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ScienceDaily: Top Environment News |
| The first frost is the deepest Posted: 13 May 2021 12:48 PM PDT The first frost of autumn may be grim for gardeners but the latest evidence reveals it is a profound event in the life of plants. |
| New snailfish genome reveals how they adapted to the pressures of deep-sea life Posted: 13 May 2021 11:25 AM PDT A new whole genome sequence for the Yap hadal snailfish provides insights into how the unusual fish survives in some of the deepest parts of the ocean. |
| Two regions in the canine genome explain one third of the risk of rare blood cancer Posted: 13 May 2021 11:25 AM PDT Mutations in two genetic regions in dogs explain over one third of the risk of developing an aggressive form of hematological cancer, according to a new study. |
| Making AI algorithms show their work Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Artificial intelligence (AI) learning machines can be trained to solve problems and puzzles on their own instead of using rules that we made for them. But often, researchers do not know what rules the machines make for themselves. A new method quizzes a machine-learning program to figure out what rules it learned on its own and if they are the right ones. |
| Kelp, maggots and mycoprotein among future foods that must be mass-farmed to combat malnutrition Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Radical changes to the food system are needed to safeguard our food supply and combat malnutrition in the face of climate change, environmental degradation and epidemics, says new report. |
| What makes plant cell walls both strong and extensible? Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT A plant cell wall's unique ability to expand without weakening or breaking is due to the movement of its cellulose skeleton, according to new research that models the cell wall. The new study presents a new concept of the plant cell wall, gives insights into plant cell growth, and could provide inspiration for the design of polymeric materials. |
| Brain mechanism of curiosity unraveled Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new brain circuit underlying curiosity and novelty seeking behavior. Using several innovative techniques, the scientists uncovered a whole path of multiple brain regions that converts curiosity into action in mice. |
| Cancer has ripple effect on distant tissues Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT A new study with zebrafish shows that a deadly form of skin cancer -- melanoma -- alters the metabolism of healthy tissues elsewhere in the body. The research suggests that these other tissues could potentially be targeted to help treat cancer. |
| Researchers identify a missing piece of the Lyme disease puzzle Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Epidemic. Pandemic. These terms have become second nature to us, popping up in everyday conversation, and for good reason -- COVID-19 is the latest pandemic to pose a threat to humanity. But in recent months, far less attention has been paid to another widely spread problem that has been proliferating since the late 1970s: Lyme disease. |
| Fossilized tracks show earliest known evidence of mammals at the seashore Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Researchers report the discovery of several sets of fossilized tracks, likely from the brown bear-sized Coryphodon, that represent the earliest known evidence of mammals gathering near an ocean. |
| Carbon emissions from dams considerably underestimated so far Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Among other things, dams serve as reservoirs for drinking water, agricultural irrigation, or the operation of hydropower plants. Until now, it had been assumed that dams act as net carbon stores. Researchers have now shown that dams release twice as much carbon as they store. |
| Songbird neurons for advanced cognition mirror the physiology of mammalian counterparts Posted: 13 May 2021 11:23 AM PDT Neuroscientists examining genetically identified neurons in a songbird's forebrain discovered a remarkable landscape of physiology, auditory coding and network roles that mirrored those in the brains of mammals. |
| A new approach to identify genetic boundaries of species could also impact policy Posted: 13 May 2021 11:23 AM PDT A new approach to genomic species delineation could impact policy and lend clarity to legislation for designating a species as endangered or at risk. Evolutionary biologists model the process of speciation, which follows population formation, improving on current species delineation methods. |
| Evolutionary biologists discover mechanism that enables lizards to breathe underwater Posted: 13 May 2021 09:40 AM PDT A team of evolutionary biologists has shown that Anolis lizards, or anoles, are able to breathe underwater with the aid of a bubble clinging to their snouts. Some anoles are stream specialists, and these semi-aquatic species frequently dive underwater to avoid predators, where they can remain submerged for as long as 18 minutes. The researchers termed the process 'rebreathing' after the scuba-diving technology. |
