ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

New research links continents to key transitions in Earth’s oceans, atmosphere and climate

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 01:10 PM PST

A new study advances the understanding of the role that continents have played in the chemical evolution of Earth's oceans, with implications for understanding atmospheric oxygenation and global climate oscillations. 

Climate change has likely begun to suffocate the world’s fisheries

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 01:10 PM PST

By 2080, around 70% of the world's oceans could be suffocating from a lack of oxygen as a result of climate change, potentially impacting marine ecosystems worldwide, according to a new study. The new models find mid-ocean depths that support many fisheries worldwide are already losing oxygen at unnatural rates and passed a critical threshold of oxygen loss in 2021.

Moons may yield clues to what makes planets habitable

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:40 AM PST

Earth's moon is vitally important in making Earth the planet we know today. Because the moon is so important to life on Earth, scientists conjecture that a moon may be a potentially beneficial feature in harboring life on other planets. Most planets have moons, but Earth's moon is distinct in that it is large compared to the size of Earth.

People in urban areas had better access to care and lower copays than rural areas

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:40 AM PST

Substance abuse, access to mental health care and costs remain a burden for people living in rural areas, even if they have private insurance.

Mighty powerful microbes: New insights into microbes that breathe rocks

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

Microbes may be miniscule, but they have a massive impact on Earth and its habitability. They are uniquely different from animals, plants, and other eukaryotic organisms in that they can gain energy from 'breathing' a surprisingly wide range of surfaces and materials. Microbes also drastically re-shape their environment as they feast on these energy sources, making microbes major players in the cycling and availability of nutrients on Earth. One especially well-known example was the rise of oxygen on Earth due to the metabolism of photosynthetic bacteria.

How Omicron escapes from antibodies

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

Dozens of mutations in the spike protein of the Omicron variant help it to evade all four of the classes of antibodies that can target SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study. This includes antibodies generated by the immune systems of vaccinated or previously infected people, as well as most of the monoclonal antibody treatments that have been developed.

Sustainable diets acceptable to local preferences and cultures

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

New research examines how staple grains can be used as an effective food group for dietary shifts that can be culturally appropriate as well as environmentally sustainable.

Did comet's fiery destruction lead to downfall of ancient Hopewell?

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

The rapid decline of the Hopewell culture about 1,500 years ago might be explained by falling debris from a near-Earth comet that created a devastating explosion over North America, laying waste to forests and Native American villages alike. Researchers found evidence of a cosmic airburst at 11 Hopewell archaeological sites in three states stretching across the Ohio River Valley.

Microwave data assimilation improves forecasts of hurricane intensity, rainfall

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey stalled after making landfall over coastal Texas, pouring down record rainfall, flooding communities and becoming one of the wettest and most destructive storms in United States history. A new technique using readily available data reduces forecast errors and could improve track, intensity and rainfall forecasts for future storms like Hurricane Harvey, according to scientists.

Replacing animal agriculture and shifting to a plant-based diet could drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to new model

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

Phasing out animal agriculture represents 'our best and most immediate chance to reverse the trajectory of climate change,' according to a new model developed by scientists.

Extreme heat is the 'new normal' for the ocean

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

New research reveals excessively warm ocean temperatures driven by climate change are the new normal. The study establishes that more than half of the ocean surface has exceeded a historical heat extreme threshold on a regular basis since 2014. Researchers conducted the study by mapping 150 years of sea surface temperatures to determine a fixed historical benchmark for marine heat extremes. The scientists then looked at how often and how much of the ocean surpassed this point. The first year in which more than half of the ocean experienced heat extremes was 2014. The trend continued in subsequent years, reaching 57 percent of the ocean in 2019, the last year measured in the study. Using this benchmark, just two percent of the ocean surface was experiencing extremely warm temperatures at the end of the 19th century.

Researchers study waves created by recreational boats

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

A new study found that popular wakesurf boats require a greater distance from the shoreline and other boats compared to more typical recreational boats. This distance is needed to reduce the potential impact of their larger waves.

