ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Friday, March 16, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Friday, March 16, 2012

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Wild orangutans stressed by eco-tourists, but not for long, study out of North Borneo finds (March 15, 2012) -- Wild orangutans that have come into contact with eco-tourists over a period of years show an immediate stress response but no signs of chronic stress, unlike other species in which permanent alterations in stress responses have been documented, new research from an Indiana University anthropologist has found. ... > full story

Was human evolution caused by climate change? (March 15, 2012) -- Models of how animal and plant distributions are affected by climate change may also explain aspects of human evolution. ... > full story

Sex-deprived fruit flies turn to alcohol, perhaps to fulfill a physiological demand for a reward (March 15, 2012) -- After being deprived of sex, male fruit flies may turn to alcohol to fulfill a physiological demand for a reward, according to a new study. Neurobiology experts say that understanding why rejected male flies find solace in ethanol could help treat human addictions. ... > full story

Implanted Biofuel Cell Operating in Living Snail (March 15, 2012) -- Researchers have implanted a biofuel cell in a living snail. This is the first incidence of an implanted biofuel cell continuously operating in a snail and producing electrical power over a long period of time using the snail's physiologically produced glucose as a fuel. ... > full story

With climate change, US could face risk from Chagas disease (March 15, 2012) -- People in the US may be at higher risk for Chagas disease than previously understood. A new study finds that 38 percent of kissing bugs collected in Arizona and California contained human blood and that more than 50 percent of the bugs also carried the parasite that causes this life-threatening disease. This upends the view that US kissing bug species don't regularly feed on people and suggests that Chagas could spread, driven north by climate change. ... > full story

Hotspots for biogenesis of small RNA molecules in plant cells discovered (March 15, 2012) -- Throughout their life, plants form leaves and side roots. These two types of organs have something in common: their development is finely tuned by small regulatory RNA molecules, the trans-acting short interfering RNAs (ta-siRNAs). Scientists were now able to demonstrate how and where within the plant cell these ta-siRNAs are produced. They succeeded in identifying hotspots for the biogenesis of these special RNA molecules. ... > full story

Basketball-sized eyes help squids play defense (March 15, 2012) -- Researchers have used complex computations to explain squids' massive peepers. Giant squids' 10-inch eyes allow them to see very large and hungry sperm whales from a distance in the pitch darkness of their deep-sea home. ... > full story

Protein researchers unravel the molecular dance of DNA repair (March 15, 2012) -- Using state-of-the-art technology, scientists have successfully obtained "molecular snapshots" of tens of thousands processes involved in DNA damage repair. The results will help unravel exactly how cells repair their broken DNA, how chemotherapy affects cells' workings and will assist in the discovery of new drugs with fewer side effects. ... > full story

Rising ocean temperatures harm protected coral reefs (March 15, 2012) -- Special conservation zones known as marine protected areas provide many direct benefits to fisheries and coral reefs. However, such zones appear to offer limited help to corals in their battle against global warming, according to a new study. ... > full story

Cell phone use in pregnancy may cause behavioral disorders in offspring, mouse study suggests (March 15, 2012) -- Exposure to radiation from cell phones during pregnancy affects the brain development of offspring, potentially leading to hyperactivity, researchers have determined. ... > full story

Animal health breakthrough: Research uncovers genetic marker that could help control, eliminate PRRS virus (March 15, 2012) -- Scientists have recently discovered a genetic marker that identifies pigs with reduced susceptibility to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, or PRRS. The discovery may improve animal health and save the U.S. pork industry millions of dollars each year. ... > full story

Vineyard records link early grape ripening to climate change (March 15, 2012) -- By using decades of vineyard records, scientists have for the first time been able to attribute early ripening of wine grapes to climate warming and declines in soil water content. ... > full story

Diverse catches are better for fishery ecosystems (March 15, 2012) -- Fishing for a "balanced harvest" can achieve productive fisheries as well as environmental conservation, an international scientific team reports. ... > full story

