Plants and Fungi
Scientists from the UK have found that the symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi may be the reason that plants were able to survive through a 90% drop in atmospheric CO2 levels approximately 400 million years ago. The team confined the roots of several plants as they grew with a fine mesh that allowed fungal filaments to pass through. The findings show that despite the confined roots, plants were still able to get the nutrients they needed.
29-May-2012
Color Changing Biosensor
Researchers from the University of California-Riverside, US, are working to develop a biosensor that can be stamped on crops and changes color in the presence of certain toxins, allowing farmers to isolate affect crops effectively. The initial focus is on maize, as it is one of the most widely grown crops in sub-Saharan Africa. The stamps could be reused, up to 200 times, and would only cost about $10.
29-May-2012
G8 Agrees on Air Pollution
At a recent meeting, G8 leaders agreed to act on air pollution by focusing on methane, black carbon (soot), and hydroflurocarbons (HFCs); however, carbon dioxide (CO2) was left out. While the three pollutants mentioned are more harmful than CO2, causing an estimated two million premature deaths annually, they remain in the atmosphere for a shorter time period and are less prevalent.
29-May-2012
Basal Ganglia
By studying the brain of birds as they try to fine tune their song, researchers from the University of California-San Francisco, US, have identified the part of the brain that helps tweak learned motor skills. The researchers blocked the output of the basal ganglia, a cluster of regions dedicated to motor skills, and found that the birds were unable to change their tune, but once the basal ganglia was unblocked, the birds changed were able to change their tune almost immediately.
29-May-2012
Plants and Fungi
Scientists from the UK have found that the symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi may be the reason that plants were able to survive through a 90% drop in atmospheric CO2 levels approximately 400 million years ago. The team confined the roots of several plants as they grew with a fine mesh that allowed fungal filaments to pass through. The findings show that despite the confined roots, plants were still able to get the nutrients they needed.
25-May-2012
Color Changing Biosensor
Researchers from the University of California-Riverside, US, are working to develop a biosensor that can be stamped on crops and changes color in the presence of certain toxins, allowing farmers to isolate affect crops effectively. The initial focus is on maize, as it is one of the most widely grown crops in sub-Saharan Africa. The stamps could be reused, up to 200 times, and would only cost about $10.
25-May-2012
G8 Agrees on Air Pollution
At a recent meeting, G8 leaders agreed to act on air pollution by focusing on methane, black carbon (soot), and hydroflurocarbons (HFCs); however, carbon dioxide (CO2) was left out. While the three pollutants mentioned are more harmful than CO2, causing an estimated two million premature deaths annually, they remain in the atmosphere for a shorter time period and are less prevalent.
25-May-2012
Basal Ganglia
By studying the brain of birds as they try to fine tune their song, researchers from the University of California-San Francisco, US, have identified the part of the brain that helps tweak learned motor skills. The researchers blocked the output of the basal ganglia, a cluster of regions dedicated to motor skills, and found that the birds were unable to change their tune, but once the basal ganglia was unblocked, the birds changed were able to change their tune almost immediately.
25-May-2012
Mercury in the Arctic
Researchers from Harvard University, US, have found that the majority of the mercury in the Arctic Ocean is likely coming from circumpolar rivers. The researchers noticed spikes in the mercury levels in the Arctic during the summer, which they believe is due to increased river flow from circumpolar melting. However, where most of the mercury enters the rivers and their tributaries is still uncertain.
24-May-2012
Stay at Home Birds
Some bird species are known as cooperative breeders, where relatives will stick around to help raise the young. Researchers from the Australian National University studied one of these species, the Seychelles warbler, and found that this social structure actually helped the baby birds in the long run. The birds studied were isolated on an island making data collection fairly accurate, and the birds with helpers were healthier and lived longer than those without.
24-May-2012
Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Better Place, an electric vehicle infrastructure company, has set up four charging stations in Israel, with the hopes of expanding that number to 40 by the end of 2012. In order to avoid long charging times, the stations swap out a car's dead battery for a fully charged one, so the car can be back on the road in a matter of minutes. Deals have also been made with Denmark, Australia, and the US for Better Place charging stations.
24-May-2012
Decline of the Reef Shark
An international team of marine scientists has completed a study of reef sharks using data from the past decade from 46 Pacific islands and atolls. The study used over 1,600 surveys done by SCUBA divers, as well as information on human population and activities, and found that reef shark populations had dropped by an average of 90% around populated islands as compared to remote reefs, mostly due to hunting for their meat and fins.
24-May-2012
Contaminated Land Sold to the Public
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is investigating land sold by the Ministry of Defense (MOD) to nearby communities that may be contaminated by chemical weapons buried at the site. It is believed that planes coated with radium and sulphur mustard chemical weapons were buried in the area after WWII, however, SEPA and the MOD are unsure to what extent the contamination has reached.
23-May-2012
Australasia's Climate History
Australian scientists have used 27 natural climate records, such as corals and ice cores, to create a temperature reconstruction of the Australasia region for the past 1,000 years. According to the findings, climate warming since the 1950's is much more severe than any other warming trend in the 1,000 years and cannot be explained by natural factors alone, indicating some level of human caused climate change.
23-May-2012
Laser and Trains
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute, Germany, have developed a 3D laser scanner that can be used in the railroad industry. The system can be equipped on trains or stationary near a track and can measure passing trains or scan for obstructions to determine the best path for the train. The lasers use infrared wavelengths which are generally safe for humans, as long as there is not prolonged exposure to the eyes.
23-May-2012
Safer Stoves in Africa
CleanStar Mozambique is hoping its cleaner alternative to charcoal stoves, the NDZiLO, will be a hit in developing nations. The World Health Organization has found that health consequences of using charcoal grills is equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes daily, and they take up to 30 minutes to heat up to a hard to control temperature. The NDZiLO will use ethanol to make it cleaner and easier to use.
23-May-2012
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Marine Reserves Provide Baby Bonus to Fisheries
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Happy Birthday Rachel Carson
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U.S. Public: "Yes" to Alternative Energy; "No" to Fracking
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Top 10 List of New Species Celebrates Biodiversity & Science of Taxonomy
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International Day for Biological Diversity – May 22
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SpaceX Dragon Cargo Capsule Docks with International Space Station
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2011 Global Carbon Emissions Set Record at 31.6 Gigatons
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Successful Launch of SpaceX’s Dragon Cargo Capsule Ushers In a New Era in Comercial Spaceflight
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Saudi Arabia Announces Plan to become "the Kingdom of Sustainable Energy"
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More African Nations Meet Agricultural Investment Targets
