ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

Research reveals structure of a human endogenous reverse transcriptase

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 01:47 PM PDT

The crystal structure of a human endogenous reverse transcriptase has similarities to HIV reverse transcriptase, a well-known tractable drug target, which will help design drugs to treat cancer and other diseases, according to a study co-authored by a Rutgers researcher.

Bacteria for blastoff: Using microbes to make supercharged new rocket fuel

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 01:00 PM PDT

Biofuel scientists used an oddball molecule made by bacteria to develop a new class of sustainable biofuels powerful enough to launch rockets. The candidate molecules have greater projected energy density than any petroleum product, including the leading aviation and rocket fuels, JetA and RP-1.

California's Dixie Fire shows impact of legacy effects, prescribed burns

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 01:00 PM PDT

The 2021 Dixie Fire burned over nearly 1 million acres in California and cost $637 million to suppress, making it the largest and most expensive wildfire to contain in state history. Fire history largely determined how severely the wildfire burned, and low-severity fire treatments had the largest impact on reducing the worst effects of the fire, according to a research team.

The hawk has landed: Braking mid-air to prioritize safety over energy or speed

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 11:22 AM PDT

New research using computer simulations and Hollywood-style motion capture shows how birds optimize their landing maneuvers for an accurate descent.

Signaling molecule potently stimulates hair growth

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 11:22 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that a signaling molecule called SCUBE3 potently stimulates hair growth and may offer a therapeutic treatment for androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hair loss in both women and men.

Scientists engineer synthetic DNA to study 'architect' genes

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 11:21 AM PDT

Researchers have created artificial Hox genes -- which plan and direct where cells go to develop tissues or organs -- using new synthetic DNA technology and genomic engineering in stem cells. Their findings confirm how clusters of Hox genes help cells to learn and remember where they are in the body.

New flood maps clarify the risk homeowners face

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 10:48 AM PDT

Flooding in urban areas cost Americans more than $106 billion between 1960 and 2016, damaging property, disrupting businesses and claiming lives in the process. Now, new research outlines a simplified, cost-effective method for developing flood maps that reflects the uncertainty in flood predictions.

How bacteria adhere to cells: Basis for the development of a new class of antibiotics

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:45 AM PDT

Researchers have unraveled how bacteria adhere to host cells and thus taken the first step towards developing a new class of antibiotics.

A closer look into the emergence of antibiotic resistance in bioaerosols and its monitoring

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:45 AM PDT

While there are many studies that discuss antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in soil and water environments, there is currently very little research that focuses on ARG in aerial environments. In a recent review, researchers have analyzed current research trends regarding ARG in bioaerosols, including their sources, methods of detection, and implications for the future.

Hidden in caves: Mineral overgrowths reveal 'unprecedented' sea level rise

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:45 AM PDT

Through intricate study of cave deposits in Spain, geologists identified a rapid rise in sea level that started during the Industrial Revolution.

Researchers propose widespread banking of stool samples for fecal transplants later in life

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:45 AM PDT

Changes in the way that humans live and eat have resulted in tremendous alterations in the gut microbiome, especially over the past few decades. These changes have been linked to increased rates of asthma, allergies, diseases of the digestive system, type 2 diabetes, and other conditions. Scientists propose that we can combat these trends by having individuals bank samples of their own gut microbiota when they are young and healthy for potential use later in life in an autologous fecal microbiota transplant (FMT).

Some viruses make you smell tastier to mosquitoes

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:45 AM PDT

Zika and dengue fever viruses alter the scent of mice and humans they infect, a team of researchers report. The altered scent attracts mosquitoes, which bite the host, drink their infected blood and then carry the virus to its next victim.

How pandas survive solely on bamboo: Evolutionary history

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:44 AM PDT

An ancient fossil reveals the earliest panda to survive solely on bamboo and the evolutionary history of panda's false thumbs.

Activating the indicator and performing a shoulder check -- essential also for zebra finches

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:44 AM PDT

Zebra finches communicate via eye contact and calls to coordinate their spatial positions during flocking flight

Common gene used to profile microbial communities

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:44 AM PDT

Computer scientists develop Emu, an algorithm that uses long reads of genomes to identify the species of bacteria in a community. The program could simplify sorting harmful from helpful bacteria in microbiomes like those in the gut or in agriculture and the environment.

Climate change in oceanwater may impact mangrove dispersal, study finds

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 08:44 AM PDT

Researchers examined 21st century changes in ocean-surface temperature, salinity, and density, across mangrove forests worldwide. Their study suggests that changes in surface-ocean density may impact the dispersal patterns of widely distributed mangroves species, and more likely so in the Indo-West Pacific region, the primary hotspot of mangrove diversity.

