ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, September 13, 2011 ~ gwinnetttech

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, September 13, 2011

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The breathtaking dance of plants: How plants space out the pores through which they breathe (September 13, 2011) -- The way in which plants space out the pores through which they breathe depends on keeping a protein active during stem cell growth, according to new research. The research could help scientists to tailor the number and arrangement of stomata to different environments. This could regulate the efficiency at which plants absorb carbon dioxide or diffuse water vapor. ... > full story

Recycling fat might help worms live longer (September 13, 2011) -- Scientists found that two cellular processes -- lipid metabolism and autophagy -- work together to influence lifespan in C. elegans worms. Autophagy, a mechanism cells use to recycle their own contents, has been implicated in many human diseases, including cancer. This study provides a more detailed understanding of the roles autophagy and lipid metabolism play in aging. ... > full story

Newly hatched chicks of African honeyguide birds bite to death their foster siblings to eliminate competition (September 13, 2011) -- Only a few days old and still blind and naked, chicks of the African greater honeyguide kill their newly hatched foster siblings in order to eliminate competition for parental care, new research has found. ... > full story

Endangered horse has ancient origins and high genetic diversity, new study finds (September 12, 2011) -- An endangered species, Przewalski's horse, is much more distantly related to the domestic horse and has a much more diverse gene pool than researchers previously had hypothesized, researchers report. The new study's findings could be used to inform conservation efforts to save the endangered species, of which only 2,000 individuals remain in parts of China and Mongolia, and in wildlife reserves in California and the Ukraine. ... > full story

Sustainability scientists suggest how countries can cooperate on climate (September 12, 2011) -- Experts suggest using game theory and a scalable method of rewards and punishments (called linear compensation) to help develop strategies that encourage all nations to participation fully in greenhouse gas mitigation programs. ... > full story

New species of ancient predatory fish discovered (September 12, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a new species of large predatory fish that prowled ancient North American waterways during the Devonian Period, before backboned animals existed on land. ... > full story

Health fears over CO<sub>2</sub> storage are unfounded, study shows (September 12, 2011) -- Capturing carbon dioxide from power stations and storing it deep underground carries no significant threat to human health, despite recently voiced fears that it might, a new study shows. Researchers found that the risk of death from poisoning as a result of exposure to CO2 leaks from underground rocks is about one in 100 million -- far less than the chances of winning the lottery jackpot. ... > full story

'Trojan Horse' particle sneaks chemotherapy in to kill ovarian cancer cells (September 12, 2011) -- A common chemotherapy drug has been successfully delivered to cancer cells inside tiny microparticles using a method inspired by our knowledge of how the human immune system works. The drug, delivered in this way, reduced ovarian cancer tumors in an animal model by 65 times more than using the standard method. This approach is now being developed for clinical use. ... > full story

Physicist detects movement of macromolecules engineered into our food (September 12, 2011) -- Toxin proteins are genetically engineered into our food because they kill insects by perforating body cell walls, and now researchers studying membrane proteins have detected the molecular mechanism involved. ... > full story

Exposure to 'white' light LEDs appears to suppress body's production of melatonin more than certain other lights, research suggests (September 12, 2011) -- Exposure to the light of 'white' LED bulbs appears to suppress melatonin five times more than exposure to the light of high pressure sodium bulbs that give off an orange-yellow light, according to new research. ... > full story

Breath and sweat used to detect trapped humans (September 12, 2011) -- Molecules in their breath, sweat and skin have been used to detect humans in a simulation of a collapsed building, raising the prospect of portable sensors for use in real-life situations, such as the devastating aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and more recent disasters in New Zealand and Japan. ... > full story

Mitosis: New techniques expose surprises in cell division (September 12, 2011) -- Researchers have obtained the first high-resolution, three-dimensional images of a cell with a nucleus undergoing cell division. The observations, made using a powerful imaging technique in combination with a new method for slicing cell samples, indicate that one of the characteristic steps of mitosis is significantly different in some cells. ... > full story

