ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Why it snows so much in the frozen north
• Assumption about mercury in the Arctic overturned
• 91 new species described by California Academy Of Sciences in 2013
• Essential factor for Lyme disease transmission identified
• TB bacteria mask their identity to intrude into deeper regions of lungs
• Greek economic crisis leads to air pollution crisis
• How cells remodel after UV radiation
• Deepwater Horizon study shows possible oil impact on dolphins
• Corn pest decline may save farmers money
• Supercomputers help researchers identify key molecular switch that controls cell behavior

Why it snows so much in the frozen north Posted: 20 Dec 2013 05:06 PM PST Scientists have long puzzled over the seemingly ceaseless drizzle of snow drifting down from arctic clouds. Now they may have an explanation.

Assumption about mercury in the Arctic overturned Posted: 20 Dec 2013 05:06 PM PST A team of scientists from the U.S., Russia, and Canada has compared fish from two Russian rivers, the Lena and the Mezen, and found mercury concentrations to be much lower than expected.

91 new species described by California Academy Of Sciences in 2013 Posted: 20 Dec 2013 09:10 AM PST In 2013, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences discovered 91 new plant and animal species and two new genera, enriching our understanding of the complex web of life on Earth and strengthening our ability to make informed conservation decisions. The new species, previously unknown to science, include 38 different ants, 12 fishes, 14 plants, eight beetles, two spiders, one reptile, and one amphibian.

Essential factor for Lyme disease transmission identified Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:00 PM PST Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, hitchhikes in ticks for dissemination to mammalian hosts -- including humans. A new article identifies HrpA, an RNA helicase, as a crucial player in the transmission from ticks to mammals. Scientists have analyzed the molecular function of the HrpA protein and explored its role in the bacterium's complicated life cycle, in particular for transmission of the pathogen.

TB bacteria mask their identity to intrude into deeper regions of lungs Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:23 AM PST TB-causing bacteria appear to mask their identity to avoid recognition by infection-killing cells in the well-patrolled upper airways. The bacteria call up more permissive white blood cells in the deeper regions of the lungs and hitch a ride inside them to get into parts of the host's lungs that are under less surveillance.

Greek economic crisis leads to air pollution crisis Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:23 AM PST A spike in fuel prices has led to Greek residents burning more wood to keep warm -- with significant negative impacts on air quality.

How cells remodel after UV radiation Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:21 AM PST Researchers have produced the first map detailing the network of genetic interactions underlying the cellular response to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Deepwater Horizon study shows possible oil impact on dolphins Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:10 AM PST Bottlenose dolphins in Louisiana's Barataria Bay have lung damage and adrenal hormone abnormalities not previously seen in other dolphin populations, according to a new peer-reviewed study.

Corn pest decline may save farmers money Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:09 AM PST Populations of European corn borer (ECB), a major corn crop pest, have declined significantly in the eastern United States, according to researchers. The decline suggests that the use of genetically modified, ECB-resistant corn hybrids -- an expensive, yet effective, solution that has been widely adopted by farmers -- may now be unnecessary in some areas.

Supercomputers help researchers identify key molecular switch that controls cell behavior Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:52 PM PST If scientists can control cellular functions such as movement and development, they can cripple cells and pathogens that are causing disease in the body.

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