World's forests were wiped out in global catastrophe 250 mln yrs agoOctober 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have determined that tiny organisms that covered the planet more than 250 million years ago, appear to be a species of ancient fungus which were able to thrive in dead wood during this period because the world's forests had been wiped out. Scientists from Imperial College London and other universities in the UK, USA and The Netherlands, conducted the research.
One ant species has given up sex completelyAugust 26th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Texas and Brazilian researchers have confirmed the complete asexuality of a widespread fungus-gardening ant-called Mycocepurus smithii- the only ant species in the world known to have dispensed with males entirely. Most social insects-the wasps, ants and bees-are relatively used to daily life without males with their colonies being run by swarms of sterile sisters lorded over by an egg-laying queen.
Fungal parasite grows by causing ants to die in the right spotAugust 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Harvard University researchers found that a fungal parasite causes ants into dying in just the right spot-one that is ideal for the fungus to grow and reproduce. Led by David P.
Fungal parasite turns ants into zombiesAugust 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A fungal parasite coerces ants into dying in just the right spot -- one that is ideal for the fungus to grow and reproduce, a new study has found. The study, led by David P.
Dwindling oil supplies may herald catastrophic energy crunchAugust 3rd, 2009 LONDON - A leading energy economist has warned that the world is heading for a catastrophic energy crunch that could cripple a global economic recovery because most of the major oil fields in the world have passed their peak production. Higher oil prices brought on by a rapid increase in demand and a stagnation, or even decline, in supply could blow any recovery off course, Dr Fatih Birol, the chief economist at the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, told The Independent.
Deadly plant plague threatens wheat production in Afghanistan, India and PakistanJuly 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists are racing to arm Afghanistan against a deadly, airborne wheat rust disease that threatens wheat production and food security in this war-torn nation and the region that stretches east across neighboring Pakistan and into India. Known as "Ug99", this deadly new virulent race of wheat stem rust has thus far been found in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan, and has more recently spread into Asia, to Yemen and now Iran.
Shrimp catalyst may churn out cheaper, greener biofuelJuly 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A catalyst made out of shrimp shells may churn out faster, cheaper and greener biodiesel, according to a new study. Xinsheng Zheng and colleagues, who led the study in China, described the development of a new catalyst produced from shrimp shells.
Now, 'shrimp cocktail' to power cars and trucksJuly 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Shrimp is no longer just a sophisticated appetiser, it has re-invented itself to become a component of bio-fuel. Yes, you heard it right.
From pythons to fungus to zebra mussels, invasive species threaten people, native wildlifeJuly 8th, 2009 From pythons to fungus, species invading USWASHINGTON — A pet Burmese python broke out of a glass cage last week and killed a 2-year-old girl in her Florida bedroom. The tragedy became the latest and most graphic example of a problem that has plagued the state for more than a decade: a nonnative species that is wreaking havoc in the Everglades, threatening people, the environment and native wildlife.
Global warming may increase dispersal of flora in Northern forestsJune 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new research has indicated that an increase in temperature of only a couple of degrees may increase the dispersal of plants in Northern forests and the spread of plant species into forest clearings after felling or forest fires. The research, in the impact of global warming on seed and pollen dispersal, was led by University of Helsinki researcher Anna Kuparinen.
Introducing new hybrid of American chestnuts may mitigate climate changeJune 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study by researchers at the Purdue University, US, has shown that that introducing a new hybrid of the American chestnut tree would not only bring back the all-but-extinct species, but also put a dent in the amount of carbon in the Earth's atmosphere. Douglass Jacobs, an associate professor of forestry and natural resources, found that American chestnuts grow much faster and larger than other hardwood species, allowing them to sequester more carbon than other trees over the same period.
Ethanol production could jeopardize soil productivityJune 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists have suggested that using crop residues as a low cost and readily available source for ethanol production, may mean jeopardizing the long-term productivity of prairie soils. Crop residues are viewed as a low cost and readily available source of material since more than 50 percent of crop production is residues.
Swine flu threatens prospects of global economic recoveryApril 28th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The outbreak and spread of swine flu has come at a time when the global economy is trying to come out of the worst downturn since World War II and has threatened chances of an early recovery, especially in the US. In recent weeks, economic data suggested a bottoming-out of the global financial crisis, but economists Monday were forced to consider worst-case scenarios in which the recession could become two or three times as painful, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Tiny aquatic plant can clean up hog farms and be used for ethanol productionApril 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that a tiny aquatic plant can be used to clean up animal waste at industrial hog farms and be used for ethanol production, thus contributing to solve the global energy crisis. Their research shows that growing duckweed on hog wastewater can produce five to six times more starch per acre than corn, according to researcher Dr.
OPEC not to further cut oil output: Iranian ministerMarch 2nd, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran's Oil Minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari said Sunday the member countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Producing Countries (OPEC) are not expected to announce further cut in their crude production during their upcoming meeting, the official IRNA news agency reported. 'I do not think that we would move towards cutting production again and we should define a mechanism to repair prices,' Nozari said.
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