ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Tuesday, March 27, 2012

ScienceDaily Environment Headlines

for Tuesday, March 27, 2012

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Expedition to undersea mountain yields new information about sub-seafloor structure (March 26, 2012) -- Scientists recently concluded an expedition aboard the research vessel JOIDES Resolution to learn more about Atlantis Massif, an undersea mountain, or seamount, that formed in a very different way than the majority of the seafloor in the oceans. ... > full story

Geologists correct a 'rift' in Africa (March 26, 2012) -- The huge changes in the Earth's crust that influenced human evolution are being redefined, according to new research. The Great Rift Valley of East Africa -- the birthplace of the human species -- may have taken much longer to develop than previously believed. ... > full story

A 24-karat gold key to unlock the immune system (March 26, 2012) -- Using nanoparticles made of pure gold, researchers have developed a new method of introducing chemical residues into the immune system, triggering immune cells to help the body fight infection. The breakthrough could lead to an increased understanding of viruses and bacteria, better drug delivery systems, and more effective medications and vaccinations. ... > full story

Deep-ocean impact of the Deepwater Horizon explosion revealed (March 26, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered compelling evidence of the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea corals. The researchers used a wide range of underwater vehicles, including the research submarine Alvin, as well as comprehensive chemical-analysis techniques to determine precisely the source of the petroleum hydrocarbons they found on the corals. ... > full story

Single antibody shrinks variety of human tumors transplanted into mice, study shows (March 26, 2012) -- Human tumors transplanted into laboratory mice disappeared or shrank when scientists treated the animals with a single antibody, according to a new study. The antibody works by masking a protein flag on cancer cells that protects them from macrophages and other cells in the immune system. The scientists achieved the findings with human breast, ovarian, colon, bladder, brain, liver and prostate cancer samples. ... > full story

Slime mold mimics Canadian highway network (March 26, 2012) -- A researcher placed rolled oats on a map of Canada, covering the major urban areas. One urban area held the slime mold. The slime mold reached out for the food, creating thin tubes that eventually formed a network mirroring the Canadian highway system. ... > full story

Some Gulf dolphins severely ill after Gulf oil spill (March 26, 2012) -- Bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, are showing signs of severe ill health, according to marine mammal biologists. Barataria Bay, located in the northern Gulf of Mexico, received heavy and prolonged exposure to oil during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ... > full story

New synthetic biology technique boosts microbial production of diesel fuel (March 26, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a "dynamic sensor-regulator system" that can detect metabolic changes in microbes during the production of fatty acid-based fuels or chemicals and control the expression of genes affecting that production. The result in one demonstration was a threefold increase in the microbial production of biodiesel from glucose. ... > full story

To drive infections, a hijacking virus mimics a cell's signaling system (March 26, 2012) -- New biological research reveals how an invading virus hijacks a cell's workings by imitating a signaling marker to defeat the body's defenses. By manipulating cell signals, the virus destroys a defensive protein designed to inhibit it. This finding, from studies in human cell cultures, may represent a broader targeting strategy used by other viruses, and may lay the scientific groundwork for developing more effective treatments for infectious diseases. ... > full story

Hammerhead shark double whammy (March 26, 2012) -- A new look-alike species may muddy the water for an endangered hammerhead. ... > full story

Compound in soy products may help lower blood pressure (March 26, 2012) -- Soy-based food products have taken grocery store shelves by storm, and the benefits of soy are steadily beginning to emerge. Eating foods that contain isoflavones – a key compound in soy milk, tofu, green tea and even peanuts – every day may help young adults lower their blood pressure. ... > full story

Snacking on raisins may offer a heart-healthy way to lower blood pressure (March 26, 2012) -- If you have slightly higher than normal blood pressure – known as prehypertension – consider eating a handful of raisins. New data suggest that, among individuals with mild increases in blood pressure, the routine consumption of raisins (three times a day) may significantly lower blood pressure. ... > full story

Saving habitat key to songbird's survival (March 26, 2012) -- The golden-winged warbler – already long gone from Ohio – is disappearing from regions across the United States. The population of this little, gray songbird with bright yellow patches on its wings and head has been in precipitous decline since 1966. And, as of yet, it remains unprotected by the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. ... > full story

