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ScienceDaily: Top Environment News |
| Paris Climate Agreement goal still within reach, suggests new study Posted: 11 Feb 2022 01:13 PM PST A new study suggests some cautiously optimistic good news: The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement goal is still within reach, while apocalyptic, worst-case scenarios are no longer plausible. |
| Diabetes, metabolic syndrome in mice treated with novel class of compounds Posted: 11 Feb 2022 01:12 PM PST Researchers have shown, in mice, that a new class of compounds they developed can improve several aspects of metabolic syndrome. Such conditions often lead to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. |
| Researchers make non-alcoholic beer taste like regular beer Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:27 AM PST Finally, researchers have found a way to brew non-alcoholic beer that tastes just like regular beer. Even more, the method is far more sustainable than the existing brewing techniques. |
| First evidence indicating dinosaur respiratory infection Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:27 AM PST Scientists have discovered the first evidence of a unique respiratory infection in the fossilized remains of a dinosaur that lived nearly 150 million years ago. Researchers examined the remains of an immature diplodocid -- a long-necked herbivorous sauropod dinosaur, like 'Brontosaurus' - dating back to the Late Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era. The dinosaur nicknamed 'Dolly,' discovered in southwest Montana, had evidence of an infection in the area of its neck vertebrae. |
| Endangered delicacy: Tropical sea cucumbers in trouble Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:27 AM PST Overharvest has put the Great Barrier Reef's tropical sea cucumber populations in peril, researchers have revealed, with strong demand for this delicacy from East and Southeast Asia. |
| New species of marine plankton discovered, an overlooked source of nutrients in the oceans Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:27 AM PST A team of researchers has discovered two new and unusual species of diatoms in the waters off Hawai'i. The organisms were also found to fix nitrogen, a critical process that supports productivity in the nutrient-poor open ocean they inhabit. |
| Writing is not present in all 'complex' societies, but it can signal inequality Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:27 AM PST For a long time, anthropologists believed that a written language was a hallmark of a society being complex or 'advanced.' A new study on precolonial Mesoamerican societies shows that you can have a society with a big population and a complex government without a writing system. However, societies with writing systems tended to be less egalitarian than ones without. |
| Cellular tornadoes sculpt our organs Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:26 AM PST How are the different shapes of our organs and tissues generated? To answer this question, a team forced muscle cells to spontaneously reproduce simple shapes in vitro. By confining them on adhesion discs, the biochemists and physicists observed that the cells rapidly self-organize by aligning themselves in the same direction. A circular motion is created around a vortex -- called a topological defect -- which, by orienting the cells, allows them to join forces, deforming the cell monolayer into a protrusion, a structure commonly observed in embryo development. This cylindrical protrusion is maintained by the collective rotational forces of the cells, creating a tornado-like effect. The formation of these cellular tornadoes would therefore constitute a simple mechanism of spontaneous morphogenesis, dictated by the unique properties of multicellular assemblies. |
| Solar and wind power are key to decarbonizing Switzerland Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:26 AM PST How can we reduce the carbon footprint of electricity consumption in Switzerland? The country relies on electricity imports from fossil fuel power plants, which are major emitters of greenhouse gases. |
| 7 to 9 percent of all European vascular plants are globally threatened, study finds Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:26 AM PST Seven to nine percent of all vascular plant species occurring in Europe are globally threatened, according to a new study. Researchers combined Red Lists of endangered plant species in Europe with data on their global distribution. |
| New computer vision system designed to analyse cells in microscopy videos Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:26 AM PST Researchers have developed a system based on computer vision techniques that allows automatic analysis of biomedical videos captured by microscopy in order to characterize and describe the behavior of the cells that appear in the images. |
| How El Niño and drought affected the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:25 AM PST The oceanic phenomenon El Niño significantly affected the number of enslaved Africans transported from West Africa to the Americas between the mid-1600s and mid-1800s, according to a new study. The study bridges atmospheric science with African history, carrying lessons for a warming future. It found that, much like tree rings and corals, El Niño can be used as a proxy for historical rainfall and temperature patterns in West Africa. |
| Strong and elastic, yet degradable: protein-based bioplastics Posted: 11 Feb 2022 07:20 AM PST More than eight million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year -- a serious danger for the environment and health. Biodegradable bioplastics could provide an alternative. A research team has now introduced a new method for the production of protein-based plastics that are easily processable, biodegradable, and biocompatible, as well as having favorable mechanical properties. |
| New plant-derived composite is tough as bone and hard as aluminum Posted: 11 Feb 2022 05:06 AM PST A new woody composite is tough as bone and hard as aluminum, and might pave way for naturally derived plastics. |
| Researchers reveal largest catalog of gene activators Posted: 11 Feb 2022 05:06 AM PST Researchers have created a functional catalog of proteins that activate gene expression, with implications for tailored therapy for cancer and other diseases that occur when wrong genes are switched on. |
| Portable toilets of the ancient Roman world Posted: 11 Feb 2022 05:06 AM PST Archaeologists develop method of identifying intestinal parasites concealed within 1,500-year-old 'chamber pot'. New technique helps distinguish portable toilets from other jars and ceramic vessels, leading to greater understanding of gut health in the past. |
| A star in the world of ceramic engineering Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:42 PM PST Facing the challenging task of developing lightweight, high-strength ceramic materials, an engineer has turned to an unexpected collaborator for design inspiration: the knobby sea star from the tropical Indo-Pacific. By investigating the complex and highly ordered mineralized skeletal system of this unusual marine species, the research team discovered an unexpected combination of characteristics that may lead to developing an entirely new class of high-performance lightweight ceramic composites. |
| Illuminating research sheds new light on the evolution of light-response systems Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Researchers found that sea urchin larvae exhibited ciliary responses to strong photoirradiation by swimming backward. As ciliary responses are difficult to detect in deuterostomes because they may be masked by more obvious muscular activities, identifying cilia-based responses to light in sea urchins provides key information on the evolution and diversification of light-response systems in macroscopic animals. |