Climate change will increase chances of wildfire globally -- but humans can still help reduce the risk

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 06:57 AM PDT

New research highlights how the risk of wildfire is rising globally due to climate change -- but also, how human actions and policies can play a critical role in regulating regional impacts. The study shows that anthropogenic climate change is a 'push' factor that enhances the risk of wildfires globally.

Pioneering recycling turns mixed waste into premium plastics with no climate impact

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 05:33 AM PDT

Only a fraction of the material that could be turned into new plastic is currently recycled. Researchers have now demonstrated how the carbon atoms in mixed waste can replace all fossil raw materials in the production of new plastic. The recycling method is inspired by the natural carbon cycle and could eliminate the climate impact of plastic materials, or even clean the air of carbon dioxide.

Powerful links between methane and climate change

Posted: 30 Jun 2022 05:33 AM PDT

Using data gathered over the last four decades to study the effects of temperature changes and rain on the atmospheric concentration of methane, scientists have concluded that Earth could be both delivering more, and removing less, methane into the air than previously estimated, with the result that more heat is being trapped in the atmosphere. The study, published in the scientific journal Nature Communications on 23 June, addresses the large uncertainty about the impact of climate change on atmospheric methane. The study finds that this impact could be four times greater than that estimated in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.

The pair of Orcas deterring Great White Sharks

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:29 PM PDT

A pair of Orca (Killer Whales) that have been terrorizing and killing Great White Sharks off the coast of South Africa since 2017 has managed to drive large numbers of the sharks from their natural aggregation site.

Romantic partners can influence each other's beliefs and behaviors on climate change

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 01:11 PM PDT

A team of researchers surveyed couples about their ideas on climate change and found that while many partners exhibited similar beliefs and behaviors around the issue, there also were many discrepancies.

Shining some light on the obscure proteome

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 01:10 PM PDT

Mass-spectrometry based proteomics is the big-data science of proteins that allows the monitoring of the abundance of thousands of proteins in a sample at once. Therefore, it is a particularly well-suited readout for discovering which proteins are targeted by any small molecule. An international research team has investigated this using chemical proteomics.

Norovirus and other 'stomach viruses' can spread through saliva

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

A class of viruses known to cause severe diarrheal diseases -- including the one famous for widespread outbreaks on cruise ships -- can grow in the salivary glands of mice and spread through their saliva, scientists have discovered. The findings show that a new route of transmission exists for these common viruses, which afflict billions of people each year worldwide and can be deadly.

Researchers develop online portal to show how biases in RNA sequences affect gene expression

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

Researchers explain the importance of identifying and understanding how differences between tissues and cells alter gene expression without changing the underlying genetic code.

'Quake brain' effects suffered by resilient Cantabrians fade over time

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

New research suggests the brain function of otherwise-healthy individuals exposed to event trauma has the ability to 'bounce back' over time once the threat resolves. Researchers conducted a follow-up study on a group of Cantabrians, who had been exposed to trauma during the region's earthquakes over a decade ago.

Researchers identify the microbes in 100-year-old snail guts

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT

The gut 'microbiomes' of long-dead animals could give researchers surprising insights into how climate change and other factors have shaped the Rocky Mountains and other ecosystems over decades.

Underwater jars reveal Roman period winemaking practices

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:02 PM PDT

Winemaking practices in coastal Italy during the Roman period involved using native grapes for making wine in jars waterproofed with imported tar pitch, according to a new study.

Pollution exposure associated with multimorbidity risk

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:01 PM PDT

Exposure to the air pollution known as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk of having a cluster of multiple chronic diseases, according to a new study.

'Safety in numbers' tactic keeps Pacific salmon safe from predators

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:01 PM PDT

A new study that leverages historical data has found unique support for a 'safety in numbers' strategy, where Pacific salmon living in larger groups have a lower risk of being eaten by predators. But for some salmon species, schooling comes at the cost of competition for food, and those fish may trade safety for a meal.

Charismatic songbird's numbers have dramatically declined, survey suggests

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:01 PM PDT

An new study shows the number of evening grosbeaks using the campus as a migration stop-over site has gone down an average of 2.6% per year over the last four decades, emblematic of population declines across the charismatic songbird's range.

Artificial intelligence techniques used to obtain antibiotic resistance patterns

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 12:01 PM PDT

New research analyzes antibiotic resistance patterns, with the aim of finding trends that can help decide which treatment to apply to each type of patient and stop the spread of bacteria.

