ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Monday, November 30, 2009
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Greening of Sahara desert triggered early human migrations out of Africa (November 30, 2009) -- Scientists have determined that a major change in the climate of the Sahara and Sahel region of North Africa facilitated early human migrations from the African continent. Among the key findings are that the Sahara desert and the Sahel were considerably wetter around 9,000, 50,000 and 120,000 years ago then at present, allowing for the growth of trees instead of grasses. ... > full story
Global study of salmon shows: 'Sustainable' food isn't so sustainable (November 30, 2009) -- Popular thinking about how to improve food systems often misses the point, according to the results of a three-year global study of salmon production systems. Rather than pushing for organic or land-based production, or worrying about simple metrics such as "food miles," the study finds that the world can achieve greater environmental benefits by focusing on improvements production and distribution. ... > full story
World’s largest working hydro-electric wave energy device launched (November 30, 2009) -- The global wave energy industry has taken a major stride forward with the launch of the world's largest working hydro-electric wave energy device by Aquamarine Power. ... > full story
New therapy may be effective against bacterial infections and sepsis (November 29, 2009) -- A new study found that certain immune cells primarily associated with asthma and allergies may enhance innate immunity and improve clearance of bacterial infections and may be an effective new therapy against bacterial infections and sepsis in humans. ... > full story
Tough yet stiff, deer antler is materials scientist's dream (November 29, 2009) -- It is almost impossible to make materials that are tough yet stiff: stiff materials tend to break easily and cannot absorb impacts. But not so dry deer antlers. Surviving impacts that are six times greater than crashes that shatter wet femur, deer antler is stiff enough to endure the dueling animals' pushing contests and could teach us how to make stiff, yet tough, materials. ... > full story
Peat fires drive temperatures up: Burning rainforests release huge amounts of greenhouse gases (November 29, 2009) -- The forested peatlands of the tropics store vast amounts of carbon. Forest fires convert this into the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Scientists have now quantified these emissions and shown that peatland fires contribute significantly to global warming. ... > full story
Solar power from your windows, awnings, even clothing? (November 29, 2009) -- New research could one day lead to photovoltaic materials thin enough, flexible enough and inexpensive enough to go not only on rooftops but in windows, outdoor awnings and even clothing. ... > full story
Rare woodland plant uses 'cryptic coloration' to hide from predators (November 29, 2009) -- It is well known that some animal species use camouflage to hide from predators. Individuals that are able to blend in to their surroundings and avoid being eaten are able to survive longer, reproduce, and thus increase their fitness (pass along their genes to the next generation) compared to those who stand out more. This may seem like a good strategy, and fairly common in the animal kingdom, but who ever heard of a plant doing the same thing? ... > full story
Academic questions 'green' initiatives on cutting carbon footprint (November 29, 2009) -- Global carbon markets may well have been hailed as the savior of the planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but in many ways they are doing more harm than good, according to new evidence. ... > full story
Oceanic crust formation is dynamic after all (November 29, 2009) -- Earth scientists have found strong evidence that the geological processes that lead to the formation of oceanic crust are not as uniformly passive as believed. They found centers of dynamic upwelling in the shallow mantle beneath spreading centers on the seafloor. ... > full story
Biological basis of 'bacterial immune system' discovered (November 28, 2009) -- Scientists have discovered how the bacterial immune system works, and the finding could lead to new classes of targeted antibiotics, new tools to study gene function in microorganisms and more stable bacterial cultures used by food and biotechnology industries to make products such as yogurt and cheese. ... > full story
Female fruit flies do chores after sex (November 28, 2009) -- The sperm of male fruit flies are coated with a chemical 'sex peptide' which inhibits the female's usual afternoon siesta and compels her into an intense period of foraging activity. ... > full story
RNA network seen in live bacterial cells for first time (November 28, 2009) -- New technology has given scientists the first look ever at RNA in a live bacteria cell -- a sight that could offer new information about how the molecule moves and works. ... > full story
Ecologists sound out new solution for monitoring cryptic species (November 28, 2009) -- Ecologists have worked out a way of using recordings of birdsong to accurately measure the size of bird populations. This is the first time sound recordings from a microphone array have been translated into accurate estimates of bird species' populations. The new technique will also work with whale song and could lead to a major advance in our ability to monitor whale and dolphin numbers. ... > full story
Common herbicides and fibrates block nutrient-sensing receptor found in gut and pancreas (November 28, 2009) -- Certain common herbicides and lipid-lowering fibrate drugs act in humans to block T1R3, a nutrient-sensing taste receptor also present in intestine and pancreas. These compounds were not previously known to act on the receptor, which influences glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism. The effect is specific to humans and not revealed during animal testing. ... > full story
Control of mosquito vectors of malaria may be enhanced by a new method of biocontrol (November 28, 2009) -- Biopesticides containing a fungus that is pathogenic to mosquitoes may be an effective means of reducing malaria transmission, particularly if used in combination with insecticide-treated bednets, according to a modeling study. Results of the study show that incorporating this novel vector control technique into existing vector management programs may substantially reduce malaria transmission rates and help manage insecticide resistance. ... > full story
