ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, May 19, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, May 19, 2011

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Lizard fossil provides missing link to show body shapes of snakes and limbless lizards evolved independently (May 19, 2011) -- The recent discovery of a tiny, 47 million-year-old fossil of a lizard called Cryptolacerta hassiaca provides the first anatomical evidence that the body shapes of snakes and limbless lizards evolved independently. ... > full story

Potentially toxic flame retardants detected in baby products (May 19, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting detection of potentially toxic flame retardants in car seats, bassinet mattresses, nursing pillows, high chairs, strollers and other products that contain polyurethane foam and are designed for newborns, infants and toddlers. In a new study, they describe hints that one flame retardant, banned years ago in some areas, actually remains in use. ... > full story

Preserving plants and animals caught between forest 'fragments' (May 19, 2011) -- Maintaining the world's threatened animal and plant species may rest with something as simple as knowing how far a bird can fly before it must answer nature's call. ... > full story

Sun protects against childhood asthma (May 19, 2011) -- Vitamin D, which is primarily absorbed from the sun, plays a role in protection against childhood asthma. Now, a new study led by researchers in Spain has shown that children who live in colder, wetter cities are at greater risk of suffering from this respiratory problem, since there are fewer hours of sunlight in such places. ... > full story

Goat milk can be considered as functional food, Spanish researchers find (May 19, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain have found that goat milk has nutritional characteristics beneficial to health. They have determined that goat milk has many nutrients that make it similar to human milk. ... > full story

Imaging technology reveals intricate details of 49-million-year-old spider (May 18, 2011) -- Scientists have used the latest computer-imaging technology to produce stunning three-dimensional pictures of a 49-million-year-old spider trapped inside an opaque piece of fossilized amber resin. ... > full story

Lichens may aid in combating deadly chronic wasting disease in wildlife (May 18, 2011) -- Certain lichens can break down the infectious proteins responsible for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a troubling neurological disease fatal to wild deer and elk and spreading throughout the United States and Canada. ... > full story

Risk of wetland habitat loss in southern United States predicted (May 18, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a model that predicts the risk of wetland habitat loss based on local wetland features and characteristics of the landscape surrounding the wetland. The new model was used to predict the fate of wetland habitats over a 13-state area in the southern United States. ... > full story

Species extinction rates have been overreported, new study claims -- but global extinction crisis remains very serious (May 18, 2011) -- The most widely used methods for calculating species extinction rates are "fundamentally flawed" and overestimate extinction rates by as much as 160 percent, scientists report. However, while the problem of species extinction caused by habitat loss is not as dire as many conservationists and scientists had believed, the global extinction crisis is real. ... > full story

Genetic 'wiring' of seeds revealed (May 18, 2011) -- The genetic 'wiring' that helps a seed to decide on the perfect time to germinate has been revealed by scientists for the first time. Plant biologists have also discovered that the same mechanism that controls germination is responsible for another important decision in the life cycle of plants -- when to start flowering. ... > full story

Do microbes swim faster or slower in elastic fluids? Research answers long-standing question (May 18, 2011) -- A biomechanical experiment has answered a long-standing theoretical question: Will microorganisms swim faster or slower in elastic fluids? For a prevalent type of swimming, undulation, the answer is "slower." ... > full story

Earth's core is melting ... and freezing (May 18, 2011) -- The inner core of the Earth is simultaneously melting and freezing due to circulation of heat in the overlying rocky mantle, according to new research. ... > full story

Dairy consumption does not elevate heart-attack risk, study suggests (May 18, 2011) -- Analysis of dairy intake and heart attack risk found no statistically significant relation in thousands of Costa Rican adults. Dairy foods might not harm heart health, despite saturated fat content, because they contain other possibly protective nutrients, researchers say. ... > full story

Preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS with humanized BLT mice (May 18, 2011) -- A new study further validates the use of humanized BLT mice in the fight to block HIV transmission. The "BLT" name is derived from the fact that these designer mice are created one at a time by introducing human bone marrow, liver and thymus tissues into animals without an immune system of their own. Humanized BLT mice have a fully functioning human immune system and can be infected with HIV in the same manner as humans. ... > full story

Sodium channels evolved before animals' nervous systems (May 18, 2011) -- An essential component of animal nervous systems -- sodium channels -- evolved prior to the evolution of those systems, researchers have discovered. ... > full story

Splitting water for renewable energy simpler than first thought? Manganese-based catalyst shows promise (May 18, 2011) -- Scientists have found the key to the hydrogen economy could come from a very simple mineral, commonly seen as a black stain on rocks. ... > full story

Scientists track environmental influences on giant kelp with help from satellite data (May 18, 2011) -- Scientists have developed new methods for studying how environmental factors and climate affect giant kelp forest ecosystems at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales. ... > full story

New evidence shows mobile animals could have evolved much earlier than previously thought (May 18, 2011) -- Billions of years before life evolved in the oceans, thin layers of microbial matter in shallow water produced enough oxygen to support tiny, mobile life forms. ... > full story