Enzyme of bacterial origin promoted the evolution of longhorned beetles

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:12 AM PDT

Larvae of longhorned beetles develop primarily in woody tissue, which is difficult for most organisms to digest. However, longhorned beetle larvae possess special enzymes to break down the various components of the plant cell wall. Researchers have now taken a closer look at a group of digestive enzymes found only in this beetle family. They resurrected the primordial enzymes, which first appeared in a common ancestor of longhorned beetles. Horizontal gene transfer from bacteria to the beetle as well as ancient and recent gene duplications promoted the evolution of this family of digestive enzymes and enabled longhorned beetles to degrade the main components of the plant cell wall, which make the bulk of their diet.

Changes in oceanographic fronts affect the gene flow among marine crab populations

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:12 AM PDT

In the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, the intensity and location of the oceanographic fronts that limit the gene connectivity among populations of marine crabs vary over time. These dynamic changes alter the gene structure of the populations of marine crabs of commercial and gastronomic interest.

Music is key to converting consumers' good intentions to actual purchases in ethical and sustainable markets

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:12 AM PDT

Companies selling ethical and sustainable products should use up-tempo major mode music in their marketing to help well-meaning consumers convert their good intentions into actual purchases, new research shows.

Underground carnivore: the first species of pitcher plant to dine on subterranean prey

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:12 AM PDT

A remarkable new species of carnivorous plant was discovered in a remote part of Borneo. It is the first pitcher plant known to produce functional underground traps, and the first for which capture of subterranean prey has been observed. While the traps themselves are often a rich maroon colour, they are produced on shoots that are entirely white, owing to their lack of chlorophyll.

Thawing permafrost is shaping the global climate

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

How is climate change affecting the permanently frozen soils of the Arctic? What will the consequences be for the global climate, human beings, and ecosystems? And what can be done to stop it?

Monitoring COVID-19: Could medicine found in wastewater provide an early warning?

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

Research on wastewater finds that a large spike in acetaminophen preceded a spike in viral RNA during one COVID-19 wave in Western New York.

Climate change is making plants more vulnerable to disease. New research could help them fight back

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

When heat waves hit, they don't just take a toll on people -- plants suffer too. That's because when temperatures rise, certain plant defenses don't work as well, leaving them more susceptible to attacks from pathogens and pests. Scientists say they have identified a specific protein in plant cells that explains why immunity falters as the mercury rises. They've also figured out a way to bolster plant defenses against the heat.

Ice Age wolf DNA reveals dogs trace ancestry to two separate wolf populations

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

An international group of geneticists and archaeologists have found that the ancestry of dogs can be traced to at least two populations of ancient wolves. The work moves us a step closer to uncovering the mystery of where dogs underwent domestication, one of the biggest unanswered questions about human prehistory.

Destruction and recovery of kelp forests driven by changes in sea urchin behavior

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

A dramatic outbreak of kelp-eating sea urchins along the Central Coast of California in 2014, leading to a significant reduction in the region's kelp forests, was driven primarily by the emergence of sea urchins from their hiding places rather than an increase in the urchin population. In subsequent years, sea urchin movements enabled kelp forest recovery at sites that had been denuded 'urchin barrens.' Those are among the key findings of a long-term study of sea urchins and kelp forest dynamics in Monterey Bay.

How flies lay off the extra salty snacks

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:11 AM PDT

Fruit flies are known for their sweet tooth, but new research also indicates they may offer hints to how animals sense -- and avoid -- high concentrations of salt. Using mutant fruit flies, zoologists have identified a new high-salt receptor on the tongue of Drosophila -- receptor IR7c. IR7c governs the insects' ability to detect dangerously high concentrations of salt, typically over 0.25 moles per liter, or about half as salty as sea water.

The emergence of form: New study expands horizons for DNA nanotechnology

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Researchers explore a basic building block used in the fabrication of many DNA nanoforms. Known as a Holliday junction, this nexus of two segments of double stranded DNA has been used to form elaborate, self-assembling crystal lattices at the nanometer scale, (or roughly 1/75,000th the width of a human hair).

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would reduce risks to humans by up to 85%

Posted: 29 Jun 2022 05:40 AM PDT

New research quantifies the benefits of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and identifies the hotspot regions for climate change risk in the future.

Who trusts gene-edited foods? New study gauges public acceptance

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 02:02 PM PDT

Researchers surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,000 U.S. residents to gauge public acceptance of gene-edited foods. Social factors like food beliefs and trust in institutions played a big role in the participants' willingness to eat or actively avoid products made with gene-editing technologies.

New study investigates the microbiomes of dogs around the world

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 02:01 PM PDT

In a new study, researchers have sampled the fecal microbiomes across diverse geographical populations of dogs to better understand what they look like around the world.

