ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, August 22, 2008
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Trees Kill Odors And Other Emissions From Poultry Farms (August 22, 2008) -- Trees aren't just for wood and decoration -- they may also destroy odors. Scientists are reporting data showing that just three rows of trees planted around poultry farms can cut nuisance emissions of dust, ammonia and odors from poultry houses. ... > full story
Oil, Gas Seismic Work Not Affecting Gulf Sperm Whales, Study Shows (August 22, 2008) -- In recent years, there has been concern that man-made noise may be a cause of stress for dolphins, whales and other marine mammals, but the results of a five-year study show that noise pollution seems to have minimal effect on endangered sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico, say researchers from Texas A&M University who led the project and released their 323-page report today at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. ... > full story
Measuring Calcium In Serpentine Soils (August 22, 2008) -- Serpentine soils contain highly variable amounts of calcium, making them marginal lands for farming. Successful management of serpentine soils requires accurate measurement of the calcium they hold. Research published this month in the Soil Science Society of America Journal shows that multiple measurement techniques are needed to accurately measure calcium content in serpentine soils. ... > full story
Shipwrecks On Coral Reefs Harbor Unwanted Species (August 22, 2008) -- Shipwrecks on coral reefs may increase invasion of unwanted species, according to a recent US Geological Survey study. These unwanted species can completely overtake the reef and eliminate all the native coral, dramatically decreasing the diversity of marine organisms on the reef. This study documents for the first time that a rapid change in the dominant biota on a coral reef is unambiguously associated with man-made structures. ... > full story
New Clues To Air Circulation In The Atmosphere (August 22, 2008) -- Air circulates above the Earth in four distinct cells, with two either side of the equator, say researchers. A new observational study describes how air rises and falls in the atmosphere above the Earth's surface, creating the world's weather. This process of atmospheric circulation creates weather patterns and influences the climate of the planet. It is important to understand these processes in order to predict weather events, and to improve and test climate models. ... > full story
China Sees Spike In Rabies Cases (August 22, 2008) -- A new Chinese study has reported a dramatic spike in rabies infections. The research shows that in some provinces of China the number of human rabies cases has jumped dramatically since the new millennium. ... > full story
Genetics Reveals Big Fish That Almost Got Away (August 21, 2008) -- A new species of fish has been discovered -- a grouper that reaches more than six feet in length and can weigh nearly 1,000 pounds. This newly discovered species can be found roaming the tropical reefs of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. ... > full story
Earthquakes May Endanger New York More Than Thought; Nuclear Power Plant Seen As Particular Risk (August 21, 2008) -- Seismologists suggests that a pattern of subtle but active faults make the risk of earthquakes to the New York City area substantially greater than formerly believed. Among other things, they say that the controversial Indian Point nuclear power plants, 24 miles north of the city, sit astride the previously unidentified intersection of two active seismic zones. ... > full story
Eco-architecture Could Produce 'Grow Your Own' Homes (August 21, 2008) -- A bus stop that grows its own foliage as shade? A children’s playground, made entirely from trees? A shelter made from living tree roots that could provide natural protection against earthquakes in California? "Eco-architecture" may sound like a Buck Rogers vision of an ecologically-sustainable future, but that future is now thanks to the guidance of Tel Aviv University Professors Yoav Waisel and Amram Eshel. ... > full story
Biodiesel Byproduct Converted Into Omega-3 Fatty Acids (August 21, 2008) -- The typical American diet often lacks omega-3 fatty acids despite clinical research that shows their potential human health benefits. Now researchers have found a way to grow these compounds using a byproduct of the emerging biodiesel industry. ... > full story
FBI Unveils Science Of Anthrax Investigation (August 21, 2008) -- Sandia researchers identified that the form of bacillus anthracis mailed in the fall of 2001 to several news media offices and to two US senators was a non-weaponized form of the spores. Five people were killed. Sandia's information was crucial in ruling out state-sponsored terrorism. ... > full story
