ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Pistachios may lower vascular response to stress in type 2 diabetes
• Scientists change butterflies wing color in just six generations
• How spiders spin silk
• Watching chemistry in motion: Chemical environments mapped using molecular vibrations
• New clues to repairing an injured spinal cord
• Common chemical in mothers may negatively affect the IQ of their unborn children
• Butterflies could hold key to probes that repair genes
• Interaction of climate change, fire, and forests in U.S.
• Eating more dietary pulses can increase fullness, may help manage weight
• Social networking key to helping bugs spread, study shows
• Pheromones regulate aggression of non-mother female mice toward pups in wild-derived mice
• Grizzly research offers surprising insights into diabetes-obesity link
• Seamless gene correction of beta-thalassemia mutations in patient-specific cells
• Smart bacteria help each other survive
• An embryonic cell's fate sealed by speed of a signal
• Warning to parents on high acidity drinks
• Scientists call for increased conservation efforts to save black bears
• Obesity paradox in survival from sepsis
• Why tendons break down with age
• New methods to identify MRSA in pigs
• Wasp venom used in new therapy for breast cancer
• Drilling transforms the underworld: Humanity's deepest footprint
• Bisphenol A and food intolerance: Link established for first time
• Combustion mechanism to better predict warming by wildfires uncovered by scientists
• Model of viral lifecycle could help in finding a cure for hepatitis B
• Sulfur signals in Antarctic snow reveal clues to climate, past and future
• How long does it take to make a natural fracture?
• Epidemic outbreaks caused by environment, not evolution
• Protective hinge process enables insulin to bind to cells
• Alzheimer's disease in African Americans: Gene may increase risk, researchers say
• How should flood risk assessments be done in changing climate?
• Insights on whale shark populations and evidence for their historic rise, recent decline
• Tricking plants to see the light may control most important twitch on earth

Pistachios may lower vascular response to stress in type 2 diabetes Posted: 05 Aug 2014 01:33 PM PDT Among people with type 2 diabetes, eating pistachios may reduce the body's response to the stresses of everyday life, according researchers. "In adults with diabetes, two servings of pistachios per day lowered vascular constriction during stress and improved neural control of the heart," said the lead investigator. "Although nuts are high in fat, they contain good fats, fiber, potassium and antioxidants. Given the high risk of heart disease in people with diabetes, nuts are an important component of a heart healthy diet in this population."

Scientists change butterflies wing color in just six generations Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:10 PM PDT Scientists have chosen the most fleeting of mediums for their groundbreaking work on biomimicry: They've changed the color of butterfly wings. In so doing, they produced the first structural color change in an animal by influencing evolution. The discovery may have implications for physicists and engineers trying to use evolutionary principles in the design of new materials and devices.

How spiders spin silk Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:08 PM PDT Spider silk is an impressive material; lightweight and stretchy yet stronger than steel. But the challenge that spiders face to produce this substance is even more formidable. Silk proteins, called spidroins, must convert from a soluble form to solid fibers at ambient temperatures, with water as a solvent, and at high speed. How do spiders achieve this astounding feat? New research shows how the silk formation process is regulated.

Watching chemistry in motion: Chemical environments mapped using molecular vibrations Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:06 PM PDT Scientists have long known that a molecule's behavior depends on its environment. Taking advantage of this phenomenon, a group of researchers has developed a new technique to map microscopic environments using the vibrations of molecules. "It's a special new advance that will be broadly useful in studies of molecular and materials phenomena," said one scientist.

New clues to repairing an injured spinal cord Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:06 PM PDT Frogs, dogs, whales, snails can all do it, but humans and primates can't. Regrow nerves after an injury, that is -- while many animals have this ability, humans don't. But new research suggests that a small molecule may be able to convince damaged nerves to grow and effectively rewire circuits. Such a feat could eventually lead to therapies for the thousands of Americans with severe spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Scientists hope to borrow strategy from simpler animals to repair damaged spinal cord nerves in humans.

Common chemical in mothers may negatively affect the IQ of their unborn children Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:25 AM PDT In some women, abnormally high levels of a common and pervasive chemical may lead to adverse effects in their offspring, researchers report. The study is the first of its kind to shed light on the possible harmful side effects of perchlorate in mothers and their children. "The reason people really care about perchlorate is because it is ubiquitous. It's everywhere," said one investigator. "Prior studies have already shown perchlorate, at low levels, can be found in each and every one of us."

Butterflies could hold key to probes that repair genes Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:25 AM PDT New discoveries about how butterflies feed could help engineers develop tiny probes that siphon liquid out of single cells for a wide range of medical tests and treatments, according to researchers. The technology could be used for medical devices, nanobioreactors that make complex materials and flying "micro-air vehicles" the size of an insect.