A new way to store sustainable energy: 'Information batteries'

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

A future powered by sustainable energy sources could save the world from devastating climate change and reduce energy bills. But renewable energy has an intermittency problem -- the sun provides no power at night, while winds can stop suddenly. Better battery storage -- a holy grail for scientists worldwide -- is considered key to solving the intermittency problem by storing energy when the wind and sun are strong. But current storage solutions, including lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro, are expensive and challenging to scale. What if surplus renewable energy could be stored as computation instead?

Historic buildings could be protected from rising energy bills by solar panels

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

Installing solar panels could help historic buildings beat the rising costs of energy, according to a new study.

Expanding renewable energy need not hinder conservation efforts

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

A study has found that expanding green energy production sites in the future won't necessarily be a threat to protected areas of land.

Hepatitis E virus defies alcohol-based hand disinfectants

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause serious liver inflammation and is the most common cause of acute virus-mediated hepatitis worldwide. Infection can be prevented through appropriate hygiene measures. Scientists have investigated the effectiveness of various common hand disinfectants against HEV. They were able to show that most formulations do not completely inactivate the virus.

First virus infection linked with infections later in life

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

Asymptomatic viral infections in the first days and weeks of a baby's life are associated with an increased risk of respiratory infections later in life, research suggests.

Compounds made from 'digested' molecules feeds appetite for greener pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

A method of producing vital chemical building blocks for use in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries mimics how plants manufacture them.

Study finds little genetic basis for some sea stars staying healthy amid deadly wasting syndrome

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:51 AM PST

Healthy-looking ochre sea stars have minimal genetic difference from those displaying symptoms of sea star wasting syndrome, say researchers who examined whether genetic variation was the reason some animals went unaffected during an epidemic of the deadly disease.

New computational tool predicts cell fates and genetic perturbations

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:51 AM PST

Researchers have built a machine learning framework that can define the mathematical equations describing a cell's trajectory from one state to another, such as its development from a stem cell into one of several different types of mature cell. The framework, called dynamo, can also be used to figure out the underlying mechanisms -- the specific cocktail of gene activity -- driving changes in the cell.

Study links lead in childhood well water to teen delinquency

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:36 AM PST

Exposure to lead in drinking water from private wells during early childhood is associated with an increased risk of being reported for delinquency during teenage years, according to a new study. Researchers found that children who get their water from private wells before age 6 have higher blood lead levels and also have a 21% higher risk of being reported for any delinquency after age 14.

Treatment keeps alcoholic monkeys from drinking as much

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:06 AM PST

A hormone produced by the liver called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) suppresses alcohol consumption in primates, finds a new study. Vervet monkeys with a strong preference for ethanol that were given an FGF21 analogue consumed 50% less alcohol. The study also studied the brain circuits involved in mice and found that the protein, known to also reduce sugar intake, acts on different circuits to reduce alcohol and sugar consumption.

Early humans placed the hearth at the optimal location in their cave -- for maximum benefit and minimum smoke exposure

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 04:45 AM PST

A new study provides evidence for high cognitive abilities in early humans who lived 170,000 years ago. Researchers discovered that the early humans who occupied a cave had placed their hearth at the optimal location -- enabling maximum utilization of the fire for their activities and needs while exposing them to a minimal amount of smoke.

Complex three-dimensional kidney tissue generated in the lab from the scratch

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 04:45 AM PST

Researchers have created a complex kidney tissue solely from mouse embryonic stem cells. These organoids could lead the way to better kidney research and, eventually, artificial kidneys for human transplant.

Human gut bacteria have 'sex' to share vitamin B12

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 04:45 AM PST

Your gut bacteria need vitamin B12 just as much as you do. Though DNA is usually passed from parent to child, new research shows gut bacteria transfer genes through 'sex' in order to take their vitamins.

What the rise of oxygen on early Earth tells us about life on other planets

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 01:15 PM PST

When did the Earth reach oxygen levels sufficient to support animal life? Researchers have discovered that a rise in oxygen levels occurred in step with the evolution and expansion of complex, eukaryotic ecosystems. Their findings represent the strongest evidence to date that extremely low oxygen levels exerted an important limitation on evolution for billions of years.

