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| January 13, 2014 |
 Fossil pigments reveal the colors of ancient sea monsters Lund, Sweden (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - Unique finds of original pigment in fossilised skin from three multi-million-year old marine reptiles attract considerable attention from the scientific community. The pigment reveals that these animals were, at least partially, dark-coloured in life, which is likely to have contributed to more efficient thermoregulation, as well as providing means for camouflage and UV protection. Researchers a ... more |  |
 Emperor Penguins breeding on ice shelves London, UK (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - A new study of four Antarctic emperor penguin colonies suggest that unexpected breeding behaviour may be a sign that the birds are adapting to environmental change. Analysis of satellite observations reveals that penguin colonies moved from their traditional breeding grounds during years when the thin layer of ice (sea ice) formed later than usual to the much thicker floating ice shelves t ... more |  |
 Geography has impact on grapevine moth's success in French vineyards Heidelberg, Germany (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - 'Location, location, location' is an adage also true for the European grapevine moth, it seems. Research led by Fanny Vogelweith of the Universite de Bourgogne and INRA Bordeaux-Aquitaine in France has shown that these pests are better adapted and more successful in certain French wine-growing regions than in others, because of the variety of grape on which they occur and the abundance of their ... more |  |
 Loss of large carnivores poses global conservation problem Corvallis OR (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - In ecosystems around the world, the decline of large predators such as lions, dingoes, wolves, otters, and bears is changing the face of landscapes from the tropics to the Arctic - but an analysis of 31 carnivore species published today in the journal Science shows for the first time how threats such as habitat loss, persecution by humans and loss of prey combine to create global hotspots of car ... more |  |
 Funding Problems Threaten US Disaster Preparedness Washington DC (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York City prompted large increases in government funding to help communities respond and recover after man-made and natural disasters. But, this funding has fallen considerably since the economic crisis in 2008. Furthermore, disaster funding distribution is deeply inefficient: huge cash infusions are disbursed right after a disaster, only to fall abruptly ... more |  |
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 Iconic Australasian trees found as fossils in South America Philadelphia PA (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - Today in Australia they call it Kauri, in Asia they call it Dammar, and in South America it does not exist at all unless planted there; but 52 million years ago the giant coniferous evergreen tree known to botanists as Agathis thrived in the Patagonian region of Argentina, according to an international team of paleobotanists, who have found numerous fossilized remains there. "These spectac ... more |  |
 Europe to suffer from more severe and persistent droughts Brussels, Belgium (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - As Europe is battered by storms, new research reminds us of the other side of the coin. By the end of this century, droughts in Europe are expected to be more frequent and intense due to climate change and increased water use. These results, by researchers from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the University of Kassel in Germany, are published today in Hydrology and Eart ... more |  |
 On-demand vaccines possible with engineered nanoparticles Seattle WA (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - Vaccines combat diseases and protect populations from outbreaks, but the life-saving technology leaves room for improvement. Vaccines usually are made en masse in centralized locations far removed from where they will be used. They are expensive to ship and keep refrigerated and they tend to have short shelf lives. University of Washington engineers hope a new type of vaccine they have sho ... more |  |
Ancient Cambodian city's intensive land use led to extensive environmental impacts London, UK (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - Soil erosion and vegetation change indicate approximately 400 years of intensive land use around the city of Mahendraparvata in the Phnom Kulen region beginning in the mid 9th century, with marked change in water management practices from the 12th century, according to results published January 8, 2014, in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Dan Penny from the University of Sydney and colleagues ... more |  |
EU policy is driving up demand for pollination faster than honeybee numbers Reading, UK (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - Research conducted by the University of Reading's Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, and funded by the EU FP7 project STEP and the Insect Pollinators Initiative Crops project, indicates that demand for pollination services has risen five times as fast as the number of colonies across Europe. The study, led by Professor Simon Potts, compared the number of available honeybee colonies in ... more |  |
