ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, June 9, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, June 9, 2011

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Can evolution outpace climate change? Tiny seashore animal suggests not (June 9, 2011) -- Animals and plants may not be able to evolve their way out of the threat posed by climate change, according to a new study of a tiny seashore animal. ... > full story

An alternative to antibiotics (June 9, 2011) -- Antibiotics are among the greatest achievements of medical science. But lately the former multipurpose weapon fails in the battle against infectious diseases. Bacteria are increasingly developing resistance to antibiotics. Researchers have now found a therapeutic equivalent which could replace penicillin and related pharmaceuticals. ... > full story

Ecology biased against non-native species? (June 9, 2011) -- Nineteen eminent ecologists issue a call to "end the bias against non-native species" in a new commentary. Often called aliens, hitchhikers or invasives, non-native species could just as easily be coined "abductees" whose transport links to activities by humans, some scientists say. ... > full story

Water's surface not all wet: Some water molecules split the difference between gas and liquid (June 9, 2011) -- At any one time, one quarter of water molecules in the uppermost layer have one hydrogen atom in water and the other vibrating freely above. Such molecules straddle gas and liquid phases, according to a new study that bears on atmospheric chemistry and raises the question of how exactly to define the air-water boundary. ... > full story

Stable temperatures boost biodiversity in tropical mountains, study finds (June 9, 2011) -- We often think of rainforests and coral reefs as hotspots for biodiversity, but mountains are treasure troves for species too -- especially in the tropics, scientists say. But what drives montane biodiversity? The diversity of plants and animals in tropical mountain ranges may have something to do with the stable seasonal temperatures found in the tropics relative to higher latitudes, says a new study. ... > full story

Stranding records are faithful reflection of live whale and dolphin populations, study suggests (June 8, 2011) -- Whales are the Earth's largest creatures, yet they are incredibly hard to study in the open ocean. For decades scientists have used boats, aircraft and even high cliffs to conduct visual surveys and gather data on whale and dolphin populations. Now, a paleobiologist has revealed a second, equally valuable resource for information on cetaceans -- the record of dead whales and dolphins stranded and washed ashore on beaches around the world. ... > full story

Planet's soils are under threat, expert warns (June 8, 2011) -- The planet's soils are under greater threat than ever before, at a time when we need to draw on their vital role to support life more than ever, an expert warns in a new article. ... > full story

Tut, tut: Microbial growth in pharaoh's tomb suggests burial was a rush job (June 8, 2011) -- In the tomb of King Tutankhamen, the elaborately painted walls are covered with dark brown spots that mar the face of the goddess Hathor, the silvery-coated baboons -- in fact, almost every surface. A researcher thinks those brown spots reveal something: that the young pharaoh was buried in an unusual hurry, before the walls of the tomb were even dry. ... > full story

Dolphins use double sonar: Researchers discover that dolphins can generate two sound beam projections simultaneously (June 8, 2011) -- Dolphins and porpoises use echolocation for hunting and orientation. By sending out high-frequency sound, known as ultrasound, dolphins can use the echoes to determine what type of object the sound beam has hit. Researchers from Sweden and the U.S. have now discovered that dolphins can generate two sound beam projections simultaneously. ... > full story

Dangerous toxin discovered in critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal (June 8, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered a potent and highly-debilitating toxin in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, a first-of-its-kind chemical finding that is now prompting investigations of other marine mammals in the state. ... > full story

Lack of relationships, education top list of common American regrets (June 8, 2011) -- Regrets -- we've all had a few. Although too many regrets can interfere with life and mental health, a healthy amount of regret can motivate us to improve our lives, say researchers. ... > full story

Scientists create humanized mouse model for hepatitis C (June 8, 2011) -- A team of researchers has, for the first time, recreated a portion of the hepatitis C virus life cycle in a mouse with a functional immune system. The new mouse model will enable scientists to test molecules that block entry of the hepatitis C virus into cells as well as potential vaccine candidates. ... > full story

Mountain pine beetle activity may impact snow accumulation and melt (June 8, 2011) -- Infestation of trees by mountain pine beetles in the high country across the West could potentially trigger earlier snowmelt and increase water yields from snowpack that accumulates beneath affected trees, a new article suggests. ... > full story