Protein machinery of respiration becomes visible

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:33 PM PST

Researchers provide high-resolution electron microscopy analysis of the molecular machinery within the respiratory chain.

Safeguarding the cell nucleus

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:33 PM PST

The nucleus is guarded by a highly secure door, the so-called nuclear pore, that controls the transport of substances from the cytoplasm to the cell nucleus and back. A research group has now shown that different shuttle proteins occupy the nuclear pore to prevent unsolicited leakage of molecules. These proteins form an escape-proof, failsafe mechanism by compensating for one another to fortify the pore.

Unveiling the secrets of biofilms

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:33 PM PST

Most bacteria have the ability to form communities, biofilms, that adhere to a wide variety of surfaces and are difficult to remove. This can lead to major problems, for example in hospitals or in the food industry. Now, an international team has studied a model system for biofilms at the synchrotron radiation facilities BESSY II at HZB and the ESRF and found out what role the structures within the biofilm play in the distribution of nutrients and water.

Power at sea: Towards high-performance seawater batteries

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:33 PM PST

Despite the many potential applications of seawater batteries (SWBs), the limited performance of available materials has hindered their commercialization. To tackle this issue, scientists have developed a novel co-doped carbon material for the anode of SWBs. Their straightforward synthesis route and the high performance of the developed anode material will pave the way for the widespread adoption of SWBs, which are safer and less expensive than lithium-ion batteries.

The two types of climate coping and what they mean for your health

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:32 PM PST

When it comes to coping with climate change, there may be two types of people: those who take action to try to improve the environment and those who don't bother because they don't believe their actions will make a difference. Knowing who's who could help policymakers communicate more effectively about environmental issues, new research suggests.

Promising results of Phase 1 drug trial for HIV patients

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:32 PM PST

A Phase 1 clinical trial has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a novel immunotherapy drug in the treatment of HIV.

Researchers develop molecular traps to target SARS-CoV-2

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:32 PM PST

A research team has engineered novel nanoparticles to serve as 'molecular traps' to target SARS-CoV-2, the virus that spreads COVID-19. The traps bind to SARS-CoV-2 and prevent it from attacking macrophages.

Number of Earth's tree species estimated to be 14% higher than currently known, with some 9,200 species yet to be discovered

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:32 PM PST

A new study involving more than 100 scientists from across the globe and the largest forest database yet assembled estimates that there are about 73,000 tree species on Earth, including about 9,200 species yet to be discovered.

Precisely opening a gate to the brain in mice

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 11:02 AM PST

Researchers developed a technique in laboratory animals to consistently and reproducibly open the blood-brain barrier. This barrier serves as a barricade securing the brain from the external world blocking out certain environmental toxins, but also prevents drug therapies from reaching their intended targets. The new technique is based on a routine procedure for removing clots from the brain's arteries in patients. Their paper essentially provides a roadmap for other researchers to develop and test new therapies for brain diseases.

Midwestern beef production works just as well off pasture

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 10:28 AM PST

Beef producers in the upper Midwest know grazing land is in short supply. With more acres being developed or converted to cropland, producers who want to expand their cow-calf operations are looking for alternatives to traditional pasture management. New research shows cow-calf pairs can be managed in drylots throughout the summer grazing period with few negative consequences.

Widespread retreat and loss of marine-terminating glaciers in the northern hemisphere

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 10:28 AM PST

Researchers have mapped out all the glaciers that end in the ocean in the Northern Hemisphere and provide a measure of their rate of change over the last 20 years. Their findings will help us better understand -- and perhaps predict -- the impact of climate change north of the equator.

Scientists use 'sticky' DNA to build organized structures of gel blocks

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 10:28 AM PST

Researchers have used microscopic strands of DNA to guide the assembly of gel blocks that are visible to the naked eye.

Towards greener smart cities with machine learning-based 'sleep schedules'

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 10:19 AM PST

While cellular networks are the foundation of smart cities, they consume a lot of energy, enhancing global warming. Putting base stations (BSs) with low traffic to sleep saves energy but also reduces traffic prediction accuracy. In a new study, researchers address this trade-off using machine learning technique to switch off BSs based on their contribution to prediction accuracy. The new scheme reduces power consumption and demonstrates a prediction accuracy superior to benchmark schemes.

