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Sunday, March 17, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

ScienceDaily: Top Environment News


Kangaroos and other marsupials: Climb to the pouch begins in utero

Posted: 15 Mar 2013 05:27 PM PDT

Scientists have visualized the short pregnancy of a small species of the kangaroo and wallaby family of marsupials, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), for the first time by high-resolution ultrasound. The study has shed light on a number of developmental events that are likely to be fundamental to all marsupials. These include a very rigid program of embryonic and fetal development with very little variation in pregnancy length, specialized movements of the endometrium that roll the embryo around the uterus prior to attachment, and climbing movements of the tiny fetus up to three days before birth. This latter finding is one of the earliest developmental behaviors observed in a mammal and prepares the immature young for the journey to its mother's pouch.

Scientists produce cloned embryos of extinct frog

Posted: 15 Mar 2013 12:10 PM PDT

As part of a "Lazarus Project" to try to bring the Australian gastric-brooding frog back from extinction scientists have succeeded in producing early stage cloned embryos containing the DNA of the frog, which died out 30 year ago. Gastric-brooding frogs were unique in incubating their young in their stomachs.

New insights on invasive fly threatening US fruit crops

Posted: 15 Mar 2013 12:10 PM PDT

Humans aren't the only species with a sweet tooth. Research shows that the invasive spotted-wing vinegar fly (Drosophila suzukii) also prefers sweet, soft fruit -- giving us new insight into a species that has spread across the United States over the past four years and threatens to cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to US fruit crops.

We are still at risk of the plague, new study says

Posted: 15 Mar 2013 12:09 PM PDT

Today archaeologists unearthed a 'Black Death' grave in London, containing more than a dozen skeletons of people suspected to have died from the plague. The victims are thought to have died during the 14th century and archaeologists anticipate finding many more as they excavate the site. The Plague is by definition a re-emerging infectious disease which affects the lungs and is highly contagious, leading to mass outbreaks across populations.

Chemicals pollutants threaten health in the Arctic

Posted: 15 Mar 2013 04:45 AM PDT

People living in Arctic areas can be more sensitive to pollutants due to their genetics. This is unfortunate since the northernmost areas of Europe are receiving more harmful chemicals. Scientists believe climate change may be a culprit as air and water mass movements push some of these undesirable chemicals towards the Arctic.

Ancient rock art at risk, warn experts

Posted: 14 Mar 2013 09:43 AM PDT

Urgent action is needed to prevent ancient art disappearing, experts have warned.

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