ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• Interplanetary dust particles could deliver water and organics to jump-start life on Earth
• Impulsive personality linked to food addiction
• New study changes conceptions about the determinants of skull development and form
• Study expands cancer genomics universe
• One good tern deserves another: Low-power, remote monitoring of island birds cuts bills
• Sequence of water buffalo completed
• Material developed could speed up underwater communications by orders of magnitude
• Simple amoeba holds the key to better treatment for Alzheimer's disease
• The scent of cancer: Detecting cancer with fruit fly's antenna
• Looking inside food microstructures
• A treasure trove of Arabic terms
• Rainforests in Far East shaped by humans for the last 11,000 years
• New cause identified for children, adults with joint, skeletal, skin problems
• Plant scientists unravel a molecular switch to stimulate leaf growth
• The shape of infectious prions
• Can walking the dogs show who's the leader of the pack?
• A thousand years ago, Central Europeans digested milk as well as us today
• Lab-grown, virus-free stem cells repair retinal tissue in mice
• Are developing heart valves sensitive to environmental chemicals?
• Key pathway for plant cell growth identified
• Captive breeding no help to endangered woodrat
• Salmonella infection mitigates asthma
• Two proteins compete for one port on a growth factor; one promotes metastasis, the other blocks it
• What makes cell division accurate?
• Obesity in mothers alters babies' weight through brain rewiring
• Sniffed out: 'Gas detectors' of the plant world
• Cultural connections with Europe found in ancient Jordanian settlement
• Climate change threatens Winter Olympics: Only six of previous Winter Games venues to be cold enough by late-century
• One tree likes seabird poop, next prefers fresh air
• One in five women with ovarian cancer has inherited predisposition
• Can fish oil help preserve brain cells?
• Better protein capture a boon for drug manufacturers
• Gene therapy leads to robust improvements in animal model of fatal muscle disease

Interplanetary dust particles could deliver water and organics to jump-start life on Earth Posted: 24 Jan 2014 01:12 PM PST Researchers have discovered that interplanetary dust particles could deliver water and organics to the Earth and other terrestrial planets. "It is a thrilling possibility that this influx of dust has acted as a continuous rainfall of little reaction vessels containing both the water and organics needed for the eventual origin of life on Earth and possibly Mars," said Hope Ishii, study co-author.

Impulsive personality linked to food addiction Posted: 24 Jan 2014 01:12 PM PST The same kinds of impulsive behavior that lead some people to abuse alcohol and other drugs may also be an important contributor to an unhealthy relationship with food, according to new research.

New study changes conceptions about the determinants of skull development and form Posted: 24 Jan 2014 01:12 PM PST A new study offers surprising insights into dietary influences on the growing skull.

Study expands cancer genomics universe Posted: 24 Jan 2014 08:57 AM PST By analyzing the genomes of thousands of patients' tumors, a research team has discovered many new cancer genes -- expanding the list of known genes tied to these cancers by 25 percent. The team's work, which lays a critical foundation for future cancer drug development, also shows that creating a comprehensive catalog of cancer genes for scores of cancer types is feasible with as few as 100,000 patient samples.

One good tern deserves another: Low-power, remote monitoring of island birds cuts bills Posted: 24 Jan 2014 08:11 AM PST A new report reveals details of an energy-efficient system for monitoring wild birds that reduces power consumption without significantly compromising image quality.

Sequence of water buffalo completed Posted: 24 Jan 2014 07:18 AM PST Scientists have completed the genome sequencing of water buffalo. The outstanding work lays an important foundation for molecular breeding of water buffalo, and sheds new light on the understanding of its origin and domestication process.

Material developed could speed up underwater communications by orders of magnitude Posted: 24 Jan 2014 06:37 AM PST Electrical engineering professors have taken the first steps in a project to develop fast-blinking LED systems for underwater optical communications. Scientists have shown that an artificial metamaterial can increase the light intensity and "blink speed" of a fluorescent light-emitting dye molecule.

Simple amoeba holds the key to better treatment for Alzheimer's disease Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:27 AM PST Scientists have discovered the use of a simple single-celled amoeba to understand the function of human proteins in causing Alzheimer's disease.