| High genomic diversity is good news for California condor Posted: 13 May 2021 09:40 AM PDT The wild California condor population dropped to 22 before rescue and captive breeding allowed reintroduction into the wild. A new assembly of the complete genome of the bird reveals some inbreeding as a result, but overall high genomic diversity attesting to large populations of condors in the past, likely in the tens of thousands. Comparison to Andean condor and turkey vulture genomes reveals declines in their populations also, and lower genomic diversity than California condor. |
| Antarctic ice sheet retreat could trigger chain reaction Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT The Antarctic ice sheet was even more unstable in the past than previously thought, and at times possibly came close to collapse, new research suggests. |
| Urban traffic noise causes song learning deficits in birds Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT Traffic noise leads to inaccuracies and delays in the development of song learning in young birds. They also suffer from a suppressed immune system, which is an indicator of chronic stress. A new study shows that young zebra finches, just like children, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of noise because of its potential to interfere with learning at a critical developmental stage. |
| How widespread is lemur and fossa meat consumption? Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT A new study looks at the prevalence of human consumption of lemur and fossa (Madagascar's largest predator) in villages within and around Makira Natural Park, northeastern Madagascar, providing up-to-date estimates of the percentage of households who eat meat from these protected species. |
| Ticking upward: Researcher studies rise of tick-borne diseases in Midwest Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT When a researcher heard from a former colleague at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that a 7-year-old girl had died from Rocky Mountain spotted fever as the result of a tick bite, he thought of his own daughter, also 7 years old at the time, and the potentially fatal danger posed to vulnerable populations by tick-borne diseases. |
| Species losses on isolated Panamanian island show importance of habitat connectivity Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT Free from human disturbance for a century, an inland island in Central America has nevertheless lost more than 25% of its native bird species since its creation as part of the Panama Canal's construction, and scientists say the losses continue. |
| Ankle and foot bone evolution gave prehistoric mammals a leg up Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT The evolution of ankle and foot bones into different shapes and sizes helped mammals adapt and thrive after the extinction of the dinosaurs, a study suggests. |
| Can fisheries benefit from biodiversity and conserve it, too? Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT A new study reveals the trade-offs of fish biodiversity -- its costs and benefits to mixed-stock fisheries -- and points to a potential way to harness the benefits while avoiding costs to fishery performance. |
| Orangutan finding highlights need to protect habitat Posted: 13 May 2021 05:49 AM PDT Wild orangutans are known for their ability to survive food shortages, but scientists have made a surprising finding that highlights the need to protect the habitat of these critically endangered primates, which face rapid habitat destruction and threats linked to climate change. |
| Congestion pricing could shrink car size Posted: 13 May 2021 05:48 AM PDT Rush hour will likely return when pandemic lockdowns lift, but a new study suggests that congestion pricing -- policies that charge tolls for driving during peak hours -- could not only cure traffic jams but also convince motorists it is safe to buy smaller, more efficient cars. |
| Scientists decode the 'language' of immune cells Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT Scientists have identified 'words' immune cells use to call up immune defense genes -- an important step toward understanding their language. The scientists also discovered that in an autoimmune disease, Sjögren's syndrome, two of these words are used incorrectly, activating the wrong genes and triggering the disease. |
| Standing dead trees in 'ghost forests' contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, study finds Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT While standing dead trees in ghost forests did not release as much greenhouse gas emissions as the soils, they did increase GHG emissions of the overall ecosystem by about 25 percent, a new study has found. |
| A delicate balance: Learning new ways that gut microbes educate the immune system Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT An immune system that mistakes our good gut bacteria for an enemy can cause a dangerous type of inflammation in the intestines called colitis. An immune system that looks the other way while gut microbes spill past their assigned borders is equally dangerous. Understanding how the immune system learns to make a brokered peace with its microbial residents, called the microbiota, is therefore an important area of research. |