Study pits man versus machine in piecing together 425-million-year-old jigsaw (November 27, 2009) -- Reconstructing ancient fossils from hundreds of thousands of jumbled up pieces can prove challenging. A new study tested the reliability of expert identification versus computer analysis in reconstructing fossils. The investigation, based on fossil teeth from extinct vertebrates, found that the most specialized experts provided the most reliable identifications. ... > full story
Mass extinction: Why did half of N. America's large mammals disappear 40,000 to 10,000 years ago? (November 27, 2009) -- Years of scientific debate over the extinction of ancient species in North America have yielded many theories. However, new findings reveal that a mass extinction occurred in a geological instant. ... > full story
Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant may help lung, heart disorders (November 27, 2009) -- Two recent studies investigating the use of human umbilical cord blood stem cell (UCB) transplants for lung and heart disorders in animal models found beneficial results. When human UCB-derived mensenchymal cells were transplanted into newborn laboratory rats with induced oxygen-deprived injury, the effects of the injury lessened. A second study found that UCB mononuclear cells transplanted into sheep with a right ventricular malfunction beneficially altered the malfunction and enhanced diastolic function. ... > full story
How plants and bacteria 'talk' to thwart disease (November 27, 2009) -- Unwrapping some of the mystery from how plants and bacteria communicate to trigger an innate immune response, scientists have identified the bacterial signaling molecule that matches up with a specific receptor in rice plants to ward off a devastating disease known as bacterial blight of rice. ... > full story
Ecological speciation by sexual selection on good genes (November 27, 2009) -- Darwin suggested that the action of natural selection can produce new species, but 150 years after the publication of "On the Origin of Species" debate continues on the mechanisms of speciation. New research finds sexual selection to greatly enlarge the scope for adaptive speciation by triggering a positive feedback between mate choice and ecological diversification that can eventually eliminate gene flow between species. ... > full story
Wide heads give hammerhead sharks exceptional stereo view (November 27, 2009) -- Why hammerhead sharks have their distinctively shaped heads has puzzled scientists for generations, but now researchers have discovered that hammerheads' wide heads give them an impressive stereo view. ... > full story
Knockouts in human cells point to pathogenic targets (November 27, 2009) -- Researchers have developed a new approach for genetics in human cells and used this technique to identify specific genes and proteins required for pathogens. With the ability to generate knockout cells for most human genes, the authors were able to find genes used by pathogens to enter and kill human cells. The identification of such factors could aid the future development of new therapeutics to combat infectious disease. ... > full story
First-ever blueprint of 'minimal cell' is more complex than expected (November 27, 2009) -- What are the bare essentials of life, the indispensable ingredients required to produce a cell that can survive on its own? Can we describe the molecular anatomy of a cell, and understand how an entire organism functions as a system? Researchers are providing the first comprehensive picture of a minimal cell, based on an extensive quantitative study of the biology of the bacterium that causes atypical pneumonia. The study uncovers fascinating novelties relevant to bacterial biology and shows that even the simplest of cells is more complex than expected. ... > full story
Exposure to both traffic, indoor pollutants puts some kids at higher risk for asthma later (November 27, 2009) -- New research presents strong evidence that the "synergistic" effect of early-life exposure to both outdoor traffic-related pollution and indoor endotoxin causes more harm to developing lungs than one or the other exposure alone. ... > full story
Stem cells heal lungs of newborn animals: May lead to new treatments for lungs of premature babies (November 27, 2009) -- Scientists have demonstrated that stem cells protect and repair the lungs of newborn rats. The study finds that rats treated with stem cells ran twice as far, and had better survival rates. Currently, there is no treatment for the lungs of babies born too early. Scientists predict these results will lead to a new treatment for these babies within three years. ... > full story
Intensive land management leaves Europe without carbon sinks (November 27, 2009) -- A new calculation of Europe's greenhouse gas balance shows that emissions of methane and nitrous oxide tip the balance and eliminate Europe's terrestrial sink of greenhouse gases. ... > full story
Oceans absorbing carbon dioxide more slowly, scientist finds (November 27, 2009) -- The world's oceans are absorbing less carbon dioxide, a geophysicist has found after pooling data taken over the past 50 years. With the oceans currently absorbing over 40 percent of the CO2 emitted by human activity, this could quicken the pace of climate change, according to the study. ... > full story
Time of day matters to thirsty trees (November 27, 2009) -- The time of day matters to forest trees dealing with drought, according to a new article. ... > full story
Penguins and sea lions help produce new atlas (November 27, 2009) -- Recording hundreds of thousands of individual uplinks from satellite transmitters fitted on penguins, albatrosses, sea lions, and other marine animals, conservation scientists have released the first-ever atlas of the Patagonian Sea -- a globally important but poorly understood South American marine ecosystem. ... > full story
Technique finds gene regulatory sites without knowledge of regulators (November 27, 2009) -- A new statistical technique allows scientists to scan a genome for specific gene-regulatory regions without requiring prior knowledge of the relevant transcription factors. The technique has been experimentally validated in both the mouse genome and the fruit fly genome. ... > full story