Tagged lice help researchers study social interactions of shy brown mouse lemurs (March 26, 2012) -- It can be difficult to uncover the behavior of small, shy, nocturnal primates like the brown mouse lemur, especially in the dense rainforests of Madagascar where this lemur lives. New research shows that the social interactions of brown mouse lemurs can be monitored by mapping the transfer of tagged lice. ... > full story

James Cameron makes first ever successful solo dive to Mariana Trench -- ocean's deepest point (March 26, 2012) -- Filmmaker James Cameron descended 35,756 feet (6.77 miles/10.89 km) to reach the "Challenger Deep," the ocean's deepest point located in the Mariana Trench, in his specially designed submersible DEEPSEA CHALLENGER. The attempt was part of DEEPSEA CHALLENGE, a joint scientific expedition by Cameron, National Geographic and Rolex to conduct deep-ocean research and exploration. Cameron is the only individual ever to complete the dive in a solo vehicle and the first person since 1960 to reach the very bottom of the world in a manned submersible. ... > full story

Inner weapons against allergies: Gut bacteria control allergic diseases, study suggests (March 25, 2012) -- Researchers have found that commensal bacteria in humans might play an important role in influencing and controlling allergic inflammation. The study suggest that therapeutic targeting of immune cell responses to resident gut bacteria may be beneficial in treating allergic diseases. ... > full story

Extreme weather of last decade part of larger pattern linked to global warming (March 25, 2012) -- The past decade has been one of unprecedented weather extremes. Scientists now argue that the high incidence of extremes is not merely accidental. From the many single events a pattern emerges. At least for extreme rainfall and heat waves the link with human-caused global warming is clear, the scientists show in a new analysis of scientific evidence. ... > full story

Popcorn: The snack with even higher antioxidants levels than fruits and vegetables (March 25, 2012) -- Popcorn’s reputation as a snack food that’s actually good for health popped up a few notches today as scientists reported that it contains more of the healthful antioxidant substances called "polyphenols" than fruits and vegetables. ... > full story

A double ring ceremony prepares telomerase RNA to wed its protein partner (March 25, 2012) -- Few molecules are more interesting than DNA—except of course RNA. After two decades of research, that “other macromolecule” is no longer considered a mere messenger between glamorous DNA and protein-synthesizing machines. We now know that RNA has been leading a secret life, regulating gene expression and partnering with proteins to form catalytic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. ... > full story

Shiny new tool for imaging biomolecules (March 23, 2012) -- Researchers have developed a technique for lacing artificial membranes with billions of gold nanoantennas that can boost optical signals from a protein tens of thousands of times without the protein ever being touched. This technique could provide a critical tool in the fight against a wide range of health problems including cancer. ... > full story

New epilepsy gene located in dogs (March 23, 2012) -- A new epilepsy gene for idiopathic epilepsy in Belgian Shepherds has been found in the canine chromosome 37. This research opens new avenues for the understanding of the genetic background of the most common canine epilepsies. The research also has an impact on the understanding of common epilepsies in humans. ... > full story

Assess global freshwater stress using new tool (March 23, 2012) -- A new method to make better use of vast amounts of data related to global geography, population and climate may help determine the relative importance of population increases vs. climate change. ... > full story

Huge hamsters and pint-sized porcupines thrive on islands: Researchers test 'island rule' of rodent evolution (March 23, 2012) -- From miniature elephants to monster mice, and even Hobbit-sized humans, size changes in island animals are well known to science. Biologists have long believed that large animals evolving on islands tend to get smaller, while small animals tend to get bigger, a generalization they call "the island rule." A new study puts that old idea to the test in island and mainland rodents. ... > full story

Who knew? Fruit flies get kidney stones too (March 23, 2012) -- Research on kidney stones in fruit flies may hold the key to developing a treatment that could someday stop the formation of kidney stones in humans, scientists have found. ... > full story

