ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

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• What bank voles can teach us about prion disease transmission and neurodegeneration
• Large-scale fences can cause ecological meltdown, study shows
• Researchers design trees that make it easier to produce paper
• Hot mantle drives elevation, volcanism along mid-ocean ridges
• Moonwalker flies backing up
• NASA model provides a 3-D look at L.A.-area quake
• NASA radar watches over California's aging levees
• NASA's OCO-2 brings sharp focus on global carbon
• Computer models soybean crop with 8.5 percent more productivity, using 13 percent less water
• Energy breakthrough uses sun to create solar energy materials
• Sage grouse losing habitat to fire as endangered species decision looms
• Cave-dwelling fish examination finds possible genetic link to human disorders
• Patient stem cells help identify common problem in ALS
• Hummingbirds' 22-million-year-old history of remarkable change is far from complete
• New study casts doubt on heart regeneration in mammals
• Dog walking attitudes: Stoop to scoop the poop?
• Voluntary climate action is a function of information and education
• Indigenous societies' 'first contact' typically brings collapse, but rebounds are possible
• Tiny wireless sensing device alerts users to telltale vapors remotely
• New approach to detecting changes in GM foods
• Attracting wild bees to farms is good insurance policy
• Structural insights into inner workings of viral nanomachine
• Tiny biomolecular tweezers studying force effect of cells
• Brazil is site of the first regional ocean health index
• Chowing down on watermelon could lower blood pressure, study suggests
• Metabolites' role in understanding disease emphasized
• 'Homo' is the only primate whose tooth size decreases as its brain size increases
• What influences us most when choosing wine?
• Satellite view of volcanoes finds the link between ground deformation and eruption
• Morning rays keep off pounds
• Mitosis and preparing for cell division
• Remotely operated aircraft successfully tested as tool for measuring changes in polar ice sheets
• Moderate resource use, reduced economic inequality keys to sustainability
• Veterinary diagnosticians using test to determine severity of new dog disease
• Coffee consumption reduces mortality risk from liver cirrhosis
• Detecting diamonds with X-ray technology
• Trans fat, regulation, legislation and human health

What bank voles can teach us about prion disease transmission and neurodegeneration Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT Transmission of prions between species is inefficient, and only a small proportion of exposed recipients become sick within their lifetimes. A new study takes a close look at one exception to this rule: bank voles appear to lack a species barrier for prion transmission, and their universal susceptibility turns out to be both informative and useful for the development of strategies to prevent prion transmission.

Large-scale fences can cause ecological meltdown, study shows Posted: 03 Apr 2014 12:45 PM PDT Scientists have reviewed the 'pros and cons' of large scale fencing and argue that fencing should only be used as a last resort. Wildlife fences are constructed for a variety of reasons including to prevent the spread of diseases, protect wildlife from poachers, and to help manage small populations of threatened species. Human-wildlife conflict is another common reason for building fences: Wildlife can damage valuable livestock, crops, or infrastructure, some species carry diseases of agricultural concern, and a few threaten human lives. At the same time, people kill wild animals for food, trade, or to defend lives or property, and human activities degrade wildlife habitat. Separating people and wildlife by fencing can appear to be a mutually bene cial way to avoid such detrimental effects.

Researchers design trees that make it easier to produce paper Posted: 03 Apr 2014 11:20 AM PDT Researchers have genetically engineered trees that will be easier to break down to produce paper and biofuel, a breakthrough that will mean using fewer chemicals, less energy and creating fewer environmental pollutants.

Hot mantle drives elevation, volcanism along mid-ocean ridges Posted: 03 Apr 2014 11:20 AM PDT Using data from seismic waves, scientists have shown that temperature deep in Earth's mantle controls the elevation and volcanic activity along mid-ocean ridges, colossal mountain ranges that line the ocean floor. The findings bolster the idea that warm mantle plumes are responsible for 'hot spot' volcanism, and shed new light on how temperature in the depths of the mantle influences the contours of the Earth's crust.

