ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Monday, January 4, 2010
Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
To a mosquito, matchmaking means 'singing' in perfect harmony (January 4, 2010) -- Researchers have new insight into the sex lives of the much-maligned mosquitoes that are responsible for the vast majority of malaria deaths, according to a new study. In finding a partner of the right species type, male and female mosquitoes depend on their ability to "sing" in perfect harmony. Those tones are produced and varied based on the frequency of their wing beats in flight. ... > full story
How ubiquitin chains are added to cell-cycle proteins: May lead to targeted cancer therapies (January 4, 2010) -- Researchers have been able to view in detail, and for the first time, the previously mysterious process by which long chains of a protein called ubiquitin are added by enzymes called ubiquitin ligases to proteins that control the cell cycle. Ubiquitin chains tag target proteins for destruction by protein-degrading complexes in the cell. ... > full story
Cross-border conservation efforts can yield better results at less cost (January 4, 2010) -- Coordination of conservation efforts across national boundaries could achieve significantly higher results and at less cost than conservation actions planned within individual states, researchers have found. ... > full story
Geosciences: Melt rises to Earth's surface up to 25 times faster than previously assumed (January 4, 2010) -- Scientists have successfully determined the permeability of the asthenosphere in the Earth's upper mantle and thus the rate at which melt rises to the Earth's surface: it flows up to 25 times faster than previously assumed. Thermo-mechanical and geochemical models on melt flows in volcanoes now have to be reconsidered. ... > full story
Multitasking may be Achilles heel for hepatitis C (January 4, 2010) -- Despite its tiny genome, the hepatitis C virus packs a mean punch. The virus is a microcosm of efficiency, and each of its amino acids plays multiple roles in its survival and ability to sidestep attack. But new research suggests that this fancy footwork and multitasking could be the key to bringing down the virus. The work, which focuses on a once-ignored protein, provides insights on how drug therapy for sufferers of the disease might be improved. ... > full story
Scientists visualize how a vital hepatitis C virus protein moves along its nucleic acid substrate (January 4, 2010) -- By taking three conformational snapshots of a hepatitis C virus motor protein in association with its substrate, researchers have provided the first structural explanation of how a representative superfamily 2 helicase moves unidirectionally along nucleic acid, suggesting new ways that drug designers could block virus replication. ... > full story
Three new alkaloids found in winter snowdrop plants (January 4, 2010) -- Scientists have identified 17 bioactive compounds in winter snowdrops, the earliest flowering plants in Europe. Out of the alkaloids identified, three are new to science and belong to a group with potential applications in treating malaria and Alzheimer's disease. ... > full story
Evolution caught in the act: Scientists measure how quickly genomes change (January 3, 2010) -- Mutations are the raw material of evolution. Scientists have now been able to measure for the first time directly the speed with which new mutations occur in plants. Their findings shed new light on a fundamental evolutionary process. They explain, for example, why resistance to herbicides can appear within just a few years. ... > full story
Mutant gene lessens devastation of flesh-eating bacteria (January 3, 2010) -- Scientists recently discovered a simple gene mutation that decreases the chance people will get a flesh-eating disease called necrotizing fasciitis. Further, they proved that inactivating this section of the gene lessens the devastating disease in humans. ... > full story
Carbon nanotubes show promise for high-speed genetic sequencing (January 3, 2010) -- Scientists have demonstrated the potential of a new DNA sequencing method in which a single-stranded ribbon of DNA is threaded through a carbon nanotube. ... > full story
Two proteins act as molecular tailors in DNA repair (January 3, 2010) -- Every day tiny segments of our DNA are chipped or fragmented or get stuck together when they should really be pulled apart. But what our genome necessarily lacks in stability it makes up for with a phalanx of guards that monitor and repair the damage. ... > full story
'Lifeless' prions capable of evolutionary change and adaptation (January 3, 2010) -- Scientists have determined for the first time that prions, bits of infectious protein devoid of DNA or RNA that can cause fatal neurodegenerative disease, are capable of Darwinian evolution. ... > full story
Whiskers hold secrets of invasive minks (January 3, 2010) -- Details of the lifestyle of mink, which escaped from fur farms and now live wild in the UK, have been revealed through analysis of their whiskers. New research reveals more about the diet of this invasive species and provides a clue to its whereabouts. There are now plans to use the findings to eradicate it from environments where it can be devastating to native species. ... > full story