Aquarius to illuminate links between salt, climate (May 18, 2011) -- When NASA's salt-seeking Aquarius instrument ascends to the heavens this June, the moon above its launch site at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base won't be in the seventh house, and Jupiter's latest alignment with Mars will be weeks in the past, in contrast to the lyrics of the song from the popular Broadway musical "Hair." Yet for the science team eagerly awaiting Aquarius' ocean surface salinity data, the dawning of NASA's "Age of Aquarius" promises revelations on how salinity is linked to Earth's water cycle, ocean circulation and climate. ... > full story

Landslides: How rainfall dried up Panama's drinking water (May 18, 2011) -- An aerial survey of landslides has helps scientists evaluate the effect of a prolonged tropical storm on the water supply in the Panama Canal watershed. ... > full story

New strategy for drought tolerance in crops: Shutting down the plant's growth inhibition under mild stress (May 18, 2011) -- Researchers have unveiled a mechanism that can be used to develop crop varieties resistant to mild droughts. It turns out that under non-lethal stress conditions, plants inhibit growth more than necessary. Shutting down this response opens new opportunities for yield improvement. ... > full story

Radiation protection expert criticises comparison of Fukushima to Chernobyl (May 18, 2011) -- In a new editorial, a radiological protection expert from the UK gives a detailed account of events at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, and poses several questions that remain unanswered, several weeks on from the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. ... > full story

Mass extinction of marine life in oceans during prehistoric times offers warning for future (May 17, 2011) -- The mass extinction of marine life in our oceans during prehistoric times is a warning that the same could happen again due to high levels of greenhouse gases, according to new research. ... > full story

Molecular technique advances soybean rust resistance research (May 17, 2011) -- A new tool is available to select for soybean rust resistance in breeding populations. Researchers successfully used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) assays to assess fungal DNA in soybean leaf tissue to quantify the level of resistance in individual plants with resistance to soybean rust. ... > full story

Ancient Egyptian princess now known to be first person in human history with diagnosed coronary artery disease (May 17, 2011) -- Researchers have used whole body computerized tomography (CT) scanning to visualize the coronary arteries of the Egyptian princess Ahmose-Meryet-Amon, who lived in Thebes (Luxor) between 1580 and 1550 BC. Results show her to be the first person in human history known to have diagnosed coronary artery disease. Surprisingly, she lived on a diet rich in vegetables, fruit and a limited amount of meat from domesticated (but not fattened) animals. Wheat and barley were grown along the banks of the Nile, making bread and beer the dietary staples of this period of ancient Egypt. Tobacco and trans-fats were unknown, and lifestyle was likely to have been active. ... > full story

Vaccine protects from deadly Hendra virus (May 17, 2011) -- Scientists in Australia have shown that a new experimental vaccine helps to protect horses against the deadly Hendra virus. ... > full story

Stem cell study could pave the way to treatment for age-related muscle wasting (May 17, 2011) -- Biologists have nailed the mechanism that causes stem cells in the embryo to differentiate into specialized cells that form the skeletal muscles of animals' bodies. ... > full story

There's no magic number for saving endangered species (May 17, 2011) -- A new study offers hope for species such as the Siberian tiger that might be considered "too rare to save," so long as conservation efforts can target key threats. ... > full story

New cell that attacks dengue virus identified (May 17, 2011) -- Mast cells, which help the body respond to bacteria and pathogens, also apparently sound the alarm around viruses delivered by mosquitoes, according to researchers. ... > full story

Of moose and men: Removal of roadside salt pools can protect salt-toothed moose from crossing roads (May 17, 2011) -- Country roadways can be hazardous for moose and men. According to estimates, millions of vehicles collide with moose, elk and caribou each year. Moose, in particular, venture to roadsides to lick the salt pools after pavement deicing. Because moose are the largest animal in the deer family, with males weighing up to 720 kilograms, their salt cravings pose significant risks to human and vehicle safety. That's why a group of Canadian researchers has investigated ways to encourage moose off roads. ... > full story

Anthropologist discovers new fossil primate species in West Texas (May 17, 2011) -- A physical anthropologist has announced the discovery of a previously unknown species of fossil primate, Mescalerolemur horneri, in the Devil's Graveyard badlands of West Texas. ... > full story

New imaging technology 'sees' camouflaged marine animals in the eyes of their predators (May 17, 2011) -- Despite being colorblind, the cuttlefish can change its skin color to blend into the background with great skill. In a new study, a team of researchers used hyperspectral imaging tools to model what the cuttlefish predator "sees" before and after cuttlefish camouflage. ... > full story

Researchers identify new dental cavity-causing species (May 17, 2011) -- A team of scientists from Boston has confirmed that the bacterium Streptococcus mutans is a primary culprit in early childhood caries (EEC) cavities on the first set of teeth, and has identified a new species of bacterium, Scardovia wiggsiae, which they suspect is also a major contributor. ... > full story

