ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
for Friday, September 26, 2008
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Are Fires More Important Than Rain For The Savannah Ecosystem? (September 26, 2008) -- Natural grass fires are evidently more important for the ecology of savannahs than has previously been assumed. This is the finding of a study carried out in Etosha National Park in the north of Namibia. It is the first study to have investigated the complex interplay of the factors fire, competition, moisture and seed availability in relation to a grass species. ... > full story
New Protein Encyclopedia Looks At Life As It Is Organized In Body, At Molecular Level (September 26, 2008) -- This new protein encyclopedia looks at life as it is really organized in our body at the molecular level. ... > full story
Growing Up Too Fast May Mean Dying Young In Honey Bees (September 26, 2008) -- New study shows that transitions to aerobically-expensive behaviors in organisms living free in nature can have important consequences affecting the pace of aging. ... > full story
Myanmar After Cyclone Nargis (September 26, 2008) -- Improved agricultural productivity can help developing countries reduce their reliance on international emergency food relief following natural disasters. ... > full story
Plants In Forest Emit Aspirin Chemical To Deal With Stress; Discovery May Help Agriculture (September 25, 2008) -- Plants in a forest respond to stress by producing a chemical form of aspirin, scientists have discovered. The finding opens up new avenues of research into the behavior of plants, and it has the potential to give farmers an early warning signal about crops that are failing. ... > full story
New Technology Paves The Way For Future Of Identifying Proteins Inside Cells (September 25, 2008) -- A new technology enables scientists to identify proteins by making a map of the energy flow inside the protein. ... > full story
NASA Identifies Carbon-rich Molecules In Meteors As The ‘Origin Of Life’ (September 25, 2008) -- Tons, perhaps tens of tons, of carbon molecules in dust particles and meteorites fall on Earth daily. Meteorites are especially valuable to astronomers because they provide relatively big chunks of carbon molecules that are easily analyzed in the laboratory. In the past few years, researchers have noticed that most meteorite carbon are molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are very stable compounds and are survivors. ... > full story
America's Smallest Dinosaur Uncovered (September 25, 2008) -- An unusual breed of dinosaur that was the size of a chicken, ran on two legs and scoured the ancient forest floor for termites is the smallest dinosaur species found in North America, according to a researcher who analyzed bones found during the excavation of an ancient bone bed near Red Deer, Alberta, in 2002. ... > full story
Study Merges Decade Of Arctic Data As Ice Collapses Into The Sea (September 25, 2008) -- The Markham Ice Shelf, a massive 19-square-mile platform of ice, broke away from Ellesmere Island in early August and is adrift in the Arctic Ocean. More than half of the nearby Serson Ice Shelf -- about 47 square miles -- also recently broke away into the sea. ... > full story
Serious Disease In Pet Lizards Caused By New Bacteria (September 25, 2008) -- Skin infections are common in pet lizards and can lead to fatal organ disease and septicaemia. The cause of these diseases has been unclear but now researchers in Belgium have discovered a new bacterium responsible for dermatitis in desert lizards. According to newly published research, the discovery could help control the disease and protect endangered species. ... > full story
'Chemical Equator' Discovery Will Aid Pollution Mapping (September 25, 2008) -- Scientists have discovered a 'chemical equator' that divides the polluted air of the Northern Hemisphere from the largely uncontaminated atmosphere of the Southern hemisphere. Researchers found evidence for an atmospheric chemical equator around 50 km wide in cloudless skies in the Western Pacific. Their findings show for the first time that the chemical and meteorological boundaries between the two air masses are not necessarily the same. ... > full story
Severe Climate Change Costs Forecast For Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Tennessee, North Dakota, And Other U.S. States (September 25, 2008) -- The economic impact of climate change will cost a number of US states billions of dollars, and delaying action will raise the price tag, concludes the latest series of reports produced by the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative Environmental Research. The new reports project specific long-term direct and ripple economic effects on North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. In most cases, the price tag could run into billions of dollars. ... > full story