An extinct species of scops owl has been discovered in Madeira (March 23, 2012) -- Scientists have described a new type of fossil scops owl, the first extinct bird on the archipelago of Madeira (Portugal). Otus mauli, which was also the first nocturnal bird of prey described in the area, lived on land and became extinct as a result of humans arriving on the island. Twenty years ago, the German researcher Harald Pieper discovered fossil remains of a small nocturnal bird of prey in Madeira, which, until now, had not been studied in depth. The international team of palaeontologists has shown that the remains belong to a previously unknown extinct species of scops owl, which they have called Otus mauli. ... > full story

Dairy cows have individual temperaments (March 23, 2012) -- From a young age, dairy cows react differently from each other to stimuli from their surroundings. An animal’s temperament determines how it reacts in stressful situations, but may also influence its general health. In the future, temperament could be bred as a selective trait to improve the robustness and well-being of dairy cows. ... > full story

Humans began walking upright to carry scarce resources, chimp study suggests (March 23, 2012) -- Most of us walk and carry items in our hands every day. These are seemingly simple activities that the majority of us don't question. But scientists have discovered that human bipedalism, or walking upright, may have originated millions of years ago as an adaptation to carrying scarce, high-quality resources. ... > full story

Marine forensics expert seeks to vindicate Titanic survivors' account (March 23, 2012) -- On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking, marine forensics experts are re-interpreting the statements made by survivors at the 1912 official inquiries into the disaster. ... > full story

NASA measures impact of huge solar flare on Earth's atmosphere (March 23, 2012) -- A key NASA instrument that can directly measure the impact of solar events on Earth's upper atmosphere has weighed in on the huge flare that impacted Earth last week. ... > full story

Diatom biosensor could shine light on future nanomaterials (March 23, 2012) -- A biosensor made of fluorescent proteins embedded in the shell of microscopic marine algae called diatoms could help detect chemicals in water samples. The same research could also lead to new, diatom-inspired nanomaterials that could solve problems in sensing, catalysis and environmental remediation. ... > full story

Ancient civilizations reveal ways to manage fisheries for sustainability (March 23, 2012) -- In the search for sustainability of the ocean's fisheries, solutions can be found in a surprising place: the ancient past. Marine scientists reconstructed fisheries yields over seven centuries of human habitation in Hawaii and the Florida Keys, the largest coral reef ecosystems in the United States, and evaluated the management strategies associated with periods of sustainability. The results surprised them. ... > full story

Archaeologists reconstruct diet of Nelson's navy with new chemical analysis of excavated bones (March 23, 2012) -- Salt beef, sea biscuits and the occasional weevil; the food endured by sailors during the Napoleonic wars is seldom imagined to be appealing. Now a new chemical analysis technique has allowed archaeologists to find out just how dour the diet of Georgian sailors really was. The team’s findings also reveal how little had changed for sailors in the 200 years between the Elizabethan and Georgian eras. ... > full story

Plasma flows may shed light on predicting sunspot cycles (March 23, 2012) -- A geophysics researcher wants to look inside the sun. More accurately, she wants to simulate the sun to study plasma flows associated with sunspot cycles. With the help of simulations scientists recently warned about a series of solar storms in early March, concerned that it could affect global positioning systems, power grids, satellites and airplane travel. ... > full story

Simulation explains why HIV cure is elusive (March 23, 2012) -- New research shows why the development of a cure and new treatments for HIV have been so difficult for scientists to crack. ... > full story

Pulp Nonfiction: Fungal analysis reveals clues for targeted biomass deconstruction (March 23, 2012) -- Without fungi and microbes to break down dead trees and leaf litter in nature, the forest floor might look like a scene from TV's "Hoarders." A comparative genomic analysis of two white rot fungi was just published. Both fungi are of interest to bioenergy researchers because they possess enzymes that can break down plant biomass and could therefore be useful for accelerating biofuels production. The study revealed substantial differences among the sets of genes involved in lignocellulose degradation. ... > full story

