ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Saturday, January 2, 2010
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Final moments of bee landing tactics revealed (January 2, 2010) -- When bees come into land they slow their speed as they approach, but what happens in the final instants before touch down? Using high speed video, scientists from Australia and Sweden have found that there are three stages to the final touch down: a quasi-hover, a stable hover 16mm from the surface and finally a gentle touch down. Using this approach, bees can land on surfaces ranging from the horizontal to completely inverted ceilings. ... > full story
Bacterial protein mimics its host to disable a key enzyme (January 2, 2010) -- Helicobacter pylori infects up to 90 percent of people in the developing world and causes gastric ulcers and cancers of the gut. Now scientists have revealed a subterfuge used by the bacterium to trick stomach cells into playing along. By injecting a protein into the stomach lining that mimics a native protein but has its opposite effect, the bacterium shuts down a process that helps properly structure stomach tissue, scientists say. ... > full story
Fast pace of glacier melt in the 1940s: lower aerosol pollution (January 1, 2010) -- In the 1940s Swiss glaciers were melting at an even-faster pace than at present, according to new research. This is despite the fact that the temperatures in the 20th century were lower than in this century. Researchers see the main reason for this as the lower level of aerosol pollution in the atmosphere. ... > full story
New molecule identified in DNA damage response (January 1, 2010) -- In the harsh judgment of natural selection, the ultimate measure of success is reproduction. So it's no surprise that life spends lavish resources on this feat, whether in the courtship behavior of birds and bees or replicating the cells that keep them alive. Now research has identified a new piece in an elaborate system to help guarantee fidelity in the reproduction of cells, preventing potentially lethal mutations in the process. ... > full story
Window opens into Moon's past volcanism (January 1, 2010) -- Lava tubes, underground cave-like channels through which lava once flowed, are commonly found on Earth. Scientists have debated whether these tubes could form on the Moon as well, but no studies have yet conclusively identified features that indicate the presence of lunar lava tubes. ... > full story
Student sleuths using DNA reveal zoo of 95 species in NYC homes -- and new evidence of food fraud (January 1, 2010) -- Two New York City high school students exploring their homes using the latest high-tech DNA analysis techniques discover a veritable zoo of 95 animal species surrounding them, in everything from fridges to furniture, from sidewalks to shipping boxes, and from feather dusters to floor corners. ... > full story
Mutation leads to new and severe form of bacterial disease (January 1, 2010) -- Fighting an illness is not just about fighting the bacteria or viruses that cause it, it also has to do with your genes. Scientists have now identified a gene mutation that makes children susceptible to a severe form of mycobacterial disease, any disease caused by species of Mycobacterium such as tuberculosis and leprosy. The mutation represents a new layer of disease severity in children who lack a vital disease-fighting component from their immune system. ... > full story
Northern South America rainier during Little Ice Age (January 1, 2010) -- During the Little Ice Age (LIA; covering approximately the fifteenth through the eighteenth centuries), northern South America experienced about 10 percent more rainfall than during the twentieth century, according to researchers. ... > full story
Biofilms: Researchers discover new ways to treat chronic infections (January 1, 2010) -- Researchers have identified three key regulators required for the formation and development of biofilms. The discovery could lead to new ways of treating chronic infections. ... > full story
'Land Grabs' For Rice Production Due To Supply Threats (January 1, 2010) -- Recent interest in "land grabs" or the international acquisition of land to produce rice is sparked by a looming threat of inadequate rice supplies. ... > full story
Springtime sheep grazing helps control leafy spurge (December 31, 2009) -- Using sheep to control leafy spurge works best if it's done in the spring every year, according to a new study. ... > full story
Engineered tobacco plants have more potential as a biofuel (December 31, 2009) -- Researchers have identified a way to increase the oil in tobacco plant leaves, which may be the next step in using the plants for biofuel. ... > full story
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