The scent of cancer: Detecting cancer with fruit fly's antenna Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:27 AM PST Researchers have, for the first time, detected cancer cells using the olfactory senses of fruit flies.

Looking inside food microstructures Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:27 AM PST Applying imaging techniques to food structure is helping scientists devise ways of improving the quality of processed food.

A treasure trove of Arabic terms Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:26 AM PST Are the terms alcohol and kohl related? Yes, if we trace their origins. An Arabic etymological term base, the first of its kind, can provide new knowledge about Arab identity and cultural history.

Rainforests in Far East shaped by humans for the last 11,000 years Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:26 AM PST New research shows that the tropical forests of South East Asia have been shaped by humans for the last 11,000 years. The rain forests of Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Thailand and Vietnam were previously thought to have been largely unaffected by humans, but the latest research suggests otherwise.

New cause identified for children, adults with joint, skeletal, skin problems Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:26 AM PST Scientists have identified the cause of a rare condition called Leri's pleonosteosis (LP). LP is an inherited condition in which children are born with contractures of multiple joints and then develop difficulty of joint movements that progress in severity with age. The research team showed that extra genetic material on chromosome number 8 caused the condition in two families from Manchester.

Plant scientists unravel a molecular switch to stimulate leaf growth Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:26 AM PST Cell division is essential for growth and development of all multicellular organisms. In plants, leaf growth consists of two different phases. A first phase is characterized by intense cell division, which leads to the formation of many new cells. During the second phase, cell division activity declines, the cells elongate and acquire a certain expertise. Biologists have now identified a molecular switch that stimulates leaf growth.

The shape of infectious prions Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:26 AM PST Prions are unique infective agents -- unlike viruses, bacteria, fungi and other parasites, prions do not contain either DNA or RNA. Despite their seemingly simple structure, they can propagate their pathological effects like wildfire, by "infecting" normal proteins. PrPSc (the pathological form of the prion protein) can induce normal prion proteins (PrPC) to acquire the wrong conformation and convert into further disease-causing agents.

Can walking the dogs show who's the leader of the pack? Posted: 23 Jan 2014 07:20 PM PST Dogs' paths during group walks could be used to determine leadership roles and through that their social ranks and personality traits, say researchers. Using high-resolution GPS harnesses, scientists tracked the movements of six dogs and their owner across 14 30-40 minute walks off the lead. The dogs' movements were measurably influenced by underlying social hierarchies and personality differences.

A thousand years ago, Central Europeans digested milk as well as us today Posted: 23 Jan 2014 07:19 PM PST Back in the Middle Ages, Central Europeans were already capable of digesting milk, yogurt and cheese just as well as most people of European descent are today. Researchers have discovered that the population of the medieval town of Dalheim had a similar genetic predisposition for milk digestion to present-day Germans and Austrians. Moreover, the study reveals that lactose tolerance was more widespread than previously believed.

Lab-grown, virus-free stem cells repair retinal tissue in mice Posted: 23 Jan 2014 07:19 PM PST Investigators have developed human induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice. The stem cells, derived from human umbilical cord-blood and coaxed into an embryonic-like state, were grown without the conventional use of viruses, which can mutate genes and initiate cancers, according to the scientists. Their safer method of growing the cells paves the way for a stem cell bank of cord-blood derived iPSCs to advance regenerative medicine research.

Are developing heart valves sensitive to environmental chemicals? Posted: 23 Jan 2014 01:18 PM PST Exposure to environmental endocrine disrupters, such as bisphenol A, which mimic estrogen, is associated with adverse health effects. Bisphenol A is commonly found in plastic bottles and plastic food containers. New research from on the effects of these chemicals on zebrafish shows that embryonic heart valves could be particularly in danger.

Key pathway for plant cell growth identified Posted: 23 Jan 2014 11:17 AM PST For plants, the only way to grow is for cells to expand. Unlike animals, cell division in plants happens only within a tiny region of the root and stem apex, making cell expansion the critical path to increased stature. Now, a team of scientists reports the discovery of a hormone and receptor that control cell expansion in plants.

Captive breeding no help to endangered woodrat Posted: 23 Jan 2014 10:31 AM PST Captive breeading and release program does not help save the federally endangered Key Largo woodrat, a new study shows.

