ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Thursday, September 1, 2011

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Thursday, September 1, 2011

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Cutting soot emissions: Fastest, most economical way to slow global warming? (September 1, 2011) -- A new study of dust-like particles of soot in the air -- now emerging as the second most important, but previously overlooked, factor in global warming -- provides fresh evidence that reducing soot emissions from diesel engines and other sources could slow melting of sea ice in the Arctic faster and more economically than any other quick fix. ... > full story

Down to the wire: Inexpensive technique for making high quality nanowire solar cells (September 1, 2011) -- Researchers have developed a solution-based technique for fabricating core/shell nanowire solar cells using the semiconductors cadmium sulfide for the core and copper sulfide for the shell. These inexpensive and easy-to-make nanowire solar cells hold great promise for future solar cell technology. ... > full story

Tasmanian tiger's jaw was too small to attack sheep, study shows (September 1, 2011) -- Australia's iconic thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, was hunted to death in the early Twentieth century for allegedly killing sheep; however, a new study has found that the tiger had such weak jaws that its prey was probably no larger than a possum. ... > full story

Rare Siamese crocodiles hatched in Lao PDR (September 1, 2011) -- Biologist have successfully hatched a clutch of 20 Siamese crocodiles, a species threatened across its range by hunting, habitat fragmentation and loss, and other factors. ... > full story

NASA satellite observes unusually hot July in the U.S. Great Plains (August 31, 2011) -- Much of the United States sweated through an unusually humid heat wave during July, a month that brought record-breaking temperatures to many areas across the Great Plains. As temperatures soared, NASA satellites observed the unusual weather from above. ... > full story

New bacterium found causing tick-borne illness ehrlichiosis in Wisconsin and Minnesota (August 31, 2011) -- A new tick-borne bacterium infecting humans with ehrlichiosis has been discovered in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Experts say the new species from the Ehrlichia genus can cause a feverish illness in humans. The new bacterium, not yet named, has been identified in more than 25 people and found in black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Researchers used culture and genetic analyses. ... > full story

Some desert birds less affected by wildfires and climate change (August 31, 2011) -- A new study has found that some bird species in the desert southwest are less affected, and in some cases positively influenced, by widespread fire through their habitat. In fact, the researchers say that fire actually helps some bird species because of the habitat that is formed after a fire is positive for the bird's prey needs. ... > full story

First lizard genome sequenced: Green anole lizard's genome sheds light on vertebrate evolution (August 31, 2011) -- The green anole lizard is an agile and active creature, and so are elements of its genome. This genomic agility and other new clues have emerged from the full sequencing of the lizard's genome and may offer insights into how the genomes of humans, mammals, and their reptilian counterparts have evolved since mammals and reptiles parted ways 320 million years ago. ... > full story

Cracking cellulose: A step into the biofuels future (August 31, 2011) -- Scientists from the University of York have played a pivotal role in a discovery which could finally unlock the full potential of waste plant matter to replace oil as a fuel source. ... > full story

Solar industry responsible for lead emissions in developing countries, research finds (August 31, 2011) -- Solar power heavily reliant on lead batteries has the potential to release more than 2.4 million tons of lead pollution in China and India, according to new research. ... > full story

Great tits sing low to be loved or high to be heard (August 31, 2011) -- Male great tits of this species try to sound sexy to females by singing complex or high performance songs, but may find their attempts hindered by human-generated noise. Birds have been found to adjust their songs when confronted with urban noise, which seems an effective strategy to deal with masking interference. However, such change may come at a cost of reduced attractiveness. ... > full story

Sandfly saliva provides important clues for new Leishmaniasis treatments (August 31, 2011) -- For millions threatened with Leishmania infection, new research points to breakthroughs preventing these parasites from taking hold in the body or reducing the severity of infections. A new report shows specific molecules found in saliva of the sandfly allow for Leishmania to evade neutrophils and live within human hosts. Along with providing new targets for drug development, this discovery may help doctors accurately gauge the severity of infections. ... > full story

