ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Evolution can select for evolvability, biologists find
• Genes uniquely expressed by brain's immune cells
• No peak in sight for evolving bacteria
• Scientists nearing forecasts of long-lived wildfires
• Dogs likely originated in Europe more than 18,000 years ago, biologists report
• Hydrogen fuel from sunlight? Low-cost, long-lasting water splitter made of silicon and nickel
• First detailed map of global forest change
• World's most irreplaceable protected areas identified
• Why seedlings always grow towards the light
• Mid-nineteenth century Chinese maps controlled water and directed labor
• Senescence is normal process in embryo, not only linked to aging, cancer
• Bleeding symptom leads scientists to intracellular trafficker's role in virus propagation
• Probiotics reduce piglet pathogens
• Amazon rainforest more able to withstand drought than previously thought
• Plant oil suppresses viability of human prostate cancer cells
• How argonaute proteins intervene in gene regulation process
• Molecular dissection of respiratory syncytial virus infection

Evolution can select for evolvability, biologists find Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:34 PM PST Evolution does not have foresight. But organisms with a greater capacity to evolve may fare better in changing environments. This raises the question: Does evolution favor characteristics that increase a species' ability to evolve? For several years, biologists have attempted to provide evidence that natural selection has acted on evolvability. Now a new article offers clear evidence that the answer is yes.

Genes uniquely expressed by brain's immune cells Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:34 PM PST Investigators have used a new sequencing method to identify a group of genes used by the brain's immune cells -- called microglia -- to sense pathogenic organisms, toxins or damaged cells that require their response. Identifying these genes should lead to better understanding of the role of microglia both in normal brains and in neurodegenerative disorders.

No peak in sight for evolving bacteria Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:22 AM PST There's no peak in sight -- fitness peak, that is -- for the bacteria being studied in one American lab. Scientists there have been running an evolutionary bacteria experiment for 25 years, generating more than 50,000 generations. In a paper published, the author compares it to hiking.

Scientists nearing forecasts of long-lived wildfires Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:21 AM PST Scientists have developed a new computer modeling technique that offers the promise, for the first time, of producing continually updated daylong predictions of wildfire growth throughout the lifetime of long-lived blazes. The technique combines detailed computer simulations with newly available satellite observations.

Dogs likely originated in Europe more than 18,000 years ago, biologists report Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:21 AM PST Wolves likely were domesticated by European hunter-gatherers more than 18,000 years ago, and gradually evolved into dogs that became household pets, biologists report.

Hydrogen fuel from sunlight? Low-cost, long-lasting water splitter made of silicon and nickel Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:21 AM PST Scientists have created a silicon-based water splitter that is both low-cost and corrosion-free. The novel device -- a silicon semiconductor coated in an ultrathin layer of nickel -- could help pave the way for large-scale production of clean hydrogen fuel from sunlight.

First detailed map of global forest change Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:21 AM PST Scientist have created the first high-resolution global map of forest extent, loss and gain, a resource that greatly improves our ability to understand human and naturally-induced forest changes and the local to global implications of these changes on environmental, economic and other natural and societal systems, members of the team say.

World's most irreplaceable protected areas identified Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:21 AM PST A new scientific study has identified the protected areas most critical to preventing extinctions of the world's mammals, birds and amphibians. Resulting from an international collaboration, this analysis provides practical advice for improving the effectiveness of protected areas in conserving global biodiversity.

Why seedlings always grow towards the light Posted: 14 Nov 2013 10:21 AM PST Scientists have discovered how cells in the stems of seedlings use blue light to grow towards the light. During earlier research the discovery was made that the cells in the seedling stems responded to blue light used in the microscope. The scientists have now discovered how the blue light causes small structures in the cell, the microtubules, to grow perpendicular to their normal growth direction.

Mid-nineteenth century Chinese maps controlled water and directed labor Posted: 14 Nov 2013 10:21 AM PST A sequence of twelve maps from the mid-nineteenth century reveal that they were accurate enough for planning and executing middle-sized water control projects for the department of Dengchuan in southwest China.

Senescence is normal process in embryo, not only linked to aging, cancer Posted: 14 Nov 2013 10:20 AM PST Two studies describe senescence as a normal and critical process during embryogenesis. They attribute a completely new and unexpected role to this process, which was always linked to aging and cancer.

Bleeding symptom leads scientists to intracellular trafficker's role in virus propagation Posted: 14 Nov 2013 09:22 AM PST Researchers find a new important clue to how deadly rodent-borne viruses harness ERGIC-53 to ensure their reproductive success.

Probiotics reduce piglet pathogens Posted: 14 Nov 2013 09:21 AM PST Piglets fed probiotic Enterococcus faecium showed reduced numbers of potentially pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in their intestines, according to a team of German researchers. The research is important, because in 2006 the European Union prohibited the feeding of antibiotics to livestock as growth promoters. Therefore, the research team sought to investigate whether probiotics could substitute for antibiotics, by reducing pathogen populations in the intestines.

Amazon rainforest more able to withstand drought than previously thought Posted: 14 Nov 2013 07:25 AM PST New research suggests that the Amazon rainforest may be more able to cope with dry conditions than previously predicted. Researchers used a computer model to demonstrate that, providing forest conservation measures are in place, the Amazon rainforest may be more able to withstand periods of drought than has been estimated by other climate models.

Plant oil suppresses viability of human prostate cancer cells Posted: 13 Nov 2013 01:25 PM PST Geranylgeraniol, found in linseed oil, Cedrela toona wood oil, sucupira branca fruit oil and more recently, annatto seed oil, may be a new weapon in the arsenal of mevalonate-suppressive isoprenoids with potential synergism in the fight against prostate cancer.

How argonaute proteins intervene in gene regulation process Posted: 13 Nov 2013 09:57 AM PST Scientists identify protein motifs that influence gene silencing.

Molecular dissection of respiratory syncytial virus infection Posted: 12 Nov 2013 05:06 PM PST A study published reveals profound systemic dysregulation of the immune response induced by RSV infection in young children and suggest that molecular markers might be able to predict disease severity.

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