ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Molecular structure and function of essential plant hormone could profoundly change our understanding of a key cell process
• Major study of ocean acidification helps scientists evaluate effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide on marine life
• Ancient domesticated dog skull found in Siberian cave: 33,000 years old
• Waiting for Death Valley's big bang: Volcanic explosion crater may have future potential
• How cells dispose of their waste: Researchers reveal the structure of the cellular protein degradation machinery
• Strongest solar radiation storm since 2005
• Patterns of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in Galapagos reptiles
• Mighty mesh: Extracellular matrix identified as source of spreading in biofilms
• Bonobos' unusual success story
• Lessons in coral reef survival from deep time
• Saving the snow leopard with stem cells
• Efforts to control the 'Mighty Mississippi' result in flooded farmland and permanent damage, research shows
• Climate change invites alien invaders: Is Canada ready?

Molecular structure and function of essential plant hormone could profoundly change our understanding of a key cell process Posted: 23 Jan 2012 02:57 PM PST A recent study investigating the molecular structure and function of an essential plant hormone could profoundly change our understanding of a key cell process, and might ultimately lead to the development of new drugs for a variety of diseases.

Major study of ocean acidification helps scientists evaluate effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide on marine life Posted: 23 Jan 2012 01:33 PM PST Might a penguin's next meal be affected by the exhaust from your tailpipe? The answer may be yes, when you add your exhaust fumes to the total amount of carbon dioxide lofted into the atmosphere by humans since the industrial revolution. One-third of that carbon dioxide is absorbed by the world's oceans, making them more acidic and affecting marine life.

Ancient domesticated dog skull found in Siberian cave: 33,000 years old Posted: 23 Jan 2012 12:25 PM PST A 33,000-year-old dog skull unearthed in a Siberian mountain cave presents some of the oldest known evidence of dog domestication and indicates that modern dogs may be descended from multiple ancestors, with advancing glaciers thwarting early domestication efforts.

Waiting for Death Valley's big bang: Volcanic explosion crater may have future potential Posted: 23 Jan 2012 12:25 PM PST In California's Death Valley, death is looking just a bit closer. Geologists have determined that the half-mile-wide Ubehebe Crater, formed by a prehistoric volcanic explosion, was created far more recently than previously thought -- and that conditions for a sequel may exist today.

How cells dispose of their waste: Researchers reveal the structure of the cellular protein degradation machinery Posted: 23 Jan 2012 12:20 PM PST Defective proteins that are not disposed of by the body can cause diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. Scientists recently succeeded in revealing the structure of the cellular protein degradation machinery (26S proteasome) by combining different methods of structural biology. The results represent an important step forward in the investigation of the 26S proteasome.

Strongest solar radiation storm since 2005 Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:11 AM PST NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center -- the nation's official source of warnings and alerts about space weather and its impacts on Earth -- has issued a watch for a geomagnetic storm associated with a bright flare on the sun Sunday evening (Jan. 22, 2012). The storm could arrive Tuesday morning, with possible impacts to navigation, the power grid and satellites.

Patterns of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in Galapagos reptiles Posted: 23 Jan 2012 08:55 AM PST Land and marine iguanas and giant tortoises living close to human settlements or tourist sites in the Galapagos islands were more likely to harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria than those living in more remote or protected sites on the islands, researchers report. Many of the reptiles harbor E. coli bacteria that are resistant to ampicillin, doxycycline, tetracycline, and trimethoprin/sulfamethoxazole.

Mighty mesh: Extracellular matrix identified as source of spreading in biofilms Posted: 23 Jan 2012 08:55 AM PST New research explains how bacterial biofilms expand to form slimy mats on teeth, pipes, surgical instruments, and crops.

Bonobos' unusual success story Posted: 23 Jan 2012 07:18 AM PST Bonobos are among the closest living relatives of humans. Like other great apes they live in groups made up of several males and females. Unlike other ape species however, male bonobos do not, in general, outrank female individuals and do not dominate them in mating contexts. Scientists have now found that in wild bonobos high-ranking males were more aggressive and their mating success was higher when compared to lower-ranking males.

Lessons in coral reef survival from deep time Posted: 23 Jan 2012 06:48 AM PST Lessons from tens of millions of years ago are pointing to new ways to save and protect today's coral reefs and their myriad of beautiful and many-hued fishes at a time of huge change in the Earth's systems. Today's complex relationship between fishes and corals developed relatively recently in geological terms -- and is a major factor in shielding reef species from extinction, say experts.

Saving the snow leopard with stem cells Posted: 23 Jan 2012 06:47 AM PST The survival of the endangered snow leopard is looking promising thanks to scientists who have, for the first time, produced embryonic stem-like cells from the tissue of an adult leopard.

Efforts to control the 'Mighty Mississippi' result in flooded farmland and permanent damage, research shows Posted: 19 Jan 2012 10:39 AM PST When the water in the Mississippi River rose to 58 feet with a forecast of 60 feet or higher in May 2011, the emergency plan to naturally or intentionally breach the levees, established over 80 years prior, was put in motion. The flood of 1937 did top the frontline levee and water passed into and through the New Madrid Floodway, but being floodfree since then caused area landowners to oppose the plan being put into action.

Climate change invites alien invaders: Is Canada ready? Posted: 19 Jan 2012 07:20 AM PST A comprehensive multi-disciplinary synthesis reveals the urgent need for further investigation and policy development to address significant environmental, social and economic impacts of invasive alien species and climate change.

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