ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Understanding parallels of human and animal parenting can benefit generations to come
• Drugs that flush out HIV may impair killer T cells, possibly hindering HIV eradication
• Parasitic worms sniff out their victims as 'cruisers' or 'ambushers'
• Plants may use newly discovered molecular language to communicate
• Scientists study 'talking' turtles in Brazilian Amazon
• Novel chip-based platform could simplify measurements of single molecules
• Ebola outbreak highlights global disparities in health-care resources
• Study of Chilean quake shows potential for future earthquake
• Lionfish characteristics make them more 'terminator' than predator
• Fukushima's legacy: Biological effects of Fukushima radiation on plants, insects, and animals
• Long antibiotic treatments: Slowly growing bacteria to blame
• New shock-and-kill approach could eradicate barrier to curing HIV
• Freeways as fences, trapping the mountain lions of Los Angeles
• Sustainable green alternatives to fertilizers could boost food, energy security
• Early antibiotic exposure leads to lifelong metabolic disturbances in mice
• Key mechanism that drives movement in living cells discovered
• Bamboo pale Ale beer from modern craft brewery
• Antarctica's ice discharge could raise sea level faster than previously thought
• On planes, three rain radars are better than one
• New material could enhance fast, accurate DNA sequencing
• Statistical model predicts performance of hybrid rice
• Treatment with lymph node cells controls dangerous sepsis in animal models
• Next generation sequencing shakes up genotype/phenotype correlation, disease discoveries
• Young blue sharks use central North Atlantic nursery
• Little penguins forage together: 40% of studied penguins synchronized underwater movements while foraging
• Bats versus wind turbines
• Injected bacteria shrink tumors in rats, dogs and humans
• Common household chemicals responsible for reproductive declines in mice
• Estimated 1.65 million global cardiovascular deaths each year linked to high sodium consumption
• Ebullition causes methane emissions in tropical reservoirs
• Survey of marine scientists: Ocean productivity, ocean acidification, ocean-life stressors are serious issues
• Temporary tattoo biobatteries produce power from sweat

• A new look at what's in 'fracking' fluids raises red flags: Some compounds toxic to mammals
• Dust, and the microbes hitching rides on it, influences rain, climate

• Rooting out skin creams that contain toxic mercury 

• Genetically engineered fruit flies could save crops
• Bacterial meningitis incidence has dropped in the United States

Understanding parallels of human and animal parenting can benefit generations to come Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:23 PM PDT Strong evidence now shows that human and animal parenting share many nervous system mechanisms. Better understanding this biology could lead to improved social development, benefiting generations of humans and animals to come.

Drugs that flush out HIV may impair killer T cells, possibly hindering HIV eradication Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:19 PM PDT Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have shown promise in 'flushing out' HIV from latently infected cells, potentially exposing the reservoirs available for elimination by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), also called killer T cells. However, findings now suggest that treatment with HDAC inhibitors might suppress CTL activity and therefore compromise the 'kill' part of a two-pronged 'flush-and-kill' HIV eradication strategy.

Parasitic worms sniff out their victims as 'cruisers' or 'ambushers' Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:19 PM PDT It has been speculated that soil-dwelling parasitic worms use their sense of smell to find suitable hosts for infection. New research comparing odor-driven behaviors in different roundworm species reveals that olfactory preferences reflect host specificity rather than species relatedness, suggesting that olfaction indeed plays an important role in host location.

Plants may use newly discovered molecular language to communicate Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:19 PM PDT A scientist has discovered a potentially new form of plant communication, one that allows them to share an extraordinary amount of genetic information with one another. The finding throws open the door to a new arena of science that explores how plants communicate with each other on a molecular level. It also gives scientists new insight into ways to fight parasitic weeds that wreak havoc on food crops in some of the poorest parts of the world.

Scientists study 'talking' turtles in Brazilian Amazon Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:15 PM PDT Turtles are well known for their longevity and protective shells, but it turns out these reptiles use sound to stick together and care for young.

