ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

New understanding of plant nutrient response could improve fertilizer management strategies

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 09:18 AM PST

Green is a color that is almost universally associated with plants -- for good reason. The green pigment chlorophyll is essential to plants' ability to generate food; but what happens if they don't have enough of it? New work reveals the complex, interdependent nutrient responses underpinning a potentially deadly, low-chlorophyll state called chlorosis that's associated with an anemic, yellow appearance. It could usher in more environmentally friendly agricultural practices -- using less fertilizer and fewer water resources.

Seasonal temperature impacts patient lab results

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 08:30 AM PST

Ambient temperature influences the results of some of the most used laboratory tests, and these distortions likely affect medical decision making, such as whether to prescribe medications, researchers report. The authors say that laboratories could statistically adjust for ambient temperature on test days when reporting lab results to account for day-to-day variability.

Dinosaurs’ last spring: Study pinpoints timing of Chicxulub asteroid impact

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

Scientists conclusively confirm the time year of the catastrophic Chicxulub asteroid, responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs and 75 percent of life on Earth 66 million years ago. Springtime, the season of new beginnings, ended the 165-million-year reign of dinosaurs and changed the course of evolution on Earth.

An easy relationship between a beetle and its yeast symbiont

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

Lizard beetles farm yeast inside bamboo stems for their developing larvae to eat. Scientists have now found that, contrary to other insect-fungus relationships, the job of the yeast in this one does not involve digesting the complex sugars in bamboo's woody tissues for its host.

First structure of human protein complex with 'license to kill'

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

A team of researchers has for the first time visualized a human cell death complex linked to autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, and injuries associated with excessive cell death.

Aging stiffens the blood vessels but their flexibility also fluctuates based on a woman’s hormone state

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

A study measured arterial stiffness in women from wide age range. Increased stiffness is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Age was a strong determinant of arterial stiffness. Indicative of the role of hormones, menstrual cycle phase, contraceptive pill phase and menopausal state were also associated with arterial stiffness.

New phenomenon: Forest mammals eavesdrop on messy monkeys

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

Researchers have discovered a unique phenomenon among forest mammals -- eavesdropping. Their study demonstrates that various animal species depend on one another in more ways than ever imagined when it comes to finding food. Consequently, one species' disappearance from a habitat can have major consequences.

Dinosaurs and amber: A new window to the Cretaceous world from 110 million years ago

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

New findings of amber in the site of Ariño in Teruel (Spain) have enabled the reconstruction of a swampy paleoenvironment with a rich coastal resin forest from 110 million years ago, from the era of dinosaurs. This place featured conifers and understories of gymnosperms and ferns, and flower plants, where insects, turtles, crocodiles, mammals and dinosaurs such as the species Proa valdearinnoensis and Europelta carbonensis lived.

Doctoral student finds alternative cell option for organs-on-chips

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:30 AM PST

Organ-on-a-chip technology has provided a push to discover new drugs for a variety of rare and ignored diseases for which current models either don't exist or lack precision. In particular, these platforms can include the cells of a patient, resulting in patient-specific discovery.

New biosensors shine a light on CRISPR gene editing

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:29 AM PST

Detecting the activity of CRISPR gene editing tools in organisms with the naked eye and an ultraviolet flashlight is now possible using new technology.

A step toward 'living biotherapeutics'

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 06:30 AM PST

Chemical engineers have developed a protective coating that helps anaerobic microbes survive the manufacturing process, making it potentially easier to use them to treat gastrointestinal disease.

Differentiating friends from foes in the fungal root microbiome

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 06:28 AM PST

A collaborative project has shed light on the fungal genetic determinants that explain why some fungi from the root microbiome can colonize roots and cause disease more efficiently than others.

Virtual conferences are better for the environment and more inclusive

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:17 PM PST

A research team led by engineers found that virtual conferences are more inclusive than in-person events, and also carry a smaller environmental footprint.

Finding the recipe for a larger, greener global rice bowl

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:17 PM PST

A global assessment assessed rice yields and efficiency in 32 rice cropping systems. The study concluded that there is still substantial room to increase rice production while reducing the negative environmental impacts. A leading agronomist describes the study as 'the most comprehensive global evaluation of production systems for a major staple crop, (one that) will set the standard for future global comparison.'