Gypsy moth caterpillars hormonal slaves to virus gene (September 12, 2011) -- Gypsy moth caterpillars infected with baculovirus forfeit safety and stay in the treetops during the day because a virus gene manipulates their hormones to eat continuously and forgo molting, according to entomologists. The caterpillars die where they climb and infect other gypsy moth caterpillars. ... > full story

Scientists offer way to address 'age-old' questions (September 12, 2011) -- Scientists have devised a method to measure the impact of age on the growth rates of cellular populations, a development that offers new ways to understand and model the growth of bacteria, and could provide new insights into how genetic factors affect their life cycle. ... > full story

Sea urchins see with their whole body (September 12, 2011) -- Many animals have eyes that are incredibly complex -- others manage without. Researchers have now shown that sea urchins see with their entire body despite having no eyes at all. ... > full story

Genetic link to cattle diseases uncovered (September 12, 2011) -- The origin of three costly cattle diseases is genetically linked, according to new findings. Scientists have discovered a location on bovine chromosome 20 that is associated with the incidence of the most prevalent bacterial diseases -- pinkeye, foot rot and bovine respiratory disease (pneumonia) -- that affect feedlot cattle. ... > full story

Appalachian tiger swallowtail butterfly is a hybrid of two other swallowtails, scientists find (September 12, 2011) -- Flitting among the cool slopes of the Appalachian Mountains is a tiger swallowtail butterfly species that evolved when two other species of swallowtails hybridized long ago, a rarity in the animal world, biologists have found. ... > full story

A tale of (more than) 2 butterflies: Appalachian tiger swallowtail butterfly is hybrid of other swallowtails (September 12, 2011) -- Flitting among the cool slopes of the Appalachian Mountains is a tiger swallowtail butterfly that evolved when two other species of swallowtails hybridized long ago. ... > full story

Sea levels much less stable than earlier believed, new coral dating method suggests (September 11, 2011) -- New evidence of sea-level oscillations during a warm period that started about 125,000 years ago raises the possibility of a similar scenario if the planet continues its more recent warming trend, says a research team. ... > full story

Researchers team with glowing cats against AIDS, other diseases; New technique gives cats protection genes (September 11, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a genome-based immunization strategy to fight feline AIDS and illuminate ways to combat human HIV/AIDS and other diseases. ... > full story

Improvements are needed for accuracy in gene-by-environment interaction studies, experts say (September 11, 2011) -- A new study concludes that genetic research drawing correlations between specific genes, environmental variables and the combined impact they have on the development of some psychiatric illnesses needs additional scrutiny and replication before being accepted as true. ... > full story

Microbes travel through the air: But how, and where? (September 11, 2011) -- Preliminary research on Fusarium, a group of fungi that includes devastating pathogens of plants and animals, shows how these microbes travel through the air. Researchers now believe that with improvements on this preliminary research, there will be a better understanding about crop security, disease spread and climate change. ... > full story

Research on US nuclear levels after Fukushima could aid in future nuclear detection (September 11, 2011) -- What do increased atmospheric radioactivity concentrations in Washington state tell us about what happened in the Fukushima nuclear disaster? For one expert, the story is in the numbers. ... > full story

Tiny teeth indicate ancient shark nurseries (September 11, 2011) -- Fueled by Hollywood and its vision of Jaws, sharks conjure images of fearsome predators patrolling our seas in search of their next unfortunate victim. It is therefore hard to imagine sharks as relatively small, harmless fishes living in lakes and rivers, as many species were more than 200 million years ago. Some scientists have suggested that these ancient sharks bred in the shallows of freshwater lakes, forming nurseries for their hatchlings. Paleontologists now support this claim with spectacular 230 million-year-old fossil egg capsules and tiny teeth from Kyrgyzstan. ... > full story

Researcher sees spring-like protein as key to muscle behavior (September 11, 2011) -- An idea with its origins in ballistic prey catching -- the way toads and chameleons snatch food with their tongues -- may change fundamental views of muscle movement while powering a new approach to prosthetics. ... > full story

Gray blobs floating after Hurricane Irene identified as potato sponges (September 11, 2011) -- Most of Hurricane Irene's impacts -- heavy rain, high winds, downed trees, coastal erosion, and storm-tide flooding -- are all too familiar to the storm-weary residents of Chesapeake Bay and the Eastern seaboard. But based on post-storm queries to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point, Virginia, one impact remains a mystery -- what are all those "gray blobs" floating atop waterways and strewn along beaches? ... > full story

