ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

Predicting equatorial plasma bubbles with SWARM

Posted: 15 Jul 2022 07:57 AM PDT

Changes in atmospheric density after sunset can cause hot pockets of gas called 'plasma bubbles' to form over the Earth's equator, resulting in communication disruptions between satellites and the Earth. New AI models are now helping scientists to predict plasma bubble events and create a forecast.

An Achilles heel shared by plants and animals

Posted: 15 Jul 2022 07:57 AM PDT

The biomolecule diphthamide is essential for the proper formation of proteins in cells. When humans are infected with diphtheria, diphthamide is altered by the diphtheria toxin so that life-threatening complications can arise as a consequence of an impaired formation of proteins. Up to now, diphthamide was only known to occur in animals and fungi. A research team has now demonstrated that the biomolecule also occurs in plants.

Evolving to outpace climate change, tiny marine animal provides new evidence of long-theorized genetic mechanism

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 02:57 PM PDT

Some copepods, diminutive crustaceans with an outsized place in the aquatic food web, can evolve fast enough to survive in the face of rapid climate change, according to new research that addresses a longstanding question in the field of genetics.

Cats injured in wildfires at risk of deadly blood clots

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 02:56 PM PDT

Cats injured in California wildfires are at risk of forming deadly blood clots, according to new research.

California's trees are dying, and might not be coming back

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 02:55 PM PDT

The State of California is banking on its forests to help reduce planet-warming carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But that element of the state's climate-change solution arsenal may be in jeopardy, as new research reports that trees in California's mountain ranges and open spaces are dying from wildfires and other pressures -- and fewer new trees are filling the void.

Music-making and the flow of aerosols

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 01:58 PM PDT

If simply breathing can spread the SARS-CoV-2 virus to others nearby, what about blowing into a tuba? Researchers used fluid mechanics to study the movement of aerosols generated by professional musicians.

A newly identified stem cell regulator enables lifelong sperm production

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 01:58 PM PDT

Scientists have discovered only a handful of genes responsible for stem cell self-renewal, a property that allows stem cells to continue giving rise to a variety of cell types during an organism's lifespan. Now, a team has identified a new stem cell self-renewal factor, one essential for mice to produce sperm throughout their adult lives.

Wireless activation of targeted brain circuits in less than one second

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 01:58 PM PDT

Neuroengineers have created wireless technology to remotely activate brain circuits. Researchers showed they could control the behavior of freely moving fruit flies using magnetic signals that activated genetically engineered neurons causing the flies to perform specific behaviors.

Link between air pollution and child brain development strengthened

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:52 AM PDT

A new study has added evidence showing that both prenatal and postnatal exposure to air pollution can harm kids.

Geological activity can rapidly change deep microbial communities

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:51 AM PDT

New research reveals that, rather than being influenced only by environmental conditions, deep subsurface microbial communities can transform because of geological movements. The findings advance our understanding of subsurface microorganisms, which comprise up to half of all living material on the planet.

Consider farmers at individual level when controlling livestock disease outbreaks

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:51 AM PDT

Livestock diseases will be better managed by incorporating the behaviors of individual farmers into national infection control policies, according to new research.

Scientists find primitive blueprint for embryo cell creation

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:51 AM PDT

A groundbreaking study has uncovered 14,000 unique sites in DNA that together form the most elementary blueprint for embryogenesis -- the creation of embryos.

Women already live longer. They can live better with an improved diet

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:51 AM PDT

Women tend to live longer than men but typically have higher rates of illness. Now, new research suggests these higher rates of illness can be improved by a better diet, one that is high in pigmented carotenoids such as yams, kale, spinach, watermelon, bell peppers, tomatoes, oranges and carrots.

Most complex protein knots

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:51 AM PDT

Theoretical physicists put Google's artificial intelligence AlphaFold to the test and find the most complex protein knots so far.

DNA from ancient population in Southern China suggests Native Americans' East Asian roots

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT

For the first time, researchers successfully sequenced the genome of ancient human fossils from the Late Pleistocene in southern China. The data suggests that the mysterious hominin belonged to an extinct maternal branch of modern humans that might have contributed to the origin of Native Americans.

Trade deals and changing diets key influencers in securing nutrient rich food

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT

Research shows future choices about trade, diet and climate change will be crucial in securing micronutrient food supplies for the UK.

Eco-friendly sound absorbers from seaweed

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT

From airplanes to apartments, most spaces are now designed with sound-absorbing materials that help dampen the droning, echoing and murmuring sounds of everyday life. But most of the acoustic materials that can cancel out human voices, traffic and music are made from plastic foams that aren't easily recycled or degraded. Now, researchers have created a biodegradable seaweed-derived film that effectively absorbs sounds in this range.

Woodpeckers' heads act more like stiff hammers than safety helmets

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT

Scientists had long wondered how woodpeckers can repeatedly pound their beaks against tree trunks without doing damage to their brains. This led to the notion that their skulls must act like shock-absorbing helmets. Now, researchers have refuted this notion, saying that their heads act more like stiff hammers. In fact, their calculations show that any shock absorbance would hinder the woodpeckers' pecking abilities.

North American birds not fully adjusting to changing climate

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT

Some species of birds in North America have not fully adjusted their distributions in response to ongoing climate change. The places these birds live have become more decoupled from their optimal climate conditions, while other features of the environment become more constraining. This trend of climate decoupling is more pronounced for habitat specialists and for species declining in abundance.

