Articles by Jim Algar
NASA Explains 'Funky' Light Signal Coming From Colliding Black Holes
An odd light signal leads astronomers to a pair of black holes tied together in a gravitational dance. They're heading toward a collision and explosion with the energy of 100 million supernovae, researchers say.
Scientists Urge Ban On Ocean-Polluting Plastic Beads Common In Personal Care Products
Tiny plastic microbeads that give personal care products their scrubbing, cleansing action are ending up in oceans and threatening wildlife, researchers say. They are urging a total ban on the use of the tiny plastic particles.
Long Daytime Naps Linked To Higher Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
Feeling sleepy during the day or taking long daytime naps could be warning signals of type 2 diabetes, researchers say. A review of previous studies has found a 56 percent higher risk in people who are very sleepy during the day.
NASA Pushes First Test Of Orion Space Capsule Back 2 Years, Now Aims for 2023
After a review of the program, the space agency says meeting the August 2021 goal is unlikely. The first crewed test of Orion is now set for no later than April 2023.
New Flu Shot Should Be More Effective Than Last Year's Hit-And-Miss Version, CDC Says
This year's flu shot should be a better match for strains of influenza expected to be circulating in the U.S., the CDC says. American are being urged to take advantage of that and get vaccinated.
Air Pollution Kills 3 Million Every Year, Figure Could Double In Coming Years, Study Finds
The 3.3 million deaths from air pollution around the world every year could reach more than six million by 2050, researchers say. Three-quarters of the deaths occur in Asia, they report.
FDA Orders Halt Of Sales Of Four New Cigarette Brands Out Of Health Concerns
The FDA orders R.J. Reynolds to stop sales of four brands, calling them 'mislabeled and adulterated.' Retailers will be given 30 days to remove them from store shelves, the FDA says.
Space Station Crewmembers Hit Halfway Milestone Of Year-Long Stay In Space
An American astronaut and Russian cosmonaut finish six months, with six more to go, in an extended mission aboard the ISS. The long-term mission will help scientists understand the impacts of long spaceflights, like a journey to Mars, on the human body.
More Time Spent Outside Could Improve Eyesight Of Children, Researchers Find
Myopia, or nearsightedness, can be reduced by adding outdoor activities to kids' school schedules, a study suggests. Myopia is approaching epidemic levels in Asian school kids, researchers say.
DARPA Puts Robotic Legs On Helicopter That Let It Land On Uneven Terrain (Video)
Robotic legs fitted to helicopters would let them land like an insect on difficult terrain, researchers say. Movable, articulated legs can increase take-off, landing options for the versatile craft, they suggest.
Looking For The World's Longest Chain Of Continental Volcanoes? Head Down Under
A hotspot beneath Earth's mantle created a chain of volcanoes as the continent of Australia moved across it over millions of years. The result is a 1,200-mile chain of volanoes -- the longest anywhere on the planet.
Strong El Niño Could Bring Another 'Big Freeze' Winter To The UK
The United Kingdom could be in for a long, cold winter as meteorologists predict the strongest El Niño since 1950. The country could be in for a 'Big Freeze' winter that could bring travel chaos, they say.
Distant Galaxy Spitting Out Stars At An Incredible Rate Astounds Astronomers
A galaxy at the core of a distant galactic cluster is cannibalizing gas from other neighbors to create a star-making frenzy. This behavior is unusual for such central galaxies.
Home Use Of Pesticides Linked To Increased Risk Of Childhood Cancer
An analysis of health studies suggests a link between home pesticides and childhood cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma. Scientific evidence of the dangers of pesticides are mounting, experts say.
Marijuana Users Face Risk Of High Blood Sugar Later In Life, Study Suggests
A new study has found a link between marijuana use and prediabetes. The condition, characterized by poor blood sugar control, can lead to type 2 diabetes.
California Drought Making The State The Driest It's Been In 500 Years
A double whammy of sparse rainfall and high temperatures leaves mountain snowpack at its lowest level in centuries. Melt from Sierra Nevada snow is vital to the state's water supply.
Poor Diet, High Blood Pressure Now World's Leading Causes Of Premature Death
Deaths from high blood pressure increased 50 percent in the past 25 years, researchers say. It's joined by poor diet as a leading cause of premature death.
Alaskan Archaeological Find Tells Story Of Shipwreck Survivors 200 Years Ago
Items unearthed at an Alaskan site tell a story of survival in harsh conditions. Crewmembers of the sunken Russian ship Neva used material scrounged from the wreckage to survive for a month awaiting resue.
Heart Rate In Teen Boys May Foreshadow Violent Adult Behavior
Teens and adolescents with low resting heart rates may be more prone to violent behavior in adulthood, a study suggests. The risk of violence is 39 percent higher in those with the lowest heart rate, researchers say.
Fossil Find Reveals Oldest Known Sea Turtle, A 6-Foot-Long Giant
A fossil found in South America pushes back the age of the oldest-known sea turtle. The six-foot creature lived 120 million years ago.
Sleep Problems - Too Little Or Too Much - May Increase Risk Of Heart Disease
Conditions that may be early signs of heart disease show up in people with sleep problems, a study finds. Both too few hours asleep or too many increase the risks, researchers say.
Want To Slow Aging Of Your Muscles? Eat Apples And Tomatoes
Compounds found in apples and green tomatoes can hold back the loss of muscle mass and strength as we get older, researchers suggest. Tests using older mice showed improvements in just two months.
New Close-Up Images Of Pluto Have Astronomers Swooning Over Incredible Detail
Pluto images from New Horizons spacecraft are providing a treasure trove of detail, NASA scientists say. They reveal the dwarf planet has a surface every bit as complex as that of Mars, they say.
Mysterious Bright Spots On Dwarf Planet Ceres Coming Into Focus: What Are They?
NASA's Dawn spacecraft snaps the best image yet of bright spots on Ceres. Scientists say they hope to have the answer of what the spots are soon.
Sperm Whales In Different Social Groups 'Talk' In Different Dialects
The discovery of click-talk 'dialects' in whale clans is evidence of animal culture, researchers suggest. Once thought a strictly human quality, a culture may exist in the animal kingdom as well, they say.
A Third Of Diabetics In The US Go Undiagnosed, Analysis Of Figures Shows
Half of American have diabetes or are at risk of it, an analysis of data shows. Many, especially minorities, go undiagnosed, researchers find.
Toxic Mercury Reaching California Coast Coming From Unexpected Source - Sea Lions
Mercury in fur being shed by sea lions and seals is raising the levels of the toxic element in coastal waters, researchers find. As apex predators in the marine food chain, marine mammals can be a major source of mercury, they explain.
Vaping By Teens Seen As Gateway Path To Cigarette Smoking
Many young users of e-cigarettes show a tendency to move on to traditional tobacco cigarettes, a study indicates. The finding comes as the FDA makes moves to regulate the e-cigarette industry.
Early Humans' Descent From The Trees Marked In Changes To Shoulders
Researchers look to the evolutionary development in the shoulder in an effort to identify the earliest common ancestor of apes and humans. Changes track our journey down from the trees and our earliest efforts at tool-making, they suggest.
Mild Brain Zap May Help Treat Seasickness Or Motion Sickness In Future (Video)
A small electrical current applied to the scalp could 'train' our brain to dampen down motion sickness, researchers say. The technology could some day be built into a smartphone, they suggest.
