ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Maize and bacteria: A one-two punch knocks copper out of stamp sand
• Look back at US soybeans shows genetic improvement behind increased yields
• New insights into ancient Pacific settlers' diet: Diet based on foraging, not horticulture
• Pumping iron: A hydrogel actuator with mussel tone
• New structure in dogs' eye linked to blinding retinal diseases
• New dinosaur found in Portugal, largest terrestrial predator from Europe
• Human activity influences beach bacterial diversity
• The Eurasian lynx as a key to the conservation and future viability of the endangered Iberian lynx
• Study suggests non-uniform climate warming globally
• Inventive new way to profile immune cells in blood
• First-ever 3-D image created of the structure beneath Sierra Negra volcano
• Warm rivers play role in Arctic sea ice melt
• A single gene, doublesex, controls wing mimicry in butterflies
• Save money and the planet: Turn your old milk jugs into 3-D printer filament
• Bioinspired, sponge-like shrinking gel steers tooth, tissue formation
• Key enzyme found in disease-causing bacteria responsible for heart valve disease
• Some metallic toys, low-cost jewelry present health risks for young children
• Hop leaves -- discarded in beer brewing -- have substances that could fight dental diseases
• A wristband for a different kind of cause ... environmental health
• When disaster strikes: Safeguarding networks
• Newly engineered molecules doom proteins with kiss of death
• B-cells aggravate autoimmune diseases
• Banana plant fights off crop's invisible nemesis: Roundworms
• New technique allows frequent water quality monitoring for suite of pollutants
• Plumes in the sleeping avian brain
• The birds and the bees of proteins
• Pigment or bacteria? Researchers re-examine the idea of 'color' in fossil feathers
• 3-D scans map widespread fish disease
• Climate change: Improving heat tolerance in trees
• Shipwrecks: Sulfur haunts the ghost wreck
• Determination might be a very human expression
• Birdsong is not all about sexual selection: Female birds sing much more often than previously thought
• New findings on neurogenesis in spinal cord
• Remote sensing moisture model could aid farmers
• Convergent evolution: New fins evolve repeatedly in teleost fishes
• Sea turtles' 'lost years' mystery starts to unravel
• Common cancers evade detection by silencing parts of immune system cells
• Predators delay pest resistance to Bt crops
• Prevalence of allergies the same across the U.S., regardless of where people live

Maize and bacteria: A one-two punch knocks copper out of stamp sand Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:17 PM PST Scientists are working toward a simple, practical way to remediate mine waste laced with copper and other toxic elements. And they are shedding light on the inner workings of the plants and bacteria that do the cleanup.

Look back at US soybeans shows genetic improvement behind increased yields Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Soybean improvement through plant breeding has been critical over the years for the success of the crop. In a new study that traces the genetic changes in varieties over the last 80 years of soybean breeding, researchers concluded that increases in yield gains and an increased rate of gains over the years are largely due to the continual release of greater-yielding cultivars by breeders.

New insights into ancient Pacific settlers' diet: Diet based on foraging, not horticulture Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Researchers studying 3,000-year-old skeletons from the oldest known cemetery in the Pacific Islands are casting new light on the diet and lives of the enigmatic Lapita people, the likely ancestors of Polynesians. Their results—obtained from analysing stable isotope ratios of three elements in the bone collagen of 49 adults buried at the Teouma archaeological site on Vanuatu's Efate Island—suggest that its early Lapita settlers ate reef fish, marine turtles, fruit bats, free-range pigs and chickens, rather than primarily relying on growing crops for human food and animal fodder.

Pumping iron: A hydrogel actuator with mussel tone Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Using iron ions and chemistry found in the adhesive proteins of a certain mollusk, scientists have developed a hydrogel actuator that moves when its pH is raised. Hydrogels are soft networks of polymers with high water content, like jello. Because of their soft, gentle texture, they have the potential to interact safely with living tissues and have applications in a number of medical areas, including tissue engineering. The hydrogel moved on its own, bending like an inchworm where the ions had been deposited.

New structure in dogs' eye linked to blinding retinal diseases Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PST Vision scientists report that dogs have an area of their retina that strongly resembles the human fovea. What's more, this retinal region is susceptible to genetic blinding diseases in dogs just as it is in humans.

