ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, December 25, 2009
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Hatchery-raised salmon too crowded (December 25, 2009) -- Every year, large numbers of hatchery-raised young salmonids are released into Swedish rivers and streams to compensate for losses in natural production. Butthese fish generally survive poorly in the wild. Researchers have discovered why: the young fish are too crowded at the hatchery. ... > full story
Fungal footage yields insight into plant, animal disease (December 25, 2009) -- Mold and mildew may be doomed. Researchers are closer to understanding how these and other fungi grow. That's important because some 70 percent of the major disease-causing organisms are fungi. Understanding how fungi grow can help scientists find ways to stop them. ... > full story
Genetic study reveals the origins of cavity-causing bacteria (December 24, 2009) -- Researchers have uncovered the complete genetic make-up of the cavity-causing bacterium Bifidobacterium dentium Bd1, revealing the genetic adaptations that allow this microorganism to live and cause decay in the human oral cavity. ... > full story
Canopy giants and miniature fungi among 250 new species discovered in Kew's 250th anniversary year (December 24, 2009) -- Kew botanists announce more than 250 new plant and fungi species discovered in 250th anniversary year. ... > full story
New insights into mushroom-derived drug promising for cancer treatment (December 24, 2009) -- A promising cancer drug, first discovered in a mushroom commonly used in Chinese medicine, could be made more effective thanks to researchers who have discovered how the drug works. ... > full story
Fight infection by disturbing how bacteria communicate (December 24, 2009) -- Researchers have clarified the structure of an enzyme that disturbs the communication processes between bacteria. By doing so they have laid the foundations for a new method of tackling bacterial infections such as cystic fibrosis. ... > full story
Soil studies reveal rise in antibiotic resistance (December 24, 2009) -- An unexpected rise in environmental levels of antibiotic resistance poses a potential threat to people's health. ... > full story
Santa Claus at risk? Unhealthy lifestyle, unreasonable working conditions, and stress (December 24, 2009) -- An unhealthy lifestyle, unreasonable working conditions, and then the stress of having to deliver 152 million Christmas gifts in 24 hours. The extreme accomplishments of Santa Claus are making researchers in Sweden doubt his very existence. ... > full story
How flu succeeds (December 24, 2009) -- Investigators have identified 295 human cell factors that influenza A strains must harness to infect a cell, including the currently circulating swine-origin H1N1. ... > full story
Dental delight: Tooth of sea urchin shows formation of biominerals (December 24, 2009) -- Some of the most common minerals in biology, including those in bones and shells, have a mysterious structure: Their crystals are positioned in the same orientation, making them behave as one giant crystal, even though they do not look like a faceted crystal. ... > full story
Conservation areas threatened nationally by housing developments (December 24, 2009) -- Conservationists have long known that lines on a map are not sufficient to protect nature because what happens outside those boundaries can affect what happens within. Now, scientists have measured the threat of housing development around protected areas in the United States. ... > full story
Scientists map speed of climate change for different ecosystems (December 24, 2009) -- From beetles to barnacles, pikas to pine warblers, many species are already on the move in response to shifting climate regimes. But how fast will they -- and their habitats -- have to move to keep pace with global climate change over the next century? Scientists have calculated that on average, ecosystems will need to shift about 0.42 kilometers per year to keep pace with changing temperatures across the globe. ... > full story
New warbler discovered in Laos (December 24, 2009) -- A diminutive, colorful bird living in the rocky forests of Laos and Vietnam has been discovered. ... > full story
Consumers 'Key Part Of Solution' To Global Warming (December 24, 2009) -- Consumers can have a major impact on the world's efforts to reduce global warming, a major report has concluded. The research estimates that if consumers are responsible for 75% of emissions and in the developed world reduce their emissions in line with government targets, their action could leverage major a 50% reductions in emissions within a few years by 2050. ... > full story
Disproportionate effects of global warming and pollution on disadvantaged communities (December 24, 2009) -- Global warming, pollution, and the environmental consequences of energy production impose a greater burden on low-income, disadvantaged communities, and strategies to prevent these inequities are urgently needed. A provocative collection of articles on climate justice presents the global implications of climate change and its effects on human health and the environment in a special issue of Environmental Justice. ... > full story
Opening new frontiers: First volume of microbial encyclopedia published (December 24, 2009) -- The Earth is estimated to have about a nonillion (1030) microbes in, on, around, and under it, comprised of an unknown but very large number of distinct species. Despite the widespread availability of microbial genome data -- close to 2,000 microbes have been and are being decoded to date -- a vast unknown realm awaits scientists intent on exploring microorganisms that inhabit this "undiscovered country." ... > full story
Marine Research Is Key To 'Super Foods' Market (December 24, 2009) -- Milk drinks that lower blood pressure, meat products that reduce the risk of heart disease, chocolate that calms you down and a new range of foods that can fight obesity can be created from marine animals and plants. Japan already has several product ranges on the shelves and research programs are underway all over the world to create more. And now Ireland is well on the way to becoming a player in this worldwide multi-billion euro industry, according to recently presented research results. ... > full story