First 'genetic map' of Han Chinese may aid search for disease susceptibility genes (November 26, 2009) -- The first genetic historical map of the Han Chinese, the largest ethnic population in the world, as they migrated from south to north over evolutionary time. ... > full story
Fish food fight: Fish don't eat trees after all, says new study (November 26, 2009) -- Recent theories suggesting that half of fishes' food comes from from land-based ecosystems may not hold water. Experiments show that algae, not land-based matter, is needed to build healthy and fertile aquatic organisms. ... > full story
Aquatic bacteria: Possible markers for monitoring Arctic climate change (November 26, 2009) -- New research on bacterial communities throughout six large Arctic river ecosystems reveals predictable temporal patterns, suggesting that scientists could use these communities as markers for monitoring climate change in the polar regions. The study shows that bacterial communities in the six rivers shifted synchronously over time, correlating with seasonal shifts in hydrology and biogeochemistry. ... > full story
Competitive, trade-friendly nations weather volatile crop yields best (November 26, 2009) -- Richer nations with competitive crop production and few trade barriers would fare the best if climate change, weather events or other factors cause yields of grain and oilseed crops to become more volatile, a new study has found. ... > full story
Mammalian system for controlling bone remodelling also regulates fever (November 26, 2009) -- Mammals have evolved a complex system for controlling bone remodeling. Babies require calcium for healthy bones and they obtain it from their mother's milk. Nursing mothers release calcium from their bones. Surprisingly, however, the same system also plays a key part in the control of fever and of female body temperature. ... > full story
Houses of the rising sun: Research sheds new light on Ancient Greeks (November 26, 2009) -- New research has identified scores of Sicilian temples built to face the rising Sun, shedding light on the practices of the Ancient Greeks. ... > full story
New discovery may lead to heartier, high-yielding plants (November 26, 2009) -- Scientists have shown how a family of genes (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase, or ACS genes), in the weed Arabidopsis thaliana, are responsible for production of ethylene. This gas affects many aspects of plant development, and this information, which will be applicable to other plants, lays the foundation for future genetic manipulation that could make plants disease resistant, able to survive and thrive in difficult terrain, and increase yields. ... > full story
California's ancient kelp forest (November 26, 2009) -- The kelp forests off southern California are considered to be some of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, yet a new study indicates that today's kelp beds are less extensive and lush than those in the recent past. ... > full story
Emulating Western lifestyles: Consumption and carbon footprints in less industrialized countries (November 26, 2009) -- In recent decades, a new global middle class has exploded, with a total population exceeding one billion people. A new study explores the consumption attitudes of some of these members of the "new class." ... > full story
Ladybugs taken hostage by wasps (November 26, 2009) -- Are ladybugs being overtaken by wasps? An entomologist is investigating a type of wasp present in Quebec that forces ladybugs to carry their larvae. These wasps lay their eggs on the ladybug's body, a common practice in the insect world, yet they don't kill their host. ... > full story
Bioengineers succeed in producing plastics without the use of fossil fuels (November 26, 2009) -- Scientists have succeeded in producing the polymers used for everyday plastics through bioengineering, rather than through the use of fossil fuel based chemicals, heralding the creation of environmentally conscious plastics. ... > full story
Startled flies may provide insight into ADHD (November 26, 2009) -- It seems obvious that naturally waking up from sleep and being startled by something in the environment are two very different emotional states. However, the neuroscience that underlies these different forms of arousal has, for the most part, remained a mystery. Now, new research demonstrates that there are at least two completely separate and independent forms of arousal in fruit flies. ... > full story
Cutting greenhouse pollutants could directly save millions of lives worldwide (November 26, 2009) -- Six new international studies show that cutting greenhouse gases, in particular ozone and black carbon, can quickly save millions of lives worldwide in addition to slowing climate change. ... > full story
NASA satellites detect unexpected ice loss in East Antarctica (November 26, 2009) -- Using gravity measurement data from the NASA/German Aerospace Center's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, a team of scientists from the University of Texas at Austin has found that the East Antarctic ice sheet-home to about 90 percent of Earth's solid fresh water and previously considered stable-may have begun to lose ice. ... > full story
Cause behind the characteristic shape of a long leaf revealed (November 26, 2009) -- Applied mathematicians dissected the morphology of the plantain lily, a characteristic long leaf with a saddle-like arc midsection and closely packed ripples along the edges. The simple cause of the lily's fan-like shape -- elastic relaxation resulting from bending during differential growth -- was revealed by using an equally simple technique, stretching foam ribbons. ... > full story
Sponges recycle carbon to give life to coral reefs (November 26, 2009) -- Coral reefs live in some of the most nutrient deficient waters on the planet, so how do they survive? Marine biologists have discovered that certain sponges could be the key to reef survival. They recycle dissolved organic carbon that is unavailable to other reef residents. ... > full story
When you eat may be just as vital to your health as what you eat (November 26, 2009) -- When you eat may be just as vital to your health as what you eat, found researchers. New experiments in mice revealed that the daily waxing and waning of thousands of genes in the liver -- the body's metabolic clearinghouse -- is mostly controlled by food intake and not by the body's circadian clock as conventional wisdom had it. ... > full story
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