'Landlubber' fish leap for love when tide is right: Research sheds light on how animal life first evolved to colonize land (August 31, 2011) -- One of the world's strangest animals -- a unique fish that lives on land and can leap large distances despite having no legs -- has a rich and complex social life, a new study has found. The odd lifestyle of the Pacific leaping blenny (Alticus arnoldorum) has been detailed for the first time in research findings that throw new light on how animal life first evolved to colonize the land. ... > full story

Putting the squeeze on fruit with 'pascalization' boosts healthful antioxidant levels (August 31, 2011) -- Scientists are reporting new evidence that a century-old food preservation technology, finding a new life amid 21st-century concerns about food safety and nutrition, more than doubles the levels of certain healthful natural antioxidants in fruit. The effect occurs as a bonus in addition to its effects in killing harmful bacteria, viruses and mold in food. ... > full story

Panda poop may be a treasure trove of microbes for making biofuels (August 31, 2011) -- Panda feces contains bacteria with potent effects in breaking down plant material in the way needed to tap biomass as a major new source of "biofuels" produced not from corn and other food sources, but from grass, wood chips and crop wastes, scientists report. ... > full story

New way to disarm malaria parasite (August 31, 2011) -- A novel technique to "tame" the malaria parasite, by forcing it to depend on an external supply of a vital chemical, has been developed. The scientists have, in effect, created a domesticated strain of Plasmodium -- the one-celled parasite that causes malaria -- that would no longer cause this dreaded disease. ... > full story

Viruses in the human gut show dynamic response to diet (August 31, 2011) -- The digestive system is home to a myriad of viruses, but how they are involved in health and disease is poorly understood. Researchers have now investigated the dynamics of virus populations in the human gut, shedding new light on the gut "virome" and how it differs between people and responds to changes in diet. ... > full story

Vitamin C may be beneficial for asthmatic children, study suggests (August 31, 2011) -- Depending on the age of asthmatic children, on their exposure to molds or dampness in their bedroom, and on the severity of their asthma, vitamin C has greater or smaller beneficial effect against asthma, according to a recent study. ... > full story

Are New England's iconic maples at risk? (August 31, 2011) -- Results from the first study of the Asian longhorned beetle in forests show that the invasive insect can easily spread from tree-lined city streets to neighboring forests. ... > full story

Taking a fresh look at the weather: Traditional model for how low pressure systems evolve is deeply flawed, researcher argues (August 31, 2011) -- Given the UK's obsession with the weather, it would seem obvious that the basic understanding of how low pressure systems evolve has been known for a long time. Instead, some of the biggest storms in the UK's history, such as the Great Storm of October 1987, did not fit this basic understanding. One researcher believes the way we learn about the weather is wrong and has been wrong for 90 years. ... > full story

Tropical coral could be used to create novel sunscreens for human use, say scientists (August 31, 2011) -- Researchers have discovered how coral produces natural sunscreen compounds to protect itself from damaging UV rays, leading scientists to believe these compounds could form the basis of a new type of sunscreen for humans. ... > full story

What's really in that luscious chocolate aroma? (August 31, 2011) -- The mouth-watering aroma of roasted cocoa beans -- key ingredient for chocolate -- emerges from substances that individually smell like potato chips, cooked meat, peaches, raw beef fat, human sweat, earth and an improbable palate of other distinctly un-cocoa-like aromas. That's among the discoveries emerging from an effort to identify the essential aroma and taste ingredients in the world's favorite treat. ... > full story

Malaria discovery gives hope for new drugs and vaccines (August 31, 2011) -- An investigation into the mysterious inner workings of the malaria parasite has revealed that it survives and proliferates in the human bloodstream thanks in part to a single, crucial chemical that the parasite produces internally. ... > full story