New European Record Efficiency For Solar Cells Achieved: 39.7% (September 25, 2008) -- At 39.7% efficiency for a multi-junction solar cell, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems have exceeded their own European record of 37.6% which they achieved just a short time ago. III-V semiconductor multi-junction solar cells are used in photovoltaic concentrator technology for solar power stations. ... > full story
Impact Of Beetle Kill On Rocky Mountain Weather, Air Quality (September 25, 2008) -- By killing large swaths of forests in the Rocky Mountains, mountain pine beetles may be altering local weather patterns and air quality. Scientists are exploring how the loss of trees and other vegetation influences rainfall, temperatures, smog, and other aspects of the atmosphere. ... > full story
Ocean Floor Geysers Warm Flowing Sea Water (September 25, 2008) -- Earth scientists have reported movement of warmed sea water through the flat, Pacific Ocean floor off Costa Rica. The movement is greater than that off midocean volcanic ridges. The finding suggests possible marine life in a part of the ocean once considered barren. ... > full story
Caffeine Experts Call For Warning Labels For Energy Drinks (September 25, 2008) -- Scientists who have spent decades researching the effects of caffeine report that a slew of caffeinated energy drinks now on the market should carry prominent labels that note caffeine doses and warn of potential health risks for consumers. ... > full story
Essential Gene For Forming Ears Of Corn Discovered (September 25, 2008) -- Plant geneticists have identified a gene called sparse inflorescence1, or spi1, that is essential in controlling development of the maize plant. It is involved in the synthesis of the growth hormone auxin, which among other things helps to shape structures such as leaves or the female organs (ears) and male organs (tassels) of corn. ... > full story
Genome Of One Of World's Most Common And Destructive Plant Parasites Sequenced (September 25, 2008) -- Scientists have completed the genome sequence and genetic map of one of the world's most common and destructive plant parasites -- Meloidogyne hapla, a microscopic, soil-dwelling worm known more commonly as the northern root-knot nematode. ... > full story
World’s Largest Tsunami Debris Discovered (September 25, 2008) -- A line of massive boulders on the western shore of Tonga may be evidence of the most powerful volcano-triggered tsunami found to date. Up to 9 meters (30 feet) high and weighing up to 1.6 million kilograms (3.5 million pounds), the seven coral boulders are located 100 to 400 meters (300 to 1,300 feet) from the coast. ... > full story
Old Growth Forest Must No Longer Be Ignored In Carbon Balances (September 25, 2008) -- Ancient forests, which accumulate large quantities of carbon over the centuries, should be taken into account in global carbon balance assessments. However, such old growth forests were not included in the Kyoto protocol. ... > full story
European Research Effort Tackles Dangerous Mould (September 24, 2008) -- Ubiquitous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus poses an increasing threat to patients with compromised immune systems. The European Science Foundation has launched a new Research Networking Programme, FUMINOMICS, to study the basic genetic and molecular mechanisms employed by the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus when infecting host cells. ... > full story
What Is The Best Strategy For Treating Helicobacter Pylori? (September 24, 2008) -- The best treatment for Helicobacter pylori is not yet established. The organism is becoming resistant to some of the treatments. This study compared the standard three drug treatment with a four drug treatment in a rural hospital in UK. They concluded that four drugs remain the best option for white Caucasians in rural UK, except for some the side effects. ... > full story
Lack Of Large-scale Experiments Slows Progress Of Environmental Restoration (September 24, 2008) -- A new study finds that environmental restoration research using large experimental tests has been limited. The study maintains that for restoration to progress as a science and a practice, more research should be done on whole ecosystems with large experiments. ... > full story
Formula Discovered For Longer Plant Life (September 24, 2008) -- Molecular biologists have discovered how the growth of leaves and the aging process of plants are coordinated. ... > full story
