ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, July 12, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, July 12, 2011

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Most of world's 'missing species' live in known hotspots, study finds (July 12, 2011) -- Most of the world's "missing" or undiscovered species live in regions already identified by scientists as conservation priorities, according to a new study. ... > full story

E. coli can survive in streambed sediments for months (July 12, 2011) -- Scientists have confirmed that the presence of Escherichia coli pathogens in surface waters could result from the pathogen's ability to survive for months in underwater sediments. ... > full story

Telomeres: Two genes linked to why they stretch in cancer cells (July 12, 2011) -- Scientists have provided more clues to one of the least understood phenomena in some cancers: why the "ends caps" of cellular DNA, called telomeres, lengthen instead of shorten. ... > full story

Owl study expands understanding of human stereovision (July 11, 2011) -- Using owls as a model, a new research study reveals the advantage of stereopsis, commonly referred to as stereovision, is its ability to discriminate between objects and background, not in perceiving absolute depth. The findings show that owls see in stereo much like humans do. ... > full story

When viruses infect bacteria: Looking in vivo at virus-bacterium associations (July 11, 2011) -- Viruses are the most abundant parasites on Earth. Well known viruses, such as the flu virus, attack human hosts, while viruses such as the tobacco mosaic virus infect plant hosts. More common, but less understood, are cases of viruses infecting bacteria known as bacteriophages, or phages. In part, this is due to the difficulty of culturing bacteria and viruses that have been cut off from their usual biological surroundings in a process called in vitro. Researchers have now used a clever technique to look at virus-bacterium interactions in vivo, that is, within an organism's normal state. ... > full story

California groundwater management trickles up from local sources (July 11, 2011) -- In a typical year, California gets about 30 percent of its water from groundwater wells. Yet when it comes to managing this precious resource, the state of California relies on a mixed bag of more than 2,000 local water agencies with varying degrees of authority. But some water districts have moved forward with innovative ideas on conservation -- even without state leadership. ... > full story

Genetic switch for limbs and digits found in primitive fish: Before animals first walked on land, fish carried gene program for limbs (July 11, 2011) -- Genetic instructions for developing limbs and digits were present in primitive fish millions of years before their descendants first crawled on to land, researchers report. The successful swap suggests that the recipe for limb development is conserved in species separated by 400 million years of evolution. ... > full story

Biofilters reduce carbon footprint of old landfill sites (July 11, 2011) -- Researchers in the US are testing biofilter systems as a viable alternative to releasing methane from passive landfill vents into the atmosphere. The technology could reduce the overall impact of old landfills on global warming. ... > full story

Underwater Antarctic volcanoes discovered in the Southern Ocean (July 11, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered previously unknown volcanoes in the ocean waters around the remote South Sandwich Islands. Using ship-borne sea-floor mapping technology during research cruises onboard the RRS James Clark Ross, the scientists found 12 volcanoes beneath the sea surface -- some up to 3 km high. They found 5 km diameter craters left by collapsing volcanoes and seven active volcanoes visible above the sea as a chain of islands. ... > full story

Natural pain relief from poisonous shrub? (July 11, 2011) -- An extract of the poisonous shrub Jatropha curcas acts as a strong painkiller and may have a mode of action different from conventional analgesics, such as morphine and other pharmaceuticals. ... > full story

Scientists discover first gonorrhea strain resistant to all available antibiotics (July 11, 2011) -- An international research team has discovered a strain of gonorrhea resistant to all currently available antibiotics. This new strain is likely to transform a common and once easily treatable infection into a global threat to public health. ... > full story

Climate change reducing ocean's carbon dioxide uptake, new analysis shows (July 11, 2011) -- How deep is the ocean's capacity to buffer against climate change? As one of the planet's largest single carbon absorbers, the ocean takes up roughly one-third of all human carbon emissions, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and its associated global changes. But whether the ocean can continue mopping up human-produced carbon at the same rate is still up in the air. In a new analysis, researchers identify a likely source of many of those inconsistencies and provide some of the first observational evidence that climate change is negatively impacting the ocean carbon sink. ... > full story