Clash of the crayfish: Why the Americans are winning (March 15, 2012) -- Aggressive American signal crayfish are threatening Britain's native white-clawed crayfish populations because they have better resistance to parasites and are less fussy about what they eat. ... > full story

Dietary cadmium may be linked with breast cancer risk (March 15, 2012) -- Dietary cadmium, a toxic metal widely dispersed in the environment and found in many farm fertilizers, may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a new study. Cadmium occurs at low concentrations naturally, but scientists are concerned because contamination of farmland mainly due to atmospheric deposition and use of fertilizers leads to higher uptake in plants. Consuming whole grains and vegetables may counteract the effects. ... > full story

Recent generations focus more on fame, money than giving back (March 15, 2012) -- The times are changing, and not necessarily for the better when it comes to giving back to society, according to 40 years of research on 9 million young adults. Since the baby boomer generation, there has been a significant decline among young Americans in political participation, concern for others and interest in saving the environment, according to a new study. ... > full story

Plants 'remember' drought, change responses to survive (March 15, 2012) -- Plants subjected to a previous period of drought learn to deal with the stress thanks to their memories of the previous experience, new research has found. The findings could lead to development of crops better able to withstand drought. ... > full story

Corn insecticide linked to great die-off of beneficial honeybees (March 14, 2012) -- New research has linked springtime die-offs of honeybees critical for pollinating food crops -- part of the mysterious malady called colony collapse disorder -- with technology for planting corn coated with insecticides. The study appears on the eve of spring planting seasons in some parts of Europe where farmers use the technology and widespread deaths of honeybees have occurred in the past. ... > full story

Killer silk: Making silk fibers that kill anthrax and other microbes in minutes (March 14, 2012) -- A simple, inexpensive dip-and-dry treatment can convert ordinary silk into a fabric that kills disease-causing bacteria -- even the armor-coated spores of microbes like anthrax -- in minutes. Researchers describe a range of potential uses for this new killer silk, including make-shift curtains and other protective coatings that protect homes and other buildings in the event of a terrorist attack with anthrax. ... > full story

Evolutionary surprise: Developmental 'scaffold' for vertebrate brain found in brainless marine worm (March 14, 2012) -- Scientists report finding some of the genetic processes that regulate vertebrate brain development in the acorn worm, a brainless, burrowing marine invertebrate. ... > full story

New study lowers estimate of ancient sea-level rise (March 14, 2012) -- The seas are creeping higher as the planet warms. But how high will they go? In Bermuda and the Bahamas, researchers have gone looking for answers; By pinpointing where shorelines stood during a warm period 400,000 years ago, they hope to narrow the range of projections. After correcting for apparent sinking of the islands, the authors of a new study estimate the seas rose 20 to 43 feet higher than today -- far less than previous estimates, but still drastic. ... > full story

Researchers identify unexpected player in intestinal immunity (March 14, 2012) -- With every meal, immune cells in the intestine stand like sentries at a citadel, turning away harmful bacteria but allowing vitamins and nutrients to pass. Now, researchers have identified the cells that chaperone food antigens, or proteins, in the intestine so that the immune system doesn’t mount an attack. Their discovery provides scientists with a potential target for therapies against inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and food allergies. ... > full story

Some mammals used highly complex teeth to compete with dinosaurs (March 14, 2012) -- New research shows that at least one group of small mammals, the multituberculates, actually flourished in the last 20 million years of dinosaurs’ reign and survived their extinction. ... > full story

How salmonella avoids the body's immune response (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered how salmonella, a bacterium found in contaminated raw foods that causes major gastrointestinal distress in humans, thrives in the digestive tract despite the immune system's best efforts to destroy it. ... > full story

Tiny teeth of long-extinct vertebrate – with tips only two micrometers across -- are sharpest dental structures ever (March 14, 2012) -- The tiny teeth of a long-extinct vertebrate -- with tips only two micrometers across: one twentieth the width of a human hair -- are the sharpest dental structures ever measured, new research has found. ... > full story

