[All] Fwd: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Friday, October 29, 2010

[Robert Milligan]

FYI
Robert M

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "ScienceDaily" <newsletter at sciencedaily.com>
> Date: October 29, 2010 5:23:50 AM GMT-04:00
> To: mill at continuum.org
> Subject: ScienceDaily Environment Headlines -- for Friday, October  
> 29, 2010
>
> ScienceDaily Environment Headlines
> for Friday, October 29, 2010
> Welcome to another edition of ScienceDaily's email newsletter. You  
> can change your subscription options or unsubscribe at any time.
> Dramatic climate change is unpredictable (October 29, 2010) -- The  
> fear that global temperature can change very quickly and cause  
> dramatic climate changes is great around the world. But what causes  
> climate change and is it possible to predict future climate change?  
> New research shows that it may be due to an accumulation of  
> different chaotic influences and as a result would be difficult to  
> predict. ... > full story
> New strategy to kill bugs -- even those in hiding (October 29, 2010)  
> -- New strategies to apply antibiotics more effectively to  
> hibernating bugs have been developed by researchers in the UK. ... >  
> full story
> Making better biosensors with electron density waves (October 29,  
> 2010) -- An emerging field with the tongue-twisting name of  
> "optofluidic plasmonics" promises a new way to detect and analyze  
> biological molecules for drug discovery, medical diagnostics, and  
> the detection of biochemical weapons. Researchers have succeeded in  
> merging a microfluidics system with plasmonics -- sometimes called  
> "light on a wire" -- onto a single platform. Plasmonics is based on  
> electron waves on a metal surface excited by incoming light  
> waves. ... > full story
> North Sea oil recovery using carbon dioxide is possible, but time is  
> running out, expert says (October 29, 2010) -- Oil recovery using  
> carbon dioxide could lead to a North Sea oil bonanza worth £150  
> billion (0 billion) -- but only if the current infrastructure is  
> enhanced now, according to a new study by a world-leading energy  
> expert. ... > full story
> Potential new treatment for deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses; May  
> also lead to new treatments for measles, mumps and influenza  
> (October 28, 2010) -- Scientists have identified a potential new  
> treatment for the Nipah and Hendra viruses, two lethal and emerging  
> viruses for which there is currently no treatment or vaccine  
> available. The approach could also lead to new therapies for  
> measles, mumps and the flu. ... > full story
> Early sauropod dinosaur: First complete skeleton found (October 28,  
> 2010) -- Scientists have discovered in China the first complete  
> skeleton of a pivotal ancestor of Earth's largest land animals --  
> the sauropod dinosaurs. The new species, tentatively dubbed  
> Yizhousaurus sunae, lived on the flood plains around Lufeng in the  
> Yunnan Province of South China about 200 million years ago. The  
> species helps explain how the iconic four-footed, long-necked  
> sauropod dinosaurs evolved. ... > full story
> Root of the matter: A new map shows life-saving forests' scarcity  
> defies past estimates (October 28, 2010) -- Countless people clung  
> to life in the branches of trees hemming the shorelines during the  
> deadly 2004 tsunami that killed more than 230,000 coastal residents  
> in Indonesia, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka. In the aftermath of the  
> disaster, land change scientist Chandra Giri from the US Geological  
> Survey decided to explore to what degree those unique trees -- which  
> make up valuable forest ecosystems called mangroves -- safeguard  
> lives, property and beaches during hurricanes, tsunamis and  
> floods. ... > full story
> Predicting smoggiest days: Experiments improve accuracy of ozone  
> predictions in air-quality models (October 28, 2010) -- A research  
> team has fully characterized a key chemical reaction that affects  
> the formation of pollutants in smoggy air in the world's urban  
> areas. When applied to Los Angeles, the laboratory results suggest  
> that, on the most polluted days and in the most polluted parts of  
> L.A., current models are underestimating ozone levels by 5 to 10  
> percent. ... > full story
> Scientists 'cage' genetic off switches so they can be activated by  
> UV light (October 28, 2010) -- Researchers have found a way to  
> "cage" genetic off switches in such a way that they can be activated  
> when exposed to UV light. Their technology gives scientists a more  
> precise way to control and study gene function in localized areas of  
> developing organisms. ... > full story
> Modern humans emerged far earlier than previously thought, fossils  
> from China suggest (October 28, 2010) -- An international team of  
> researchers has discovered well-dated human fossils in southern  
> China that markedly change anthropologists perceptions of the  
> emergence of modern humans in the eastern Old World. ... > full story
> Speed gun for Earth's insides to help measure mantle motion (October  
> 28, 2010) -- Researchers have developed a seismological "speed gun"  
> for the inside of Earth. Using this technique they will be able to  
> measure the way the Earth's deep interior slowly moves around. This  
> mantle motion is what controls the location of our continents and  
> oceans, and where the tectonic plates collide to shake the surface  
> we live on. ... > full story
> Archaeological sites threatened by rising seas: Scientists issue  
> call to action (October 28, 2010) -- Should global warming cause sea  
> levels to rise as predicted in coming decades, thousands of  
> archaeological sites in coastal areas around the world will be lost  
> to erosion. With no hope of saving all of these sites,  
> archaeologists have issued a call to action for scientists to assess  
> the sites most at risk. ... > full story
> Into Africa? Fossils suggest earliest anthropoids colonized Africa  
> (October 28, 2010) -- A new discovery suggests that anthropoids --  
> the primate group including humans, apes and monkeys -- "colonized"  
> Africa, rather than evolving in Africa as has been widely accepted.  