Motility mechanism of malaria pathogens explained (December 23, 2009) -- How do one-celled parasites move from the salivary gland of a mosquito through a person's skin into red blood cells? What molecular mechanisms form the basis for this very important movement of the protozoa? Researchers observed the initial stage of the malaria parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes with new microscope techniques. ... > full story
Air pollution linked to hospitalizations for pneumonia in seniors (December 23, 2009) -- A study found that among older individuals, long-term exposure to traffic pollution independently increased their risk of hospitalization for pneumonia. ... > full story
Wild chimps have near human understanding of fire (December 23, 2009) -- The use and control of fire are behavioral characteristics that distinguish humans from other animals. Now anthropologists report that savanna chimpanzees in Senegal have a near human understanding of wildfires and change their behavior in anticipation of the fire's movement. ... > full story
Enhanced sweet taste: Endocannabinoids act directly on tongue taste receptors (December 23, 2009) -- New findings show that endocannabinoids act directly on tongue taste receptors to specifically enhance sweet taste. The findings suggest that modulation of sweet taste responses may be an important component of the endocannabinoid system's role in regulating feeding behavior and may open doors to the development of novel therapeutic compounds to combat metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Endocannabinoids are substances similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. ... > full story
Australian fossil unlocks secrets to the origin of whales (December 23, 2009) -- A palaeobiologist has made groundbreaking discoveries into the origin of baleen whales, based on a 25-million-year-old fossil found near Torquay in Victoria, Australia. ... > full story
Turtles' Christmas journey tracked by scientists (December 23, 2009) -- Noelle and Darwinia are two adult female leatherback turtles that nest in Gabon, Western Central Africa. A research team has fitted each turtle with a small satellite tracking device, which enables the scientists to monitor their precise movements and observe where and how deep they dive. ... > full story
Bacteria make artificial blood vessels of the future (December 23, 2009) -- The cellulose produced by bacteria could be used for artificial blood vessels in the future as it carries a lower risk of blood clots than the synthetic materials currently used for bypass operations, according to new research. ... > full story
Tuberculosis strain thrives on antibiotic (December 23, 2009) -- Scientists have identified a strain of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis that thrives in the presence of rifampin, a front-line drug in the treatment of tuberculosis. The researchers determined that the bacteria grew poorly in the absence of the antibiotic rifampin and better with it. The patient's condition also worsened with treatment regimens containing rifampin, before being cured with rifampin-free regimens. The study is among the first to document the treatment of a patient with rifampin-dependent infection. ... > full story
School classroom air may be more polluted with ultrafine particles than outdoor air (December 23, 2009) -- The air in some school classrooms may contain higher levels of extremely small particles of pollutants -- easily inhaled deep into the lungs -- than polluted outdoor air, scientists say. ... > full story
New human reproductive hormone could lead to novel contraceptives (December 23, 2009) -- Nearly 10 years after the discovery that birds make a hormone that suppresses reproduction, neuroscientists have established that humans make it too, opening the door to development of a new class of contraceptive and possible treatments for cancer or other diseases. The hormone, gonadotropin inhibitory hormone, puts a brake on the reproductive system and on release of gonadotropin releasing hormone. ... > full story
Chemistry makes the natural 'wonder fabric' -- wool -- more wonderful (December 23, 2009) -- Scientists in China are reporting an advance that may improve the natural wonders of wool -- already regarded as the "wonder fabric" for its lightness, softness, warmth even when wet, and other qualities. They say the discovery could give wool a "brain," placing it among other "smart" fabrics that shake off wrinkles, shrinkage and "breathe" to release perspiration. ... > full story
Deadly infection more common than realized (December 23, 2009) -- Staphylococcus aureus causes far more serious infections than previously realized. ... > full story
Fossil shelved for a century reworks carnivore family tree: Limbs changes understanding of early carnivore locomotion (December 23, 2009) -- Now that an early carnivore fossil has been fully removed from its matrix (this after spending over a century on a shelf because of the associated crushed teeth), scientists are able to re-interpret the evolutionary tree of this group of mammals. ... > full story
New, virulent strain of MRSA poses renewed antibiotic resistance concerns (December 23, 2009) -- The often feared and sometimes deadly infections caused by MRSA -- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -- are now moving out of hospitals and emerging as an even more virulent strain in community settings and on athletic teams, and raising new concerns about antibiotic resistance. ... > full story
Modern behavior of early humans found half-million years earlier than previously thought (December 23, 2009) -- Evidence of sophisticated, human behavior has been discovered by researchers as early as 750,000 years ago -- some half a million years earlier than has previously been estimated by archaeologists. ... > full story