Interaction of climate change, fire, and forests in U.S. Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:25 AM PDT New research assesses the interactions among fire, climate change, and forests for five major regions of the United States. Articles in a special section of a journal review the interactions between climate and fire in five different regions of the U.S -- the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, mid-Atlantic, and Southeast.

Eating more dietary pulses can increase fullness, may help manage weight Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:21 AM PDT Eating about one serving a day of beans, peas, chickpeas or lentils can increase fullness, which may lead to better weight management and weight loss, a new study has found. Pulses have a low glycemic index (meaning that they are foods that break down slowly) and can be used to reduce or displace animal protein as well as "bad" fats such as trans fat in a dish or meal.

Social networking key to helping bugs spread, study shows Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:21 AM PDT Fresh discoveries about how bacteria co-operate with each other when causing infection could help scientists identify animal diseases that might transmit to people. Bugs that can co-operate best with each other are most likely to be able to jump to new species, including humans, a new study shows.

Pheromones regulate aggression of non-mother female mice toward pups in wild-derived mice Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:20 AM PDT A new mouse model has allowed researchers to explore, for the first time, the biological roots of aggressive behavior in females, both toward each other and the pups of others. Their findings provide the basis for developing additional mouse strains that will enable a better understanding of the neural and genetic basis of behavior relating to reproduction in females, and the differences between males and females.

Grizzly research offers surprising insights into diabetes-obesity link Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:19 AM PDT Researchers studying grizzly bears have now discovered a natural state of diabetes that serves a real biological purpose and is also reversible. Investigators note that grizzly bears are obese but not diabetic in the fall, become diabetic only weeks later in hibernation, and then become 'cured' of diabetes in the spring. The research reveals how natural biology can teach us new things about how animals naturally cope with conditions that would cause disease in humans.

Seamless gene correction of beta-thalassemia mutations in patient-specific cells Posted: 05 Aug 2014 10:19 AM PDT A major hurdle in gene therapy is the efficient integration of a corrected gene into a patient's genome without mutating off-target sites. In a new paper, scientists explain having used CRISPR/Cas genome editing technology to seamlessly and efficiently correct disease-causing mutations in cells from patients with beta-thalassemia.

Smart bacteria help each other survive Posted: 05 Aug 2014 07:25 AM PDT The body's assailants are cleverer than previously thought. New research shows for the first time how bacteria in the airways can help each other replenish vital iron. The bacteria thereby increase their chances of survival, which can happen at the expense of the person's health.

An embryonic cell's fate sealed by speed of a signal Posted: 05 Aug 2014 07:23 AM PDT When embryonic cells get the signal to specialize, the call can come quickly. Or it can arrive slowly. Now, new research suggests the speed at which a cell in an embryo receives that signal has an unexpected influence on that cell's fate. "This finding is another instance of a productive collaboration between biologists and physicists. Neither group, biologists or physicists, could have realized this result working alone," one researcher said.

Warning to parents on high acidity drinks Posted: 05 Aug 2014 07:23 AM PDT Dental researchers are warning parents of the dangers of soft drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks and other drinks high in acidity, which form part of a "triple-threat" of permanent damage to young people's teeth.

Scientists call for increased conservation efforts to save black bears Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:11 AM PDT To combat the decline of black bears and repopulate the mountainous region of the Central Interior Highlands (CIH), more than 250 bears from Minnesota and Manitoba were relocated to Arkansas in the 1950s and 1960s. Now, researchers have analyzed genetic diversity in black bears in the CIH and have determined that coordinated conservation management is still needed to maintain healthy populations of black bears in the region.

Obesity paradox in survival from sepsis Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:11 AM PDT Obesity usually leads to worse health outcomes, but a study shows extra weight increases chances of surviving sepsis. In a study of 1,404 Medicare beneficiaries, heavier patients were more likely to survive sepsis, a life-threatening infection that can lead to a stay in a hospital's intensive care unit.

Why tendons break down with age Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Scientists have identified differences in the proteins present in young and old tendons, in new research that could guide the development of treatments to stop tissue breakdown from occurring.

New methods to identify MRSA in pigs Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT It is important to keep the number of MRSA infections at a low level. The latest technologies within whole genome sequencing have been exploited to develop new methods to identify genes which are important for the survival of MRSA in pigs.

Wasp venom used in new therapy for breast cancer Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Despite there currently being a wide variety of compounds against cancer, they all have serious side effects. Furthermore, tumors are capable of becoming resistant, limiting this type of treatment. In order to counteract these two disadvantages, scientists have designed a new therapy based on a peptide - the binding of several amino acids - from wasp venom for its potential use against breast cancer.