Dinosaur faces and feet may have popped with color

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:16 PM PST

A study finds that there is a 50 percent chance that the common ancestor of birds and dinosaurs had bright colors on its skin, beaks and scales, but 0 percent chance that it had bright colors on its feathers or claws.

‘Super trees’ may help save Houston … and beyond

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:14 PM PST

Statisticians are sharing strategies to identify 'super trees' for urban areas that help mitigate pollution, flooding and heat.

A beetle chemical defense gland offers clues about how complex organs evolve

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:26 AM PST

Rove beetles are among the chemists of the insect world, concocting noxious compounds within their bodies that are weaponized to ward off predators, enabling the beetles to survive in leaf litter and soil in ecosystems across the planet. Investigators studying a species of rove beetle report how two distinct cell types have come together to form a specialized gland for making and secreting these defensive cocktails. The work has implications for mapping out the evolution of more sophisticated organs found across the animal kingdom, including in humans.

Scientists solve the grass leaf conundrum

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:25 AM PST

The mystery of grass leaf formation has now been unraveled using the latest computational modelling and developmental genetic techniques.

Common drugs affect our gut microbiome differently, with good and bad impacts on health

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:25 AM PST

Gut bacteria are both positively and negatively influenced by common medicines, new research shows. Medications that lower cholesterol and blood pressure are associated with a healthier composition and function of gut bacteria, while gastric acid inhibitors and antibiotics interfere with health-promoting bacterial communities.

Climate-only models likely underestimate species extinction

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 10:39 AM PST

To accurately predict species' distributions and risk of extinction, models must include more than just climate, according to new research.

A diet rich in plant-based products reduces the risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:44 AM PST

A diet rich in plant products reduces the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly.

New bioinformatics tool spots hybrid fish that threaten the survival of natural tilapia populations in aquaculture

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:44 AM PST

A new genomics marker tool has been shown to accurately identify tilapia species and tell apart their hybrids, providing a novel resource to help develop aquaculture and empower conservation in Tanzania, Africa. Crucially, the new tool offers a cheaper solution than full genome data analysis -- the current approach to monitoring local biodiversity.

Chronic exposure to air pollution may increase risks for ICU admission or death among COVID-19 patients, study finds

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:43 AM PST

A new study suggests that persistent exposure to air pollutants in residential communities can impact health outcomes for COVID-19 patients.

Catch me if you can: How mRNA therapeutics are delivered into cells

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:43 AM PST

In recent years, ribonucleic acid (RNA) has emerged as a powerful tool for the development of novel therapies. RNA is used to copy genetic information contained in our hereditary material, the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and then serves as a template for building proteins, the building blocks of life. Delivery of RNA into cells remains a major challenge for the development of novel therapies across a broad range of diseases.

DNA transcription speeds, a function of collective modes driven by DNA supercoiling

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:43 AM PST

A team of physicists working at the intersection of theory and experiment are shedding new light on the 'teamwork' of molecular motors -- called RNA polymerases (RNAPs) -- that mediate DNA transcription. The researchers' work revealed for the first time two essential elements in modeling transcription under torsion: first, transcription factors that are well known to affect the rate at which RNAP initiate transcription can also control the propagation of DNA supercoils, and second, the number of RNAPs present affects the torsional stress experienced by individual RNAPs.

A tool to speed development of new solar cells

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:42 AM PST

Researchers have developed a computational simulator that can help predict whether changes to materials or design will improve performance in new photovoltaic cells.

Previously unrecorded Chilean tsunami identified

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:42 AM PST

A large earthquake off the coast of south-central Chile in 1737 may have caused a substantial tsunami that was absent from historical records. Historical records are used to predict how often tsunamis are likely to occur in a region in the future. Until now, it was previously believed that tsunami-causing earthquakes had occurred in this area of Chile three times since the 1570s, including after the magnitude 9.5 earthquake of 1960. However, this discovery of an unrecorded tsunami means that tsunamis may have struck the Chilean coast more frequently than previously believed. This means the average time between historical tsunami occurrences could be significantly reduced, to an average of 130 years.