Could eating fruit more often keep depression at bay?

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT

A study surveyed 428 adults and looked at the relationship between their consumption of fruit, vegetables, sweet and savoury food snacks and their psychological health. The more often people ate fruit, the lower they scored for depression and the higher for mental wellbeing.

Coastal glacier retreat linked to climate change

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT

The world's coastal glaciers are melting faster than ever. New research gives scientists a way to unravel the causes of glacial retreat, and in turn, reveal how much can be attributed to human-caused climate change. Attributing the human role for coastal glaciers -- which melt directly into the sea -- could pave the way to better predictions about sea level rise.

Novel model of fluid distribution in the Cascadia Subduction Zone aids understanding of seismic activity

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT

A novel three-dimensional model of the fluid stored deep in Earth's crust along the Cascadia Subduction Zone provides new insight into how the accumulation and release of those fluids may influence seismic activity in the region.

As globe warms, infected pines starve and disease-causing fungi thrive

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT

The high heat and low water conditions produced by global warming weaken pine trees' resistance to disease by hindering their ability to mount an effective defense at the same time that pathogenic fungi in their tissues become more aggressive, new research suggests.

Individualized eating program helps dieters lose weight, keep it off

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:49 AM PDT

iDip, an individualized diet program, uses a unique visual tool that helps dieters choose foods that limit their daily calories while consuming adequate amounts of protein and fiber. Now in its third clinical trial, the program shows promise at helping people lose weight and keep it off.

A new peptide system for the targeted transport of molecules into living mammalian cells

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 11:43 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a novel peptide suitable for the targeted transport of molecules -- for example, active substances and dyes -- into the cells of mammals.

A brain network for social attraction

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 07:30 AM PDT

How does an animal's brain recognize other animals of its own kind? Scientists studying this process in young zebrafish have now discovered a neuronal circuit that mediates social attraction. This specialized pathway, which runs from the retina deep into the brain, enables zebrafish to detect and approach nearby conspecifics.

Action of drug compounds in tissue revealed by new technique

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 06:51 AM PDT

A new technique that can analyze how drug molecules bind to proteins in tissue samples could offer an improved route to drug discovery and development.

C. difficile drives some colorectal cancers, study suggests

Posted: 14 Jul 2022 06:11 AM PDT

Data suggest that Clostridioides difficile, or C. diff, a bacterial species well known for causing serious diarrheal infections, may also drive colorectal cancer.

Researchers develop computer model to predict whether a pesticide will harm bees

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 12:28 PM PDT

Researchers have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to help protect bees from pesticides.

Microparticles could be used to deliver 'self-boosting' vaccines

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 11:39 AM PDT

Engineers have developed microparticles made of a biocompatible polymer that can deliver a payload at different time points and could be used to create 'self-boosting' vaccines.

Underwater glove puts octopus' abilities on the hand of humans

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 11:39 AM PDT

A team of researchers has developed an octopus-inspired glove capable of securely gripping objects underwater. This is significant because humans aren't naturally equipped to thrive underwater. There are critical times when this becomes a liability. Rescue divers, underwater archeologists, bridge engineers, and salvage crews all use their hands to extract people and objects from water, and some of those removals suffer damage if subjected to an iron grip.

Uncharted genetic territory offers insight into human-specific proteins

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:47 AM PDT

An international research consortium brings together 7,200 segments of the human genome that are virtually unexplored and presents a roadmap for integrating them into human genome databases. Much of this uncharted territory is thought to code for proteins, and could hold information about what sets humans apart from other animals. The new study paves the way for brand-new research avenues into human health and disease.

Scientists discover 'future-proof' method using bacteria to remove phosphorus from wastewater

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:46 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a technique to remove phosphorus from wastewater at higher temperatures than is possible using existing techniques, by using bacteria to store the chemical.

This is how water fleas defend themselves against carnivorous plants

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:46 AM PDT

Fleas are only a few millimeters in size. But they do have a whole arsenal of defenses -- even against aggressive plants.

COVID-19 antibodies from eggs

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:46 AM PDT

Researchers have been able to produce antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in hen eggs. Antibodies harvested from eggs might be used to treat COVID-19 or as a preventative measure for people exposed to the disease.

Study confirms lead-in-water causes adverse fetal health outcomes

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:46 AM PDT

Health economics researchers have confirmed a causal relationship between lead-in-water and adverse fetal health outcomes. Although many studies have found a correlation between lead exposure and health, a causal link had been lacking in the literature -- until now.

Curbing Candida: The cells that keep fungal infections at bay

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:46 AM PDT

Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown defense mechanism employed by the immune system in fighting Candida infections.

Urban environments with more vegetation are associated with better health behaviors in children

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:46 AM PDT

Urban areas with more vegetation, higher density of buildings and facilities, lower population density and without major roads are associated with better health behaviors in children, according to new research.

New research reveals mutation responsible for disease resistance in Cassava

Posted: 13 Jul 2022 08:46 AM PDT

New research has identified a genetic mutation that confers resistance to cassava mosaic disease (CMD).

Have Antillean manatees crossed the Panama Canal?

Posted: 12 Jul 2022 11:13 AM PDT

Over half a century ago, a group of manatees from Bocas del Toro was flown into the artificial Gatun Lake to control the abundance of aquatic plants and for public health reasons. Where are they now?