Ant colonies: Behavioral variability wins (July 11, 2011) -- They attack other colonies, plunder and rob, kill other colonies' inhabitants or keep them as slaves: Ants are usually regarded as prototypes of social beings that are prepared to sacrifice their lives for their community, but they can also display extremely aggressive behavior towards other nests. Evolutionary biologists in Germany have found that ant colonies are more productive and raise more offspring when the workers in the colony display considerable variation in their levels of aggression. This variation in aggression is possibly part of their division of labor, which is regarded as the basis of the success of social insect societies. ... > full story

A flash of insight: Chemist uses lasers to see proteins at work (July 11, 2011) -- Scientists think they have an important brain transport protein -- glutamate transporter -- figured out. And they are using a novel approach to spy on them by taking aim with lasers. ... > full story

Olympia hypothesis: Tsunamis buried the cult site on the Peloponnese (July 11, 2011) -- Olympia, site of the famous Temple of Zeus and original venue of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, was presumably destroyed by repeated tsunamis that traveled considerable distances inland, and not by earthquake and river floods as has been assumed to date. Evidence in support of this new theory on the virtual disappearance of the ancient cult site on the Peloponnesian peninsula comes from a researcher in Germany. ... > full story

Salamanders spell out evolution in action (July 11, 2011) -- Lungless salamanders (Ensatina eschscholtzii) live in a horseshoe-shape region in California (a 'ring') which circles around the central valley. New research showed that reproductive isolation of E. eschscholtzii was driven by genetic divergence rather than adaption to different ecological habitats. ... > full story

Chromosomes' big picture: Similarities found in genomes across multiple species; Platypus still out of place (July 11, 2011) -- By mapping various genomes onto an X-Y axis, a team of researchers has found that Charles Darwin and a fruit fly -- among other organisms -- have a lot in common genetically. The researchers found that the chromosome sizes within each eukaryotic species are actually similar rather than drastically different as previously believed. They also found that the chromosomes of these different organisms share a similar distribution pattern. ... > full story

Fewer rain storms across southern Australia with global warming (July 11, 2011) -- Decreasing autumn and winter rainfall over southern Australia has been attributed to a 50-year decrease in the average intensity of storms in the region -- a trend which is forecast to continue for another 50 years. ... > full story

Extremely rapid water: Scientists decipher a protein-bound water chain (July 11, 2011) -- Researchers have succeeded in providing evidence that a protein is capable of creating a water molecule chain for a few milliseconds for the directed proton transfer. The combination of vibrational spectroscopy and biomolecular simulations enabled the elucidation of the proton pump mechanism of a cell-membrane protein in atomic detail. The researchers demonstrated that protein-bound water molecules play a decisive role in the function. ... > full story

Potato genome sequence published (July 11, 2011) -- A high quality draft sequence of the potato genome has now been published by the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium, an international team of scientists. ... > full story

Simple little spud helps scientists crack potato's mighty genome (July 11, 2011) -- A rare inbred potato created at Virginia Tech was the first to have its genome sequenced. It will be used as a draft against which the genome sequences of more complicated tubers will be compared. ... > full story

Perfecting the meat of the potato (July 11, 2011) -- By honing in on the mysterious potato genome and its tuber -- its edible portion -- researchers are unveiling the secrets of the world's most-important nongrain food crop. ... > full story

Jewel beetles, obtained from local people, turn out to be four species unknown to science (July 10, 2011) -- Biologists have discovered four new species of jewel beetles (Buprestidae) from South-eastern Asia. This family of beetles is named for their particularly beautiful body and fascinating, shiny colors. ... > full story

Geothermal industry to get boost from new research (July 10, 2011) -- An ambitious project to understand and characterize geothermal potential at nearly 500 sites throughout the Great Basin in the western U.S. is yielding a bounty of information for the geothermal industry to use in developing resources in Nevada, according to a report to the US Department of Energy. ... > full story