Are cities the key to the electric revolution?

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 09:21 AM PST

A new article argues that cities need to use local policies and incentives to encourage the wider adoption of electric vehicles. The authors outline a number of steps cities can take to support the uptake of electric vehicles, such as leading by example and using fiscal mechanisms. The team also discuss factors that influence the electric revolution, including situational factors, contextual factors, and barriers and enablers.

Pioneering research forecasts climate change set to send costs of flooding soaring

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 09:21 AM PST

Climate change could result in the financial toll of flooding rising by more than a quarter in the United States by 2050 -- and disadvantaged communities will bear the biggest brunt, according to new research.

Wider-reaching solutions urgently needed to reach realistic 'net zero,' warn researchers

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 08:05 AM PST

There should be greater investment in using a wider group of experts to make decisions about how the landscape is managed if the UK is to reach climate targets such as net zero, a new report warns.

A map for the sense of smell

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 08:05 AM PST

Our sensory systems provide us with immediate information about the world around us. Researchers have created the first sensory map for smell. The map details how the fruit fly's olfactory receptor neurons, the components that sense smell, are organized within the insect's sensory hairs.

First records of killer whales hunting largest animals on Earth

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 08:05 AM PST

In late March 2019, researchers performing annual whale and dolphin research surveys discovered the first ever record of killer whales hunting and killing an adult blue whale. Just two weeks later a blue whale calf was taken by many of the same individuals. Since then, an additional event of another blue whale calf predation was recorded in 2021.

Simplified antibiotic may set the stage for antitumor treatments

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 08:05 AM PST

Garden soil houses a variety of bacteria and their natural byproducts -- including one that may help halt tumor growth. Lankacidins are molecules that can be isolated from Strepomyces rochei, a common bacterium in soil. In addition to antimicrobial properties, a type of lankacidins, called lankacidin C, can inhibit tumor activity in various cancer cell lines, including leukemia, melanoma, ovarian and breast cancers. Lankacidin C offers a potential foundation on which to design anticancer drugs, but its structure is complicated and difficult to manipulate, according to an international research group. The same group recently identified where antitumor activity is housed on the molecule and has now used that information to simplify lankacidin as a potential starting point to engineer treatments.

Low volcanic temperature ushered in global cooling and the thriving of dinosaurs

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 08:05 AM PST

Dinosaurs came to flourish during the Jurassic period after a volcanic eruption roughly 201 millions years ago wiped out many marine and land animals, leaving them able to evolve and grow. Now, further details about this eruption and the mass extinction have been revealed. A group of researchers demonstrated how low temperature magma slowly heated sedimentary rocks, causing high sulfur dioxide and low carbon dioxide emissions, a process which cooled the earth.

Some Finnish forest owners do not believe in biodiversity loss – for others it is a crisis

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 06:50 AM PST

We should start talking about biodiversity loss denial, just like we discussed climate change denial in the recent past, researchers say.

Locations of ancient Maya sacred groves of cacao trees discovered

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 06:50 AM PST

A team has identified nine sinkholes in the Yucatan peninsula that contain evidence of both cacao trees and ancient ceremonial rituals.

Study explores how temperate rainforests can aid the fight against climate change

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 05:38 AM PST

Research has shown that the level of growth needed to produce the amount of trees required by UK targets is unlikely to be achieved through natural means alone.

Scientists identify geological 'Goldilocks zone' for the formation of metal ore deposits

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 05:38 AM PST

Scientists have identified a mechanism through which important metals, crucial to the manufacturing of renewable energy technologies, are passed from the Earth's mantle to the crust.

Thawing permafrost can accelerate global warming

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 07:07 AM PST

Thawing permafrost in the Arctic could be emitting greenhouse gases from previously unaccounted-for carbon stocks, fuelling global warming. In the Siberian Arctic, the research team determined the origin of carbon dioxide released from permafrost that is thousands of years old.