Chemical risk assessment not up to par, researchers say

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 02:01 PM PDT

The current system of chemical risk assessment is inadequate and underestimates levels of flame retardants and other pollutants needed to cause harmful health effects, according to a recent analysis.

Chemicals in Fairbanks winter air

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 11:46 AM PDT

A chemical compound discovered in 2019 in Fairbanks' wintertime air accounts for a significant portion of the community's fine particulate pollution, according to new research that seeks to better understand the causes and makeup of the dirty air. The finding is the first measurement of how much hydroxymethanesulfonate, or HMS, is in Fairbanks' air.

Identifying bird species by sound, the BirdNET app opens new avenues for citizen science

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

The BirdNET app, a free machine-learning powered tool that can identify over 3,000 birds by sound alone, generates reliable scientific data and makes it easier for people to contribute citizen-science data on birds by simply recording sounds.

Strategies beyond recycling to bolster circular economy for solar and battery technologies

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 10:39 AM PDT

In a new comprehensive literature review, researchers have discovered that alternatives to recycling may have untapped potential to build an effective circular economy for solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery technologies. These alternative strategies, such as reducing the use of virgin materials in manufacturing, reusing for new applications, and extending product life spans, may provide new paths to building sustainable product life cycles.

Scientists identify new brain mechanism involved in impulsive cocaine-seeking in rats

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 10:39 AM PDT

Researchers have found that blocking certain acetylcholine receptors in the lateral habenula (LHb), an area of the brain that balances reward and aversion, made it harder to resist seeking cocaine in a rat model of impulsive behavior. These findings identify a new role for these receptors that may represent a future target for the development of treatments for cocaine use disorder. There are currently no approved medications to treat cocaine use disorder.

How to MRI your dragon: Researchers develop first bearded dragon brain atlas

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:34 AM PDT

Researchers have performed MRI scans on bearded dragons to generate a high-resolution map of regions in the creatures' brains.

New biobatteries use bacterial interactions to generate power for weeks

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a 'plug-and-play' biobattery that lasts for weeks at a time and can be stacked to improve output voltage and current.

Precision antibacterials

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Similar to the vaccines against the coronavirus, RNA-based antibiotics could significantly improve modern medicine. Research teams have investigated the prerequisites that such antibiotics must meet for this strategy to work.

Tadpoles undergo surprising number of vision changes when becoming frogs

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Tadpoles see well underwater, but what happens when they become frogs and live primarily on land? Researchers, curious about the answer, found the eyes of tadpoles undergo a surprising number of changes. It's already known that tadpoles go through a physical metamorphosis on their way to becoming a frog, but what wasn't known is how their vision adapts at a molecular level across the life stages to a strikingly different environment.

Reassessment of greenhouse gas emissions from African lakes

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

A new study reassesses emissions of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere from African lakes. While it was previously assumed that these lakes were significant carbon dioxide sources, it has since been discovered that they really emit very little carbon dioxide but a lot of methane, adding to the emissions burden.

Seismic noise analysis could help monitor potential hazards in active mine

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

An active underground mine can be a seismically noisy environment, full of signals generated by heavy machinery at work and induced seismicity. Now, researchers working with data from a longwall coal mine demonstrate a way to extract and separate the signals generated from mining activity from the background seismic noise of the area.

Is AI good or bad for the climate? It's complicated

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Experts in AI, climate change, and public policy present a framework for understanding the complex and multifaceted relationship of AI with greenhouse gas emissions, and suggest ways to better align AI with climate change goals.

Update noise regulations to protect seals, porpoises

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Scientists review recent experiments and find noise regulations may need to be changed to protect porpoises, seals, and other sea-dwelling mammals. Current guidance for seals and porpoises is based on few measurements in a limited frequency range; the guidance is still valid for these frequencies, but investigators found substantial deviations in recent studies of the impact of low frequency noise on seals and high frequency noise on porpoises.

Immune molecules from a llama could provide protection against a vast array of SARS-like viruses including COVID-19, researchers say

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 08:33 AM PDT

Researchers have shown that tiny, robust immune particles derived from the blood of a llama could provide strong protection against every COVID-19 variant including Omicron and 18 similar viruses.

How did vertebrates first evolve jaws?

Posted: 28 Jun 2022 05:33 AM PDT

Scientists reveal clues about the evolutionary origin of jaws by studying the embryonic development of zebrafish -- an approach known as 'evo-devo.' Using imaging and cell tracing techniques in zebrafish, researchers who conducted the study conclusively showed that the pseudobranch originates from the same mandibular arch that gives rise to the jaw.