Experimental mRNA HIV vaccine safe, shows promise in animals

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:42 AM PST

An experimental HIV vaccine based on mRNA -- the same platform technology used in two highly effective COVID-19 vaccines -- shows promise in mice and non-human primates, according to scientists. Their results show that the novel vaccine was safe and prompted desired antibody and cellular immune responses against an HIV-like virus.

Fire hastens permafrost collapse in Arctic Alaska

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:42 AM PST

While climate change is the primary driver of permafrost degradation in Arctic Alaska, a new analysis of 70 years of data reveals that tundra fires are accelerating that decline, contributing disproportionately to a phenomenon known as 'thermokarst,' the abrupt collapse of ice-rich permafrost as a result of thawing.

China’s crops at risk: Climate change boosts spread of crop pests and diseases

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:42 AM PST

Crop pests and diseases in China have significantly increased, with climate change being one of the relevant drivers, new research finds.

Atomic structure of antifungal drug confirms unusual mechanism, opens door to less-toxic derivatives

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:42 AM PST

Advanced molecular imaging technology has now mapped the structure of a drug widely used to treat fungal infections but whose workings have mystified researchers and physicians for nearly 70 years. Researchers now described in atomistic detail the structure of the drug amphotericin B, a powerful but toxic antifungal agent. Seeing the structure provides illumination in the researchers' quest to formulate less-toxic AmB derivatives.

Algorithm shows that under the right conditions, mosquitoes can even flourish in winter

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:42 AM PST

With an impressive capability of drinking up to three times their body weight in a single blood meal, mosquitoes are formidable parasites. But to reach adulthood, mosquitoes need to be raised in environments where the temperatures are conducive to their breeding, growth and development.

How bone-bordering cells may help shape a skull

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:36 AM PST

In a study of mice, scientists showed how the activity of one gene, turned on in a newly discovered group of bone-bordering cells, may play an important role in shaping the skull. The skulls of mice that were missing the gene were misshapen and were depleted of the cells in a manner that is reminiscent of craniosynostosis, a developmental disorder that affects about one out every 2,500 babies born in the United States.

New study gives a better understanding of how housekeeping takes place in cells

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 06:56 AM PST

Normal household waste is collected and disposed of by waste collectors, and a similar process occurs in cells to remove damaged and potentially harmful proteins. A new research study provides a better understanding of how this is done.

Circular economy: Researchers show how synthetic rubber raw material can be degraded

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 06:56 AM PST

Enzymes are capable of degrading synthetic polyisoprene. The specific conditions for that have now been created and exploited. Polyisoprene is the principal component of natural rubber and of many types of rubber also used in car tires, for example. Up until now, it has only been possible to degrade polyisoprene, with a composition similar to naturally occurring rubber. The present research could provide important insights toward a circular economy.

Ethiopian monuments 1,000 years older than previously thought

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 06:56 AM PST

Rising as high as 20 feet, ancient stone monoliths in southern Ethiopia are 1,000 years older than scientists previously thought, according to a new study. A research team used advanced radiocarbon dating to determine the often phallic-shaped monoliths, or stelae, at the Sakaro Sodo archeological site in Ethiopia's Gedeo zone were likely created sometime during the first century A.D.

Rapid rise of decarbonization potentials of rooftop PV plus EVs in residential houses

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:26 AM PST

Cities are responsible for 60-70% of energy-related CO2 emissions. As the world is increasingly urbanized, it is crucial to identify cost-effective pathways to decarbonize. Here, we propose a 'SolarEV City' concept, in which integrated systems of cities' roof-top PVs with EVs as batteries can supply affordable and dispatchable CO2-free electricity for citie's dwellers, which can reduce CO2 emission by 54-95% with 26-41% of potential cost savings by 2030.

Burrowing snakes have far worse eyesight than their ancestors

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:26 AM PST

An international team of scientists has demonstrated that burrowing snakes have undergone extensive vision gene loss over tens of millions of years of evolutionary history.

Large future changes in climate variability

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:26 AM PST

Large future changes in climate variability. New computer model simulations identify widespread changes in climate variability under sustained anthropogenic forcing.

Exposure to toxic metals may increase risk of clogged arteries

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:26 AM PST

Toxic metals in the environment may increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries that can prevent blood and oxygen from reaching major organs. Arsenic and cadmium, metals that can be found in food, water and tobacco, plus titanium, which can come from dental and orthopedic implants, cosmetics or auto manufacturing, were associated with a higher likelihood of having clogged arteries in the neck, leg and heart in this study of auto assembly workers in Spain. Current global environmental, occupational and food safety standards may be insufficient to protect people from the adverse effects of metals, according to study authors.