Salmonella infection mitigates asthma Posted: 23 Jan 2014 09:59 AM PST Researchers have identified the mechanism by which Salmonella infections can reduce the incidence of asthma in mice. The research opens up new avenues of research that could lead to treatments.

Two proteins compete for one port on a growth factor; one promotes metastasis, the other blocks it Posted: 23 Jan 2014 09:58 AM PST Consider two drivers, each with a key that fits the same car. Driver 1 wants simply to turn on the ignition and leave the vehicle idling, ready and waiting to roll. Driver 2 wants to take it on a destructive joy ride. New cancer researchers have discovered that the same happens in our bodies between two proteins.

What makes cell division accurate? Posted: 23 Jan 2014 09:55 AM PST Losing or gaining chromosomes during cell division can lead to cancer and other diseases, so understanding mitosis is important for developing therapeutic strategies. New research focused on one important part of this process. The results improve our understanding of how cell division gives rise to two daughter cells with an equal complement of chromosomes.

Obesity in mothers alters babies' weight through brain rewiring Posted: 23 Jan 2014 09:55 AM PST Obese mothers are more likely to have children with metabolic disorders, but the underlying reasons for this effect have been unclear. A new study reveals that the offspring of mouse mothers on a high-fat diet are predisposed to obesity and diabetes because of abnormal neuronal circuits in the hypothalamus. The findings suggest that mothers who consume a large amount of fat during the third trimester may be putting their children at risk for lifelong obesity.

Sniffed out: 'Gas detectors' of the plant world Posted: 23 Jan 2014 09:54 AM PST The elusive trigger that allows plants to 'see' the gas nitric oxide (NO), an important signalling molecule, has been tracked down by scientists. It is the first time that a central mechanism for the detection of NO in plants has been identified.

Cultural connections with Europe found in ancient Jordanian settlement Posted: 23 Jan 2014 06:51 AM PST Swedish archaeologists in Jordan have excavated a nearly 60-metre long well-preserved building from 1100 B.C. in the ancient settlement Tell Abu al-Kharaz. The building is from an era characterized by major migration.

Climate change threatens Winter Olympics: Only six of previous Winter Games venues to be cold enough by late-century Posted: 23 Jan 2014 04:57 AM PST Only six of the previous Winter Olympics host cities will be cold enough to reliably host the Games by the end of this century if global warming projections prove accurate. Even with conservative climate projections, only 11 of the previous 19 sites could host the Games in the coming decades, according to a new study.

One tree likes seabird poop, next prefers fresh air Posted: 22 Jan 2014 05:20 PM PST Off the west coast of Peru, seabirds deposit thick layers of guano that accumulates on the ground because of the lack of rain. Guano has historically played a key role in agriculture worldwide because it is rich in plant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. Now, researchers revealed the effects of guano on the native trees of the arid coasts of South America. Researchers found that non-nitrogen fixing trees become more abundant closer to sea replacing the usually more abundant nitrogen fixing trees in these deserts.

One in five women with ovarian cancer has inherited predisposition Posted: 22 Jan 2014 05:20 PM PST A new study conservatively estimates that one in five women with ovarian cancer has inherited genetic mutations that increase the risk of the disease.

Can fish oil help preserve brain cells? Posted: 22 Jan 2014 02:05 PM PST People with higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may also have larger brain volumes in old age equivalent to preserving one to two years of brain health, according to a study published. Shrinking brain volume is a sign of Alzheimer's disease as well as normal aging.

Better protein capture a boon for drug manufacturers Posted: 22 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST Scientists have created a way to fine tune a process critical to the pharmaceutical industry that could save time and money.

Gene therapy leads to robust improvements in animal model of fatal muscle disease Posted: 22 Jan 2014 12:39 PM PST Preclinical studies show that gene therapy can strengthen muscles and lengthen lives in animal models of a fatal congenital disease in children, X-linked myotubular myopathy. The findings demonstrate the clinical feasibility of future trials for this devastating disease. Children born with the condition have floppy muscles and breathing difficulty, and may need life support. Most die in childhood. The effectiveness of this process was tested in mice and dogs with engineered adenovirus vector carrying a gene to replace the mutation.

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