ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, May 12, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, May 12, 2011

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Animal-like urea cycle in ocean's tiny diatoms enables marine phytoplankton to use carbon and nitrogen from their environment (May 12, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that marine diatoms, tiny phytoplankton abundant in the sea, have an animal-like urea cycle, and that this cycle enables the diatoms to efficiently use carbon and nitrogen from their environment. The research team believes that the cycle could be a reason for the domination of diatoms in marine environments, especially after upwelling events -- the upward movement of nutrient rich waters from the deep ocean to the surface. ... > full story

2,300-year climate record suggests severe tropical droughts as northern temperatures rise (May 12, 2011) -- A 2,300-year climate record that researchers recovered from an Andes Mountains lake reveals that as temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere rise, the planet's densely populated tropical regions will most likely experience severe water shortages as the crucial summer monsoons become drier. The research team found that equatorial regions of South America already are receiving less rainfall than at any point in the past millennium. ... > full story

Antarctic icebergs help ocean take up carbon dioxide (May 12, 2011) -- The first comprehensive study of the biological effects of Antarctic icebergs shows that they fertilize the Southern Ocean, enhancing the growth of algae that take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and then, through marine food chains, transfer carbon into the deep sea. ... > full story

Monkey studies reveal promising vaccine approach for HIV (May 12, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a vaccine candidate in rhesus macaque monkeys that may eventually lead to a vaccine against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). ... > full story

University pond reveals hidden history of fungi (May 12, 2011) -- A study of DNA in a campus pond at the University of Exeter has led to the discovery of a whole new type of fungi. Named Cryptomycota by the researchers, the discovery redefines understanding of fungi and gives an insight into a hitherto undiscovered diversity. ... > full story

It's not easy flying green: Large variability in greenhouse gas emissions from alternative fuels (May 11, 2011) -- In an effort to combat soaring fuel prices and cut greenhouse gas emissions, the aviation industry is racing toward the use of biofuels. However, researchers the industry should make sure it has examined biofuels' complete carbon footprint before making an all-out push. They say that when a biofuel's origins are factored in, conventional fossil fuels may sometimes be the "greener" choice. ... > full story

Mississippi flooding captured by NASA satellites (May 11, 2011) -- The Mississippi River reached nearly 48 feet in Memphis, Tenn., on May 10, according to the U.S. National Weather Service. It was the highest water level for Memphis since 1937. ... > full story

First signs of progress in saving Indian vultures from killer drug (May 11, 2011) -- The ban on a veterinary drug which caused an unprecedented decline in Asian vulture populations has shown the first signs of progress, according to scientists. However, the recovery of the wild vulture populations requires efforts to see the drug completely removed from the birds' food supply. ... > full story

Beware of predatory male American black bears: Attack rates are rising with human population growth (May 11, 2011) -- A new study of fatal black bear attacks in North America shows that predatory male bears are responsible for most historical attacks. ... > full story

Wine yeasts reveal prehistoric microbial world (May 11, 2011) -- When having a glass of wine or beer, have you ever wondered why and how yeast "learned" to produce these superb food products? Yeasts are unicellular fungi and so far over 1,500 different species have been described. Among them are important industrial organisms, pathogens and model organisms which help us to understand how eukaryotic cells work. ... > full story

Beneficial bacteria help repair intestinal injury by inducing reactive oxygen species (May 11, 2011) -- Probiotic bacteria promote healing of the intestinal lining in mice by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species, researchers have shown. ... > full story

Following your steak's history from pasture to plate (May 11, 2011) -- The package on a supermarket steak may say "grass-fed" or "grass-finished," but how can a consumer know whether the cow spent its days grazing peacefully on meadow grass or actually gorged on feedlot corn? Scientists are now reporting the development of a method that can reconstruct the dietary history of cattle and authenticate the origins of beef. ... > full story

Coffee reduces breast cancer risk, study suggests (May 11, 2011) -- Coffee drinkers enjoy not only the taste of their coffee but also a reduced risk of cancer with their cuppa. New research shows that drinking coffee specifically reduces the risk of antiestrogen-resistant estrogen-receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer. ... > full story

'Liquid smoke' from rice shows potential health benefits (May 11, 2011) -- Liquid smoke flavoring made from hickory and other wood -- a mainstay flavoring and anti-bacterial agent for the prepared food industry and home kitchens -- may get a competitor that seems to be packed with antioxidant, antiallergenic and anti-inflammatory substances, according to a new study. It is the first analysis of liquid smoke produced from rice hulls, the hard, inedible coverings of rice grains. ... > full story

Neanderthals died out earlier than previously thought, new evidence suggests (May 11, 2011) -- Direct dating of a fossil of a Neanderthal infant suggests that Neanderthals probably died out earlier than previously thought. ... > full story

Adrenaline given before snakebite anti-venom treatment reduces allergic reactions, study finds (May 11, 2011) -- Giving low-dose adrenaline to patients who have been bitten by a poisonous snake before treatment with the appropriate anti-venom is safe and reduces the risk of acute severe reactions to the treatment, but giving promethazine has no such effect and giving hydrocortisone may actually be harmful, new research finds. ... > full story

