ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Tuesday, December 7, 2010
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Plants engineered to produce new drugs (December 7, 2010) -- Humans have long taken advantage of the huge variety of medicinal compounds produced by plants. Now chemists have found a new way to expand plants' pharmaceutical repertoire by genetically engineering them to produce unnatural variants of their usual products. ... > full story
Mechanism responsible for spreading biofilm infections identified (December 7, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered how catheter-related bacterial infection develops and disseminates to become a potentially life-threatening condition. The study, which included research on Staphylococcus epidermidis in mice implanted with catheters, could have important implications for understanding many types of bacterial biofilm infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus. ... > full story
Ravenous foreign pests threaten U.S. national forests (December 7, 2010) -- Foreign pests are eating their way through U.S. national forests, destroying majestic scenery and costing taxpayers millions of dollars. ... > full story
Life-saving in the bacterial world: How Campylobacter rely on Pseudomonas to infect humans (December 7, 2010) -- The bacterium Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of food poisoning in humans. It is normally transmitted from contaminated chicken meat, as it is frequently found in the intestines of chickens, where it apparently does not result in any symptoms. Campylobacter jejuni is well adapted to life in the intestines of animals -- and humans -- so it is surprising that it is able to survive on the surface of meat, which is generally stored in a much more oxygen-rich atmosphere. Researchers have now solved the puzzle, showing that Campylobacter can survive ambient oxygen levels thanks to the presence of other bacteria, species of Pseudomonas. ... > full story
Measuring air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide in the open ocean (December 7, 2010) -- Scientists have measured the air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide in the open ocean at higher wind speed then anyone else has ever managed. Their findings are important for understanding how interactions between the oceans and the atmosphere influence climate. ... > full story
Threshold sea surface temperature for hurricanes and tropical thunderstorms is rising (December 6, 2010) -- Scientists have long known that atmospheric convection in the form of hurricanes and tropical ocean thunderstorms occurs when sea surface temperature (SST) rises above a threshold. So how do rising ocean temperatures with global warming affect this threshold? If the threshold does not rise, it could mean more frequent hurricanes. A new study shows this threshold SST for convection is rising under global warming at the same rate as that of the tropical oceans. ... > full story
LouseBuster: Head lice shrivel with chemical-free warm-air device (December 6, 2010) -- Four years after the LouseBuster prototype made headlines when research showed the chemical-free, warm-air device wiped out head lice on children, a new study reveals that a revamped, government-cleared model is highly effective. ... > full story
Pregnant mother's diet impacts infant's sense of smell, alters brain development (December 6, 2010) -- New study shows a pregnant mother's diet directly impacts an infant's food choices in the future. ... > full story
Cultured kidney cell layer is a step towards improved dialysis (December 6, 2010) -- Researchers in the Netherlands have succeeded in culturing a layer of kidney cells in the lab. These cells maintained their functional properties, and are able to purify blood. The key to this success is a new kind of bioactive synthetic membrane with a structure resembling that of human basement membrane in the kidney. This is a step towards improved kidney dialysis. The ultimate aim of the scientists is to be able to grow whole biological artificial kidneys using autologous cells. ... > full story
Oh deer: Protecting this year’s Christmas tree crop (December 6, 2010) -- Hair clippings, cayenne pepper and raw eggs -- these are just a few of the odd ingredients recommended to keep those pesky deer away from your backyard garden. But what about farmers who have hundreds of acres of Christmas trees to protect? Specialists have now found an effective, inexpensive alternative to available commercial products to keep the deer at bay. ... > full story
Change in temperature uncovers genetic cross talk in plant immunity; Discovery sheds light on how plants fight off bacterial infections (December 6, 2010) -- Researchers recently "tapped" into two proteins' communications with the nucleus and discovered a previously unknown level of cross talk. The discovery adds important new information about how plant proteins mediate resistance to bacteria that cause disease and may ultimately lead to novel strategies for boosting a plant's immune system. ... > full story