Subtle differences can lead to major changes in parasites (March 23, 2012) -- Researchers have found the subtle genetic differences that make one parasite far more virulent than its close relative. They looked at the evolution of these parasites and found that although their genome architecture still remains similar, the two split from their common ancestor 28 million years ago, approximately four times longer than the human-gorilla split. ... > full story

High-throughput screening finds surprising properties for antioxidants: Some compounds can damage DNA, but may treat cancer (March 22, 2012) -- Antioxidants have long been thought to have anti-aging properties, primarily by protecting a person's genetic material from damaging chemicals. The story, however, now appears to be much more complicated. Researchers have demonstrated that some antioxidants damage DNA and kill cells instead of protecting them. The findings also suggest that this surprising capability may be good for treating cancer, but may prove cautionary when using antioxidant-based medicines to treat other disorders, such as diabetes. ... > full story

One year later, rehabilitated golden eagle's path revealed (March 22, 2012) -- A rare golden eagle rehabilitated and released last year in Massachusetts spent the summer around the Quebec/Labrador border, then returned to the New York/Connecticut area where it was originally found, new data has revealed. ... > full story

Can our genes be making us fat? (March 22, 2012) -- While high-fat foods are thought to be of universal appeal, there is actually a lot of variation in the extent to which people like and consume fat. A new study reported that two specific genes (TAS2R38–a bitter taste receptor and CD36–a possible fat receptor), may play a role in some people’s ability to taste and enjoy dietary fat. By understanding the role of these two genes, food scientists may be able to help people who have trouble controlling how much fat they eat. ... > full story

New light shed on wandering continents (March 22, 2012) -- A layer of partially molten rock about 22 to 75 miles underground can't be the only mechanism that allows continents to gradually shift their position over millions of years, according to a new research. The result gives insight into what allows plate tectonics -- the movement of the Earth's crustal plates -- to occur. ... > full story

Seismic survey at the Mariana trench will follow water dragged down into the Earth's mantle (March 22, 2012) -- Seismologists have just returned from a cruise in the Western Pacific to lay the instruments for a seismic survey that will follow the water chemically bound to or trapped in the down-diving Pacific Plate at the Mariana trench, the deep trench to which Avatar director James Cameron is poised to plunge. ... > full story

Getting the dirt on immunity: Scientists show evidence for hygiene hypothesis (March 22, 2012) -- Medical professionals have suggested that the hygiene hypothesis explains the global increase of allergic and autoimmune diseases in urban settings. However, neither biologic support nor a mechanistic basis for the hypothesis has been directly demonstrated. Until now. ... > full story

Brown liquor and solar cells to provide sustainable electricity (March 22, 2012) -- A breakthrough for inexpensive electricity from solar cells, and a massive investment in wind power, will mean a need to store energy in an intelligent way. According to new research batteries of biological waste products from pulp mills could provide the solution. ... > full story

Cooking better biochar: Study improves recipe for soil additive (March 22, 2012) -- A simple way to remove carbon from the atmosphere is by adding charcoal, or biochar, to topsoil -- a centuries-old practice that also boosts crop production. A new study finds that when it comes to helping get water to plants, not all biochar is equal. ... > full story

New shortcut for stem cell programming (March 22, 2012) -- Scientists have succeeded in directly generating brain stem cells from the connective tissue cells of mice. ... > full story

Do animals have reflective minds able to self-regulate perception, reasoning, memory? (March 22, 2012) -- There is an emerging consensus among scientists that animals share functional parallels with humans' conscious metacognition -- that is, our ability to reflect on our own mental processes and guide and optimize them, one expert says. ... > full story

Somatic stem cells obtained from skin cells; pluripotency 'detour' skipped (March 22, 2012) -- Breaking new ground, scientists have succeeded in obtaining somatic stem cells from fully differentiated somatic cells. Researchers in Germany took skin cells from mice and, using a unique combination of growth factors while ensuring appropriate culturing conditions, have managed to induce the cells' differentiation into neuronal somatic stem cells. ... > full story

Studying climbers on Everest to help heart patients at home (March 22, 2012) -- Mount Everest is a natural laboratory for studying heart disease, lung problems, muscle loss, sleeping disorders and new medical technologies. ... > full story