ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• More at-risk bird species in Brazilian forest than previously thought
• Thermal limit for animal life redefined by first lab study of deep-sea vent worms
• Apes get emotional over games of chance
• Organic polymers show sunny potential: Groundwork laid for block copolymer solar cells
• Gene that helps honey bees find flowers (and get back home) discovered
• Improving 'crop per drop' could boost global food security and water sustainability
• Recovery of Hawaiian green sea turtles still short of historic levels
• Arctic current flowed under deep freeze of last ice age, study says
• Big brothers and sisters pay off for nature's social spiders
• Genetic engineering alters mosquitoes' sense of smell
• Pigeons peck for computerized treat
• Despite safety and other concerns, nuclear power saves lives, greenhouse gas emissions, experts say
• Re-creating the original colors of treasured ivory carvings from the ancient past
• The US shale-gas revolution and European renewables: Divergence and cooperation in alternative energy
• Microplastic pollution prevalent in lakes, too
• Malaria protection in chimpanzees
• Subfossil forest discovered at building site in Zurich
• Simplified solutions to deforestation ineffective in long run
• KISS ME DEADLY proteins may help improve crop yields

More at-risk bird species in Brazilian forest than previously thought Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT In a new study, a team of researchers has applied a novel method for linking large-scale habitat fragmentation to population sustainability.

Thermal limit for animal life redefined by first lab study of deep-sea vent worms Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT Forty-two may or may not be the answer to everything, but it likely defines the temperature limit where animal life thrives, according to the first laboratory study of heat-loving Pompeii worms from deep-sea vents.

Apes get emotional over games of chance Posted: 29 May 2013 04:09 PM PDT Like some humans, chimpanzees and bonobos exhibit emotional responses to outcomes of their decisions by pouting or throwing angry tantrums when a risk-taking strategy fails to pay off, according to new research.

Organic polymers show sunny potential: Groundwork laid for block copolymer solar cells Posted: 29 May 2013 12:46 PM PDT A new version of solar cells could open the door to research on a new class of solar energy devices. The photovoltaic devices are based on block copolymers, self-assembling organic materials that arrange themselves into distinct layers. They easily outperform other cells with polymer compounds as active elements.

Gene that helps honey bees find flowers (and get back home) discovered Posted: 29 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT Honey bees don't start out knowing how to find flowers or even how to get around outside the hive. Before they can forage, they must learn to navigate a changing landscape and orient themselves to the sun. In a new study, researchers report that a regulatory gene known to be involved in the detection of novelty in vertebrates also kicks into high gear in the brains of honey bees when they are learning how to find food and bring it home.

Improving 'crop per drop' could boost global food security and water sustainability Posted: 29 May 2013 11:43 AM PDT Improvements in crop water productivity -- the amount of food produced per unit of water consumed -- have the potential to improve both food security and water sustainability in many parts of the world, according to a new study.

Recovery of Hawaiian green sea turtles still short of historic levels Posted: 29 May 2013 10:35 AM PDT Hawaiian green sea turtle populations have increased in recent years, but their numbers still fall far short of historic levels. A new report suggests that calls to lift protection for this species may be premature.

Arctic current flowed under deep freeze of last ice age, study says Posted: 29 May 2013 10:34 AM PDT During the last ice age, when thick ice covered the Arctic, many scientists assumed that the deep currents below that feed the North Atlantic Ocean and help drive global ocean currents slowed or even stopped. But in a researchers have now shown that the deep Arctic Ocean has been churning briskly for the last 35,000 years, through the chill of the last ice age and warmth of modern times.

Big brothers and sisters pay off for nature's social spiders Posted: 29 May 2013 10:32 AM PDT The behavior of social spiders may settle debates over the benefits of older siblings. Researchers studying Australian social huntsman spiders discovered that younger siblings thrive when raised in nests with older siblings. Bigger brothers and sisters capture bigger, juicier prey, which they share with their younger siblings.

Genetic engineering alters mosquitoes' sense of smell Posted: 29 May 2013 10:31 AM PDT In one of the first successful attempts at genetically engineering mosquitoes, researchers have altered the way the insects respond to odors, including the smell of humans and the insect repellant DEET. The research not only demonstrates that mosquitoes can be genetically altered using the latest research techniques, but paves the way to understanding why the insect is so attracted to humans, and how to block that attraction.

Pigeons peck for computerized treat Posted: 29 May 2013 09:11 AM PDT New research show pigeons can make informed choices, and use a computerized touch-screen as well.

Despite safety and other concerns, nuclear power saves lives, greenhouse gas emissions, experts say Posted: 29 May 2013 08:13 AM PDT Global use of nuclear power has prevented about 1.84 million air pollution-related deaths and release of 64 billion tons of greenhouse gases that would have resulted from burning coal and other fossil fuels, a new study concludes.

Re-creating the original colors of treasured ivory carvings from the ancient past Posted: 29 May 2013 08:13 AM PDT The fabled ivory carvings from the ancient Phoenician city of Arslan Tash -- literally meaning "Stone Lion" -- may appear a dull monochrome in museums today, but they glittered with brilliant blue, red, gold and other colors 2,800 years ago, a new study has confirmed after decades of speculation.

The US shale-gas revolution and European renewables: Divergence and cooperation in alternative energy Posted: 29 May 2013 07:15 AM PDT That the United States and Europe have been following different energy policies over the past few decades won't come as a surprise. However, according to one researcher, their divergence – with the US leading 'the shale gas revolution' and Europe investing heavily in modern renewables – is a good thing for the development of both alternative-energy sources.

Microplastic pollution prevalent in lakes, too Posted: 29 May 2013 06:29 AM PDT Researchers have detected microplastic pollution in one of Western Europe's largest lakes, Lake Geneva, in large enough quantities to raise concern.

Malaria protection in chimpanzees Posted: 29 May 2013 06:27 AM PDT In malaria regions the parasite prevalence in the human body as well as malaria-related morbidity and mortality decrease with age. This reflects the progressive mounting of a protective immunity. Researchers now present a study which addresses the age distribution of malaria parasite infection in a group of wild chimpanzees.

Subfossil forest discovered at building site in Zurich Posted: 29 May 2013 06:27 AM PDT The fact that many finds have happened by chance was demonstrated again recently in Zurich. A dendrochronologist was just having a look at a building site when he noticed a few tree stumps on the edge of the loamy building pit that had been discarded by the construction workers as waste timber. Analysis showed the timber he discovered was dated between 12,846 BP** and 13,782 BP. With the support of the building-site management researchers have managed to salvage some 200 ancient pine-tree stumps.

Simplified solutions to deforestation ineffective in long run Posted: 29 May 2013 06:21 AM PDT Deforestation is the second largest source of CO2 emissions after consumption of fossil fuels. So-called PES programs, where landowners are paid to replant or protect forests, have been promoted as a way to reduce deforestation. However, the effectiveness of the programs has been questioned, and new research points to potential negative long-term effects and a need for broader guidelines and policies.

KISS ME DEADLY proteins may help improve crop yields Posted: 27 May 2013 12:36 PM PDT Researchers have identified a new regulator for plant hormone signaling -- the KISS ME DEADLY family of proteins (KMDs) -- that may help to improve production of fruits, vegetables and grains.

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