| Mitochondria efficiently adapt to changing metabolic conditions Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST A recent study explains an essential component for proper mitochondrial function: The protein complexes MICOS and ATP synthase can communicate with each other. Researchers have uncovered an important mechanism that ensures efficient metabolic adaptation of mitochondria. |
| New insights into how metal exposures can impact fetal growth Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST A new study reveals how prenatal exposure to mixtures of commonly found metals can adversely affect fetal growth. |
| Mystery origin of iconic Aussie snakes unlocked Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST New research has found the first tangible evidence that the ancestors of some of Australia's most venomous snakes arrived by sea rather than by land -- the dispersal route of most other Australian reptiles. |
| It’s in the air – battery discovery takes up the charge Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Clean energy researchers have designed a molecule to boost the performance of lithium-oxygen batteries to give electric vehicles the same driving range as petrol-fueled cars. Lithium-oxygen batteries are aimed to deliver maximum energy density through breathing air to generate electricity. To date, they have been beset by challenges, including low discharge capacity, poor energy efficiency and severe parasitic reactions. This molecule can simultaneously tackle those issues. |
| Harvesting baker's yeast for aging-related therapeutics Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Researchers have successfully engineered common baker's yeast to produce D-lysergic acid (DLA), an ingredient used in medicine for dementia and Parkinson's Disease. |
| Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Researchers show how magnetic flux sensors can be used to monitor the operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells that run on hydrogen. By detecting changes in current, failure states due to incorrect water levels can be identified. This work may lead to cost-effective sustainable energy generation for electric vehicles. |
| Cellular proteins enable tissues to sense, react to mechanical force Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Cellular proteins that hold cells and tissues together also perform critical functions when they experience increased tension. A new study observed that when tugged upon in a controlled manner, these proteins -- called cadherins -- communicate with growth factors to influence in vitro tumor growth in human carcinoma cells. |
| Computational modelling experts pioneer pest-busting model Posted: 10 Feb 2022 12:41 PM PST Mathematicians have developed a new mathematical model which could greatly increase the efficiency of pest control and hence significantly reduce the impact of pests on crops whilst minimizing the damage to environment. |
| Poorest people bear growing burden of heat waves as temperatures rise Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:58 AM PST Lower income populations currently face a 40% higher exposure to heat waves than people with higher incomes, according to a new study. By the end of the century, the poorest 25% of the world's population will be exposed to heat waves at a rate equivalent to the rest of the population combined. |
| Infusion of 3D cellular structures might repair damaged intestine Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:58 AM PST Researchers have developed a protocol to transplant 3D cellular structures called organoids into the damaged colon and intestine of mice. Once delivered via rectal infusion, the organoids are able to attach to the injured region and rebuild the tissue damaged by conditions such as colitis. The significant advantage of this technique is that the organoids can be derived from the same individual that will receive them, avoiding any rejection issue when they are transplanted. |
| Notches on lions’ teeth reveal poaching in Zambia’s conservation areas Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:58 AM PST New research links notches on lion teeth with snare traps, revealing significantly more poaching in conservation areas than previously estimated. Researchers used photos of trophy-hunted lions and leopards -- especially of their teeth -- to do forensic work evaluating the effectiveness of conservation efforts in Zambia. |
| How climate change can worsen impact of invasive plants Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:58 AM PST A study tested the effects of prescribed fire on long-leaf pines grown under different conditions: drought, invasive plants, and a combination of the two. |
| Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST Carbon capture and storage describes the process of injecting carbon dioxide from industrial sources into underground geological reservoirs, theoretically for thousands of years. Researchers used supercomputers to understand how carbon dioxide storage works at the level of micrometer-wide pores in rock. They found that two factors greatly impact the amount of carbon dioxide that can be stored: wettability and injection rate. |
| New system speeds screening of drug-delivering nanoparticles Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST A new study demonstrates 'species agnostic' screening of lipid nanoparticles, which could significantly accelerate the development of cutting edge mRNA targeted therapies. |
| Protection from the molecular shredder Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST Plants need to adjust to their environment. Adaptive responses include synthesizing new proteins and breaking down those that are no longer needed. For this task, plants use a considerable amount of energy. Thus, regulation of protein turnover in the plant cell has to be appropriately thorough. Researchers have now identified a cellular mechanism that stabilizes proteins by preventing their breakdown. |
| Black Death mortality not as widespread as long thought Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST A new study used pollen data to evaluate the second plague pandemic's mortality at a regional scale across Europe. Results showed that the impacts of the Black Death varied substantially from region to region and demonstrated the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches for understanding past -- and present -- pandemics. |
| Simplifying RNA editing for treating genetic diseases Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST New research could make it much simpler to repair disease-causing mutations in RNA without compromising precision or efficiency. The new RNA editing technology holds promise as a gene therapy for treating genetic diseases. In a proof of concept, researchers showed that the technology can treat a mouse model of Hurler syndrome, a rare genetic disease, by correcting its disease-causing mutation in RNA. |
| Closing in on the carbon costs of wildfires Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:40 AM PST Wildfire and post-fire recovery could lead to more carbon being stored than released in the long term in savannahs and grasslands, according to a new study. The findings suggest that there is far stronger potential for cycles of fire and recovery to increase soil carbon stocks in these areas than in forests. |
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