New dinosaur found in Portugal, largest terrestrial predator from Europe Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST A new dinosaur species found in Portugal may be the largest land predator discovered in Europe, as well as one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs from the Jurassic. T. gurneyi had blade-shaped teeth up to 10 cm long, which indicates it may have been at the top of the food chain in the Iberian Peninsula roughly 150 million years ago. The scientists estimate that the dinosaur could reach 10 meters long and weigh around 4 to 5 tons.

Human activity influences beach bacterial diversity Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PST Human activity influences ocean beach bacterial communities, and bacterial diversity may indicate greater ecological health and resiliency to sewage contamination. Beaches all contain bacteria, but some bacteria are usually from sewage and may contaminate the water, posing a public health risk.

The Eurasian lynx as a key to the conservation and future viability of the endangered Iberian lynx Posted: 05 Mar 2014 04:13 PM PST Understanding the mechanisms which control reproduction in lynx is essential for their continued viability and effective conservation. Scientists discovered that the Corpus luteum of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) has the longest lifespan among mammals known to date. This hormone producing tissue is responsible for restricting this lynx species (and presumably the other lynx species as well) to only having one estrous cycle per year (mono-estrous) and therefore only one opportunity per year to become pregnant.

Study suggests non-uniform climate warming globally Posted: 05 Mar 2014 01:07 PM PST A recent study of five decades of satellite data, model simulations and in situ observations suggests the impact of seasonal diurnal or daily warming varies between global regions affecting many ecosystem functions and services, such as food production, carbon sequestration and climate regulation. The effects of non-uniform climate warming on terrestrial ecosystems is a key challenge in carbon cycle research and for those making future predictions.

Inventive new way to profile immune cells in blood Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST The specific proportions of immune cells in a blood sample form a profile that can indicate disease or exposure to a toxicant. A new epigenetic technique provides a reliable way to detect such profiles, even in archived blood where whole cells may no longer be intact. All the current means of counting immune cells in a blood sample require whole cells, but the new system relies on something far less ephemeral: DNA. Its use of hardy strands of genetic material allows it to handle even archived samples where cells have lost their physical integrity.

First-ever 3-D image created of the structure beneath Sierra Negra volcano Posted: 05 Mar 2014 11:47 AM PST The Galápagos Islands are home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world, with more than 50 eruptions in the last 200 years. Yet until recently, scientists knew far more about the history of finches, tortoises, and iguanas than of the volcanoes on which these unusual fauna had evolved. Now research is providing a better picture of the subterranean plumbing system that feeds the Galápagos volcanoes.

Warm rivers play role in Arctic sea ice melt Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:40 AM PST The heat from warm river waters draining into the Arctic Ocean is contributing to the melting of Arctic sea ice each summer, a new NASA study finds.

A single gene, doublesex, controls wing mimicry in butterflies Posted: 05 Mar 2014 10:23 AM PST A single gene regulates the complex wing patterns, colors and structures required for mimicry in swallowtail butterflies, report scientists. Surprisingly, the gene described, doublesex, is already well-known for its critical role in sexual differentiation in insects.

Save money and the planet: Turn your old milk jugs into 3-D printer filament Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:52 AM PST Making your own stuff with a 3-D printer is vastly cheaper than what you'd pay for manufactured goods, even factoring in the cost of buying the plastic filament. Yet, you can drive the cost down even more by making your own filament from old milk jugs. And, while you are patting yourself on the back for saving 99 cents on the dollar, there's a bonus: you can feel warm and fuzzy about preserving the environment. Making your own plastic 3-D printer filament from milk jugs uses less energy -- often a lot less -- than recycling milk jugs conventionally.

Bioinspired, sponge-like shrinking gel steers tooth, tissue formation Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:52 AM PST A new bioinspired sponge-like gel shrinks single-handedly, squeezing unspecialized cells inside it and turning them into cells that begin to form teeth. The new material was inspired by the embryo's power to shape organs, and it could enable engineering of new teeth, bone, or other tissues, scientists report.

Key enzyme found in disease-causing bacteria responsible for heart valve disease Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:52 AM PST A disease-causing bacterium found in the mouth needs manganese, a trace mineral, in order to cause a serious heart infection, according to a preclinical study. Researchers have been studying the bacterium Streptococcus sanguinis to understand its role in infective endocarditis, a heart valve disease. The infection is hard to treat and can be deadly, killing more than 20 percent of the people who contract it. The findings, which may solve a longstanding mystery of why some bacteria need manganese to cause disease, provide possible new targets for antibiotics.