Future Impact Of Global Warming Is Worse When Grazing Animals Are Considered, Scientists Suggest (August 21, 2008) -- The impact of global warming in the Arctic may differ from the predictions of computer models, according to new research, which shows that grazing animals will play a key role in reducing the anticipated expansion of shrub growth in the region, thus limiting the shrubs' predicted and beneficial carbon-absorbing effect. ... > full story
A Better Way To Make Hydrogen From Biofuels (August 21, 2008) -- Researchers here have found a way to convert ethanol and other biofuels into hydrogen very efficiently. A new catalyst makes hydrogen from ethanol with 90 percent yield, at a workable temperature, and using inexpensive ingredients. The new catalyst is much less expensive than others being developed around the world, because it does not contain precious metals, such as platinum or rhodium. ... > full story
Oetzi The Iceman Dressed Like A Herdsman (August 21, 2008) -- A famous Neolithic Iceman is dressed in clothes made from sheep and cattle hair, a new study shows. The researchers say their findings support the idea that the Iceman was a herdsman, and that their technique has use in the modern clothing industry. ... > full story
Polymer Electric Storage, Flexible And Adaptable (August 21, 2008) -- The proliferation of solar, wind and even tidal electric generation and the rapid emergence of hybrid electric automobiles demands flexible and reliable methods of high-capacity electrical storage. Now materials scientists are developing ferroelectric polymer-based capacitors that can deliver power more rapidly and are much lighter than conventional batteries. ... > full story
Tailor-made Functional Garments For Olympic Horses (August 21, 2008) -- When the horses and competitors go through their paces at the Summer Olympics in Hong Kong in 2008, it will be very hot and very humid -- just as it is every summer there. Three special blankets will offer the Swiss teams' tournament horses some respite from the elements. When the animals move from their air-conditioned stables to the tournament venue, they will be protected from the brilliant sunshine by cooling covers. ... > full story
Strawberry-flavored Banana? Biochemists Manipulate Fruit Flavor Enzymes (August 20, 2008) -- Would you like a lemony watermelon? How about a strawberry-flavored banana? Biochemists say the day may be coming when scientists will be able to fine tune enzymes responsible for flavors in fruits and vegetables. In addition, it could lead to environmentally-friendly pest control. ... > full story
Decline And Slow Recovery of Atlantic Salmon Illuminated With Tagging (August 20, 2008) -- For years scientists have struggled to understand the decline and slow recovery of Atlantic salmon, a once abundant and highly prized game and food fish native to New England rivers. Biologists agree that poor marine survival is affecting salmon in the US and Canada, but specific causes are difficult to determine in the ocean. Small acoustic tags and associated technology may provide some answers. ... > full story
Dirty Smoke From Ships Found To Degrade Air Quality In Coastal Cities (August 20, 2008) -- Chemists have measured for the first time the impact that dirty smoke from ships cruising at sea and generating electricity in port can have on the air quality of coastal cities. The scientists report that the impact of dirty smoke from ships burning high-sulfur fuel can be substantial, on some days accounting for nearly one-half of the fine, sulfur-rich particulate matter in the air known to be hazardous to human health. ... > full story
Tracking A Crop Disease Could Save Millions Of Lives (August 20, 2008) -- Scientists have discovered why one of the world's most important agricultural diseases emerged, according to research published in the Journal of General Virology. Maize streak virus (MSV) causes the main virus disease of Africa's most important food crop. By comparing the genome of the virus to those of its less harmful relatives, scientists have discovered how and why MSV became a serious pest and spread so rapidly across Africa. ... > full story
Microorganisms That Convert Hydrocarbons To Natural Gas Isolated (August 20, 2008) -- When a group of University of Oklahoma researchers began studying the environmental fate of spilt petroleum, a problem that has plagued the energy industry for decades, they did not expect to eventually isolate a community of microorganisms capable of converting hydrocarbons into natural gas. ... > full story
Arsenic Exposure Could Increase Diabetes Risk (August 20, 2008) -- Inorganic arsenic, commonly found in ground water in certain areas, may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. ... > full story
