ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Global warming 'not slowing down,' say researchers
• 'Double tsunami' doubled Japan destruction
• Ancient dry spells offer clues about the future of drought
• Marine predators in trouble
• Global winds could explain record rains, tornadoes
• Infectious fungus, thought to be asexual, isn't
• Researchers evaluate rice as a source of fetal arsenic exposure
• Scientists rediscover rarest U.S. bumblebee: Cockerell's Bumblebee was last seen in the United States in 1956
• Early Earth may have been prone to deep freezes, study finds
• Acquired traits can be inherited via small RNAs
• Climate changes faster than species can adapt, rattlesnake study finds
• When the heat's on, some fish can cope: Certain tropical species have greater capacity to deal with rising sea temperatures than thought
• Study of strong ground motion may show need to modify building codes
• Global warming changes balance between parasite and host in fish
• Plant seeds protect their genetic material against dehydration

Global warming 'not slowing down,' say researchers Posted: 05 Dec 2011 04:17 PM PST Researchers have added further clarity to the global climate trend, proving that global warming is showing no signs of slowing down and that further increases are to be expected in the next few decades.

'Double tsunami' doubled Japan destruction Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:19 PM PST Researchers discovered that the destructive tsunami generated by the March 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake was a long-hypothesized "merging tsunami" that doubled in intensity over rugged ocean ridges, amplifying its destructive power before reaching shore. Satellites captured not just one wave front that day, but at least two, which merged to form a single double-high wave far out at sea -- one capable of traveling long distances without losing its power.

Ancient dry spells offer clues about the future of drought Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:19 PM PST As parts of Central America and the US Southwest endure some of the worst droughts to hit those areas in decades, scientists have unearthed new evidence about ancient dry spells that suggest the future could bring even more serious water shortages. Three researchers have presented new findings about the past and future of drought.

Marine predators in trouble Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:01 PM PST Iconic marine predators such as sharks, tunas, swordfish, and marlins are becoming increasingly rare under current fishing trends, say researchers.

Global winds could explain record rains, tornadoes Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:01 PM PST Scientists have proposed a common root for an enormous deluge in western Tennessee in May 2010, and a historic outbreak of tornadoes centered on Alabama in April 2011. Both events seem to be linked to a relatively rare coupling between the polar and the subtropical jet streams.

Infectious fungus, thought to be asexual, isn't Posted: 05 Dec 2011 01:59 PM PST Candida tropicalis turns out to have sex, making it the second medically important member of the genus to be capable of mating. Sex may improve the survival of the species, particularly when it's under pressure. It may also mean the species can achieve greater virulence or drug resistance more quickly than previously thought.

Researchers evaluate rice as a source of fetal arsenic exposure Posted: 05 Dec 2011 01:59 PM PST A new study advances our understanding of the sources of human exposure to arsenic and focuses attention on the potential for consuming harmful levels of arsenic via rice. Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment and in elevated concentrations it can be harmful to human health. Rice is susceptible to arsenic contamination due to its ability to extract arsenic from the environment into the rice plant.

Scientists rediscover rarest U.S. bumblebee: Cockerell's Bumblebee was last seen in the United States in 1956 Posted: 05 Dec 2011 11:06 AM PST A team of scientists recently rediscovered the rarest species of bumblebee in the United States, last seen in 1956, living in the White Mountains of south-central New Mexico. Known as "Cockerell's Bumblebee," the bee was originally described in 1913 from six specimens collected along the Rio Ruidoso, with another 16 specimens collected near the town of Cloudcroft, and one more from Ruidoso, the most recent being in 1956.

Early Earth may have been prone to deep freezes, study finds Posted: 05 Dec 2011 11:05 AM PST Researchers who have adapted a three-dimensional, general circulation model of Earth's climate to a time some 2.8 billion years ago when the sun was significantly fainter than present think the planet may have been more prone to catastrophic glaciation than previously believed.

Acquired traits can be inherited via small RNAs Posted: 05 Dec 2011 07:27 AM PST Researchers have found the first direct evidence that an acquired trait can be inherited without any DNA involvement. The findings suggest that Lamarck, whose theory of evolution was eclipsed by Darwin's, may not have been entirely wrong.

Climate changes faster than species can adapt, rattlesnake study finds Posted: 05 Dec 2011 07:26 AM PST The ranges of species will have to change dramatically as a result of climate change between now and 2100 because the climate will change more than 100 times faster than the rate at which species can adapt, according to a newly published study that focuses on North American rattlesnakes.

When the heat's on, some fish can cope: Certain tropical species have greater capacity to deal with rising sea temperatures than thought Posted: 05 Dec 2011 07:26 AM PST Australian scientists have discovered that some tropical fish have a greater capacity to cope with rising sea temperatures than previously thought – by adjusting over several generations. The discovery sheds a ray of hope amid the rising concern over the future of coral reefs and their fish under the levels of global warming expected to occur by the end of this century.

Study of strong ground motion may show need to modify building codes Posted: 05 Dec 2011 07:24 AM PST New testing conducted in a steep, mountainous region of Utah, using mining induced events, is providing a new set of data necessary for better predictions on building codes, especially when earthquakes are a factor.

Global warming changes balance between parasite and host in fish Posted: 05 Dec 2011 05:22 AM PST Worms infecting fish grow four times faster at higher temperatures and manipulate the behavior of fish.

Plant seeds protect their genetic material against dehydration Posted: 02 Dec 2011 06:10 AM PST Plant seeds represent a special biological system: They remain in a dormant state with a significantly reduced metabolism and are thus able to withstand harsh environmental conditions for extended periods. The water content of maturing seeds is lower than ten percent. Researchers have now discovered that the genetic material in seeds becomes more compact and the nuclei of the seed cells contract when the seeds begin to mature. The seeds probably protect their genetic material against dehydration in this way.

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