The skinny on how shed skin reduces indoor air pollution (May 11, 2011) -- The flakes of skin that people shed at the rate of 500 million cells every day are not just a nuisance -- the source of dandruff, for instance, and a major contributor to house dust. A new study concludes that oil in those skin cells makes a small contribution to reducing indoor air pollution. ... > full story

Genomes of fungi that threaten wheat, poplars sequenced (May 11, 2011) -- Scientists have sequenced the genomes of two fungal pathogens -- one that threatens global wheat supplies and another that limits production of a tree crop valued as a future source for biofuel. ... > full story

Harnessing the energy of the Sun: New technique improves artificial photosynthesis (May 11, 2011) -- Transforming solar energy into a usable form is a real challenge. One technique is to use semiconductors to store the energy as hydrogen. Unfortunately, the most efficient semiconductors are not the most stable. Scientists have just discovered that it is possible to protect the semiconductor with a uniform layer just a few nanometers thick. ... > full story

California's Chumash Indians: Roughly hewn beads are child's play, archaeologist finds (May 11, 2011) -- In a new study, an archaeologist says that she's identified beads made from seashells by apprentices in the Chumash Indian bead trade before the arrival of Europeans. ... > full story

New evidence details spread of amphibian-killing disease from Mexico through Central America (May 11, 2011) -- There's a crisis among the world's amphibians -- about 40 percent of amphibian species have dwindled in numbers in just three decades. Now, museum jars stuffed full of amphibians may help scientists decide whether this wave of extinctions was caused by a fungal infection. ... > full story

New antibody for cell labeling: Stem cells can be distinguished on the basis of sugar residues (May 11, 2011) -- Researchers in Germany have produced an antibody that allows them to distinguish the numerous types of stem cells in the nervous system better than before. The antibody 5750 recognizes a specific sugar residue on the cell surface, which is called LewisX. The research group has now been able to use LewisX for the first time to separate different types of stem cells. ... > full story

Saving Kenya's Lake Naivasha: Efforts to improve sustainability (May 11, 2011) -- An innovative program to save Kenya's Lake Naivasha is under way, with the goal of more sustainable use of the lake's water and restoration of its ecology. ... > full story

Smallest turtle in North America becomes more scarce (May 10, 2011) -- Veterinarians, conservation biologists and wildlife managers have joined forces to answer a perplexing wildlife question: Why are bog turtles getting sick? ... > full story

Variety is the spice of life for animal movement: Foraging animals tend to wander randomly (May 10, 2011) -- Scientists in the UK have discovered animals searching for food do not stick to a complicated pattern of movement as previously thought but tend to wander about randomly. It was previously believed that when searching for food, animals move in very peculiar way called a Lévy flight where they move small distances most of the time, but occasionally move a very long distance. ... > full story

High-tech approach uses lights, action and camera to scrutinize fresh produce (May 10, 2011) -- High-tech tactics to carefully examine apples and other fresh produce items as they travel along packinghouse conveyor belts will help ensure the quality and safety of these good-for-you foods. Scientists have now developed an experimental, cutting-edge optical scanning system that would use two different kinds of lighting, a sophisticated camera and other pieces of equipment to scrutinize produce-section favorites while they are still at the packinghouse. ... > full story

Ocean acidification: Carbon dioxide makes life difficult for algae (May 10, 2011) -- The acidification of the world's oceans could have major consequences for the marine environment. New research shows that coccoliths, which are an important part of the marine environment, dissolve when seawater acidifies. ... > full story

Scientists unmask mysterious cells as key 'border patrol agents' in the intestine (May 10, 2011) -- Researchers have uncovered new clues about how the intestine maintains friendly relations with the 100 trillion symbiotic bacteria that normally live in the digestive tract. ... > full story

Bats lend an ear to sonar engineering (May 10, 2011) -- Researchers have mapped out the diversity of bat ears in a hope to inspire the design of new intuitive methods of manipulating waves with physical shapes, such as sonar and radar. ... > full story

Fundamental question on how life started solved: Supercomputer calculates carbon nucleus (May 10, 2011) -- For carbon, the basis of life, to be able to form in the stars, a certain state of the carbon nucleus plays an essential role. In cooperation with US colleagues, physicists in Germany have been able to calculate this legendary carbon nucleus, solving a problem that has kept science guessing for more than 50 years. ... > full story

Wild animals age, too: Researchers study senescence in blue-footed booby shows (May 10, 2011) -- Many might assume that wild animals generally die before they get old. Now, a Spanish-Mexican research team has demonstrated aging in a population of wild birds (Sula nebouxii) in terms of their ability to live and reproduce. ... > full story

Original versus copy: Researchers develop forgery-proof prototypes for product authentication (May 10, 2011) -- Styrian pumpkin-seed oil or cheap copy? When you choose a product, you want the quality you’ve paid for. But how can you test that what’s inside is what it says on the label? The future of quality protection belongs to electronic components and so-called RFID tags. In the future, consumers will be able to test the authenticity of a product using their mobile phones. ... > full story