Novel chip-based platform could simplify measurements of single molecules Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:47 AM PDT A new approach for studying single molecules and nanoparticles has been developed by reserachers. It combines electrical and optical measurements on an integrated chip-based platform. Researchers reported using the device to distinguish viruses from similarly sized nanoparticles with 100 percent fidelity.

Ebola outbreak highlights global disparities in health-care resources Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:47 AM PDT The outbreak of Ebola virus disease that has claimed more than 1,000 lives in West Africa this year poses a serious, ongoing threat to that region: the spread to capital cities and Nigeria -- Africa's most populous nation -- presents new challenges for healthcare professionals. The situation has garnered significant attention and fear around the world, but proven public health measures and sharpened clinical vigilance will contain the epidemic and thwart a global spread.

Study of Chilean quake shows potential for future earthquake Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:46 AM PDT Near real-time analysis of the April 1 earthquake in Iquique, Chile, showed that the 8.2 event occurred in a gap on the fault unruptured since 1877 and that the April event was not what the scientists had expected, according to an international team of geologists.

Lionfish characteristics make them more 'terminator' than predator Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT New research on the predatory nature of red lionfish, the invasive species that is decimating native fish populations in parts of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, seems to indicate that lionfish are not just a predator, but more like the 'terminator' of movie fame. In behavior that is called 'alarming,' it appears that in some cases lionfish will continue to hunt until the last fish of a local population is dead.

Fukushima's legacy: Biological effects of Fukushima radiation on plants, insects, and animals Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT Scientists began gathering biological information only a few months after the disastrous 2011 meltdown of the Fukushima power plant in Japan. Results of these studies are now beginning to reveal serious biological effects of the Fukushima radiation on non-human organisms ranging from plants to butterflies to birds.

Long antibiotic treatments: Slowly growing bacteria to blame Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:44 AM PDT Whether pneumonia or sepsis, infectious diseases are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. One reason for this is the growing antibiotic resistance. But even non-resistant bacteria can survive antibiotics for some time, and that's why treatments need to be continued for several days or weeks. Scientist have now shown that bacteria with vastly different antibiotic sensitivity coexist within the same tissue. They report that, in particular, slowly growing pathogens hamper treatment.

New shock-and-kill approach could eradicate barrier to curing HIV Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:43 AM PDT Despite tremendous progress in combatting HIV-1 infection with antiretroviral therapy, there is still no cure for the disease because these drugs do not kill a hidden reservoir of infected cells in the body. A new study reveals a multipronged strategy for eradicating this latent reservoir and preventing HIV-1 from rebounding after treatment is stopped in mice. The findings suggest that a 'shock-and-kill' approach, combined with virus-fighting antibodies, could represent a promising strategy for curing HIV-1.

Freeways as fences, trapping the mountain lions of Los Angeles Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:43 AM PDT That mountain lions have managed to survive at all in the Santa Monica Mountains of California -- in the vicinity of Los Angeles -- is a testament to the resilience of wildlife, but researchers studying these large carnivorous cats now show that the lions are also completely isolated, cut off from other populations by the freeway. According to the researchers' analyses, only one young mountain lion successfully dispersed into the Santa Monica Mountains in a decade.

Sustainable green alternatives to fertilizers could boost food, energy security Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:38 AM PDT Research is looking at formulating sustainable fertilizers from renewable energy waste. This new area of research aims to produce a sustainable, environmentally-friendlier source of soil conditioner and crop fertilizer that could also reduce costs to farmers and potentially, with wide-spread take-up, help to slow down rising food prices.

Early antibiotic exposure leads to lifelong metabolic disturbances in mice Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:34 AM PDT Antibiotic exposure during a critical window of early development disrupts the bacterial landscape of the gut, home to trillions of diverse microbes, and permanently reprograms the body's metabolism, setting up a predisposition to obesity. Moreover, the study shows that it is altered gut bacteria, rather than the antibiotics, driving the metabolic effects.