New Life For Middle English: Norwegian Detective Work Gives New Knowledge Of The English Language (September 24, 2008) -- After several years of detective work, philologists have collected a unique collection of texts online. Now they're about to start the most comprehensive analysis of middle English ever. ... > full story
Deep Interior Of Neptune, Uranus And Earth May Contain Some Solid Ice (September 24, 2008) -- The deep interior of Neptune, Uranus and Earth may contain some solid ice. ... > full story
Plant Antioxidant May Protect Against Radiation Exposure (September 24, 2008) -- Resveratrol, the natural antioxidant commonly found in red wine and many plants, may offer protection against radiation exposure, according to a new study. When altered with acetyl, resveratrol administered before radiation exposure proved to protect cells from radiation in mouse models. ... > full story
Flooding Might Help Lower Gas Emission From Wetlands (September 24, 2008) -- River floods and storms that send water surging through swamps and marshes near rivers and coastal areas might cut in half the average greenhouse gas emissions from those affected wetlands, according to recent research. A study suggests that pulses of water through wetlands result in lower average emissions of greenhouse gases over the course of the year compared to the emissions from wetlands that receive a steady flow of water. ... > full story
Honeybee Venom Toxin Used To Develop New Tool For Studying Hypertension (September 24, 2008) -- Researchers have modified a honeybee venom toxin so that it can be used as a tool to study the inner workings of ion channels that control heart rate and the recycling of salt in kidneys. ... > full story
New Vaccine Element Could Generate Better Protection From Avian Influenza (September 24, 2008) -- Current vaccines for influenza provide protection against specific seasonal influenza A strains and their close relatives, but not against more distant seasonal influenza A viruses and new avian influenza A viruses, such as H5N1, which still poses a real global health concern. However, new data have been generated that suggest adding a new component to vaccines for influenza might enable them to confer protection against a broader range of avian and seasonal influenza A viruses. ... > full story
Proposed Extraction Process May Have Economic, Environmental Benefits (September 24, 2008) -- A researcher from the University of Alberta has proposed an experimental electrical heating process to draw oil from largely untapped deposits, which could yield major rewards for oil production and be more environmentally sound than current extractions processes. ... > full story
Coating Copies Microscopic Biological Surfaces (September 24, 2008) -- Someday, your car might have the metallic finish of some insects or the deep black of a butterfly's wing, and the reflectors might be patterned on the nanostructure of a fly's eyes, according to researchers who have developed a method to rapidly and inexpensively copy biological surface structures. ... > full story
Calorie-free Natural Sweetener Moves One Step Closer To Use In U. S. (September 24, 2008) -- Researchers are reporting an advance toward the possible use of a new natural non-caloric sweetener in soft drinks and other food products in the United States. Stevia, which is 300 times more potent than sugar but calorie-free, is already used in some countries as a food and beverage additive to help fight obesity and diabetes. ... > full story
Dark Chocolate: Half A Bar Per Week May Keep Heart Attack Risk At Bay (September 24, 2008) -- Good news for chocolate lovers: 6.7 grams of chocolate per day represent the ideal amount for a protective effect against inflammation and subsequent cardiovascular disease. ... > full story
Iberian Peninsula’s Earliest Agricultural Systems Were Unsustainable (September 24, 2008) -- Researchers in Spain have found that the first agricultural systems on the Iberian Peninsula became ever more unsustainable with the passage of time. Their study involved the analysis of fossilised grains of wheat and barley from Los Castillejos (Granada), an area of archaeological remains where cereals were cultivated between 4000 and 2500 BCE. ... > full story
Overcoming Barriers To The Introduction Of Alternative Fuels In Europe (September 24, 2008) -- Many groups are promoting the use of alternative fuels in the transport sector. Nevertheless, there are many obstacles that arise with any serious intention to make alternative fuels increase their market share; with cost, performance, and reliability being the key factors for the economical success of alternative fuels in road transport. ... > full story