First horned dinosaur from South Korea discovered (December 6, 2010) -- Scientists have discovered a new horned dinosaur. The newly identified genus, Koreaceratops hwaseongensis, lived about 103 million years ago during the late Early Cretaceous period. The specimen is the first ceratopsian dinosaur from the Korean peninsula. ... > full story
Mystery of repetitive DNA segments unraveled (December 6, 2010) -- With new tools that can grab individual strands of DNA and stretch them like rubber bands, scientists are working to unravel a mystery of modern genomics. New findings offer new clues about the physical makeup of odd segments of DNA that are composed of long strings of adenine. These mysterious "poly(dA) repeats" are sprinkled throughout the genomes of humans and other species. ... > full story
Chemists design molecule that responds to stimuli (December 6, 2010) -- The venus flytrap plant captures its prey when it senses the presence of an insect on the tips of its leaves. An amphiphilic molecule acts in a similar manner by changing its structure when heated slightly and, then, reverting to its original form when cooled. ... > full story
Faster-growing E. coli strain suitable for gene therapy or vaccine use (December 6, 2010) -- A metabolic engineer has improved a strain of E. coli, making it grow faster. "This strain is suitable for mass production of high-quality DNA that could be used in vaccines or gene therapy," he says. ... > full story
Killing salmonella and E. coli on fresh produce with half the normal food-irradiation levels (December 6, 2010) -- Engineers have developed a way to cut by as much as half the amount of irradiation needed to kill 99.999 percent of salmonella, E. coli and other pathogens on fresh produce. ... > full story
Season, time of day appear to predict higher UV levels, need for sun safety measures among skiers (December 6, 2010) -- Ultraviolet radiation levels may remain high during winter months, and conditions can change rapidly, suggesting that adults participating in outdoor sports should rely on the season and time of day when judging the need for protective clothing and sunscreen, according to a new report. ... > full story
Using earthworms to process hazardous materials containing heavy metals (December 6, 2010) -- Researchers in South America have studied the viability of using earthworms to process hazardous material containing high concentrations of heavy metal for the bioremediation of old industrial sites, landfill and other potentially hazardous areas. ... > full story
Medieval England twice as well off as today’s poorest nations (December 6, 2010) -- Medieval England was not only far more prosperous than previously believed, it also actually boasted an average income that would be more than double the average per capita income of the world’s poorest nations today. ... > full story
Carbon monoxide trapped in ice cores reveals unexpected trends regarding burning biomass (December 6, 2010) -- Scientists studying a column of Antarctic ice spanning 650 years have found evidence for fluctuations in biomass burning -- the consumption of wood, peat and other materials in wildfires, cooking fires and communal fires -- in the Southern Hemisphere. ... > full story
'Shotgun' method allows scientists to dissect cells' sugar coatings (December 6, 2010) -- Sugar molecules coat every cell in our bodies and play critical roles in development and disease, yet the components of these "glycans" have been difficult for scientists to study, because of their complexity. Researchers now have adapted gene chip microarray technology to the study of glycans, with an approach they call "shotgun glycomics," a new chemical method for attaching a fluorescent dye to glycans purified from cells. The individual glycans are separated into tiny spots fixed to glass slides. ... > full story
It’s not the size of the salamander, it’s the size of the fight in the salamander (December 6, 2010) -- Don't get between a salamander and her eggs. The concept usually applies to a mother bear and her cubs, but it rings true for this small amphibian as well -- particularly as the eggs get closer to hatching. A study has found that female salamanders grow more aggressive in defending their nests as their eggs mature. Other factors, including the size of the mother, were insignificant. ... > full story
Over-reactive immune system kills young adults during pandemic flu (December 6, 2010) -- A hallmark of pandemic flu throughout history, including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, has been its ability to make healthy young and middle-aged adults seriously ill and even kill this population in disproportionate numbers. Researchers now provide a possible explanation for this alarming phenomenon of pandemic flu. The study's findings suggest people are made critically ill, or even killed, by their own immune response. ... > full story
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
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