H. pylori bacteria linked to blood sugar control in adult type II diabetes (March 14, 2012) -- A new study reveals that the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria is associated with elevated levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), an important biomarker for blood glucose levels and diabetes. The association was even stronger in obese individuals with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI). The results suggest the bacteria may play a role in the development of diabetes in adults. ... > full story

Health and ecosystem issues found with popular pavement sealcoat (March 14, 2012) -- A parking lot at the edge of the University of New Hampshire campus has contributed important research to an emerging concern for the environment and human health. The research has found that one type of pavement sealcoat, common on driveways and parking lots throughout the nation, has significant health and ecosystem implications. ... > full story

Hiding in plain sight, a new frog species with a 'weird' croak is identified in New York City (March 14, 2012) -- In New York City -- in the midst of some of the world's tallest skyscrapers -- and within view of the Statue of Liberty, scientists have found a new frog species. While the discovery of new species are regularly made in remote rainforests, finding this one in the ponds and marshes of Staten Island, mainland New York, and New Jersey was a big surprise to scientists. ... > full story

Mystery human fossils put spotlight on China (March 14, 2012) -- Fossils from two caves in southwest China have revealed a previously unknown Stone Age people and give a rare glimpse of a recent stage of human evolution with startling implications for the early peopling of Asia. ... > full story

Millions of Americans at risk of flooding as sea levels rise (March 14, 2012) -- Nearly four million Americans, occupying a combined area larger than the state of Maryland, find themselves at risk of severe flooding as sea levels rise in the coming century, new research suggests. Researchers say that with so many communities concentrated on US coasts, the odds for major storm damage get bigger every year. ... > full story

Fragrant new biofuel: Researchers develop a new candidate for a cleaner, greener and renewable diesel fuel (March 14, 2012) -- Researchers have identified methyl ketones, chemical compounds known for their fragrance and flavor, as strong biofuel candidates. Methyl ketones produced from glucose by engineered E. coli yielded high cetane numbers -- a diesel fuel rating comparable to the octane number for gasoline. ... > full story

How muscle cells seal their membranes (March 14, 2012) -- Every cell is enclosed by a thin double layer of lipids that separates the distinct internal environment of the cell from the extracellular space. Damage to this lipid bilayer, also referred to as plasma membrane, disturbs the cellular functions and may lead to the death of the cell. For example, downhill walking tears many little holes into the plasma membranes of the muscle cells in our legs. To prevent irreparable damage, muscle cells have efficient systems to seal these holes again. Researchers have succeeded for the first time in observing membrane repair in real-time in a living organism. ... > full story

Capturing chromosomes during cell division (March 14, 2012) -- Scientists have been successful in elucidating a new mechanism for the error-free segregation of the human genome during cell division. They have been able to show that the enzyme Aurora B and the protein complex Ska play a central role in flawless chromosome segregation. ... > full story

Dye-sensitized solar cells that use carbon nanotube thin films as transparent electrodes offer significant cost savings (March 14, 2012) -- Dye-sensitized solar cells that use carbon nanotube thin films as transparent electrodes offer significant cost savings ... > full story

Research reveals carbon footprint caused by China's irrigation system (March 13, 2012) -- China’s groundwater irrigation system is responsible for polluting the atmosphere with more than 30 million tonnes of CO2 per year – according to research from the University of East Anglia. ... > full story

Rats match humans in decision-making that involves combining different sensory cues (March 13, 2012) -- The next time you set a trap for that rat running around in your basement, here's something to consider: you are going up against an opponent whose ability to assess the situation and make decisions is statistically just as good as yours. A new study has found that just like humans, rodents also combine multisensory information and exploit it in a "statistically optimal" way -- or the most efficient and unbiased way possible. ... > full story

Dietary patterns exist among US adults based on demographics (March 13, 2012) -- Scientists say they have identified five eating patterns for US adults that are strongly influenced by age, race, region, gender, income and education. ... > full story