Pesticide Build-up Could Lead To Poor Honey Bee Health (August 20, 2008) -- Honey bees industriously bring pollen and nectar to the hive, but along with the bounty comes a wide variety of pesticides, according to Penn State researchers. Add the outside assault to the pesticides already in the waxy structure of the hive, and bee researchers see a problem difficult to evaluate and correct. However, an innovative approach may mitigate at least some beeswax contamination. ... > full story
Critical Protein Complex In Formation Of Cell Cilia Identified (August 20, 2008) -- Scientists have identified a protein complex that regulates the formation of cilia, which are found on virtually all mature human cells and are essential to normal cell function. ... > full story
Researchers Uncover Attack Mechanism Of Illness-inducing Bacterium (August 20, 2008) -- An infectious ocean-dwelling bacterium found in oysters and other shellfish kills its host's cells by causing them to burst, providing the invader with a nutrient-rich meal, researchers have found. ... > full story
Can Biofuels Be Sustainable? (August 20, 2008) -- With oil prices skyrocketing, the search is on for efficient and sustainable biofuels. Research published this month in Agronomy Journal examines one biofuel crop contender: corn stover. Corn stover is made up of the leaves and stalks of corn plants that are left in the field after harvesting the edible corn grain. Corn stover could supply as much as 25 percent of the biofuel crop needed by 2030. ... > full story
Greenland Ice Core Reveals History Of Pollution In The Arctic (August 20, 2008) -- New research, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, finds that coal burning, primarily in North America and Europe, contaminated the Arctic and potentially affected human health and ecosystems in and around Earth's polar regions. ... > full story
Cataloguing Invisible Life: Microbe Genome Emerges From Lake Sediment (August 20, 2008) -- Scientists have taken a sample of Lake Washington mud and successfully sequenced a complete genome for an unknown microorganism. Their method provides a way to discover new microscopic life in complex communities. ... > full story
Green Catalysts Provide Promise For Cleaning Toxins And Pollutants (August 20, 2008) -- Tetra-Amido Macrocyclic Ligands are environmentally friendly catalysts with a host of applications for reducing and cleaning up pollutants, and a prime example of "green chemistry." Carnegie Mellon University's Terry Collins, the catalyst's inventor, believes that the small-molecule catalysts have the potential to be even more effective than previously proven. ... > full story
New Reasons To Avoid Grapefruit And Other Juices When Taking Certain Drugs (August 20, 2008) -- Scientists and consumers have known for years that grapefruit juice can increase the absorption of some drugs, causing potentially toxic effects. Now, researchers in Canada report new evidence that drinking grapefruit and other common fruit juices, including orange and apple, also can substantially decrease the absorption of some drugs, wiping out their potential beneficial effects. Their research will be presented in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia. ... > full story
Discovery Of Plant Protein Holds Promise For Biofuel Production (August 20, 2008) -- Scientists have identified a new protein necessary for chloroplast development. The discovery could ultimately lead to plant varieties tailored specifically for biofuel production. ... > full story
Federally Managed Dams Need Better Security, Report Finds (August 20, 2008) -- Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, the Bureau of Reclamation, which operates and manages dams that provide water and power to millions of people, has invested significant resources in security and is better able to protect its facilities and personnel, says a new report from the National Research Council. ... > full story
Many US Public Schools In 'Air Pollution Danger Zone' (August 20, 2008) -- One in three US public schools are in the "air pollution danger zone," according to new research. Researchers have found that more than 30 percent of American public schools are within 400 meters, or a quarter mile, of major highways that consistently serve as main truck and traffic routes. ... > full story
Chronic Lead Poisoning From Urban Soils (August 20, 2008) -- Chronic lead poisoning, caused in part by the ingestion of contaminated dirt, affects hundreds of thousands more children in the United States than the acute lead poisoning associated with imported toys or jewelry. Could treating contaminated soil with water prevent this public health scourge? ... > full story
New 52-city Report Examines Use Of Wastewater In Urban Agriculture (August 20, 2008) -- As developing countries confront the first global food crisis since the 1970s as well as unprecedented water scarcity, a new 53-city survey conducted by the International Water Management Institute indicates that most of those studied (80 percent) are using untreated or partially treated wastewater for agriculture. In over 70 percent of the cities studied, more than half of urban agricultural land is irrigated with wastewater that is either raw or diluted in streams. ... > full story
