RefBan

Referral Banners

Sunday, August 11, 2013

ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

ScienceDaily: Top Environment News


Fresh analysis of dinosaur skulls shows three 'species' are actually one

Posted: 10 Aug 2013 03:36 AM PDT

A new analysis of dinosaur fossils has revealed that a number of specimens of the genus Psittacosaurus -- once believed to represent three different species -- are all members of a single species. The differences among the fossil remains that led other scientists to label them as separate species in fact arose from how the animals were buried and compressed, the study found.

The 'genetics of sand' may shed new light on evolutionary process over millions of years

Posted: 10 Aug 2013 03:36 AM PDT

An evolutionary ecologist is using "grains of sand" to understand more about the process of evolution. The fossils of microscopic aquatic creatures called planktonic foraminifera, often less than a millimeter in size, can be found in all of the world's oceans. The remains of their shells now resemble grains of sand to the naked eye and date back hundreds of millions of years.

The day before death: A new archaeological technique gives insight into the day before death

Posted: 09 Aug 2013 08:50 AM PDT

For more than a century archaeologists have carefully brushed and shoveled away the soil surrounding human skeletons. It was thought that the soil was without any value -- but now ground-breaking research from Danish scientists show that that the soil holds the key to very detailed information about the individual in the grave.

Tahiti: A very hot biodiversity hot spot in the Pacific

Posted: 09 Aug 2013 08:50 AM PDT

Picturesque Tahiti may be the hottest spot for evolution on the planet. A recent biological survey of tiny predatory beetles has found that over 100 closely related species evolved on the island in about 1.5 million years. Given Tahiti's small area, slightly more than 1000 square kilometers, this adaptive radiation is the geographically densest species assemblage in the world.

Ancient glass beads provide evidence of industry and trade routes at the time of the Romans

Posted: 09 Aug 2013 08:48 AM PDT

Scientists have demonstrated techniques used to produce ancient glazed beads. The raw materials for ancient glass beads found in former Rhaetian settlements in Bavaria clearly did not originate from this region, researchers say.

A greener, more sustainable source of ingredients for widely used plastics

Posted: 07 Aug 2013 10:00 AM PDT

A new process can convert a wide variety of vegetable and animal fats and oils -- ranging from lard to waste cooking oil -- into a key ingredient for making plastics that currently comes from petroleum, scientists say.

New insights into the one-in-a-million lightning called 'ball lightning'

Posted: 07 Aug 2013 10:00 AM PDT

One of the rare scientific reports on the rarest form of lightning -- ball lightning -- describes better ways of producing this mysterious phenomenon under the modern laboratory conditions needed to explain it. The phenomenon puzzled and perplexed the likes of Aristotle 2,300 years ago and Nikola Tesla a century ago.

Self-healing solar cells 'channel' natural processes

Posted: 07 Aug 2013 08:56 AM PDT

To understand how solar cells heal themselves, look no further than the nearest tree leaf or the back of your hand. Researchers have developed a regenerative solar cell that uses branching channels to best mimic natural processes.

Medfly and other fruit flies entrenched in California, study concludes

Posted: 06 Aug 2013 05:35 PM PDT

The infamous Medfly and at least five other tropical fruit fly species are permanently established and spreading in California, rather than being periodically introduced by travelers and trade, report scientists. Their findings about these damaging agricultural pests have serious implications for policymakers and the state's $43.5 billion agricultural industry.

Scientists discover Par-1 as a new component of the Hippo signaling pathway

Posted: 06 Aug 2013 05:35 PM PDT

In the development of animals, which is closely controlled by diverse pathways, the regulation of organ size has been a long-standing puzzle. How does an organ ascertain its optimum size? What are the molecular mechanisms that stop organ growth at an appropriate point during development or regeneration? Almost a decade ago, the discovery of the Hippo signaling pathway provided an important starting point for answering these questions.

Land-use requirements of solar

Posted: 06 Aug 2013 11:55 AM PDT

Researchers have published a report on the land use requirements of solar power plants based on actual land-use practices from existing solar facilities.

No comments: