ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Plants convert energy at lightning speed
• Talking Neanderthals challenge the origins of speech
• Study of antibody evolution charts course toward HIV vaccine
• Imaging dynamics of small biomolecules inside live cells
• Newly discovered catalyst could lead to the low-cost production of clean methanol from carbon dioxide
• European flood risk could double by 2050
• Global warming felt to deepest reaches of ocean
• As one food allergy resolves, another may develop: Same food may trigger both allergies
• Smoke in the water: Understanding effects of smoke compounds on seed germination
• Peat soils as gigantic batteries
• Asthma drug aids simultaneous desensitization to several food allergies, study finds
• Reverse logistics not as easy as it sounds: Why companies have difficulties in implementing recycling, refurbishing major items
• Beneficial anti-inflammatory effects observed when plant extracts fed to sick pigs
• Drinking water linked to infections in many countries
• Specific types of macrophages that affect Crohn's disease severity identified
• Unearthing key function of plant hormone
• Purification, culture and multi-lineage differentiation of zebrafish neural crest cells
• Methane leaks from palm oil wastewater are a climate concern
• How dogs detect explosives, offers new training recommendations
• Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands
• Controlling zebra chip disease from the inside out
• Famed Milwaukee County Zoo orangutan's death caused by strange infection
• Manipulating heat, drought tolerance in cowpeas
• Fruit fly's pruning protein could be key to treating brain injury
• Disease-causing bacterial invaders aided by failure of immune system switch
• Circadian clock in the ear: Time of day of hearing damage affects healing

Plants convert energy at lightning speed Posted: 02 Mar 2014 04:54 PM PST A new way of measuring how much light a plant can tolerate could be useful in growing crops resilient to a changing climate, according to scientists.

Talking Neanderthals challenge the origins of speech Posted: 02 Mar 2014 03:52 PM PST We humans like to think of ourselves as unique for many reasons, not least of which being our ability to communicate with words. But ground-breaking research shows that our 'misunderstood cousins,' the Neanderthals, may well have spoken in languages not dissimilar to the ones we use today.

Study of antibody evolution charts course toward HIV vaccine Posted: 02 Mar 2014 11:36 AM PST In an advance for HIV vaccine research, a scientific team has discovered how the immune system makes a powerful antibody that blocks HIV infection of cells by targeting a site on the virus called V1V2. Many researchers believe that if a vaccine could elicit potent antibodies to a specific conserved site in the V1V2 region, one of a handful of sites that remains constant on the fast-mutating virus, then the vaccine could protect people from HIV infection.

Imaging dynamics of small biomolecules inside live cells Posted: 02 Mar 2014 11:36 AM PST A significant step has been made toward visualizing small biomolecules inside living biological systems with minimum disturbance, a longstanding goal in the scientific community. In a study, a research team describes its development of a general method to image a broad spectrum of small biomolecules, such as small molecular drugs and nucleic acids, amino acids, lipids for determining where they are localized and how they function inside cells.

Newly discovered catalyst could lead to the low-cost production of clean methanol from carbon dioxide Posted: 02 Mar 2014 11:36 AM PST Scientists have discovered a potentially clean, low-cost way to convert carbon dioxide into methanol, a key ingredient in the production of plastics, adhesives and solvents, and a promising fuel for transportation. Scientists combined theory and experimentation to identify a new nickel-gallium catalyst that converts hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methanol with fewer side-products than the conventional catalyst.

European flood risk could double by 2050 Posted: 02 Mar 2014 11:36 AM PST Losses from extreme floods in Europe could more than double by 2050, because of climate change and socioeconomic development. Understanding the risk posed by large-scale floods is of growing importance and will be key for managing climate adaptation.

Global warming felt to deepest reaches of ocean Posted: 02 Mar 2014 11:35 AM PST A new study shows that the 1970s polynya within the Antarctic sea ice pack of the Weddell Sea may have been the last gasp of what was previously a more common feature of the Southern Ocean, and which is now suppressed due to the effects of climate change on ocean salinity.

As one food allergy resolves, another may develop: Same food may trigger both allergies Posted: 02 Mar 2014 11:35 AM PST Some children who outgrow one type of food allergy may then develop another type of allergy, more severe and more persistent, to the same food. The more severe allergy is eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), which has been increasing in recent years.

Smoke in the water: Understanding effects of smoke compounds on seed germination Posted: 28 Feb 2014 11:01 AM PST Wildfires, although seemingly destructive, play an important role in plant ecosystems. In ecosystems where it occurs regularly, exposure to fire may initiate seed germination or enhance plant growth. Compounds released as plant tissue burns can break seed dormancy and stimulate germination. In a new article, an efficient system to produce smoke solutions is described to aid investigation of the role of smoke compounds in seed germination and seedling growth.

Peat soils as gigantic batteries Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:13 AM PST Researchers have described a process that suppresses the formation of methane in soils that are rich in humic substances. For this process to work, the soils need to switch between having no oxygen and having oxygen.

Asthma drug aids simultaneous desensitization to several food allergies, study finds Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:13 AM PST An asthma drug accelerates the process of desensitizing patients with food allergies to several foods at the same time, a new study shows. The findings come on the heels of a recent study by the same team showing that people with multiple food allergies can be desensitized to several foods at once. The two studies, both phase-1 safety trials, provide the first scientific evidence that a promising new method for treating people for multiple food allergies works.

Reverse logistics not as easy as it sounds: Why companies have difficulties in implementing recycling, refurbishing major items Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:12 AM PST There are several good reasons why a company might practice reverse logistics - the process of retrieving broken, worn out or obsolete items for recycling or refurbishment. These include improved public image wherein customers recognize the benefits of buying from an environmentally responsible company, improved environmental record and improved resource usage. However, there are several obstacles that lie between a world in which consumers dispose of their own goods and companies as a matter of ethical and economic obligations invoke a reverse logistics system.

Beneficial anti-inflammatory effects observed when plant extracts fed to sick pigs Posted: 28 Feb 2014 09:12 AM PST Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome is the most expensive and invasive disease for pig producers on a global scale. Though it is not occurring on every farm, it is the biggest disease problem in the pig industry, said an animal sciences researcher.

Drinking water linked to infections in many countries Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:35 AM PST Brisbane's water supply has been found to contain disease carrying bugs which can be directly linked to infections in some patients, according to a new study. Four specific species of mycobacteria were found in Brisbane water that have been linked to human disease -- and the author notes that this is not a situation unique to Brisbane. Water supplies in many countries are at risk, the researcher warns, and lower temperature of home hot water systems can contribute to increased household exposure to these mycobacteria.

Specific types of macrophages that affect Crohn's disease severity identified Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:34 AM PST For those coping with Crohn's disease, a new research report offers hope for the development of new and more effective drugs. Scientists have shown for the first time, precisely what type of immune cells are involved in driving the inflammation process in the disease. With this knowledge, new compounds can be identified which reduce the activity of these cells or lessen their inflammatory effects.

Unearthing key function of plant hormone Posted: 28 Feb 2014 07:34 AM PST Plants, like animals, employ hormones as messengers, which coordinate growth and regulate how they react to the environment. One of these plant hormones, auxin, regulates nearly all aspects of plant behavior and development, for example phototropism, root growth and fruit growth. Depending on the context, auxin elicits a range of responses such as cell polarization or division. Scientists now report finding the molecular mechanism by which the plant hormone auxin affects the organization of the cell's inner skeletons.

Purification, culture and multi-lineage differentiation of zebrafish neural crest cells Posted: 27 Feb 2014 01:46 PM PST The neural crest (NC) is a unique cell population associated with vertebrate evolution. For the first time, these multipotent cells were isolated from zebrafish embryos and maintained and differentiated in culture. The NC progenitors were differentiated into multiple neural crest lineages, contributing to neurons, glial cells, smooth muscle cells, melanocytes, and chondrocytes. Functional cell behavior assays indicated that retinoic acid had profound effect on NC cell morphology and differentiation, significantly inhibited proliferation and enhanced cell migration.

Methane leaks from palm oil wastewater are a climate concern Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:48 AM PST In recent years, palm oil production has come under fire from environmentalists concerned about the deforestation of land in the tropics to make way for new palm plantations. Now there is a new reason to be concerned about palm oil's environmental impact, according to researchers.