Algae: Biofuel Of The Future? (August 19, 2008) -- Researchers have a plan to greatly increase algae oil yields by feeding the algae extra carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) and organic material like sewage, meaning the algae could simultaneously produce biofuel and clean up environmental problems. ... > full story
Sweets Make Young Horses Harder To Train, Study Finds (August 19, 2008) -- Young horses may be easier to train if they temporarily lay off the sweets, says a Montana State University study. ... > full story
Scientists Discover What Drives The Development Of A Fatal Form Of Malaria (August 19, 2008) -- In a study described in Cell Host and Microbe, researchers reveal that when red blood cells are infected with the malaria parasite, they activate platelets to secrete the PF4 protein, which triggers the immune system to inflame blood vessels and obstruct capillaries in the brain; both are hallmarks of cerebral malaria. ... > full story
Experts Urge Industry To Broaden Carbon Footprint Calculations (August 19, 2008) -- Carnegie Mellon University researchers are urging companies to embrace new methods for following trail of dangerous carbon emissions. ... > full story
Novel Fungus Helps Beetles To Digest Hard Wood (August 19, 2008) -- A little known fungus tucked away in the gut of Asian longhorned beetles helps the insect munch through the hardest of woods according to a team of entomologists and biochemists. Researchers say the discovery could lead to innovative methods of controlling the invasive pest, and potentially offer more efficient ways of breaking down plant biomass for generating biofuels. ... > full story
2007 Hurricane Forecasts Took Blow From Winds And Dry, Dusty Air From Sahara Desert (August 19, 2008) -- A new analysis of environmental conditions over the Atlantic Ocean shows that hot, dry air associated with dust outbreaks from the Sahara desert was a likely contributor to the quieter-than-expected 2007 hurricane season. ... > full story
DEET's Not Sweet To Mosquitoes, Groundbreaking Research Shows (August 19, 2008) -- Spray yourself with a DEET-based insect repellent and the mosquitoes will leave you alone. But why? They flee because of their intense dislike for the smell of the chemical repellent and not because DEET jams their sense of smell, report researchers at the University of California, Davis. ... > full story
Chemical Liberated By Leaky Gut May Allow HIV To Infect The Brain, Scientists Find (August 19, 2008) -- A chemical released by the gut in HIV-infected patients appears to help the virus evade the blood brain barrier and infect the brain, researchers show. The finding could lead to strategies for preventing HIV-associated dementia. ... > full story
Mirror Self-recognition In Magpie Birds (August 19, 2008) -- Self-recognition, it has been argued, is a hallmark of advanced cognitive abilities in animals. It was previously thought that only the usual suspects of higher cognition -- some great apes, dolphins and elephants -- were able to recognize their own bodies in a mirror. Psychologists have shown evidence of self-recognition in magpies -- a species with a brain structure very different from mammals. ... > full story
NASA Study Improves Ability To Predict Aerosols' Effect On Cloud Cover (August 19, 2008) -- Using a novel theoretical approach, researchers from NASA and other institutions have identified the common thread that determines how aerosols from human activity, like the particles from burning of vegetation and forests, influence cloud cover and ultimately affect climate. The study improves researchers' ability to predict whether aerosols will increase or decrease cloud cover. ... > full story
Vegetable Scales With A Mind Of Their Own (August 19, 2008) -- What was the number you were supposed to enter for the chili-pepper on the self-service scales? Was it 67 or 76? And the number for the bananas? The latest self-service scales automatically recognize what the customer has placed on them. ... > full story
Plastics Suspect In Lobster Illness (August 19, 2008) -- The search for what causes a debilitating shell disease affecting lobsters from Long Island Sound to Maine has led one Marine Biological Laboratory visiting scientist to suspect environmental alkyphenols, formed primarily by the breakdown of hard transparent plastics. ... > full story
Molecular Sleuths Track Evolution Through The Ribosome (August 19, 2008) -- A new study of the ribosome, the cell's protein-building machinery, sheds light on the oldest branches of the evolutionary tree of life and suggests that differences in ribosomal structure between the three main branches of that tree are "molecular fossils" of the early evolution of protein synthesis. ... > full story
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