Earth News, Earth Sciences, Energy and Environment. 10-FEB-10 en-us Chicago IL (SPX) Feb 09, 2010 - New research suggests that animals living at high latitudes grow better than their counterparts closer to the equator because higher-latitude vegetation is more nutritious. The study, published in the February issue of The American Naturalist, presents a novel explanation for Bergmann's Rule, the observation that animals tend to be bigger at higher latitudes.]]> Evanston IL (SPX) Feb 09, 2010 - Northwestern University researchers are the first to design a bioactive nanomaterial that promotes the growth of new cartilage in vivo and without the use of expensive growth factors. Minimally invasive, the therapy activates the bone marrow stem cells and produces natural cartilage. No conventional therapy can do this.]]> Pasadena CA (JPL) Feb 08, 2010 - There has been lots of talk lately about Antarctica and whether or not the continent's giant ice sheet is melting. One new paper1, which states there has been less surface melting recently than in past years, has been cited as "proof" that there's no global warming. Other evidence that the amount of sea ice around Antarctica seems to be increasing slightly2-4 is being used in the same way. But both of these data points are misleading.]]> Barcelona, Spain (SPX) Feb 09, 2010 - A consortium of European researchers, coordinated by the Computer Vision Centre (CVC) of Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), has developed HERMES, a cognitive computational system consisting of video cameras and software able to recognise and predict human behaviour, as well as describe it in natural language.]]> West Lafayette IN (SPX) Feb 08, 2010 - Understanding local human cultures is key to preserving gorillas, elephants and other wildlife in African parks and reserves, according to new research from Purdue University.]]> Southampton UK (SPX) Feb 09, 2010 - A study of animals visible to the naked eye and living in and on the seabed - the 'macrobenthos' - of the Straits of Magellan and Drake Passage will help scientists understand the biodiversity, biogeography and ecology of the Magellanic region.]]> San Francisco, CA (SPX) Feb 09, 2010 - A new study identifies earthquakes through July 2007 that have produced 100 of the strongest peak accelerations (PGA) and 100 of the strongest peak velocities (PGV) ever recorded. The threshold for the first list is acceleration of the ground exceeding 7.31 m/s2 (74% of gravity), while the threshold for the second is velocity exceeding 0.65 m/s. Crustal earthquakes dominate the lists.]]> Washington DC (SPX) Feb 09, 2010 - The loss of wetlands in the prairie pothole region of central North America due to a warmer and drier climate will negatively affect millions of waterfowl that depend on the region for food, shelter and raising young, according to research published this week in the journal BioScience.]]> Birmingham UK (SPX) Feb 09, 2010 - Scientists funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Wellcome Trust at the University of Birmingham have carried out "laboratory gunfights" to show that we move faster when we react to something in our environment than we do when we initiate the action ourselves - an idea inspired by cowboy movies but in reality more useful for avoiding oncoming traffic. The research is published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.]]> Southampton UK (SPX) Feb 08, 2010 - The notion that scientists understand how changes in Earth's orbit affect climate well enough for estimating long-term natural climate trends that underlie any anthropogenic climate change is challenged by findings published this week.]]> Buenos Aires (UPI) Feb 9, 2009 - Amid deepening economic woes, Argentine consumers have been told they can look forward to more stable electricity supplies from the country's third nuclear power generation plant before the end of this year.]]> New Delhi (AFP) Feb 9, 2010 - British resource giant Vedanta should not be allowed to mine in an Indian forest held sacred by tribal people until it gets their "informed consent", Amnesty International said Tuesday.]]> Canberra, Australia (UPI) Feb 8, 2009 - Australian mining company Resourcehouse announced Saturday it reached a record $60 billion coal supply agreement with Chinese power stations.]]>