Indian Ocean climate event recurs quicker with global warming (January 3, 2010) -- The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), an oscillation of sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean, has become a major influence on the weather variations in the Indian Ocean region. During positive IOD events, abnormally warm sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean are accompanied by severe droughts over the Indonesian region and heavy rainfall over east Africa. ... > full story
Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease: Nervous culprit found (January 3, 2010) -- Cells that protect nerves are the likely origin of the devil facial tumor disease that has been devastating Australia's Tasmanian devil population, an international team of scientists has discovered. ... > full story
Scientists identify DNA that regulates antibody production (January 3, 2010) -- Performance enhancers are the currency of a competitive society. But there's one that we have always had: For millions of years, segments of our DNA have improved the performance of our genome, revving up protein production at those times we need it most. New research now show that these genome enhancers regulate how our bodies make germ-fighting antibodies, molecules that keep savvy viruses and bacteria at bay. ... > full story
Fungus contaminant in corn, peanuts, soybeans: Chlorophyll effective against aflatoxin (January 3, 2010) -- A new study has found that chlorophyll and its derivative chlorophyllin are effective in limiting the absorption of aflatoxin in humans. Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that is a contaminant of grains including corn, peanuts and soybeans; it is known to cause liver cancer -- and can work in concert with other health concerns, such as hepatitis. ... > full story
How the Moon gets its exosphere (January 2, 2010) -- Several decades ago scientists discovered that the Moon, long thought to have no atmosphere, actually does have an extremely thin exosphere. Scientists generally believe that the ions that make up the lunar exosphere are generated at the Moon's surface by interaction with solar photons, plasma in the Earth's magnetosphere, or micrometeorites. However, scientists have been uncertain about which processes are the main contributors of lunar exosphere ions. ... > full story
High fat diet increases inflammation in the mouse colon (January 2, 2010) -- Colorectal cancer, the third most common type of cancer worldwide, has been linked to an increased prevalence of the Western diet: one high in fat and low in fiber, vitamin D and calcium. Now, scientists have shown what happens to colon tissue when mice are fed such a diet: an inflammatory response that could be the trigger for carcinogenic processes. ... > full story
Imaging study shows HIV particles assembling around genome of infected cell (January 2, 2010) -- HIV is a wily and lethal replicator. In less than 25 years, it's killed more than 25 million people. Scientists are exploring exactly how this virus reproduces because they would like to find a way to abort the process. Now, just two years after scientists witnessed the birth of a single HIV particle in real time, the same team has zoomed in for a closer look at how the virus packages its genetic material as it assembles beneath the surface of an infected cell. ... > full story
Elusive protein points to mechanism behind hearing loss (January 2, 2010) -- A serendipitous discovery of deaf zebra fish larvae has helped narrow down the function of an elusive protein necessary for hearing and balance. The work suggests that hearing loss may arise from a faulty pathway that translates sound waves into electrical impulses the brain can understand. ... > full story
Will higher global temperatures make it easier for viruses to jump species? (January 2, 2010) -- Scientists soon will begin investigating whether viruses that have adapted to higher temperatures -- similar to increases due to global warming -- can jump species more easily. ... > full story
Major offshore quake could surge inland to Seattle area (January 2, 2010) -- Large megathrust earthquakes occur on average every 550 years on the northern Cascadia subduction zone, where the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate subducts underneath the North American plate off the coast of Washington State. Scientists had thought that major earthquakes were likely to occur only offshore, but a new analysis shows that a giant earthquake could extend deeper along the subduction zone, and thus farther inland. ... > full story
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
Marseillevirus -- a new member of the giant viruses (December 31, 2009) -- After Mimivirus, Mamavirus and the virophage, the group of giant viruses now has a new member called Marseillevirus. The new virus was discovered in an amoeba by a team of French researchers. Their findings suggest the exchange of genes in amoebae that may lead to the constitution of different gene repertoires that could be a source of new pathogens. ... > full story
New RNA interference technique can silence up to five genes (December 31, 2009) -- Researchers report that they have successfully used RNA interference to turn off multiple genes in the livers of mice, an advance that could lead to new treatments for diseases of the liver and other organs. ... > full story
Weakened Plasmodium generates protective immunity (December 31, 2009) -- Researchers have found that weakened Plasmodium elicits a protective immune response. ... > full story