Vertebrate jaw design locked early: Study on initial diversification of jaws sheds light on early vertebrate feeding ecology (July 10, 2011) -- With the evolution of jaws some 420 million years ago, jawed animals diversified rapidly into a range of niches that remained stable for the following 80 million years, despite extinctions, habitat loss and competition, say researchers. ... > full story

Ruminant headgear: Antlers, horns, ossicones and pronghorns may offer medical clues (July 10, 2011) -- Emerging from the heads of most cud-chewing mammals, headgear inspire an almost mystical and certainly majestic aura. But, scientists say, we know shockingly little about them. In a new paper, scientists out what is known -- and not known -- about antlers, horns, pronghorns and ossicones. ... > full story

Salt-loving microbe provides new enzymes for the production of next-generation biofuels (July 10, 2011) -- To realize the full potential of advanced biofuels that are derived from lignocellulosic biomass, new technologies that can efficiently and cost-effectively break down this biomass into simple sugars are required. A new class of solvents, ionic liquids, are more efficient in treating the biomass and enhancing the yield of sugars liberated from it. To identify new enzymes that are tolerant of ionic liquids, researchers are turning to salt-tolerant organisms isolated from the Great Salt Lake. ... > full story

Scientists sequence potato genome (July 10, 2011) -- An international consortium has successfully sequenced and analyzed the potato genome. The consortium's work turned up more than 39,000 genes and is expected to speed potato research and breeding projects around the globe. ... > full story

Sex -- as we know it -- works thanks to ever-evolving host-parasite relationships, biologists find (July 9, 2011) -- Biologists have found that, although sexual reproduction between two individuals is costly from an evolutionary perspective, it is favored over self-fertilization in the presence of coevolving parasites. Sex allows parents to produce offspring that are more resistant to the parasites, while self-fertilization dooms populations to extinction at the hands of their biological enemies. ... > full story

Chesapeake Bay pesticides: Some diminish, some persist (July 9, 2011) -- Scientists are identifying factors that influence pesticide levels in the Chesapeake Bay airshed, including traces of "legacy" pesticides that still linger even though they are no longer being used. ... > full story

Increased protection urgently needed for tunas, experts urge (July 9, 2011) -- For the first time, all species of scombrids (tunas, bonitos, mackerels and Spanish mackerels) and billfishes (swordfish and marlins) have been assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Of the 61 known species, seven are classified in a threatened category, being at serious risk of extinction. Four species are listed as Near Threatened and nearly two-thirds have been placed in the Least Concern category. ... > full story

Viruses bathe in rivers and at the beach, too, European study finds (July 9, 2011) -- European researchers have found viruses in nearly 40% of more than 1,400 bathing water samples gathered from coastal and inland areas in nine countries, including Spain. The concentrations found are low, but the scientists are calling for these microorganisms to be monitored in recreational waters, above all at times when their populations skyrocket, as is the case after heavy rains. ... > full story

Holes in fossil bones reveal dinosaur activity (July 8, 2011) -- New research has added to the debate about whether dinosaurs were cold-blooded and sluggish or warm-blooded and active. ... > full story

World War II bombing raids offer new insight into the effects of aviation on climate (July 8, 2011) -- Climate researchers have turned to the Allied bombing raids of the Second World War for a unique opportunity to study the effect thousands of aircraft had on the English climate at a time when civilian aviation remained rare. The study reveals how civilian and military records can help assess the impact of modern aviation on the climate today. ... > full story

Recycling: A new source of indispensible 'rare earth' materials mined mainly in China (July 8, 2011) -- That axiom of sustainability -- "recycle and reuse" -- could help ease concerns about a reliable supply of substances, indispensable for a modern technological society, that are produced almost exclusively in the Peoples' Republic of China. That's the conclusion of a study on these so-called "rare earth" elements. ... > full story