Current carbon dioxide emission higher than it was just before ancient episode of severe global warming (June 8, 2011) -- The present rate of greenhouse carbon dioxide emissions through fossil fuel burning is higher than that associated with an ancient episode of severe global warming, according to new research. ... > full story

Bacteria that clean art: Restorers and microbiologists use bacteria to make works of art shine like new (June 8, 2011) -- Researchers in Spain are beginning to experiment with this new technique on the frescoes of Antonio Palomino from the 17th century in the Church of Santos Juanes in Valencia. They have shown that a certain type of micro-organism is capable of cleaning works of art in a fast, specific and respectful way as well as being non-toxic for the restorer and the environment. ... > full story

GPS stations can detect clandestine nuclear tests (June 8, 2011) -- At the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization meeting, American researchers are unveiling a new tool for detecting illegal nuclear explosions: the Earth's global positioning system (GPS). Even underground nuclear tests leave their mark on the part of the upper atmosphere known as the ionosphere, the researchers discovered, when they examined GPS data recorded the same day as a North Korean nuclear test in 2009. ... > full story

Bacteria on old-growth trees may help forests grow (June 8, 2011) -- The growth and development of many forests is thought to be limited by the availability of nitrogen. By collecting mosses on the forest floor and then at 15 and 30 meters up into the forest canopy, researchers were able to show both that the cyanobacteria are more abundant in mosses high above the ground, and that they "fix" twice as much nitrogen as those associated with mosses on the forest floor. ... > full story

'Wrong'-time eating reduces fertility in fruit flies: Study points to fertility-metabolism connection (June 8, 2011) -- Researchers manipulated circadian rhythms in fruit flies and measured the affect on egg-laying capacity. But they stress what's true in flies grown in a lab does not necessarily hold for humans, and any potential link between diet and reproduction would have to be independently tested. "I would say that eating at the wrong time of the day has deleterious consequences for physiology," says lead author Amita Sehgal. ... > full story

New bee viruses identified: Finding offers baseline to study colony collapse (June 8, 2011) -- A 10-month study of healthy honey bees by California scientists has identified four new viruses that infect bees, while revealing that each of the viruses or bacteria previously linked to colony collapse is present in healthy hives as well. ... > full story

Coffee drinking improves hepatitis C treatment response, study suggests (June 8, 2011) -- Advanced hepatitis C patients with chronic liver disease may benefit from drinking coffee during treatment, according to a new study. Patients who received peginterferon plus ribavirin treatment and who drank three or more cups of coffee per day were two times more likely to respond to treatment than non-drinkers. ... > full story

Black, white and stinky: Explaining bold coloration in skunks (June 8, 2011) -- Biologists can now explain why some species such as skunks use bold coloration to warn predators either that they risk being sprayed with stinky gas or getting into a vicious fight, while other species don't. ... > full story

Protein folding made easy (June 8, 2011) -- Computational methods of modeling protein folding have existed for a couple of decades. But they required hundreds of thousands of CPU hours to compute the folding dynamics of 40 amino acids proteins. Now, researchers have developed algorithms able to predict correctly in 10 minutes on a single laptop, a coarse-grained representation of the folding pathways of a protein with 60 amino acids. ... > full story

Desktop genome analyzer and browser lets biologists easily analyze and process high-throughput data (June 8, 2011) -- Scientists have developed a desktop genome analyzer and browser that allows biologists to rapidly and easily analyze and process their high-throughput data. ... > full story

Air quality worsened by paved surfaces: Widespread urban development alters weather patterns (June 7, 2011) -- New research focusing on the Houston area suggests that widespread urban development alters wind patterns in a way that can make it easier for pollutants to build up during warm summer weather instead of being blown out to sea. The international study could have implications for the air quality of fast-growing coastal cities in the United States and other midlatitude regions overseas. The reason: the proliferation of strip malls, subdivisions, and other paved areas may interfere with breezes needed to clear away smog and other pollution. ... > full story