Treating intestinal E. coli infection with antibiotic may reduce duration of bacterial carriage (March 13, 2012) -- In the E. coli outbreak in Germany in May 2011, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a lower frequency of long-term carriage of the bacteria and shorter duration of shedding of the bacteria in stool specimens, according to a new study. ... > full story

Investigation of Earth catastrophes from the International Space Station: Uragan Program (March 13, 2012) -- The Uragan program aboard the Russian segment of the International Space Station uses digital photography to study Earth's natural resources by monitoring catastrophes, both natural and human made. Uragan, which means "hurricane" in Russian, began during the first days of habitation on the station and continues to be an important Earth observation program, with the primary goal of defining requirements for a ground-space system for disaster warning and damage mitigation. The program is a logical continuation of the Earth Visual-Instrumental Observations Program (in other words, a crew Earth observation program) started in the Soviet Union/Russia in the early 1970s as part of the Salyut series of space stations and followed by the Mir orbiting complex. ... > full story

Flying through a geomagnetic storm (March 13, 2012) -- Glowing green and red, shimmering hypnotically across the night sky, the aurora borealis is a wonder to behold. Longtime sky watchers say it is the greatest show on Earth. It might be the greatest show in Earth orbit, too. High above our planet, astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been enjoying an up-close view of auroras outside their windows as the ISS flys through geomagnetic storms. ... > full story

Multiple sclerosis study documents negative effect of warmer weather on cognition (March 13, 2012) -- Scientists have shown that outdoor temperature significantly impacts cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis (MS). In cross-sectional and longitudinal samples, patients performed worse on processing speed and memory tasks during warmer outdoor temperatures. Previous research documented increased disease activity during warmer months; this study is the first to show that cognition also fluctuates. This is the first study to support the subjective impression of patients with MS that warm weather negatively affects their cognition. ... > full story

Input of iron linked to biological productivity in ancient Pacific Ocean (March 13, 2012) -- Scientists have found compelling evidence from marine sediment that supports the theory that iron in the Earth’s oceans has a direct impact on biological productivity, potentially affecting the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and, in turn, atmospheric temperature. ... > full story

Charcoal studied for landfill methane containment (March 13, 2012) -- Methane, a potent greenhouse gas that's more than 20 times more effective at trapping atmospheric heat than carbon dioxide, slowly leaks from old, abandoned landfills and town dumps. Researchers are now testing inexpensive biochar as a landfill cover ingredient to keep escaping methane in check. ... > full story

More trans fat consumption linked to greater aggression, researchers find (March 13, 2012) -- Researchers have shown -- by each of a range of measures, in men and women of all ages, in Caucasians and minorities -- that consumption of dietary trans fatty acids is associated with irritability and aggression. ... > full story

Data support theory on location of lost Leonardo da Vinci painting (March 13, 2012) -- Evidence uncovered during research conducted in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio late last year appears to support the theory that a lost Leonardo da Vinci painting existed on the east wall of the Hall of the 500, behind Giorgio Vasari's mural "The Battle of Marciano." ... > full story

Global warming skepticism climbs during tough economic times (March 13, 2012) -- The American public's growing skepticism in recent years about the existence of human-made global warming is rooted in apprehension about the troubled economy, a new study suggests. ... > full story

Potential drug for speeding up cellular recycling (March 13, 2012) -- Cell biologists have identified a potential drug that speeds up trash removal from the cell's recycling center, the lysosome. ... > full story

Hydrogen power in real life: Clean and energy efficient (March 13, 2012) -- Since 2009, a hydrogen powered street cleaning vehicle has been undergoing testing on the streets of Basel. The project is intended to take hydrogen drives out of the laboratory and onto the streets in order to gain experience on using them under practical conditions. The result of the pilot trial: hydrogen as a fuel for municipal utility vehicles saves energy, is environmentally friendly and is technically feasible. In order to make it cost-effective, however, the prices of fuel cells, pressurized storage tanks and electric drives must all drop significantly. ... > full story