Groundbreaking DNA tests could trap deer poachers (September 10, 2011) -- Human DNA found on deer remains could help to track down poachers. Identifying deer poachers can be problematic, as the crimes are often committed in remote areas and are not discovered until some time after the event. ... > full story

Snakebites a public health problem in Africa (September 10, 2011) -- One and a half million people per year are poisoned by snake venom in Sub-Saharan Africa. An IRD researcher recently analysed around 100 surveys and medical reports published over the past 40 years. No large-scale study of the situation had hitherto been conducted and public health authorities had underestimated the size of the problem. This means that currently only 10% of victims are treated, owing to a shortage of antivenoms* and lack of awareness among health care practitioners. Yet the clinical complications can be very serious, even fatal. A bite from a cobra or mamba can bring on death by asphyxia --- due to respiratory paralysis --- within 6 hours of the incident. Venom injected by the ocellated carpet viper, common in the African savannah, can cause hemorrhages leading to the victim's death in a few days. This new study provides authorities with more detailed and reliable figures which should enable them to readjust their health-care services in better tune with needs. ... > full story

U.S. experiences second warmest summer on record: Texas has warmest summer on record of any state (September 10, 2011) -- The blistering heat experienced by the United States during August, as well as the June through August months, marks the second warmest summer on record, according to scientists. The persistent heat, combined with below-average precipitation across the southern U.S. during August and the three summer months, continued a record-breaking drought across the region. ... > full story

Invasive forest insects cost homeowners, taxpayers billions (September 10, 2011) -- Homeowners and taxpayers are picking up most of the tab for damages caused by invasive tree-feeding insects that are inadvertently imported along with packing materials, live plants, and other goods. That's the conclusion of a team of biologists and economists, whose research findings are reported in a new article. ... > full story

Hummingbirds all a-flutter during courtship: How fluttering feathers can generate courtship sounds (September 10, 2011) -- Though famous for their mid-air hovering during hunting, tiny hummingbirds have another trait that is literally telltale: males of some hummingbird species generate loud sounds with their tail feathers while courting females. Now, for the first time, the cause of these sounds has been identified. ... > full story

MRSA may increase mortality rate by 50 percent, study finds (September 10, 2011) -- Does the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, cause more deaths in hospitals than the bacteria that are sensitive to common antibiotics? Opinions have been varied, but now a worldwide study indicates that the mortality rate can be 50 percent higher for intensive care patients infected with MRSA. ... > full story

2,000-year-old burial box could reveal location of the family of Caiaphas (September 10, 2011) -- A professor in Israel has authenticated an inscription on an ancient ossuary thought to come from a burial site at the legendary location of the battle between David and Goliath. The unusually detailed inscription could reveal the home of the family of the high priest Caiaphas prior to its exodus to Galilee. ... > full story

Using 61 years of tropical storm data, scientists uncover landfall threat probabilities (September 9, 2011) -- Scientists have found an intriguing relationship between hurricane tracks and climate variability using data from the Atlantic gathered between 1950-2010, unlocking some noteworthy results. ... > full story

Captivated by critters: Humans are wired to respond to animals (September 9, 2011) -- Some people feel compelled to pet every animal they see on the street, while others jump at the mere sight of a shark on their television. No matter what your response is to animals, it may be thanks to a specific part of your brain that is hardwired to rapidly detect creatures of the nonhuman kind. In fact, researchers report that neurons throughout the amygdala respond preferentially to images of animals. ... > full story

Deep-sea fish in deep trouble: Scientists find nearly all deep-sea fisheries unsustainable (September 9, 2011) -- A team of leading marine scientists from around the world is recommending an end to most commercial fishing in the deep sea. Instead, they recommend fishing in more productive waters nearer to consumers. ... > full story

How an 'evolutionary playground' brings plant genes together (September 9, 2011) -- Plants produce a vast array of natural products, many of which we find useful for making things such as drugs. Researchers have recently discovered that the genes producing two of these products in the model plant Arabidopsis are clustered together by an 'evolutionary playground' in the plant's genome. Knowing how these clusters assemble and are controlled will be important for improving and exploiting the production of new natural products. ... > full story