NASA sees the sun having a solar blast (June 7, 2011) -- The Sun unleashed an M-2 (medium-sized) solar flare, an S1-class (minor) radiation storm and a spectacular coronal mass ejection (CME) on June 7, 2011 from sunspot complex 1226-1227. The large cloud of particles mushroomed up and fell back down looking as if it covered an area of almost half the solar surface. ... > full story

Native ants use chemical weapons to turn back invading Argentine ants (June 7, 2011) -- University sophomores studying ants in a summer course discovered that the local ants were using poison to kill invading Argentine ants. The discovery provides new insight into the war between the local "winter ants" and the South American invaders who have shown up everywhere from California to South Africa. ... > full story

Glaciations may have larger influence on biodiversity than current climate, dung beetle study finds (June 7, 2011) -- An investigation by Spanish researchers reveals that the large impacts occurred during the last ice age maintain their effects on the current distribution of dung beetles of the scarab family (Scarabaeidae). The presence of these beetles in Europe seems to be more influenced by the climate of that glaciation than by the present one. ... > full story

Apple ingredient keeps muscles strong: Component of apple peels found to help prevent muscle weakening in mice (June 7, 2011) -- In search of a way to prevent the muscle wasting that comes with illness and aging, researchers have landed a natural compound that might just do the trick. The findings identify a component of apple peels as a promising new drug candidate for the widespread and debilitating condition that affects nearly everyone at one time or another. ... > full story

Fetal exposure to BPA changes development of uterus in primates, study suggests (June 7, 2011) -- Exposure in the womb to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in the food and medical industries, causes changes in female primates' uterus development, new research suggests. ... > full story

Novel geothermal technology packs a one-two punch against climate change (June 7, 2011) -- Researchers have developed an innovative approach to tapping heat beneath Earth's surface. The method is expected to not only produce renewable electricity far more efficiently than conventional geothermal systems, but also help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide -- dealing a one-two punch against climate change. ... > full story

Jellyfish blooms shunt food energy from fish to bacteria (June 7, 2011) -- A new study shows that jellyfish are more than a nuisance to bathers and boaters, drastically altering marine food webs by shunting food energy from fish toward bacteria. An apparent increase in the size and frequency of jellyfish blooms in coastal and estuarine waters around the world during the last few decades means that jellies' impact on marine food webs is likely to increase into the future. ... > full story

Bisphenol A (BPA) accumulates more rapidly within the body than previously thought (June 7, 2011) -- A new study shows that the exposure to the controversial chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) through diet has been underestimated by previous lab tests. In the study, researchers compared BPA concentrations in mice that were given a steady diet supplemented with BPA throughout the day, compared to the more common lab method of single exposure, and found an increased absorption and accumulation of BPA in the blood of mice. ... > full story

Methane gas from cows: The proof is in the feces (June 7, 2011) -- Scientists could have a revolutionary new way of measuring how much of the potent greenhouse gas methane is produced by cows and other ruminants, thanks to a surprising discovery in their feces. ... > full story

Scanning the skies for debris hazards (June 7, 2011) -- Today, orbiting satellites are threatened by over 700 000 pieces of debris. Avoiding them requires knowing where they are, and that means surveillance with radar and telescopes. The European Space Agency is designing a system to catalog debris and warn satellite operators when to take evasive action. ... > full story

Yo-yo dieting vs. obesity? Dieters may be healthier, live longer, mouse study suggests (June 7, 2011) -- Yo-yo dieters may be healthier and live longer than those who stay obese, a new study suggests. Mice that switched between a high-fat and low-fat diet every four weeks during their approximate two-year lifespan lived about 25 percent longer and had better blood glucose levels than obese animals that ate a high-fat diet. The yo-yo dieters also lived about as long as a control group of mice steadily fed a low-fat diet. ... > full story

Satellites see eruption of Chile's Puyehue-Cordón volcano from space (June 7, 2011) -- NASA's Terra Satellite, the GOES-13 and GOES-11 satellites all captured images of the ash plume from southern Chile's Puyehue-Cordón Volcano. The volcano is located in Puyehue National Park in the Andes of Ranco Province of Chile. ... > full story