How dogs detect explosives, offers new training recommendations Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:48 AM PST Researchers have helped determine the science behind how canines locate explosives such as Composition C-4 (a plastic explosive used by the US military). The study found the dogs react best to the actual explosive, calling into question the use of products designed to mimic the odor of C-4 for training purposes.

Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:48 AM PST Although healthcare workers' hands are the main source of bacterial transmission in hospitals, physicians' stethoscopes appear to play a role. To explore this question, investigators assessed the level of bacterial contamination on physicians' hands and stethoscopes following a single physical examination. Two parts of the stethoscope (the tube and diaphragm) and four regions of the physician's hands (back, fingertips, and thenar and hypothenar eminences) were measured for the total number of bacteria present in a new study. The stethoscope's diaphragm was more contaminated than all regions of the physician's hand except the fingertips. Further, the tube of the stethoscope was more heavily contaminated than the back of the physician's hand.

Controlling zebra chip disease from the inside out Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:47 AM PST Zebra chip disease in potatoes is currently being managed by controlling the potato psyllid with insecticides. But one specialist is trying to manage the disease symptoms with alternative methods and chemistries.

Famed Milwaukee County Zoo orangutan's death caused by strange infection Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:47 AM PST Mahal, the young orangutan who became a star of the Milwaukee County Zoo and an emblem of survival for a dwindling species, led an extraordinary life. It turns out, the young ape died an extraordinary death, too. Rejected by his biological mother at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colo., and eventually flown to Milwaukee aboard a private jet to live with a surrogate mother, Mahal became one of the Milwaukee County Zoo's star attractions. His unexpected death at age 5 in late December 2012 was a shock to the community. Now, thanks to cutting-edge genetic diagnostics, a team of researchers has documented the cause of Mahal's death, identifying a species of tapeworm unknown to science and newly recognized as a threat to primates.

Manipulating heat, drought tolerance in cowpeas Posted: 27 Feb 2014 10:46 AM PST Cowpeas, known as black-eyed peas in the U.S., are an important and versatile food legume grown in more than 80 countries. Scientists are working to map the genes controlling drought and heat tolerance in recent varieties. Cowpeas were chosen for the study because they are a high protein grain, vegetable, fodder and high nitrogen-fixing legume that can be intercropped with corn, cotton and other crops in many countries. The drought and heat tolerant genes, once defined and cloned, are expected to significantly advance understanding of the molecular basis underlying plant tolerances to these stresses.

Fruit fly's pruning protein could be key to treating brain injury Posted: 27 Feb 2014 09:52 AM PST A protein that controls the metamorphosis of the common fruit fly could someday play a role in reversing brain injuries. Cysteine proteinase-1 in the fly directs both the early development and regrowth of dendrites that relay information from neuron to neuron. Researchers are hopeful the mammalian equivalent of this molecule might be used to help regrow dendrites after injury.

Disease-causing bacterial invaders aided by failure of immune system switch Posted: 27 Feb 2014 09:52 AM PST Immune system defenses against dangerous bacteria in the gut can be breached by turning off a single molecular switch that governs production of the protective mucus lining our intestinal walls, according to a study. The walls of the intestine are shielded from potentially harmful bacteria by a thin mucus lining, which has been described as the body's demilitarized zone. The researchers found that production of this mucus lining depends upon a single immune system regulator that controls mucus secretion by cells in the wall of the intestine, just like turning on a faucet. When there is no mucus shield, the mice are unable to fend off invaders, and the intestinal wall becomes infected and inflamed, leaving the mice susceptible to conditions as diverse as inflammatory bowel diseases, colon cancer, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver disease.

Circadian clock in the ear: Time of day of hearing damage affects healing Posted: 27 Feb 2014 09:52 AM PST Researchers have identified a biological circadian clock in the hearing organ, the cochlea. This circadian clock controls how well hearing damage may heal and opens up a new way of treating people with hearing disabilities. By measuring the activity of the auditory nerve, the researchers found that mice exposed to moderate noise levels during the night suffered from permanent hearing damages while mice exposed to similar noise levels during the day did not. The ability to heal after hearing damage was therefore linked to the time of day during which the noise damage occurred, and here the ear's circadian clock played an important role.

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