Secret Ingredients Behind Germinated Rice (September 24, 2008) -- Researchers have identified the active compounds that contribute to the health benefits of pre-germinated brown rice: a related set of sterol-like molecules known as acylated steryl-beta-glucosides. ... > full story
GPS Navigation Devices Can Be Spoofed, Counter Measures Not Effective In Certain Cases (September 23, 2008) -- Just like flat-screen televisions, cell phones and computers, global positioning system technology is becoming something people can't imagine living without. So if such a ubiquitous system were to come under attack, would we be ready? ... > full story
Primordial Fish Had Rudimentary Fingers (September 23, 2008) -- Tetrapods, the first four-legged land animals, are regarded as the first organisms that had fingers and toes. Now researchers can show that this is wrong. Using medical x-rays, they found rudiments of fingers in the fins in fossil Panderichthys, the "transitional animal," which indicates that rudimentary fingers developed considerably earlier than was previously thought. ... > full story
Indian Spice In Turmeric Reduces Size Of Hemorrhagic Stroke (September 23, 2008) -- You might want to make curcumin part of your daily diet. This active ingredient of the Indian curry spice, turmeric, not only lowers your chances of getting cancer and Alzheimer's disease, but may reduce the size of a hemorrhagic stroke, say Medical College of Georgia researchers. ... > full story
Is That Song Sexy Or Just So-so? (September 23, 2008) -- Why is your mate's rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On" cute and sexy sometimes and so annoying at other times? A songbird study sheds new light on this question, showing that a change in hormone levels may alter the way we perceive social cues by altering a system of brain nuclei, common to all vertebrates, called the "social behavior network." ... > full story
Preventing Forest Fires With Tree Power: Sensor System Runs On Electricity Generated By Trees (September 23, 2008) -- Researchers are working to find out whether energy from trees can power a network of sensors to prevent spreading forest fires. ... > full story
'Redesigned Hammer' That Forged Evolution Of Pregnancy In Mammals Found (September 23, 2008) -- Researchers have shown that the origin and evolution of the placenta and uterus in mammals is associated with evolutionary changes in a single regulatory protein, according to new report. ... > full story
Abrupt Climate Change Focus Of U.S. National Laboratories (September 23, 2008) -- Abrupt climate change is the focus of IMPACTS, a major new program bringing together six US Department of Energy national laboratories to investigate the instability of marine ice sheets, warming of the boreal forests and Arctic, megadroughts in the Southwestern United States, and methane release from frozen hydrates. ... > full story
Neighbors From Hell: Infanticide Rife In Guillemot Colony (September 23, 2008) -- One of Britain's best-known species of seabird is increasingly attacking and killing unattended chicks from neighboring nests due to food shortages. ... > full story
Deactivating Radioactive Waste In Hundreds, Not Millions, Of Years (September 23, 2008) -- It may be possible to dramatically reduce the radioactive waste isolation time -- from several million years to as little as 300 - 500 years. In order to decrease the isolation time for radioactive waste, first of all, the actinides - elements whose nuclei are heavier than uranium (i.e. curium, actinium) - must be removed from the waste by processing (transmutation) into short-lived nuclei. ... > full story
Modest Carbon Dioxide Cutbacks May Be Too Little, Too Late For Coral Reefs (September 23, 2008) -- How much carbon dioxide is too much? According to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere need to be stabilized at levels low enough to "prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system." But scientists have come to realize that an even more acute danger than climate change is lurking in the world's oceans -- one that is likely to be triggered by CO2 levels that are modest by climate standards. ... > full story
Solution To Global Fisheries Collapse? 'Catch Shares' Could Rescue Failing Fisheries, Protect The Ocean (September 22, 2008) -- A new study shows that an innovative yet contentious fisheries management strategy called "catch shares" can reverse fisheries collapse. Where traditional "open access" fisheries have converted to catch shares, both fishermen and the oceans have benefited. Catch shares guarantee each shareholder a fixed portion of a fishery's total allowable catch. Each share becomes more valuable when the fish population -- and thus the total allowable catch -- increases. ... > full story
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