Decade-long study reveals recurring patterns of viruses in the open ocean (August 30, 2011) -- Viruses fill the ocean and have a significant effect on ocean biology, specifically marine microbiology, according to new research. ... > full story

Monitoring ground-level ozone from space (August 30, 2011) -- Satellite views of the Midwestern United States show that ozone levels above 50 parts per billion along the ground could reduce soybean yields by at least 10 percent, costing more than billion in lost crop production, according to scientists. ... > full story

Hurricane Irene: Scientists collect water quality and climate change data from huge storm (August 30, 2011) -- While Hurricane Irene had officials along the U.S. East Coast preparing for mass evacuations, scientists were grabbing their best data collection tools and heading straight for the storm's path. ... > full story

From mild-mannered to killer: Study explains plague's rapid evolution and sheds light on fighting deadly diseases (August 30, 2011) -- How did a bacterium that causes mild stomach irritation rapidly evolve into a deadly assassin responsible for the most devastating pandemics in human history? New DNA sequencing techniques reveal how Yersinia pseudotuberculosis became Yersinia pestis, otherwise know as the plague. The new study offers a glimpse into how the new technology might aid in the development of drugs to fight deadly diseases, including the plague. ... > full story

Community ecology: For marine microbes, it's not who you are, but what you do (August 30, 2011) -- When you're a tiny creature in a vast ocean it pays to hang out with the right crowd, regardless of whether they are related to you or not, a new study into the amazingly diverse world of marine microbes has found. For bacteria at least, it seems that what matters more than your species identity is whether you have specific genes that let you work with other species to form a functioning community. ... > full story

Green tea is effective in treating genetic disorder and types of tumors, study suggests (August 30, 2011) -- A compound found in green tea shows great promise for the development of drugs to treat two types of tumors and a deadly congenital disease. ... > full story

Natural anti-oxidant deserts aging body: Cell’s reserve fighting force shrinks with age, new study finds (August 30, 2011) -- A new study of human cells finds that mitochondria, energy plants of cells, are more vulnerable in senescent cells due to impaired function of an anti-oxidant enzyme. ... > full story

Wolves may aid recovery of Canada lynx, a threatened species (August 30, 2011) -- As wolf populations grow in parts of the West, most of the focus has been on their value in aiding broader ecosystem recovery -- but a new study also points out that they could play an important role in helping to save other threatened species, including the Canada lynx. ... > full story

Future climate change may increase asthma attacks in children (August 30, 2011) -- Researchers have found that climate change may lead to more asthma-related health problems in children, and more emergency room visits in the next decade. ... > full story

Microscope on the go: Cheap, portable, dual-mode microscope uses holograms, not lenses (August 30, 2011) -- To serve remote areas of the world, doctors, nurses and field workers need equipment that is portable, versatile, and relatively inexpensive. Now researchers have built a compact, light-weight, dual-mode microscope that uses holograms instead of lenses. It weighs about as much as a banana and fits in the palm of a hand. ... > full story

New method reveals parts of bacterial genome essential to life (August 30, 2011) -- A research team has cataloged, down to the letter, exactly what parts of the genetic code are essential for survival in one bacterial species, Caulobacter crescentus. They found that 12 percent of the bacteria's genetic material is essential for survival under laboratory conditions. The essential elements included not only protein-coding genes, but also regulatory DNA and, intriguingly, other small DNA segments of unknown function. The other 88 percent of the genome could be disrupted without harming the bacteria's ability to grow and reproduce. ... > full story

Heavy chocolate consumption may be linked to heart health, study suggests (August 30, 2011) -- High levels of chocolate consumption might be associated with a one third reduction in the risk of developing heart disease, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Rotavirus vaccination of infants also protects unvaccinated older children and adults, study finds (August 30, 2011) -- Vaccinating infants against rotavirus also prevents serious disease in unvaccinated older children and adults, according to a new study. This helps reduce rotavirus-related hospital costs in these older groups. ... > full story