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 Two million years ago, human relative 'Nutcracker Man' lived on tiger nuts Oxford, UK (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - An Oxford University study has concluded that our ancient ancestors who lived in East Africa between 2.4 million-1.4 million years ago survived mainly on a diet of tiger nuts. Tiger nuts are edible grass bulbs still eaten in parts of the world today. The study published in the journal, PLOS ONE, also suggests that these early hominins may have sought additional nourishment from fruits and invert ... more |  |
Microbe community changes may reduce Amazon's ability to lock up carbon dioxide Arlington TX (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - UT Arlington researchers focusing on the Amazon recently found that widespread conversion from rainforest to pastureland has significant effects on microorganism communities that may lead to a reduction in the region's role as a reservoir for greenhouse gas. The Amazon rainforest is the largest terrestrial reservoir or "sink" for carbon dioxide, a gas that has been linked to climate change ... more |  |
Paper predicts a future without carnivores would be truly scary New York NY (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - A fascinating paper released today from a team of leading scientists, including Dr. Joel Berger of the Wildlife Conservation Society and University of Montana, reports on the current status of large carnivores and the ecological roles they play in regulating ecosystems worldwide, and finds that a world without these species is certainly scarier than a world with them. From sea otters that ... more |  |
Climate changes the distribution of plants and animals Basel, Switzerland (SPX) Jan 13, 2014 - Swiss plants, butterflies and birds have moved 8 to 42 meters uphill between 2003 and 2010, as scientists from the University of Basel write in the online journal "Plos One". Climate warming is changing the distribution of plants and animals worldwide. Recently it was shown that in the past two decades, European bird and butterfly communities have moved on average 37 and 114 kilometers to ... more |  |
 Tonga cleans up after devastating cyclone Nuku'Alofa, Tonga (AFP) Jan 13, 2014 - Residents in cyclone-devastated areas of Tonga launched a massive clean-up on Monday, as officials said it was "a miracle" only one person died when the monster storm hit. Cyclone Ian, the most powerful hurricane ever to hit the tiny South Pacific kingdom, battered the central Ha'apai islands group over the weekend, unleashing winds in excess of 105 knots (200 kilometres per hour). Tonga ... more |  |
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 Thai army increases security but denies coup rumors Bangkok (UPI) Jan 13, 2013 - Thai army units have taken up positions around Bangkok ahead of Monday's planned anti-government rally and after the weekend's shooting of seven people. Shots were fired early Saturday morning at people around a site where the massive protest rally is scheduled to be held, the Bangkok Post reported. Police said they are searching for the unidentified attackers who fired guns into ... more |  |
 Sperm whale body stuns, draws crowd in Uruguay Montevideo (AFP) Jan 12, 2014 - Authorities in Uruguay on Sunday recovered the body of a 16-meter sperm whale, normally at home in deep waters, after it beached near the capital. Using a crane, the authorities moved the animal from the shallow waters onto the beach off Carrasco, an upscale town just next to Montevideo. "The body will remain on the beach until Monday," said navy spokesman Gaston Jaunsolo. Traffic ... more |  |
US 'superweeds' epidemic shines spotlight on GMOs New York (AFP) Jan 13, 2014 - The United States is facing an epidemic of herbicide-resistant "superweeds" that some activists and researchers are blaming on GMOs, an accusation rejected by industry giants. According to a recent study, the situation is such that American farmers are "heading for a crisis." Many scientists blame overuse of herbicides, prompted by seeds genetically modified to resist them. "In part ... more |  |
More than 25,000 flee Indonesian volcano Jakarta (AFP) Jan 12, 2014 - More than 25,000 people have fled their homes following a series of eruptions and lava flows from a volcano in Indonesia, an official said Sunday. Mount Sinabung on the western island of Sumatra sent hot rocks and ash up to 5,000 metres (16,000 feet) in the air "several times" on Saturday, National Disaster Mitigation Agency emergency response director Tri Budiarto told AFP. "So far, 25, ... more |  |
 300 houses destroyed in 'Shangri-La' Tibet village: report Beijing (AFP) Jan 12, 2014 - A huge blaze that ripped through the centre of an ancient Tibetan town in the popular Chinese tourist area of Shangri-La has destroyed almost 300 buildings, state-media said Sunday. The fire in Gyalthang - which is situated in an area believed to be the inspiration for James Hilton's mythical Shangri-La - flattened two thirds of the town's old centre, the Beijing Morning Post reported. ... more |  |
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