> What is exceptional about these new fossils is the diversity of  
> species: three distinct families that lived in North Africa at  
> approximately the same time. This suggests that anthropoids  
> underwent diversification, through evolution, previous to the time  
> of these new fossils, which date to 39 million years ago. ... > full  
> story
> Sodas, other sugary beverages linked to increased risk of type 2  
> diabetes, metabolic syndrome (October 28, 2010) -- A new study has  
> found that regular consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened  
> beverages is associated with a clear and consistently greater risk  
> of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. ... > full story
> Large-scale fish farm production offsets environmental gains,  
> assessment finds (October 28, 2010) -- Industrial-scale aquaculture  
> production magnifies environmental degradation, according to the  
> first global assessment of the effects of marine finfish aquaculture  
> (e.g., salmon, cod, turbot and grouper) released today. This is true  
> even when farming operations implement the best current marine fish  
> farming practices, according to the findings. ... > full story
> Scientists helping keep in-demand smoked salmon safe to eat, thanks  
> to new mathematical model (October 28, 2010) -- Scientists with the  
> US Department of Agriculture are helping ensure that the smoked  
> salmon that's always a hit at festive gatherings also is always safe  
> to eat, including among their achievements the development of a  
> first-of-its-kind mathematical model that food processors and others  
> can use to select the optimal combination of temperature and  
> concentrations of salt and smoke compounds to reduce or eliminate  
> microbial contamination of the product. ... > full story
> Making bone in the laboratory (October 28, 2010) -- Researchers in  
> the Netherlands have succeeded in mimicking the process of bone  
> formation in the laboratory, and in visualizing the process in great  
> detail. ... > full story
> Structural genomics accelerates protein structure determination  
> (October 28, 2010) -- Membrane proteins are of immense biological  
> and pharmaceutical importance. But so far there are only a handful  
> of cases in which the exact structure could be successfully  
> determined. Scientists have now succeeded in working out the  
> structure of an important ion channel via the analysis of related  
> proteins. ... > full story
> New evidence supports 'Snowball Earth' as trigger for early animal  
> evolution (October 27, 2010) -- A team of scientists has found new  
> evidence linking "Snowball Earth" glacial events to the rise of  
> early animals: marine phosphorus. The researchers tracked phosphorus  
> concentrations through Earth's history and found a pronounced spike  
> in marine phosphorus levels in the mid-Neoproterozoic. They say  
> phosphorus, which is essential for life, led to a spike in oxygen  
> production via photosynthesis, facilitating the emergence of complex  
> life on Earth. ... > full story
> Active ingredient levels vary among red yeast rice supplements  
> (October 27, 2010) -- Different formulations of red yeast rice, a  
> supplement marketed as a way to improve cholesterol levels, appear  
> widely inconsistent in the amounts of active ingredients they  
> contain, according to a new study. In addition, one in three of 12  
> products studied had detectable levels of a potentially toxic  
> compound. ... > full story
> Variable summer rainfall in U.S. southeast linked to climate change  
> (October 27, 2010) -- A doubling of abnormally wet or dry summer  
> weather in the southeastern United States in recent decades has come  
> from an intensification of the summertime North Atlantic subtropical  
> high (NASH), or "Bermuda High." And that intensification appears to  
> be coming from global warming, according to a new analysis. ... >  
> full story
> Tobacco and nicotine: They're good -- as a pesticide (October 27,  
> 2010) -- Tobacco, used on a small scale as a natural organic  
> pesticide for hundreds of years, is getting new scientific attention  
> as a potential mass-produced alternative to traditional commercial  
> pesticides. ... > full story
> Small particles show big promise in beating unpleasant odors  
> (October 27, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting development of a new  
> approach for dealing with offensive household and other odors -- one  
> that doesn't simply mask odors like today's room fresheners, but  
> eliminates them at the source. Their research found that a deodorant  
> made from nanoparticles -- hundreds of times smaller than peach fuzz  
> -- eliminates odors up to twice as effectively as today's gold  
> standard. ... > full story
> Tale of the headless dragonfly: Ancient struggle, preserved in amber  
> (October 27, 2010) -- In a short, violent battle that could have  
> happened somewhere this afternoon, the lizard made a fast lunge at  
> the dragonfly, bit its head off and turned to run away. Lunch was  
> served. But the battle didn't happen today, it happened about 100  
> million years ago, probably with dinosaurs strolling nearby. And the  