Moonwalker flies backing up Posted: 03 Apr 2014 11:18 AM PDT A team of researchers managed to isolate "moonwalker flies" in a high-throughput screen. Screening a large collection of fruit flies, the scientists found specimens that seemed locked in reverse gear. Researchers were able to trace these changes in walking direction back to the activity of specific neurons in the brain.

NASA model provides a 3-D look at L.A.-area quake Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:44 AM PDT On March 28, residents of Greater Los Angeles experienced the largest earthquake to strike the region since 2008. The magnitude 5.1 quake was centered near La Habra in northwestern Orange County about 21 miles (33 kilometers) east-southeast of Los Angeles, and was widely felt throughout Southern California. There have been hundreds of aftershocks, including one of magnitude 4.1.

NASA radar watches over California's aging levees Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:40 AM PDT NASA is working with California's water managers to spot tiny signs of trouble in the Sacramento River delta levees, using a research radar.

NASA's OCO-2 brings sharp focus on global carbon Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:37 AM PDT Natural processes are working hard to keep the carbon cycle in balance by absorbing about half of our carbon emissions, limiting the extent of climate change. There's a lot we don't know about these processes, including where they are occurring and how they might change as the climate warms. To understand and prepare for the carbon cycle of the future, we have an urgent need to find out. In July 2014, NASA will launch the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) to study the fate of carbon dioxide worldwide.

Computer models soybean crop with 8.5 percent more productivity, using 13 percent less water Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:23 AM PDT Crops that produce more while using less water seem like a dream for a world with a burgeoning population and already strained resources. This dream is closer to reality for researchers who developed a new computer model to help plant scientists breed better soybean crops. The model predicts a soybean crop with 8.5 percent more productivity, but using 13 percent less water, by breeding for slightly different leaf distribution, angles and reflectivity.

Energy breakthrough uses sun to create solar energy materials Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:23 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a way to tap the sun not only as a source of power, but also to directly produce the solar energy materials that make this possible. This breakthrough could make the sun almost a 'one-stop shop' that produces both the materials for solar devices and the eternal energy to power them.

Sage grouse losing habitat to fire as endangered species decision looms Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:23 AM PDT Wildfire is the predominant cause of habitat loss in the Great Basin. Reseeding burned land to stabilize soils has not restored sagebrush habitat for the endangered greater sage grouse, according to a report. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering protecting the grouse under the Endangered Species act, which could affect the management of 250,000 square miles of land in the western US.

Cave-dwelling fish examination finds possible genetic link to human disorders Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:23 AM PDT Researchers have identified a genetic association with facial asymmetry in an ancient cavefish, a natural trait that may solve mysteries surrounding facial asymmetries in humans -- conditions such as cleft palate or hemifacial microsomia. "By understanding how genes are behaving differently on the right versus the left sides, we hope to discover why many craniofacial alterations are more severe or present on only one side of the face in humans," says Gross.

Patient stem cells help identify common problem in ALS Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:22 AM PDT A recently approved medication for epilepsy may possibly be a meaningful treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- Lou Gehrig's disease, a uniformly fatal neurodegenerative disorder, new stem cell research has shown. The researchers are now designing an initial clinical trial testing the safety of the treatment in ALS patients.

Hummingbirds' 22-million-year-old history of remarkable change is far from complete Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:22 AM PDT The first comprehensive map of hummingbirds' 22-million-year-old family tree -- reconstructed based on careful analysis of 284 of the world's 338 known species -- tells a story of rapid and ongoing diversification. The decade-long study also helps to explain how today's hummingbirds came to live where they do.

New study casts doubt on heart regeneration in mammals Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:22 AM PDT The mammalian heart has generally been considered to lack the ability to repair itself after injury, but a 2011 study in newborn mice challenged this view, providing evidence for complete regeneration after resection of 10 percent of the apex, the lowest part of the heart. In a new study researchers attempted to replicate these recent findings but failed to uncover any evidence of complete heart regeneration in newborn mice that underwent apex resection.