| How the body builds a healthy relationship with 'good' gut bacteria Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT Research reveals insights into how the body maintains balance with 'good' gut bacteria that allows these microbes to flourish in the intestine but keeps them out of tissues and organs where they're not supposed to be. |
| Backyard chickens, rabbits, soybeans can meet household protein demand Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT In 2020, stores sold out of garden seed, coops and rabbit cages. Meat shortages led many to wonder what to eat for protein when supply chains are disrupted and some people turned to gathering eggs, raising animals and growing their own food. A team assessed backyard protein sources: They looked at how a typical household with a typical backyard can raise chickens, rabbits or soybeans to meet its protein needs. |
| New ebolavirus vaccine design seeks to drive stronger antibody defense Posted: 12 May 2021 12:07 PM PDT Scientists have unveiled a new Ebola virus vaccine design, which they say has several advantages over standard vaccine approaches for Ebola and related viruses that continue to threaten global health. In the new design copies of the Ebola virus outer spike protein, known as the glycoprotein, are tethered to the surface of a spherical carrier particle. |
| Symbiotic bacteria in root cells may be key to producing better crops Posted: 12 May 2021 12:07 PM PDT A Rutgers study finds that symbiotic bacteria that colonize root cells may be managed to produce hardier crops that need less fertilizer. |
| Mechanism deciphered: How organic acids are formed in the atmosphere Posted: 12 May 2021 11:35 AM PDT The acidity of the atmosphere is increasingly determined by carbon dioxide and organic acids such as formic acid. The second of these impact the growth of clouds and pH of rainwater. But the chemical processes behind the formation of formic acid were not well understood. Researchers have now succeeded in filling this gap. |
| Only 17 percent of free-flowing rivers are protected Posted: 12 May 2021 11:29 AM PDT The research demonstrates that biodiversity commitments will be key to global freshwater protection. |
| Genetic risk of heart disease may be due to low Omega 3-linked biomarker Posted: 12 May 2021 11:28 AM PDT People who are genetically more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases may benefit from boosting a biomarker found in fish oils, a new study suggests. |
| Who fought in the ancient Greek Battles of Himera? Chemical evidence provides answers Posted: 12 May 2021 11:28 AM PDT Geochemical evidence reveals that armies in the Battles of Himera were a mixture of locals and outsiders, according to a new study. These data contradict certain claims made in historical accounts by ancient Greek writers. |
| Ancient Easter Island communities offer insights for successful life in isolation Posted: 12 May 2021 11:28 AM PDT Anthropologists explore how complex community patterns in Easter Island helped the isolated island survive from its settlement in the 12th to 13th century until European contact. |
| New approach to understanding our wellbeing Posted: 12 May 2021 10:29 AM PDT The ability to connect and feel a sense of belonging are basic human needs but new research has examined how these are determined by more than just our personal relationships. Psychologists highlight the importance of taking a wider approach to wellbeing and how it can be influenced by issues such as inequality and anthropogenic climate change. |
| Ancient gut microbiomes may offer clues to modern diseases Posted: 12 May 2021 08:56 AM PDT Scientists have found dramatic differences between gut microbiomes from ancient North American peoples and modern microbiomes, offering new evidence on how these microbes may evolve with different diets. |
| Parks not only safe, but essential during the pandemic, study finds Posted: 12 May 2021 08:56 AM PDT Parks played an important role for people seeking respite from the toll of social isolation during the pandemic, and according to new research, they did so without increasing the spread of COVID-19. The study looked at how people used 22 parks in Philadelphia and New York during the height of the pandemic and it found no strong correlation between park use and the number of confirmed cases in surrounding neighborhoods. |
| Health status of vulnerable gopher tortoises revealed in Southeastern Florida Posted: 12 May 2021 08:56 AM PDT In previously unstudied gopher tortoise aggregations, researchers found that overall, 42.9 percent had circulating antibodies to an infectious bacterium that causes upper respiratory tract disease. Physical examination showed that 19.8 percent had clinical signs consistent with upper respiratory tract disease and 13.2 percent had some form of physical abnormality. None of the tortoises tested positive for Ranavirus or Herpesvirus, which represents important baseline data, since these viruses are thought to be emerging pathogens of other tortoise and turtle species. |
| Ancestors may have created 'iconic' sounds as bridge to first languages Posted: 12 May 2021 05:34 AM PDT The 'missing link' that helped our ancestors to begin communicating with each other through language may have been iconic sounds, rather than charades-like gestures -- giving rise to the unique human power to coin new words describing the world around us, a new study reveals. |
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