Immature skull led young tyrannosaurs to rely on speed, agility to catch prey (May 10, 2011) -- While adult tyrannosaurs wielded power and size to kill large prey, youngsters used agility to hunt smaller game. ... > full story

New insect repellant may be thousands of times stronger than DEET (May 10, 2011) -- Imagine an insect repellant that not only is thousands of times more effective than DEET -- the active ingredient in most commercial mosquito repellants -- but also works against all types of insects, including flies, moths and ants. That possibility has been created by the discovery of a new class of insect repellant made in the laboratory. ... > full story

A simple, mildly invasive solution for conserving historic buildings (May 10, 2011) -- Stone masonry arches form part of numerous historic buildings -- religious edifices, bridges, walkways and aqueducts. Although solid structures are involved, the environmental and historical conditions of the bearing load, use and accidental factors can cause their collapse. An industrial engineer in Spain studied an innovative system for the rehabilitation of these masonry arches. ... > full story

Methane levels 17 times higher in water wells near hydrofracking sites, study finds (May 10, 2011) -- Researchers have found high levels of leaked methane in well water collected near shale-gas drilling and hydrofracking sites. The scientists collected and analyzed water samples from 68 private groundwater wells across five counties in northeastern Pennsylvania and New York. ... > full story

'Fool's Gold' is ocean life's fertilizer: Pyrite nanoparticles from hydrothermal vents are rich source of iron in deep sea (May 10, 2011) -- Similar to humans, the bacteria and tiny plants living in the ocean need iron for energy and growth. But their situation is quite different from ours -- for one, they can't turn to natural iron sources like leafy greens or red meat for a pick-me-up. So, from where does their iron come? ... > full story

Airborne pollutants: New view of how water and sulfur dioxide mix (May 10, 2011) -- High in the sky, water in clouds can act as a temptress to lure airborne pollutants such as sulfur dioxide into reactive aqueous particulates. Although this behavior is not incorporated into today's climate-modeling scenarios, emerging research provides evidence that it should be. ... > full story

Genome of marine organism reveals hidden secrets; New methods to identify promising species in the wild (May 10, 2011) -- An international team of researchers has deciphered the genome of a tropical marine organism known to produce substances potentially useful against human diseases. ... > full story

More effective and less risky when you paint the hull of your boat (May 10, 2011) -- Every boat owner recognizes the dilemma: environmentally friendly paint or effective paint. Researchers have now found a way of reconciling these two almost unattainable aims. By using smart combinations of the most environmentally friendly biocides in the paint, it is possible to both reduce the total quantity of biocides and dramatically reduce the environmental impact. ... > full story

New models may reduce seabird bycatch (May 9, 2011) -- Tens of thousands of albatrosses and other far-ranging seabirds are killed each year after they become caught in longline fishing gear. Innovative new models may help reduce these casualties by more precisely projecting where and when birds and boats are likely to cross paths. ... > full story

For peacocks, the eyespots don't lie (May 9, 2011) -- Male peacock tail plumage and courtship antics likely influence their success at attracting and mating with females, according to recent research. ... > full story

Fast, sensitive blood test for human prion disease (May 9, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a method -- 10,000 times more sensitive than other methods -- to detect variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (vCJD) in blood plasma. vCJD is a type of prion disease in humans that leads to brain damage and death. The researchers also used the test to rapidly detect scrapie, a prion disease of sheep, in infected hamsters, some pre-symptomatic. ... > full story

Parsley, celery carry crucial component for fight against breast cancer, study suggests (May 9, 2011) -- A compound in parsley and other plant products, including fruits and nuts, can stop certain breast cancer tumor cells from multiplying and growing, new research suggests. ... > full story

Direct removal of carbon dioxide from air likely not viable, report suggests (May 9, 2011) -- Technologies for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are unlikely to offer an economically feasible way to slow human-driven climate change for several decades, according to a new report. ... > full story

Zombie ants have fungus on the brain, new research reveals (May 9, 2011) -- Tropical carpenter ants (Camponotus leonardi) are turned into "zombie ants" when infected by the parasitic fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis). Infected ants become erratic and zombie-like, and are manipulated by the fungus into dying at a spot that provides optimal conditions for fungal reproduction. New research looks at altered behavior patterns in zombie ants in Thailand and shows how the fungus manipulates ant behavior. ... > full story

New DNA role in modifying gene function: Findings suggest new approach could create highly targeted therapeutics (May 9, 2011) -- For years, scientists have thought of DNA as a passive blueprint capable only of producing specific proteins through RNA transcription. Now, researchers have shown DNA can also act to fine-tune the activity of certain proteins known as nuclear receptors. ... > full story

Antibody-based biosensor can guide environmental clean-ups, provide early warning system for spills (May 9, 2011) -- Researchers have developed an antibody-based biosensor that can detect marine pollutants like oil much faster and more cheaply than current technologies. ... > full story