Dog walking attitudes: Stoop to scoop the poop? Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:21 AM PDT Most dog walkers are happy and even proud to bag and bin their dog's waste, some might leave waste if they are off the beaten track or in more rural locations, while a small proportion of dog walkers are totally disengaged from the idea that picking up their dog waste is the "right thing to do". Researchers looked at what factors influence dog walker behavior and how those who do not do the right thing might be persuaded to take charge of their dog mess.

Voluntary climate action is a function of information and education Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:21 AM PDT What is it that prompts citizens in Germany to do something about climate change on a voluntary basis? Of major significance here is a mixture of factual knowledge, subjective assumptions and hearsay. This is the result of an online field study involving 2,000 German citizens and conducted by environmental economists at Heidelberg University. In a research project at the Alfred Weber Institute for Economics, they inquired into the factors determining the so-called "willingness to pay" in connection with individual climate action.

Indigenous societies' 'first contact' typically brings collapse, but rebounds are possible Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:19 AM PDT A new analysis paints a grim picture of the experiences of indigenous societies following contact with Western Europeans, but also offers hope to those seeking to preserve Brazil's remaining indigenous societies.

Tiny wireless sensing device alerts users to telltale vapors remotely Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:19 AM PDT Researchers have developed a small electronic sensing device that can alert users wirelessly to the presence of chemical vapors in the atmosphere. The technology, which could be manufactured using familiar aerosol-jet printing techniques, is aimed at myriad applications in military, commercial, environmental, healthcare and other areas.

New approach to detecting changes in GM foods Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:19 AM PDT Does genetic manipulation causes unintended changes in food quality and composition? Are genetically modified (GM) foods less nutritious than their non-GM counterparts, or different in unknown ways? Despite extensive cultivation and testing of GM foods, those questions still linger in the minds of many consumers. A new study demonstrates a potentially more powerful approach to answering them.

Attracting wild bees to farms is good insurance policy Posted: 03 Apr 2014 07:58 AM PDT Investing in habitat that attracts and supports wild bees in farms is not only an effective approach to helping enhance crop pollination, but it can also pay for itself in four years or less, according to research. The paper gives farmers of pollination-dependent crops tangible results to convert marginal acreage to fields of wildflowers.

Structural insights into inner workings of viral nanomachine Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:55 AM PDT Researchers are using new nanoscale imaging approaches to shed light on the dynamic activities of rotaviruses, important pathogens that cause life-threatening diarrhea in young children. Once a rotavirus enters a host cell, it sheds its outermost protein layer, leaving behind a double-layered particle (DLP). These DLPs are the form of the virus that produces messenger RNA molecules, which are critical for launching the infection.

Tiny biomolecular tweezers studying force effect of cells Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:55 AM PDT A new type of biomolecular tweezers could help researchers study how mechanical forces affect the biochemical activity of cells and proteins. The devices -- too small to see without a microscope -- use opposing magnetic and electrophoretic forces to precisely stretch the cells and molecules, holding them in position so that the activity of receptors and other biochemical activity can be studied.

Brazil is site of the first regional ocean health index Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT Brazil was the site of the first Ocean Health Index regional assessment designed to evaluate the economic, social and ecological uses and benefits that people derive from the ocean. The index assesses ocean health with respect to the benefits and services it provides to people both now and in the future. Using a scale of 0-100, the index produces scores for each of 10 categories -- Artisanal Fishing Opportunities; Biodiversity; Carbon Storage; Clean Waters; Coastal Protection; Food Provision; Livelihoods & Economies; Natural Products; Sense of Place; and Tourism & Recreation -- referred to as goals.

Chowing down on watermelon could lower blood pressure, study suggests Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT Watermelon could significantly reduce blood pressure in overweight individuals both at rest and while under stress. "The pressure on the aorta and on the heart decreased after consuming watermelon extract," the small study concludes.

Metabolites' role in understanding disease emphasized Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT Over-reliance on genetic-centered approaches in predicting, diagnosing and treating disease will lead to few future scientific breakthroughs, cautioned a researcher who co-authored an article that advocates for a greater emphasis on the body's metabolites in understanding illnesses. "To augment the value of genetic data, the scientific community needs to add additional information from things like metabolomics -- the analysis of metabolites within an organism," said the lead author.