Key mechanism that drives movement in living cells discovered Posted: 13 Aug 2014 11:15 PM PDT Living cell migration is regulated by the engagement of a force transmitter composed of vinculin and talin, two types of cytoskeletal protein, researchers have discovered. They showed that force-dependent vinculin binding to talin plays a critical role in mechanically connecting the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular substrate to contribute towards cell migration.

Bamboo pale Ale beer from modern craft brewery Posted: 13 Aug 2014 11:14 PM PDT In order to be a novel alternative in the industry of microbreweries in Mexico, a young entrepreneur opted for the manufacture and marketing of a beer made from bamboo, first of its kind in the country and Latin America, a fact that led him in 2012 to create the company Bambusa, located in Cholula, Puebla, in center Mexico.

Antarctica's ice discharge could raise sea level faster than previously thought Posted: 13 Aug 2014 03:22 PM PDT Ice discharge from Antarctica could contribute up to 37 centimeters to the global sea level rise within this century, a new study shows. For the first time, an international team of scientists provide a comprehensive estimate on the full range of Antarctica's potential contribution to global sea level rise based on physical computer simulations. The study combines a whole set of state-of-the-art climate models and observational data with various ice models.

On planes, three rain radars are better than one Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:44 PM PDT Putting three radars on a plane to measure rainfall may seem like overkill -- and never before had NASA flown more than two. But for a recent field campaign, more definitely was better. Future precipitation missions and, more particularly, the Aerosol Clouds Ecology mission, which the National Research Council recommended in its Earth Science Decadal Survey, have made the development of new radar systems to observe clouds and light precipitation a priority.

New material could enhance fast, accurate DNA sequencing Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:44 PM PDT Gene-based personalized medicine has many possibilities for diagnosis and targeted therapy, but one big bottleneck: the expensive and time-consuming DNA-sequencing process. Now, researchers have found that nanopores in the material molybdenum disulfide could sequence DNA more accurately, quickly and inexpensively than anything yet available.

Statistical model predicts performance of hybrid rice Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:44 PM PDT 'Genomic prediction' has been used by researchers to predict the performance of hybrid rice. Genomic prediction is a new technology that could potentially revolutionize hybrid breeding in agriculture. A statistical approach to predicting the value of an economically important trait in a plant, such as yield or disease resistance, the method works if the trait is heritable and reduces costs.

Treatment with lymph node cells controls dangerous sepsis in animal models Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:44 PM PDT An immune-regulating cell present in lymph nodes may be able to halt severe cases of sepsis, an out-of-control inflammatory response that can lead to organ failure and death. "Our findings are important because, to our knowledge, no experimental therapeutic has shown such a significant survival benefit after the disease has progressed so far -- in our study up to 16 hours after a sepsis-inducing injury," says the senior author of the paper.

Next generation sequencing shakes up genotype/phenotype correlation, disease discoveries Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:42 PM PDT With the ability to use next generation sequencing technology, researchers have a broadened understanding of the association of genetic changes and disease causation to a much greater resolution, driving new discoveries, said an international team of clinical geneticists.

Young blue sharks use central North Atlantic nursery Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:42 PM PDT Blue sharks may use the central North Atlantic as a nursery prior to males and females moving through the ocean basin in distinctly different patterns.

Little penguins forage together: 40% of studied penguins synchronized underwater movements while foraging Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:42 PM PDT Most little penguins may search for food in groups, and even synchronize their movements during foraging trips.

Bats versus wind turbines Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:41 PM PDT Wind turbines are responsible for the death of numerous bats. In a recent study, scientists determined the origin of these animals: they do not only come from local areas but many had been already on a long migratory journey. Who then bears responsibility not only for the protection of native bat populations, but also for the populations from other countries, a European study asks.

Injected bacteria shrink tumors in rats, dogs and humans Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:39 PM PDT A modified version of the Clostridium novyi (C. novyi-NT) bacterium can produce a strong and precisely targeted anti-tumor response in rats, dogs and now humans, according to a new report. In its natural form, C. novyi is found in the soil and, in certain cases, can cause tissue-damaging infection in cattle, sheep and humans. The microbe thrives only in oxygen-poor environments, which makes it a targeted means of destroying oxygen-starved cells in tumors that are difficult to treat with chemotherapy and radiation.