Mantis shrimp: Ocean floor critters communicate in synchronized rumbles (September 9, 2011) -- Mantis shrimp make noise with each individual seeming to have its own "voice" with which to communicate. The research team noted the "rumbles" were synchronized. ... > full story

Mother's diet influences baby's allergies, research suggests (September 9, 2011) -- A possible link between what a mother eats during pregnancy and the risk of her child developing allergies has been identified in new research. ... > full story

Where does all Earth's gold come from? Precious metals the result of meteorite bombardment, rock analysis finds (September 9, 2011) -- Ultra high precision analyses of some of the oldest rock samples on Earth provides clear evidence that the planet's accessible reserves of precious metals are the result of a bombardment of meteorites more than 200 million years after Earth was formed. ... > full story

New cooling system raises efficiency of oil and gas processing (September 9, 2011) -- Mathematicians in Norway have devised a solution for making sub-sea oil and gas processing more efficient at substantially lower cost. Using their expertise in fluid mechanics they have developed a unique design for a subsea cooling system. Their research can help to recover more oil and gas resources both in the North Sea and elsewhere. The first newly constructed processing facilities could be installed on the seabed as early as 2013. The equipment will be designed to last 30 years, which means that in addition to being smaller and lighter, it has to be durable, maintenance-free and without moving parts. ... > full story

National forests can provide public health benefits, U.S. study finds (September 9, 2011) -- Each year, more than 170 million people visit U.S. national forests for recreation. And the physical activity associated with these visits burns 290 billion food calories. That equals enough french fries laid end to end to reach the Moon and back -- twice -- according to a recent study. ... > full story

Powered by seaweed: Polymer from algae may improve battery performance (September 9, 2011) -- By looking to Mother Nature for solutions, researchers have identified a promising new binder material for lithium-ion battery electrodes that could not only boost energy storage, but also eliminate the use of toxic compounds now used in manufacturing the components. Known as alginate, the material is extracted from common, fast-growing brown algae. ... > full story

Genomic analysis of superbug provides clues to antibiotic resistance (September 9, 2011) -- An analysis of the genome of a superbug has yielded crucial, novel information that could aid efforts to counteract the bacterium's resistance to an antibiotic of last resort. ... > full story

Handier than Homo habilis? Versatile hand of Australopithecus sediba makes a better candidate for an early tool-making hominin (September 9, 2011) -- Hand bones from a single individual with a clear taxonomic affiliation are scarce in the hominin fossil record, which has hampered understanding of the evolution of manipulative abilities in hominins. An international team of researchers has now published a study that describes the earliest, most complete fossil hominin hand post-dating the appearance of stone tools in the archaeological record, the hand of a 1.98-million-year-old Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa. ... > full story

New method to grow synthetic collagen unveiled: New material may find use in reconstructive surgery, cosmetics, tissue engineering (September 9, 2011) -- In a significant advance for cosmetic and reconstructive medicine, scientists have unveiled a new method for making synthetic collagen. The new material, which forms from a liquid in as little as an hour, has many of the properties of natural collagen and may prove useful as a scaffold for regenerating new tissues and organs from stem cells. ... > full story

Human brain evolution, new insight through X-rays: Experiment reveals brain shape of an early human ancestor (September 9, 2011) -- A new paper preveals an accurate, high-resolution X-ray scan of the brain case of Australopithecus sediba, an early human ancestor. The overall shape of the endocast resembles humans more than chimpanzees which, combined with the brain's small volume, is consistent with a model of gradual neural (brain) reorganization in the front part of the brain. ... > full story

Homeowners, taxpayers pay billions to fight invasive pests (September 9, 2011) -- Homeowners and taxpayers are picking up most of the tab for damage caused by invasive tree-feeding insects that hide in packing materials, live plants and other goods imported from countries into the United States every year. Results from a first-of-its-kind economic analysis, which estimates financial damage of importing foreign insects into the nation and trying to eradicate them once they establish, are reported in a new article. ... > full story