How memory is read out in the fly brain: MB-V2 nerve cells enable the read-out of associative memories (July 8, 2011) -- What happens if you cannot recall your memory correctly? You are able to associate and store the name and face of a person, yet you might be unable to remember them when you meet that person. In this example, the recall of the information is temporarily impaired. How such associative memories are "read out" in the brain remains one of the great mysteries of modern neurobiology. Now, scientists have taken the first step to unravel this mechanism. ... > full story

Indoor air pollution linked to cardiovascular risk (July 8, 2011) -- An estimated two billion people in the developing world heat and cook with a biomass fuel such as wood, but the practice exposes people -- especially women -- to large doses of small-particle air pollution, which can cause premature death and lung disease. ... > full story

New plant genus, species discovered in St. Johns River, Florida (July 8, 2011) -- Remarkable for their exquisite, glass-like cell walls in every imaginable 3-D shape and pattern -- and important for their role as bio-indicators of water quality -- diatoms are the predominant group of microscopic, single-celled algae at the base of the aquatic food chain. Biologists have now identified a new diatom genus and species. ... > full story

Body's natural marijuana-like chemicals make fatty foods hard to resist (July 8, 2011) -- Recent studies have revealed potato chips and french fries to be the worst contributors to weight gain -- and with good reason. Have you ever wondered why you can't eat just one chip or a single fry? It's not just the carbohydrates at fault. ... > full story

Ancestry of polar bears traced to Ireland (July 8, 2011) -- Scientists have discovered that the female ancestor of all living polar bears was a brown bear that lived in the vicinity of present-day Britain and Ireland just prior to the peak of the last ice age -- 20,000 to 50,000 years ago. The research is expected to help guide future conservation efforts for polar bears, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. ... > full story

‘Cling-film’ solar cells could lead to advance in renewable energy (July 8, 2011) -- A scientific advance in renewable energy which promises a revolution in the ease and cost of using solar cells, has just been announced. A new study shows that even when using very simple and inexpensive manufacturing methods - where flexible layers of material are deposited over large areas like cling-film - efficient solar cell structures can be made. ... > full story

Nano detector for deadly anthrax (July 8, 2011) -- An automatic and portable detector that takes just fifteen minutes to analyze a sample suspected of contamination with anthrax is being developed by U.S. researchers. The technology amplifies any anthrax DNA present in the sample and can reveal the presence of just 40 microscopic cells of the deadly bacteria Bacillus anthracis. ... > full story

Fire to become increasingly important driver of atmospheric change in warming world (July 8, 2011) -- Researchers say it is likely that fire will become an increasingly important driver of atmospheric change as the world warms. ... > full story

Molecular gastronomy: Science behind the art of cooking (July 8, 2011) -- Molecular gastronomy (a scientific discipline that studies what happens when we cook) has a lot of untapped potential in Ireland, researchers say. ... > full story

Discovery of natural antibody brings a universal flu vaccine a step closer (July 8, 2011) -- Annually changing flu vaccines with their hit-and-miss effectiveness may soon give way to a single, near-universal flu vaccine, according to a new report. Researchers describe an antibody that, in animal tests, can prevent or cure infections with a broad variety of influenza viruses, including seasonal and potentially pandemic strains. ... > full story

Unraveling potato genome paves way for new varieties (July 8, 2011) -- The potato, the world's third most popular food, has been genetically unraveled. Researchers from the international Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium in 14 countries have mapped the potato's hundreds of millions of building blocks. ... > full story

Fish stock in Scotland's Firth of Clyde at 80-year high -- but most are too small to be landed (July 8, 2011) -- Stocks of seabed-living fish in the Firth of Clyde have reached their highest level since 1927, according to new research. However, the study shows that while fish are actually more abundant than ever, the majority are too small to be landed. ... > full story

Research bolsters importance of horseshoe crab spawning for migrating shorebirds (July 7, 2011) -- Speculation that the welfare of a small, at-risk shorebird is directly tied to horseshoe crab populations is in part supported by new scientific research, according to a new study. ... > full story