First-of-its-kind fluorescence map offers a new view of the world's land plants (June 7, 2011) -- Scientists from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center have produced groundbreaking global maps of land plant fluorescence, a difficult-to-detect reddish glow that leaves emit as a byproduct of photosynthesis. While researchers have previously mapped how ocean-dwelling phytoplankton fluoresce, the new maps are the first to focus on land vegetation and to cover the entire globe. ... > full story

Compaction bands in sandstone are permeable: Findings could aid hydraulic fracturing, other fluid extraction techniques (June 7, 2011) -- When geologists survey an area of land for the potential that gas or petroleum deposits could exist there, they must take into account the composition of rocks that lie below the surface. Previous research had suggested that compaction bands might act as barriers to the flow of oil or gas. Now, researchers have analyzed X-ray images of sandstone and revealed that compaction bands are actually more permeable than earlier models indicated. ... > full story

Scientists use super microscope to pinpoint body’s immunity 'switch' (June 7, 2011) -- Using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, medical scientists have been able for the first time to see the inner workings of T-cells, the front-line troops that alert our immune system to go on the defensive against germs and other invaders in our bloodstream. The discovery overturns prevailing understanding, identifying the exact molecular "switch" that spurs T-cells into action -- a breakthrough that could lead to treatments for a range of conditions from autoimmune diseases to cancer. ... > full story

Scientists unlock potential of frog skin to treat cancer (June 7, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered proteins in frog skins which could be used to treat cancer, diabetes, stroke and transplant patients by regulating the growth of blood vessels. ... > full story

Desserts with a low glycemic index may benefit weight-loss efforts for obese children (June 7, 2011) -- Overweight girls lose more weight and can better stay on a healthy diet if they eat sugar-free, low-fat desserts several times weekly, as opposed to any dessert once a week, a new study finds. ... > full story

Biochemical weakness of malaria parasite discovered; Vaccine to be developed (June 7, 2011) -- Every year, 10,000 pregnant women and up to 200,000 newborn babies are killed by the malaria parasite. Doctors all around the globe have for years been looking in vain for a medical protection, and now researchers in Denmark have found the biochemically weakness of the lethal malaria parasite, and will now start developing a vaccine to combat pregnancy related malaria. ... > full story

Recent increase in sustainably managed tropical forests, but forces driving preservation could lose to those favoring destruction (June 7, 2011) -- A comprehensive assessment of tropical forest management reports a 50 percent increase in the area of tropical forest under sustainable management in just five years, but cautions that key drivers of that increase -- growing demand for certified timber and funding for climate change initiatives -- could have only a marginal impact in the long-term. ... > full story

Higher density means world forests are capturing more carbon (June 6, 2011) -- Forests in many regions are becoming larger carbon sinks thanks to higher density, researchers say in a new report. In Europe and North America, increased density significantly raised carbon storage despite little or no expansion of forest area, according to the study. Even in the South American nations studied, more density helped maintain regional carbon levels in the face of deforestation. ... > full story

BPA lowers male fertility, mouse study finds (June 6, 2011) -- Daily exposure to a chemical that is prevalent in the human environment, bisphenol A, causes lowered fertility in male mice, according to the results of a new study. ... > full story

Hyperdiverse flora in Cape region, Africa, mainly caused by huge range of soil types (June 6, 2011) -- Hardly any other place worldwide boosts such a hyperdiverse flora as is to be found on the southwestern tip of Africa. The flora is moreover quite unique with almost 70 % of the native species being endemic. Biologists have now established that the remarkable plant diversity is mainly due to the large range of different soils in this region. ... > full story

Climate scientists forecast permanently hotter summers (June 6, 2011) -- The tropics and much of the Northern Hemisphere are likely to experience an irreversible rise in summer temperatures within the next 20 to 60 years if atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations continue to increase, according to a new climate study. ... > full story

Gene therapy reverses type 1 diabetes in mice, study finds (June 6, 2011) -- An experimental cure for type 1 diabetes has a nearly 80 percent success rate in curing diabetic mice. The results offer possible hope of curing a disease that affects 3 million Americans. ... > full story