Some metallic toys, low-cost jewelry present health risks for young children Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:52 AM PST We know that babies and young children often put non-food items in their mouths, a behavior that occasionally leads to swallowing of foreign objects. Metallic toys and low-cost jewelry often contain toxic substances such as lead and cadmium. Do these objects present a health risk for young children? "We observed that cadmium and lead contamination, both very toxic metals, are a major problem, especially when it comes to metallic jewelry and toys. Copper, nickel, arsenic and antimony were also present in some samples," explains the author of a new article.

Hop leaves -- discarded in beer brewing -- have substances that could fight dental diseases Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:51 AM PST Beer drinkers know that hops are what gives the drink its bitterness and aroma. Recently, scientists reported that the part of hops that isn't used for making beer contains healthful antioxidants and could be used to battle cavities and gum disease. Researchers say that they've identified some of the substances that could be responsible for these healthful effects.

A wristband for a different kind of cause ... environmental health Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:51 AM PST From 'Livestrong' to 'Purple Paws,' trendy wristbands have come to represent causes from cancer to ending cruelty to animals. Add a new wristband of a different sort: one that could close the loop on determining the potential disease risks of exposure to substances like pesticides.

When disaster strikes: Safeguarding networks Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:51 AM PST Disasters both natural and human-caused can damage or destroy data and communications networks. New information on strategies that can mitigate the impacts of these disasters.

Newly engineered molecules doom proteins with kiss of death Posted: 05 Mar 2014 09:49 AM PST Like mobsters following strict orders, newly engineered molecules called "ubiquibodies" can mark specific proteins inside a cell for destruction -- a molecular kiss of death that is paving the way for new drug therapies and powerful research tools. For instance, in a cancer cell in which a certain protein has been identified as contributing to the disease, the ubiquibody could reduce or eliminate the protein from within by targeting that specific protein only, the authors suggest.

B-cells aggravate autoimmune diseases Posted: 05 Mar 2014 08:10 AM PST Scientists may have discovered a fundamental aggravating factor in autoimmune diseases. If B-lymphocytes lack the protein PTP1B, the cells will become hyperactive for stimulatory signals and can thus promote an autoimmune attack. This study offers an additional explanation to how B-cells regulate an immune response.

Banana plant fights off crop's invisible nemesis: Roundworms Posted: 05 Mar 2014 08:10 AM PST The banana variety Yangambi km5 produces toxic substances that kill the nematode Radopholus similis, a roundworm that infects the root tissue of banana plants -- to the frustration of farmers worldwide. The finding bodes well for the Grande Naine, the export banana par excellence, which is very susceptible to the roundworms.

New technique allows frequent water quality monitoring for suite of pollutants Posted: 05 Mar 2014 08:09 AM PST A new technique that uses existing technology to allow researchers and natural resource managers to collect significantly more information on water quality has been developed, with the promise of better informing policy decisions. The technique will allow researchers to develop more sophisticated models that address water quality questions. For example, the researchers are using data they collected using the new technique to determine the extent to which fertilizer runoff contributes to water pollution in specific water bodies and the role of wetlands in mitigating the effect of the runoff.

Plumes in the sleeping avian brain Posted: 05 Mar 2014 08:09 AM PST Researchers have gained deeper insight into the sleeping avian brain. They found complex 3-D plumes of brain activity propagating through the brain that clearly differed from the two-dimensional activity found in mammals. These findings show that the layered neuronal organization of the neocortex is not required for waves to propagate, and raise the intriguing possibility that the 3-D plumes of activity perform computations not found in mammals.

The birds and the bees of proteins Posted: 05 Mar 2014 07:59 AM PST A split-second snapshot of an early stage of protein formation could someday lead to more effective antibiotics. Proteins are the worker bees of cells. They get rid of waste, transmit cellular signals and carry out the chemical reactions that enable the human body to function. Without proteins, cells would be unable to function, replicate, and die. Viruses, bacteria and cancer cells also need proteins to reproduce. Using computer modelling, researchers examined the role of one specific protein, and its ultimate effect on health.

Pigment or bacteria? Researchers re-examine the idea of 'color' in fossil feathers Posted: 05 Mar 2014 07:59 AM PST Paleontologists studying fossilized feathers propose that the shapes of certain microscopic structures inside the feathers can tell us the color of ancient birds. But new research shows that it is not yet possible to tell if these structures are what they seem.

3-D scans map widespread fish disease Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:48 AM PST Seventy-five percent of antibiotics in Danish fish farms is used to treat fish with enteric redmouth disease. With the help of 3-D scans, researchers have mapped how the fish are infected with the bacterium. The disease, which reduces fish well being and increases fish mortality in Danish fish farms, is harmless to humans.