Tarantulas shoot silk from their feet (May 17, 2011) -- Most spiders have no problem holding onto vertical surfaces, but not tarantulas; they are always on the verge of falling. So what helps tarantulas hold tight? Researchers have found that slipping tarantulas shoot silk safety threads from their feet to reattach themselves when they lose hold. ... > full story

Graduation contamination through handshaking? (May 17, 2011) -- Graduations are a celebration of achievement and growth, but could all the pomp and circumstance increase your risk of exposure to harmful bacteria? ... > full story

Genomic archeology reveals early evolution of sex chromosomes (May 17, 2011) -- A team from Sweden is using genomics to shed light on the early evolutionary history of sex chromosomes. Among other things, the genome is a place where the distant past can be investigated. Researchers have used it most notably to trace the relationships among species far more accurately than can be done with conventional methods. ... > full story

Smoke-related chemical discovered in the atmosphere could have health implications (May 17, 2011) -- Cigarette smoking, forest fires and woodburning can release a chemical that may be at least partly responsible for human health problems related to smoke exposure, according to a new study. "We found isocyanic acid in a number of places, from air in downtown Los Angeles and air downwind of a Colorado wildfire, to cigarette smoke," said the lead author. ... > full story

Zebrafish regrow fins using multiple cell types, not identical stem cells (May 17, 2011) -- What does it take to regenerate a limb? Biologists have long thought that organ regeneration in animals like zebrafish and salamanders involved stem cells that can generate any tissue in the body. But new research suggests that cells capable of regenerating a zebrafish fin do not revert to stem cells that can form any tissue. Instead, the individual cells retain their original identities and only give rise to more of their own kind. ... > full story

Third of tested plastic products found to leach toxic substances in Swedish study (May 17, 2011) -- Many plastic products contain hazardous chemicals that can leach to the surroundings. In studies conducted in Sweden, a third of the tested plastic products released toxic substances, including five out of 13 products intended for children. ... > full story

Striking ecological impact on Canada's Arctic coastline linked to global climate change (May 16, 2011) -- Scientists have uncovered startling new evidence of the destructive impact of global climate change on North America's largest Arctic delta. ... > full story

Secrets of plague unlocked with stunning new imaging techniques (May 16, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a super-resolution microscopy technique that is answering long-held questions about exactly how and why a cell's defenses fail against some invaders, such as plague, while successfully fending off others like E.coli. The approach is revealing never-before-seen detail of the cell membrane, which could open doors to new diagnostic, prevention and treatment techniques. ... > full story

When is it worth remanufacturing? Sometimes it saves energy, sometimes it doesn’t — and sometimes it makes things worse (May 16, 2011) -- It seems like a no-brainer: Remanufacturing products rather than making new ones from scratch -- widely done with everything from retread tires to refilled inkjet cartridges to remanufactured engines -- should save a lot of energy, right? Not so fast, says a new study. ... > full story

Biophysics of snakebites: How do venomous snakes inject venom into victim's wound? (May 16, 2011) -- Most snakes do not inject venom into their victims bodies using hollow fangs, contrary to common misconceptions. The fact is that most snakes and many other venomous reptiles have no hollow fangs. Physicists have now uncovered the tricks these animals use to force their venom under the skin of their victims. ... > full story

Patterns of ancient croplands give insight into early Hawaiian society, research shows (May 16, 2011) -- A pattern of earthen berms, spread across a northern peninsula of the big island of Hawaii, is providing archeologists with clues to exactly how residents farmed in paradise long before Europeans arrived at the islands. The findings suggest that simple, practical decisions made by individual households were eventually adopted by the ruling class as a means to improve agricultural productivity. ... > full story

Penguins continue diving long after muscles run out of oxygen (May 16, 2011) -- Emperor penguins routinely dive for tens of minutes before returning to the surface, but about 5.6 minutes into a dive, the birds switch from oxygen-fueled aerobic metabolism to anaerobic metabolism. So what causes this change? Researchers show that emperor penguins' dive muscles trigger the switch to anaerobic metabolism and set the aerobic dive limit when they run out of oxygen. ... > full story

Energy harvesters transform waste into electricity (May 16, 2011) -- Billions of dollars lost each year as waste heat from industrial processes can be converted into electricity with a new technology under development. ... > full story

First habitable exoplanet? Climate simulation reveals new candidate that could support Earth-like life (May 16, 2011) -- The planetary system around the red dwarf Gliese 581, one of the closest stars to the Sun in the galaxy, has been the subject of several studies aiming to detect the first potentially habitable exoplanet. Two candidates have already been discarded, but a third planet, Gliese 581d, can be considered the first confirmed exoplanet that could support Earth-like life, according to a team of scientists in France. ... > full story

Seaports need a plan for weathering climate change, researchers say (May 16, 2011) -- A warming planet could mean a rising ocean and more storm activity, but seaports are not prepared for the expensive construction they will need to protect themselves, according a global survey of ports. Researchers have just created a computer model that will help ports with their planning. ... > full story