if they ate a normal diet, according to new research. Animals exposed to the fine-particulate air pollution had larger and more fat cells in their abdominal area and higher blood sugar levels than did animals eating the same diet but breathing clean air. ... > full story
'No fish left behind' approach leaves Earth with nowhere left to fish, study finds (December 3, 2010) -- Earth has run out of room to expand fisheries, according to a new study that charts the systematic expansion of industrialized fisheries. ... > full story
Scientists home in on chemicals needed to reprogram cells; Groundbreaking discovery moves field closer to therapeutic applications (December 3, 2010) -- Scientists have made a significant leap forward in the drive to find a way to safely reprogram mature human cells and turn them into stem cells, which can then change into other cell types, such as nerve, heart, and liver cells. The ability to transform fully mature adult cells such as skin cells into stem cells has potentially profound implications for treating many diseases. ... > full story
Researchers find mathematical patterns to forecast earthquakes (December 3, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain have found patterns of behavior that occur before an earthquake on the Iberian peninsula. The team used clustering techniques to forecast medium-large seismic movements when certain circumstances coincide. ... > full story
Scientists ratchet up understanding of cellular protein factory (December 3, 2010) -- Theoretical biologists are untangling a mystery related to ribosomes -- those enigmatic jumbles of molecules that are the protein factories of living cells. The research could aid in development of new antibiotics used to fight multidrug resistant superbugs such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections) found in many US hospitals. ... > full story
Natural reforestation in southern Pyrenees favours orchid (December 3, 2010) -- A 13-year study has been key to understanding how and why an orchid species (Cypripedium calceolus), which is endangered in some countries in Europe, is surviving and recovering in the Pyrenees. The results suggest that the abandonment of farming and grazing, which is enabling reforestation to take place, is benefiting this orchid. ... > full story
New microscopy tracks molecules in live tissue at video rate; scientists push SRS microscopy to new levels of spatial, temporal precision (December 2, 2010) -- A novel type of biomedical imaging, made possible by new advances in microscopy, is so fast and sensitive it can capture "video" of blood cells squeezing through capillaries. The new technique makes possible label-free chemical movies, with streaming footage at the subcellular level, catching video of proteins, lipids, and water within cells. ... > full story
New method for preventing oxidative damage to cells: Findings could lead to enhanced health supplements, progress on Parkinson's (December 2, 2010) -- The discovery of a new method for preventing oxidation in the essential fatty acids of cell membranes could lead to a new class of more effective nutritional supplements and could potentially help combat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and perhaps Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Online game drives genetic research (December 2, 2010) -- Playing online can mean more than killing time, thanks to a new game developed by a team of bioinformaticians. Now, players can contribute in a fun way to genetic research. ... > full story
Discovery could shrink dengue-spreading mosquito population (December 2, 2010) -- A team of entomologists has identified a microRNA in female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that when deactivated disrupts the mosquito's blood digestion and egg development -- a discovery that could help control the spread of not only dengue and yellow fever but potentially all vector-borne diseases. ... > full story
Life built with toxic chemical: First known microbe on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using arsenic (December 2, 2010) -- NASA-funded astrobiology research has changed the fundamental knowledge about what comprises all known life on Earth. Researchers conducting tests in the harsh environment of Mono Lake in California have discovered the first known microorganism on Earth able to thrive and reproduce using the toxic chemical arsenic. The microorganism substitutes arsenic for phosphorus in its cell components. ... > full story
Effects of El Nino land South Pacific reef fish in hot water (December 2, 2010) -- Unseasonal warm temperatures caused by El Niño have a profound effect on the fish populations of coral reefs in the South Pacific, scientists have found. ... > full story
Longevity breakthrough: Scientists 'activate' life extension in worm, discover mitochondria's metabolic state controls life span (December 2, 2010) -- If you think life's too short, then you're not alone. Scientists set out to find what it would take to live a very long life and they made important discoveries that bring longer life spans much closer to reality. A new study describes how scientists "activated" life extension in the roundworm C. elegans, and in the process, discovered a new metabolic state correlating with long life. ... > full story
Hurricanes and other swirling natural phenomena explained (December 2, 2010) -- Scientists can use cylinders as small as teapots to study the mechanisms involved in powerful hurricanes and other swirling natural phenomena. ... > full story
Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to dementia (December 2, 2010) -- Long-term exposure to pesticides may be linked to the development of dementia, new research suggests. ... > full story
Can engineered bugs help generate biofuels? (December 2, 2010) -- The versatile organism Lactococcus lactis, the workhorse bacterium that helps turn milk into cheese, may also be valuable in the understanding of how microbes turn the organic compound cellulose into biofuels. New research suggests the bacterium can be engineered to transform plant material into biofuels or other chemicals. ... > full story
GPS not working? A shoe radar may help you find your way (December 2, 2010) -- The prevalence of global positioning system (GPS) devices in everything from cars to cell phones has almost made getting lost a thing of the past. But what do you do when your GPS isn't working? Researchers have developed a shoe-embedded radar system that may help you find your way. ... > full story
Water resources played important role in patterns of human settlement (December 2, 2010) -- Once lost in the mists of time, the colonial hydrology of the northeastern United States has been reconstructed by a team of geoscientists, biological scientists and social scientists. ... > full story
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