> lizard didn't get away, it was trapped in the same oozing, sticky  
> tree sap that also entombed the now-headless dragonfly for  
> perpetuity. ... > full story
> Uranium in groundwater? 'Fracking' mobilizes uranium in marcellus  
> shale (October 27, 2010) -- Researchers have found that hydraulic  
> fracturing or "fracking" -- causes uranium that is naturally trapped  
> inside Marcellus shale to be released, raising additional  
> environmental concerns. ... > full story
> Quakes don't completely shake China's environmental gains, thanks to  
> conservation programs (October 27, 2010) -- The impact of China's  
> devastating 2008 earthquake was substantially lessened by  
> environmental conservation programs for some of the country's most  
> fragile habitats. Analysis of satellite imagery and field data by  
> scientists show the quake -- and the resulting landslides --  
> affected 10 percent of the forests covering the mountains that are  
> home to endangered species, including the beloved giant panda. But  
> it could have been worse. ... > full story
> Bicarbonate adds fizz to players' tennis performance (October 27,  
> 2010) -- Dietary supplementation with sodium bicarbonate (baking  
> soda) on the morning of a tennis match allows athletes to maintain  
> their edge. A randomized, controlled trial found that those players  
> who received the supplement showed no decline in skilled tennis  
> performance after a simulated match. ... > full story
> 'Gender-bending' chemicals affect reproduction in fish, research  
> shows (October 27, 2010) -- New research has provided the first  
> evidence that "gender-bending" chemicals which find their way from  
> human products into rivers and oceans can have a significant impact  
> on the ability of fish to breed in UK rivers. This raises concerns  
> about potential impacts on other species, including humans. ... >  
> full story
> Newly discovered snub-nosed monkey sneezes in the rain (October 27,  
> 2010) -- Primatologists have discovered a new species of monkey in  
> Northern Myanmar. Rhinopithecus Strykeri, a species of snub-nosed  
> monkey, has an upturned nose which causes it to sneeze when it  
> rains. ... > full story
> Tracking golden eagles by satellite; Impact of large-scale wind  
> farms studied (October 27, 2010) -- Large-scale wind farm  
> establishment may have a negative effect on Sweden’s golden eagles.  
> In a unique project in northern Sweden, scientists are trapping  
> adult golden eagles and fitting them with satellite  
> transmitters. ... > full story
> Risk of cancer due to radiation exposure in middle age may be higher  
> than previously estimated (October 27, 2010) -- Contrary to common  
> assumptions, the risk of cancer associated with radiation exposure  
> in middle age may not be lower than the risk associated with  
> exposure at younger ages, according to a new study. ... > full story
> How H1N1 differs from other viruses as a respiratory illness  
> (October 27, 2010) -- The 2009/2010 Influenza A (H1N1) is one of  
> several viruses responsible for respiratory-related infections. A  
> new study examined patients with viruses and found distinguishing  
> characteristics of the H1N1 virus in how it affects respiratory  
> illness. ... > full story
> Third of shark and ray species are threatened, study suggests  
> (October 27, 2010) -- A global study suggests that 33 percent of  
> shark, skate, and ray species are threatened with extinction. The  
> work is part of a major new study of vertebrates around the world by  
> the International Union for Conservation of Nature. ... > full story
> Emissions from consumption outstrip efficiency savings in UK  
> (October 27, 2010) -- Emissions from consumption growth have  
> exceeded carbon savings from efficiency improvements in the global  
> supply chain of products consumed in the UK, according to new  
> research. ... > full story
> Nature's backbone at risk: World's vertebrates face an extinction  
> crisis, assessment finds (October 26, 2010) -- The most  
> comprehensive assessment of the world's vertebrates confirms an  
> extinction crisis with one-fifth of species threatened. However, the  
> situation would be worse were it not for current global conservation  
> efforts, according to a study launched today at the 10th Conference  
> of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD, in  
> Nagoya, Japan. ... > full story
> WHO pesticide regulations should be based on toxicity in humans, not  
> rats, experts say (October 26, 2010) -- Current WHO pesticide  
> classifications are based on toxicity in rats, but basing regulation  
> on human toxicity will make pesticide poisoning less hazardous and  
> prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths globally without  
> compromising agricultural needs, according to a new study. ... >  
> full story
> Tornado warnings are too often ignored, researcher says (October 26,  
> 2010) -- With big storms ripping across the Midwest, Bob Drost is  
> hoping people are paying attention to the severe weather and tornado  
> warnings. Unfortunately, Drost knows that many times those warnings  
> are ignored, according to his research. "Only 63 percent understood  
> that a warning is the most urgent National Weather Service statement  