Climate change: Improving heat tolerance in trees Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:47 AM PST Is it possible to improve tolerance of trees to high temperatures and other types of stress derived of climate change? Scientists are studying the tolerance of trees using molecular and biotechnological tools. Biologists succeeding in making popular trees significantly more tolerant to high temperatures, drought, and the presence of weed-killers.

Shipwrecks: Sulfur haunts the ghost wreck Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:47 AM PST Sulfur and iron accumulation has once again been found in wood samples from old shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea. This time the samples are from the merchant vessel Ghost wreck and the warships Sword and the Crown. Wood samples from the ships have been analyzed by a group of scientists.

Determination might be a very human expression Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:46 AM PST Humans might be using facial expressions of determination as a call for help from others, according to new research. When children and chimpanzees were both given a task that was impossible to solve, children's faces expressed determination or frustration the more they tried to solve the task, but chimpanzees did not. The facial expressions shown by the children -- chin raised and lips pressed together -- could signal effort or frustration, according to a researcher who said it is possible humans have evolved to use these facial expressions to solicit help from others.

Birdsong is not all about sexual selection: Female birds sing much more often than previously thought Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:46 AM PST In 71 percent of all songbird species with available data, the female sings, too. This is remarkable because in the wake of Darwin's theory of evolution, birdsong has generally been seen as a characteristic of male birds, allowing them to compete with other males and attract females. The exciting question now is how females apparently repeatedly lost their song in the course of evolution. Why did they stop singing in some lineages, but not in others?

New findings on neurogenesis in spinal cord Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:46 AM PST The expression of the so called MYC gene is important and necessary for neurogenesis in the spinal cord, new research suggests. The MYC gene encodes the protein with the same name, and has an important role in many cellular processes such as proliferation, metabolism, cell death and the potential of differentiation from immature stem cells to different types of specialized cells. Importantly it is also one of the most frequently activated genes in human cancer.

Remote sensing moisture model could aid farmers Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:44 AM PST Global farmers could get better decision-making help as refinements are made to North Alabama soil moisture modeling research being done by an atmospheric science doctoral student. The models, using satellite data, indicate how much added moisture would be needed in a given area versus historical data to achieve various crop yields, and they could aid in making expensive infrastructure investments by helping to determine their economic viability.

Convergent evolution: New fins evolve repeatedly in teleost fishes Posted: 05 Mar 2014 05:44 AM PST A new study analyzing the origins of the adipose fin, thought by some to be vestigial, finds that these fins arose repeatedly and independently in multiple species -- a striking example of convergent evolution. Adipose fins also appear to have repeatedly and independently evolved skeleton, offering a glimpse into the evolution of vertebrate appendages.

Sea turtles' 'lost years' mystery starts to unravel Posted: 04 Mar 2014 06:56 PM PST Small satellite-tracking devices attached to sea turtles swimming off Florida's coast have delivered first-of-its-kind data that could help unlock they mystery of what endangered turtles do during the 'lost years.'

Common cancers evade detection by silencing parts of immune system cells Posted: 04 Mar 2014 12:45 PM PST A set of genes has been identified that appear to predict which tumors can evade detection by the body's immune system, a step that may enable them to eventually target only the patients most likely to respond best to a new class of treatment. A team says it has identified genes that have been repressed through so-called epigenetic changes — modifications that alter the way genes function without changing their DNA sequence — which help the cells to evade the immune system. The researchers were able to reverse these epigenetic changes with the use of an FDA-approved drug, forcing the cancer cells out of hiding and potentially making them better targets for the same immune therapy that in the past may have failed.

Predators delay pest resistance to Bt crops Posted: 04 Mar 2014 09:54 AM PST Crops genetically modified with the bacterium Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) produce proteins that kill pest insects. Steady exposure has prompted concern that pests will develop resistance to these proteins, making Bt plants ineffective. Research shows that the combination of natural enemies, such as ladybeetles, with Bt crops delays a pest's ability to evolve resistance to these insecticidal proteins.

Prevalence of allergies the same across the U.S., regardless of where people live Posted: 04 Mar 2014 07:21 AM PST In the largest, most comprehensive, American nationwide study to examine the prevalence of allergies from early childhood to old age, scientists report that allergy prevalence is the same across different regions of the United States, except in children 5 years and younger.

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