ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• As mushrooms evolve to live with trees, they give up DNA associated with decomposing cellulose
• Unique Neandertal arm morphology due to scraping, not spearing
• Primate behavior: Chimps select smart tools, monkeys intentionally beg
• Single-cell parasites co-opt 'ready-made' genes from host
• Enhanced royal jelly produces jumbo queen bee larvae
• Green plants reduce city street pollution up to eight times more than previously believed
• Environmental concerns increasing infectious disease in amphibians, other animals
• Sinking carbon: Researchers publish results of an iron fertilization experiment
• X-rays illuminate the origin of volcanic hotspots
• Neanderthals in northern Spain had knowledge of plants' healing qualities, study reveals
• El Zotz masks yield insights into Maya beliefs
• The future of biomaterial manufacturing: Spider silk production from bacteria
• Promiscuous squid fatigued after mating
• Discovery of 'hopping' of bacterial enzyme gives insight into gene expression
• Do dolphins think nonlinearly?
• What it takes to be the perfect invading parasite

As mushrooms evolve to live with trees, they give up DNA associated with decomposing cellulose Posted: 18 Jul 2012 04:20 PM PDT New research finds that Amanita mushrooms' evolution has largely been away from species that help decompose organic material and toward those that live symbiotically on trees and their roots. More interestingly, scientists found that the transition came at a steep price -- the loss of the genes associated with breaking down cellulose.

Unique Neandertal arm morphology due to scraping, not spearing Posted: 18 Jul 2012 04:20 PM PDT Unique arm morphology in Neandertals was likely caused by scraping activities such as hide preparation, not spear thrusting as previously theorized, according to new research.

Primate behavior: Chimps select smart tools, monkeys intentionally beg Posted: 18 Jul 2012 04:20 PM PDT Chimpanzees use weight to pick the best tool, and monkeys beg more when they're paid attention to.

Single-cell parasites co-opt 'ready-made' genes from host Posted: 18 Jul 2012 01:49 PM PDT Two species of single-cell parasites have co-opted "ready-made" genes from their hosts that in turn help them exploit their hosts, according to a new study.

Enhanced royal jelly produces jumbo queen bee larvae Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:39 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a way to make worker bees produce an enhanced version of royal jelly (RJ) -- the super-nutritious substance that dictates whether larvae become workers or queens, and that is also renowned as a health supplement for people. Their study found that the super RJ that makes queen bee larvae grow 2-3 times larger than normal.

Green plants reduce city street pollution up to eight times more than previously believed Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:39 AM PDT Trees, bushes and other greenery growing in the concrete-and-glass canyons of cities can reduce levels of two of the most worrisome air pollutants by eight times more than previously believed, a new study has found.

Environmental concerns increasing infectious disease in amphibians, other animals Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:36 AM PDT Climate change, habitat destruction, pollution and invasive species are all involved in the global crisis of amphibian declines and extinctions, researchers suggest in a new analysis, but increasingly these forces are causing actual mortality in the form of infectious disease.

Sinking carbon: Researchers publish results of an iron fertilization experiment Posted: 18 Jul 2012 10:17 AM PDT Scientists have shown that a substantial proportion of carbon from an induced algal bloom sank to the deep sea floor with iron fertilization, contrary to earlier findings. These results, which were thoroughly analyzed before being published, provide a valuable contribution to our better understanding of the global carbon cycle.

X-rays illuminate the origin of volcanic hotspots Posted: 18 Jul 2012 10:17 AM PDT Scientists have recreated the conditions at Earth's core-mantle boundary 2,900 km beneath the surface. Using X-rays at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, they probed tiny rock samples at extreme temperature and pressure showing for the first time that partially molten rock under these conditions is buoyant and should segregate towards the surface. This observation is strong evidence for the theory that volcanic hotspots like the Hawaiian Islands originate from mantle plumes generated at the core-mantle boundary.

Neanderthals in northern Spain had knowledge of plants' healing qualities, study reveals Posted: 18 Jul 2012 10:13 AM PDT An international team of researchers has provided the first molecular evidence that Neanderthals not only ate a range of cooked plant foods, but also understood its nutritional and medicinal qualities.

El Zotz masks yield insights into Maya beliefs Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:28 AM PDT A team of archaeologists has made a new discovery at the Maya archaeological site in El Zotz, Guatemala, uncovering a pyramid believed to celebrate the Maya sun god. The structure's outer walls depict the god in an unprecedented set of images done in painted stucco. In 2010, the team uncovered a royal tomb filled with artifacts and human remains at the same site. Researchers believe the pyramid was built to link the deceased lord to the eternal sun.

The future of biomaterial manufacturing: Spider silk production from bacteria Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:28 AM PDT New research demonstrates procedures to harvest and process synthetic spider silk from bacteria. The procedure revolutionizes the spider silk purification process by standardizing a key step known as "post-spin."

Promiscuous squid fatigued after mating Posted: 18 Jul 2012 07:39 AM PDT In order to pass on their genes, southern dumpling squid engage in up to three hours of mating with each partner, but researchers have found that this results in a reduced ability to swim for up to 30 minutes afterwards.

Discovery of 'hopping' of bacterial enzyme gives insight into gene expression Posted: 18 Jul 2012 06:07 AM PDT Researchers' discovery of a variation of an enzyme's ability to "hop" as it moves along DNA, modifying the genetic material of a bacteria -- and its physical capability and behavior -- holds much promise for biomedical and other scientific applications.

Do dolphins think nonlinearly? Posted: 18 Jul 2012 06:06 AM PDT Research, which examines how dolphins might process their sonar signals, could provide a new system for human-made sonar to detect targets, such as sea mines, in bubbly water. When hunting prey, dolphins have been observed to blow 'bubble nets' around schools of fish, which force the fish to cluster together, making them easier for the dolphins to pick off. However, such bubble nets would confound the best human-made sonar because the strong scattering by the bubbles generates 'clutter' in the sonar image, which cannot be distinguished from the true target.

What it takes to be the perfect invading parasite Posted: 18 Jul 2012 04:40 AM PDT Scientists have just documented the characteristics of invading parasites, using malaria in New Zealand bird species.

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