Common household chemicals responsible for reproductive declines in mice Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:36 PM PDT Researchers who were using a disinfectant when handling mice have discovered that two active ingredients in it cause declines in mouse reproduction. The ingredients are found in commercial and householder cleaners, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, preservatives in makeup and other cosmetics, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets. "If these chemicals are toxic to humans, they could also be contributing to the decline in human fertility seen in recent decades, as well as the increased need for assistive reproductive technologies such as in-vitro fertilization," one researcher said.

Estimated 1.65 million global cardiovascular deaths each year linked to high sodium consumption Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:36 PM PDT More than 1.6 million cardiovascular-related deaths per year can be attributed to sodium consumption above the World Health Organization's recommendation of 2.0 grams per day, researchers have found in a new analysis of populations across 187 countries.

Ebullition causes methane emissions in tropical reservoirs Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:35 AM PDT Methane emissions by ebullition from tropical reservoirs have been accurately quantified for the first time, revealing that this emission pathway depends on both the water level in the reservoir, which is dependent on the monsoon, and on daily variations in atmospheric pressure. Although tropical reservoirs probably emit over 10% of anthropogenic methane, their emissions are still poorly quantified. In this study, a new automatic system for the continuous measurement of methane fluxes was deployed on the reservoir of the largest hydroelectric dam in Southeast Asia.

Survey of marine scientists: Ocean productivity, ocean acidification, ocean-life stressors are serious issues Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:34 AM PDT Declines in ocean productivity, increases in ocean acidification, and the cumulative effects of multiple stressors on ocean health are among the most pressing issues facing coastal and maritime countries, according to a survey of scientists. All three issues were ranked in the top five ocean research priorities by oceanographers and marine ecologists from around the globe.

Temporary tattoo biobatteries produce power from sweat Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:31 AM PDT In the future, working up a sweat by exercising may not only be good for your health, but it could also power your small electronic devices. Researchers have designed a sensor in the form of a temporary tattoo that can both monitor a person's progress during exercise and produce power from their perspiration.

A new look at what's in 'fracking' fluids raises red flags: Some compounds toxic to mammals Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:31 AM PDT As the oil and gas drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing proliferates, a new study on the contents of the fluids used raises concerns over several ingredients. The scientists say out of nearly 200 commonly used compounds in "fracking," there's very little known about the potential health risks of about one-third, and eight are toxic to mammals.

Dust, and the microbes hitching rides on it, influences rain, climate Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:30 AM PDT Dusty air blowing across the Pacific from Asia and Africa plays a critical role in precipitation patterns throughout the drought-stricken western U.S. Today, scientists are suggesting that the exact chemical make-up of that dust, including microbes found in it, is key to making better rain event predictions and explaining how air pollution influences regional climate.

Rooting out skin creams that contain toxic mercury Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:30 AM PDT As most countries try to rid themselves of mercury pollution, some people are massaging creams containing the metal directly onto their skin to lighten it, putting themselves and others at risk for serious health problems. To find those most at risk, scientists are reporting that they can now identify these creams and intervene much faster than before.

Genetically engineered fruit flies could save crops Posted: 12 Aug 2014 08:53 PM PDT Releasing genetically engineered fruit flies into the wild could prove to be a cheap, effective and environmentally friendly way of pest control, according to scientists. New research reveals how the release of genetically engineered male flies could be used as an effective population suppression method -- saving crops around the world.

Bacterial meningitis incidence has dropped in the United States Posted: 12 Aug 2014 08:52 PM PDT Advances in the prevention and treatment of an often fatal condition called bacterial meningitis appear to be paying dividends in the United States, report infectious disease experts. An analysis of a national inpatient database revealed a significant drop in prevalence and mortality following the introduction of two preventative vaccines and a complementary treatment.

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