Permafrost thaw may accelerate Arctic groundwater runoff (December 31, 2009) -- As the Arctic warms, permafrost will degrade, potentially resulting in increased groundwater runoff as frozen ground that had blocked the flow of water melts. To investigate how groundwater systems will evolve as surface temperatures rise, researchers have developed a model to simulate an idealized aquifer covered by a layer of permafrost. ... > full story
No rise of airborne fraction of carbon dioxide in past 150 years, new research finds (December 31, 2009) -- Most of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity does not remain in the atmosphere, but is instead absorbed by the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems. However, some studies have suggested that the ability of oceans and plants to absorb carbon dioxide recently may have begun to decline and that the airborne fraction of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions is therefore beginning to increase. In contradiction to those studies, new research finds that the airborne fraction of carbon dioxide has not increased either during the past 150 years or during the most recent five decades. ... > full story
New tool in the fight against mosquito-borne disease: A microbial 'mosquito net' (December 31, 2009) -- Earlier this year, researchers showed that they could cut the lives of disease-carrying mosquitoes in half by infecting them with a bacterium they took from fruit flies. Now, a new report suggests that their strategy might do one better: The Wolbachia bacteria also makes the mosquitoes more resistant to infection by viruses that are a growing threat to humans, including those responsible for dengue fever and Chikungunya. ... > full story
Natural variability led to extra-cold 2008, research finds (December 31, 2009) -- An especially cold year in North America in 2008 led some members of the public and the media to question the scientific consensus on human-induced global warming. In addition, the cool global temperatures during the past decade may appear to contrast with the warming expected due to human influence. New research finds that the anthropogenic forcing in 2008 did contribute to temperatures warmer than would otherwise have occurred but that those human-induced effects were overwhelmed by a particularly strong bout of natural cooling. ... > full story
Consumers choose locally grown and environmentally friendly apples (December 31, 2009) -- When asked to compare apples to apples, consumers said they would pay more for locally grown apples than genetically modified (GMO) apples. But in a second questionnaire consumers preferred GMO apples -- that is, when they were described, not as GMO, but as having a Reduced Environmental Impact. The research demonstrated that product labeling makes a difference when it comes to consumer acceptance. ... > full story
Handful of iron beads offer clues to solve mystery of ancient iron forges (December 31, 2009) -- When archaeologist Ruth Iren Øien noticed a cluster of tiny iron beads in the ground, she knew she was onto something. She did not know, however, that her team had stumbled upon Scandinavia’s oldest and most complex group of iron forges. ... > full story
Continental roots stress Earth's surface (December 31, 2009) -- The Earth's rigid lithosphere varies laterally in thickness and strength. Areas of thicker, older lithosphere known as continental roots penetrate deeper into the mantle in some places under continents. Because these continental roots are in contact with deeper, more viscous mantle, the shear traction at the base of the lithosphere in those areas is increased by up to a factor of 4 compared with a model lithosphere without continental roots. ... > full story
Researchers demonstrate nanoscale X-ray imaging of bacterial cells (December 30, 2009) -- An ultra-high-resolution imaging technique using X-ray diffraction is a step closer to fulfilling its promise as a window on nanometer-scale structures in biological samples. Researchers report progress in applying an approach to "lensless" X-ray microscopy that they introduced one year ago, with the potential to yield insights for evolutionary biology and biotechnology. They have produced the first images, using this technique, of biological cells -- specifically the intriguing polyextremophile Deinococcus radiourans. ... > full story
New acoustic tools may reduce ship strikes on whales (December 30, 2009) -- Over the past decade, researchers have developed a variety of reliable real-time and archival instruments to study sounds made or heard by marine mammals and fish. These new sensors are now being used in research, management and conservation projects around the world with some very important practical results. Among them is improved monitoring of endangered North Atlantic right whales in an effort to reduce ship strikes, a leading cause of their deaths. ... > full story
'Spaghetti' Scaffolding Could Help Grow Skin In Labs (December 30, 2009) -- Scientists are developing new scaffolding technology which could be used to grow tissues such as skin, nerves and cartilage using 3D spaghetti-like structures. ... > full story
| This message was sent from ScienceDaily to byos78.news@blogger.com. It was sent from: ScienceDaily, 1 Research Court, Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20850. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below. | Email Marketing by
 | |
To update/change your account click here 
No comments:
Post a Comment