Mystery solved: Scientists now know how smallpox kills (December 23, 2009) -- Researchers have solved a fundamental mystery about smallpox that has puzzled scientists long after the natural disease was eradicated by vaccination: they know how it kills us. Scientists can now describe how the virus cripples immune systems by attacking molecules made by our bodies to block viral replication. ... > full story
Study finds that 77 percent of European pigs are castrated without anesthetic (December 23, 2009) -- The castration of pigs prevents the "boar taint" smell in the meat and allows them to contain more fat. However in practice this can be very different. Now, for the first time, a scientific team has collected information on the conditions of castration on European pigs. The main conclusion of the study is that these animals are castrated directly by the livestock farmers, without anesthetic and in some cases, without respecting the European legislation. ... > full story
Rise in human-made carbon dioxide affects ocean acoustics (December 23, 2009) -- Oceanographers have discovered that seawater sound absorption will drop by up to 70 percent this century, due to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide causing ocean acidification. As a result, underwater sound could travel farther, and this could lead to growing noise levels in the oceans. Increasing transparency of the oceans to low-frequency sounds could also enable marine mammals to communicate over longer distances. ... > full story
New compounds may control deadly fungal infections (December 23, 2009) -- An estimated 25,000 Americans develop severe fungal infections each year, leading to 10,000 deaths despite the use of anti-fungal drugs. The associated cost to the US health care system has been estimated at billion a year. Now two scientists have developed new brominated furanones that exhibit powerful anti-fungal properties. ... > full story
Formation of the Gulf of Corinth rift, Greece (December 23, 2009) -- A study of the structure and evolution of the Gulf of Corinth rift in central Greece will increase scientific understanding of rifted margin development and the tectonic mechanisms underlying seafloor spreading and deformation of the Earth's crust. ... > full story
Story of 4.5-million-year-old whale found in Spain (December 22, 2009) -- In 2006, researchers found the fossil remains of a whale, 4.5 million years old, in Spain. Now they have published, for the first time, the results of the decay and fossilization process that started with the death of the young cetacean, possibly a baleen whale from the Mysticeti group. ... > full story
Meddling in mosquitoes' sex lives could help stop the spread of malaria (December 22, 2009) -- Stopping male mosquitoes from sealing their sperm inside females with a 'mating plug' could prevent mosquitoes from reproducing, and offer a potential new way to combat malaria. ... > full story
Novel nanotechnology heals abscesses caused by resistant staph bacteria (December 22, 2009) -- Researchers have developed a new approach for treating and healing skin abscesses caused by bacteria resistant to most antibiotics. ... > full story
Hypoxia tends to increase as climate warms, study finds (December 22, 2009) -- A new study of Pacific Ocean sediments off the coast of Chile has found that offshore waters experienced systematic oxygen depletion during the rapid warming of the Antarctic following the last "glacial maximum" period 20,000 years ago. ... > full story
Among apes, teeth are made for the toughest times (December 22, 2009) -- The teeth of some apes are formed primarily to handle the most stressful times when food is scarce, according to new research. The findings imply that if humanity is serious about protecting its close evolutionary cousins, the food apes eat during these tough periods -- and where they find it -- must be included in conservation efforts. ... > full story
Pomegranates: Latest weapon in the fight against MRSA (December 22, 2009) -- Pomegranates have already been hailed as a super-food but a team of scientists has found a new use for the deep red fruit. The team has discovered that the rind can be turned into an ointment for treating MRSA and other common hospital infections. ... > full story
Compound found to safely counter deadly bird flu (December 22, 2009) -- A study suggests that a new compound, one on the threshold of final testing in humans, may be more potent and safer for treating "bird flu" than the antiviral drug best known by the trade name Tamiflu. ... > full story
Fisheries and aquaculture face multiple risks from climate change (December 22, 2009) -- Marine capture fisheries already facing multiple challenges due to overfishing, habitat loss and weak management are poorly positioned to cope with new problems stemming from climate change, a new study suggests. ... > full story
Electronic nose can select produce with appealing aromas (December 22, 2009) -- The use of an electronic smelling system capable of discriminating which tomatoes, melons or other products have a more attractive aroma is a particularly valuable aid for agro-food firms. However, existing electronic noses do not “smell” in the same way depending on the laboratory conditions, and these conditions change throughout the day and from one day to another. ... > full story
Poisonous prehistoric 'raptor' discovered in China (December 22, 2009) -- Researchers have discovered a venomous, birdlike raptor that thrived some 128 million years ago in China. This is the first report of venom in the lineage that leads to modern birds. ... > full story
What are the amounts of greenhouse gases released in your area and what are the sources? (December 22, 2009) -- The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed a high resolution digital view of artificial greenhouse gas emissions for any 10-by-10-kilometer area in the world. Using JRC's work on emissions and Google Earth, this new tool allows the visualization of the levels of emissions locally from 1970 to 2005 and the identification of the main sources. ... > full story
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