ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

Gulf of Mexico coral reefs to protect from storm surge in the future -- But will they?

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 02:03 PM PST

Researchers used 120,000-year-old fossils to predict how Gulf of Mexico coral reefs will respond to climate change toward the end of this century.

New tool to predict the global spread of dengue

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 02:03 PM PST

Researchers have developed a new tool to predict the global spread of human infectious diseases, like dengue, and track them to their source.

Atmospheric river storms create $1 billion-a-year flood damage

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 12:28 PM PST

Researchers found that flooding has caused nearly $51 billion in damages to western states in the last 40 years. More than 84 percent of these damages were caused by atmospheric rivers (ARs), long narrow corridors of water vapor in the atmosphere capable of carrying more than twice the volume of the Amazon river through the sky.

How plants harness 'bad' molecules for good ends

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 12:28 PM PST

Researchers show how plants harness toxic molecules called reactive oxygen species for the signaling pathway that gives rise to roots. Identifying the complex molecular interactions that regulate root growth could lead to more productive crops with roots optimized for different soil types.

How do world's smallest sea turtles become stranded in Cape Cod?

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 12:28 PM PST

A computational analysis has surfaced new insights into the wind and water conditions that cause Kemp's ridley sea turtles to become stranded on beaches in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Warmer temperatures will increase arsenic levels in rice

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 12:28 PM PST

Researchers have found that warmer temperatures, at levels expected under most climate change projections, can lead to higher concentrations of arsenic in rice grains.

Probiotic may help treat colic in infants

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 11:58 AM PST

Probiotics -- or 'good bacteria' -- have been used to treat infant colic with varying success. In a new trial, investigators have shown that drops containing a particular probiotic strain (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12) reduced the duration of daily crying by more than 50% in 80% of the 40 infants who received the probiotic once daily for 28 days, with beneficial effects on sleep duration and on stool frequency and consistency.

Record-size sex chromosome found in two bird species

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 09:45 AM PST

Researchers have discovered the largest known avian sex chromosome. The giant chromosome was created when four chromosomes fused together into one, and has been found in two species of lark.

Global carbon emissions growth slows, but hits record high

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 06:08 AM PST

Coal use is down dramatically in the United States and the European Union, and renewable energy is gaining traction. But rising natural gas and oil use in 2019 increased the world's carbon dioxide emissions modestly for a third straight year.

Meteorite-loving microorganism

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 06:08 AM PST

The archaeon Metallosphaera sedula can uptake and process extraterrestrial material. This is shown by an international team led by astrobiologists, who examines microbial fingerprints on meteorite materials. The researchers also conclude that M. sedula colonizes meteorite minerals faster than those of terrestrial origin.

Migratory birds shrinking as climate warms, new analysis of four-decade record shows

Posted: 04 Dec 2019 06:08 AM PST

North American migratory birds have been getting smaller over the past four decades, and their wings have gotten a bit longer. Both changes appear to be responses to a warming climate.

How accumulating useful genes helps older yeast fare better in tougher times

Posted: 03 Dec 2019 11:33 AM PST

Researchers have used yeast to learn more about how satellite (extrachromosomal) DNA circles are formed to carry amplified genes, how the gene duplication is specific to the environmental pressure and the effects of age. Understanding the mechanism of gene duplication and DNA circle formation has relevance to the biology of ageing and the development of drug resistance in cancers cells.

Researchers use genomics to discover potential new treatment for parasite disease

Posted: 03 Dec 2019 10:38 AM PST

Using innovative RNA sequencing techniques, researchers identified a promising novel treatment for lymphatic filariasis, a disabling parasitic disease that is difficult to treat. The potential new therapy is an experimental cancer drug called JQ1 and targets proteins found prominently in the worm's genome; it appears to effectively kill the adult worms in a laboratory setting, according to the study.

Machine learning that works like a dream

Posted: 03 Dec 2019 06:48 AM PST

Researchers have developed a machine learning algorithm that classifies the sleep stages of mice with record accuracy. This work may be used to greatly enhance the field of sleep research.

Citizen scientists deserve more credit, researchers argue

Posted: 03 Dec 2019 06:30 AM PST

Biologists argue that newfound respect for indigenous knowledge and changes in technology mean that non-professionals are taking greater roles in science work.

Most of America's national parks are facing a grave and immediate threat

Posted: 03 Dec 2019 05:29 AM PST

More than half of America's national parks are facing a grave and immediate threat: the ongoing presence and spread of invasive animal species. The National Park Service has taken the first step in combating this invasion by asking a group of experts to help chart a course that will ensure the survival of these national treasures.

Through the eyes of animals

Posted: 03 Dec 2019 05:29 AM PST

Humans are now closer to seeing through the eyes of animals, thanks to an innovative software framework.

A new way to control microbial metabolism

Posted: 02 Dec 2019 04:04 PM PST

To help optimize microbes' ability to produce useful compounds but also maintain their own growth, chemical engineers have devised a way to induce bacteria to switch between different metabolic pathways at different times.