What can 35-year-old stool samples tell scientists about HIV/AIDS?

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 05:42 PM PST

A serendipitous conversation and 'treasure trove' of frozen stool samples from early in the HIV/AIDS pandemic shed light on the role of the microbiome in disease prevention. The study is the first to link the composition of the gut microbiome before infection to HIV susceptibility and progression.

How well are alternative feedstuffs received by the end consumer?

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 03:25 PM PST

Despite shifts towards vegan and vegetarian diets in Western cultures, demand for animal protein persists. Alternative protein sources are required to nourish the growing world population without compromising on sustainability. Researchers investigated consumer preferences of alternative feedstuffs. Specifically, the researchers looked at the effect of information regarding algae and insects in the food chain.

Ocean tides are gatekeepers of groundwater discharge to Hawai‘i coastal zone

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 01:51 PM PST

A new study showed that while precipitation and sea level drive coastal groundwater levels, it is sea level, especially tides, that play gatekeeper on the amount of groundwater discharging to Hawai'i's coastal zone.

Experimental treatment with enzyme protects mice from lethal anthrax infection

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 01:11 PM PST

Scientists have demonstrated that modifying an enzyme produced by the bacterium that causes anthrax can protect mice from infection with the deadly disease. Their findings suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for treating multidrug-resistant strains of anthrax, and could lead to new treatments for other bacterial infections.

Long-term exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of pesticides has deleterious effects on shellfish

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 01:11 PM PST

Exposure to chronic, environmentally relevant concentrations of pesticides registered for use in forest management had adverse effects on the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria.

Does air pollution reduce the benefits of physical activity on the brain?

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 01:11 PM PST

A new study shows that people who do vigorous physical activities, like jogging or playing competitive sports, in areas with higher air pollution may show less benefit from that exercise when it comes to certain markers of brain disease. The markers examined in the study included white matter hyperintensities, which indicate injury to the brain's white matter, and gray matter volume. Larger gray matter volumes and smaller white matter hyperintensity volumes are markers of overall better brain health.

Reduced ocean circulation during the ice age caused anoxic conditions and increased carbon storage in the deep sea

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 09:34 AM PST

The movement of water masses in the ocean, its circulation, is an essential component of the global climate system. Researchers have now been able to show that circulation in the deep ocean was significantly slowed down during the last glacial period. Analyses of sediment samples show that the decomposition of organic carbon in the water masses of the deep sea consumed the oxygen available there.

Orangutan mothers help offspring to learn

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 09:34 AM PST

When it comes to motherhood, orangutans are animals of distinction. An orangutan mother will stay in close contact with her baby for up to nine years--longer than almost all mammals other than humans. Much like humans, orangutans rely on their mothers to learn life skills --- such as what to eat and where to find it --- before they finally reach independence almost a decade after birth. But unlike humans, orangutan mothers were not known to participate in their offspring's learning; behaving as passive role models rather than active teachers.

Baleens read like a whale's history book

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 09:33 AM PST

Chemically analyzing sequential samples from the baleen of dead whales makes it possible to read not only the history of the diet, but also the migration route of the animals. In a new study, researchers present their results of a novel way of analyzing nitrogen isotopes in animal tissue.

Embryonic cells sense stiffness in order to form the face

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 09:28 AM PST

Cells in the developing embryo can sense the stiffness of other cells around them, which is key to them moving together to form the face and skull, finds a new study of frog embryos.

Bird singing contests: A clash of culture and conservation

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 08:03 AM PST

For thousands of years, people have been keeping wild birds. It is often a deeply ingrained part of the culture. An examination of the scientific literature on this topic finds that bird-singing contests currently take place in at least 22 countries using at least 36 species of birds.

Yeast cells cause embedded objects to rise via the microbial Brazil nut effect

Posted: 08 Dec 2021 08:02 AM PST

Researchers have dubbed a newly discovered phenomenon, where microbe-generated gas bubbles create granular fluctuations on the wet sandy floors of waterbodies, the microbial Brazil nut effect.