Drilling transforms the underworld: Humanity's deepest footprint Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Geologists are explore the hidden world beneath our feet. Examining the effects of human drilling shows how humans have left their mark on Earth both above the surface and deep below in the subterranean network of human-made tunnels in ways that will have a long-standing impact in the future.

Bisphenol A and food intolerance: Link established for first time Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:09 AM PDT Perinatal exposure to low doses of BPA, which is considered to be risk-free in humans, could increase the risk of developing food intolerance in adulthood, research shows. More than 20% of the global population suffer from food allergy or intolerance. An environmental origin for these adverse food reactions is strongly suspected.

Combustion mechanism to better predict warming by wildfires uncovered by scientists Posted: 04 Aug 2014 02:15 PM PDT Scientists have uncovered key attributes of so-called 'brown carbon' from wildfires, airborne atmospheric particles that may have influenced current climate models that failed to take the material's warming effects into account.

Model of viral lifecycle could help in finding a cure for hepatitis B Posted: 04 Aug 2014 12:14 PM PDT A new technique sustains hepatitis B in liver cells, researchers have discovered, allowing for the study of immune response and drug treatments. Around 400 million people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV); of those, one-third will go on to develop life-threatening complications, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. Although there is an effective HBV vaccine, only around 50 percent of people in some countries where the disease is endemic are vaccinated. A complete cure for the disease is very rare, once someone has been chronically infected.

Sulfur signals in Antarctic snow reveal clues to climate, past and future Posted: 04 Aug 2014 12:14 PM PDT Atmospheric chemists were surprised to see anomalous ratios of sulfur isotopes in sulfate deposited during worldwide wildfires following the super ENSO of '97 to '98, an event that marked the beginning of an apparent hiatus in global warming. Their analysis of the photochemistry that left this trace also revealed the importance of an overlooked reaction that could alter ideas about the oxygen state of Earth's early atmosphere.

How long does it take to make a natural fracture? Posted: 04 Aug 2014 12:12 PM PDT How long does it take for natural Earth processes to form hydraulic fractures? Is the formation driven by sediment compaction, oil and gas generation, or something else? What role do these natural fractures play in modern hydraulic fracturing production? A new study addresses these questions.

Epidemic outbreaks caused by environment, not evolution Posted: 04 Aug 2014 12:12 PM PDT Researchers have traced genetic changes in a bacterial pathogen over 450 years, and claim that epidemics of bacterial disease in human history may be caused by chance environmental changes rather than genetic mutations. The research team analyzed 149 genomes of Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A, which is a major cause of enteric fever. Enteric fever is currently estimated at 27 million clinical cases each year, resulting in 200,000 deaths.

Protective hinge process enables insulin to bind to cells Posted: 04 Aug 2014 12:11 PM PDT Scientists have deciphered how the insulin molecule exploits a protective hinge to engage its primary binding site within the insulin receptor. "We discovered an essential mechanism for how insulin binds to target cells and thereby triggers an extraordinary cascade of biological signals," said a researcher. "Such molecular signaling, central to how we utilize and store fuels derived from our meals, has attracted international scientific study ever since the landmark 1969 elucidation of the storage structure of insulin by the late Nobel Laureate Dorothy C. Hodgkin in England."

Alzheimer's disease in African Americans: Gene may increase risk, researchers say Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:33 AM PDT Two rare variants in the AKAP9 gene significantly increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in African-Americans, researchers report. Up to 75 percent of AD cases are thought to have a genetic basis; however the specific genes involved likely differ between ethnic populations. The most well-known AD risk gene, APOE4, does not play as strong a role in AD risk in African Americans as it does in Caucasians, despite the fact that a higher proportion of African Americans than Caucasians are afflicted with this disorder.

How should flood risk assessments be done in changing climate? Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:33 AM PDT Growing consensus on climate and land use change means that it is reasonable to assume, at the very least, that flood levels in a region may change. Then why, ask researchers in a new study, do the dominant risk assessment techniques used to decide whether to build new flood protection infrastructure nearly always start with an assumption of "no trend" in flood behavior?

Insights on whale shark populations and evidence for their historic rise, recent decline Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:33 AM PDT In the largest study on the genetics of whale sharks conducted to date, researchers found that the world's biggest fish likely exist in 2 distinct populations with minimal connectivity between the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. The findings suggest that mixing of whale sharks between the Indian and Atlantic was and is rare.

Tricking plants to see the light may control most important twitch on earth Posted: 04 Aug 2014 09:29 AM PDT Copious corn growing in tiny backyard plots? Roses blooming in December? Thanks to technology, these things may soon be possible. And now, new findings out of a genetics professor's lab promise to advance that technology even further. For the first time, researchers have revealed the structure of the plant phytochrome, a critical molecule that detects the light that tells plants when to germinate, grow, make food, flower and even age.

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