> during severe weather," he said. ... > full story
> Scented consumer products shown to emit many unlisted chemicals  
> (October 26, 2010) -- Even "green" fragranced products give off many  
> chemicals that are not listed on the label, including some that are  
> classified as toxic. A study of 25 of the most popular scented  
> products showed they emit 133 different chemicals, of which only two  
> are listed anywhere. ... > full story
> Eggshells could help combat climate change, research suggests  
> (October 26, 2010) -- The food industry generates a lot of waste  
> products, but one of these -- eggshells -- could help combat climate  
> change, according to new research. ... > full story
> Consuming polyunsaturated fatty acids may lower the incidence of gum  
> disease (October 26, 2010) -- Periodontitis, a common inflammatory  
> disease in which gum tissue separates from teeth, leads to  
> accumulation of bacteria and potential bone and tooth loss. In a new  
> study, researchers found that dietary intake of polyunsaturated  
> fatty acids like fish oil, known to have anti-inflammatory  
> properties, shows promise for the effective treatment and prevention  
> of periodontitis. ... > full story
> Stable way to store the sun's heat: Storing thermal energy in  
> chemical could lead to advances in storage and portability (October  
> 26, 2010) -- Researchers have revealed exactly how a molecule called  
> fulvalene diruthenium, which was discovered in 1996, works to store  
> and release heat on demand. This understanding should make it  
> possible to find similar chemicals based on more abundant, less  
> expensive materials than ruthenium, and this could form the basis of  
> a rechargeable battery to store heat rather than electricity. ... >  
> full story
> MicroRNAs dictate the Epstein-Barr virus' elaborate waiting game,  
> cancer formation (October 26, 2010) -- Epstein-Barr virus is a  
> champion hider, and has been linked to many diseases that affect  
> people long after the initial infection takes place, including some  
> forms of cancer. Scientists describe how viral microRNA allows EBV  
> to hide within cells and evade the immune system. The scientists  
> believe their findings may one day enable physicians to flush EBV  
> out of hiding, allowing a healthy immune system to rid the body of  
> the virus. ... > full story
> 'Reaper' protein strikes at mitochondria to kill cells (October 26,  
> 2010) -- Many billions of cells in the human body kill themselves  
> every day, as the old and decrepit make way for the new and healthy.  
> This process of programmed cell death, called apoptosis, is crucial  
> in early development and in the routine maintenance of life. New  
> research indicates a technique that could allow for highly  
> efficient, targeted killing of problematic cells such as those that  
> drive the uncontrolled growth of tumors. ... > full story
> Plant stem cells could be fruitful source of low-cost cancer drug  
> (October 26, 2010) -- A popular cancer drug could be produced  
> cheaply and sustainably using stem cells derived from trees, a new  
> study suggests. ... > full story
> Fire-Breathing Storm Systems (October 26, 2010) -- Pyrocumulonimbus  
> is the fire-breathing dragon of clouds. A cumulonimbus without the  
> "pyre" part is imposing enough -- a massive, anvil-shaped tower of  
> power reaching five miles (8 km) high, hurling thunderbolts, wind  
> and rain. Add smoke and fire to the mix and you have  
> pyrocumulonimbus, an explosive storm cloud actually created by the  
> smoke and heat from fire, and which can ravage tens of thousands of  
> acres. And in the process, "pyroCb" storms funnel their smoke like a  
> chimney into Earth's stratosphere, with lingering ill effects.  
> Researchers believe these intense storms may be the source of what  
> previously was believed to have been volcanic particles in the  
> stratosphere. ... > full story
> Vast amber deposit from India: New trove of fossils suggests global  
> distribution of tropical forest ecosystems in the Eocene (October  
> 26, 2010) -- A vast new amber deposit in India has yielded 100  
> fossil spiders, bees, and flies that date to the Early Eocene, or  
> 52-50 million years ago. These arthropods are not unique -- as would  
> be expected on an island (which India was at that time) -- but have  
> close evolutionary relationships with fossils from the Americas,  
> Europe, and Asia. The amber is also the oldest evidence of a  
> tropical broadleaf rainforest in Asia. ... > full story
> Clues about carbon dioxide patterns at end of Ice Age (October 26,  
> 2010) -- New research puts to rest the mystery of where old carbon  
> was stored during the last glacial period. It turns out it ended up  
> in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. ... > full  
> story
> Odor coding in mammals is more complex than previously thought  
> (October 26, 2010) -- The contribution of odorant receptors to  
> olfactory response in mammals is much more complex than previously  
> thought, with important consequences for odorant encoding and  
> information transfer about odorants to the brain. ... > full story
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