'Homo' is the only primate whose tooth size decreases as its brain size increases Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a curious characteristic of the members of the human lineage, classed as the genus Homo: they are the only primates where, throughout their 2.5-million year history, the size of their teeth has decreased in tandem with the increase in their brain size.

What influences us most when choosing wine? Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:50 AM PDT An Australian wine marketing researcher has examined what influences selection along the wine supply chain. He surveyed consumers, retailers, restaurateurs and distributors in 11 countries. The study found that for Australian liquor retailers, margin and price-point were the primary factors that influenced wine selection; however in restaurants and bars, wine selection was primarily based on the taste of the wine and how well it complemented the food.

Satellite view of volcanoes finds the link between ground deformation and eruption Posted: 03 Apr 2014 05:44 AM PDT Using satellite imagery to monitor which volcanoes are deforming provides statistical evidence of their eruption potential, according to a new study. Volcano deformation and, in particular, uplift are often considered to be caused by magma moving or pressurizing underground. Magma rising towards the surface could be a sign of an imminent eruption. On the other hand, many other factors influence volcano deformation and, even if magma is rising, it may stop short, rather than erupting.

Morning rays keep off pounds Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT A surprising new strategy for managing your weight? Bright morning light. People who had most of their daily exposure to bright light in the morning had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than those who had most of their light exposure later in the day, reports a new study. The earlier light exposure occurred, the lower the BMI. The influence of morning light on weight was independent of physical activity, caloric intake, sleep timing, age or season.

Mitosis and preparing for cell division Posted: 02 Apr 2014 11:04 AM PDT In textbooks, the grand-finale of cell division is the tug-of-war fought inside dividing cells as duplicated pairs of chromosomes get dragged in opposite directions into daughter cells. This process, called mitosis, is visually stunning to observe under a microscope. Equally stunning to cell biologists are the preparatory steps cells take to ensure that the process occurs safely.

Remotely operated aircraft successfully tested as tool for measuring changes in polar ice sheets Posted: 02 Apr 2014 10:39 AM PDT Scientists studying the behavior of the world's ice sheets -- and the future implications of ice sheet behavior for global sea-level rise -- may soon have a new airborne tool that will allow radar measurements that previously would have been prohibitively expensive or difficult to carry out with manned aircraft.

Moderate resource use, reduced economic inequality keys to sustainability Posted: 02 Apr 2014 09:16 AM PDT A new analytical tool adds human factors to a widely-used biological model of how animal populations interact, suggesting that human societies can reach a steady state that is sustainable when they do not over-deplete natural resources and avoid extreme economic inequality. However, the model shows that "if we continue to over-deplete nature, and if inequality continues such that the rich consume far more than the poor, the system eventually collapses," an author said.

Veterinary diagnosticians using test to determine severity of new dog disease Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:56 AM PDT A molecular diagnostician uses newly developed test to determine if a the dog circovirus is deadly. Canine circovirus, also called dog circovirus, was discovered in 2012; however, researchers are still trying to determine the severity of the disease.

Coffee consumption reduces mortality risk from liver cirrhosis Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:56 AM PDT Consuming two or more cups of coffee each day reduces the risk of death from liver cirrhosis by 66%, specifically cirrhosis caused by non-viral hepatitis, new research reveals. Findings show that tea, fruit juice, and soft drink consumption are not linked to cirrhosis mortality risk. As with previous studies, heavy alcohol use was found to increase risk of death from cirrhosis.

Detecting diamonds with X-ray technology Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT X-rays penetrate objects and reveal information about its contents. Using two X-ray spectra, you can identify different materials. And now, a new algorithm is making it possible to find diamonds in the rock.

Trans fat, regulation, legislation and human health Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:54 AM PDT A new report focuses on the science and policy leading up to the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) preliminary steps toward restricting industrially produced trans fatty acids, or trans fat, at the federal level. "Trans fat is a compelling topic because although it directly impacts human health, it also cues up controversy in multiple disciplines, including economics and politics," said one expert.

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