Watching viruses 'friend' a network: Researchers develop Facebook application to track the path of infection (August 30, 2011) -- PiggyDemic, an application developed by researchers in Israel, allows Facebook users to "infect" their friends with a simulated virus or become infected themselves. This will allow researchers to gather information on how a virus mutates, spreads through human interaction, and the number of people it infects. ... > full story

Preserving 4 percent of the ocean could protect most marine mammal species, study finds (August 30, 2011) -- Preserving just 4 percent of the ocean could protect crucial habitat for the vast majority of marine mammal species, from sea otters to blue whales, according to researchers in a new study. ... > full story

Discovery turns seaweed into biofuel in half the time (August 30, 2011) -- Scientists have engineered a new strain of yeast that converts seaweed into biofuel in half the time it took just months ago. ... > full story

Mind-altering microbes: Probiotic bacteria may lessen anxiety and depression (August 30, 2011) -- Probiotic bacteria have the potential to alter brain neurochemistry and treat anxiety and depression-related disorders, according to a new study by researchers in Ireland and Canada. ... > full story

Females choose mates for their personalities, zebra finch study shows (August 30, 2011) -- Adventurous females choose mates with similar personalities, regardless of the male's appearance and other assets, according to new research in birds. This is the first study to show that the non-sexual behavior or personalities of both mates influences partner choice in non-humans. The study focused on a population of more than 150 zebra finches. ... > full story

Mysteries of ozone depletion continue 25 years after the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole (August 30, 2011) -- Even after many decades of studying ozone and its loss from our atmosphere, plenty of mysteries and surprises remain, including an unexpected loss of ozone over the Arctic this past winter, an authority on the topic has said. She also discussed chemistry and climate change, including some proposed ideas to "geoengineer" the Earth's climate to slow down or reverse global warming at a recent meeting. ... > full story

'Unfounded' pesticide concerns adversely affect health of low-income populations, expert argues (August 30, 2011) -- The increasingly prevalent notion that expensive organic fruits and vegetables are safer because pesticides are a risk for causing cancer has no good scientific support, according to one expert. Such unfounded fears could have the unanticipated consequence of keeping healthful fruits and vegetables from those with low incomes, he argues. ... > full story

Kelp farming is on its way (August 30, 2011) -- An underwater “field” as big as a Norwegian county could provide two billion liters of kelp-based fuel a year. Researchers are working to cultivate seaweed and kelp on a large scale. ... > full story

Meiosis: Oocytes have intracellular stream to push chromosomes off center for cell division (August 29, 2011) -- Most cells rely on structural tethers to position chromosomes in preparation for cell division. Not so oocytes. Instead, a powerful intracellular stream pushes chromosomes far-off the center in preparation for the highly asymmetric cell division that completes oocyte maturation upon fertilization of the egg, report researchers. ... > full story

Species share perceptual capabilities that affect how communication evolves, research finds (August 29, 2011) -- New research reveals that two entirely different species show similar perception of auditory cues that drive basic biological functions; that these perceptions may be universally shared among animals; and that such perception may also limit the evolution of communication signals. ... > full story

Black Death bacterium identified: Genetic analysis of medieval plague skeletons shows presence of Yersinia pestis bacteria (August 29, 2011) -- A team of German and Canadian scientists has shown that today's plague pathogen has been around at least 600 years. The Black Death claimed the lives of one-third of Europeans in just five years from 1348 to 1353. Until recently, it was not certain whether the bacterium Yersinia pestis -- known to cause the plague today -- was responsible for that most deadly outbreak of disease ever. ... > full story

Wastewater recycling can multiply greenhouse gas emissions (August 29, 2011) -- New research shows that wastewater recycling processes may generate more greenhouse gases than traditional water-treatment processes. Despite this finding, there are good reasons to continue keep wastewater recycling among the water-resource tools for urban areas. ... > full story