Articles by Jim Algar
GMO Rice Produces Higher Yields, Less Greenhouse Gases
An alteration of a single gene produces a strain of rice that yields more grain but creates less methane, researchers say. The finding could bring more sustainable rice production to help feed the world, they say.
Sudden Heat Spikes As Part Of Climate Change Did In Ancient Mammoths
Heat, not cold, caused the disappearance of many large species of animals during the last ice age, researchers say. Global warming similar to what is under way today contributed to animals like mammoths and giant sloths going extinct, they report.
New Alzheimer's Drugs Show Promise For Treatment In Early Stages Of The Disease, Experts Say
Drug companies report on a new class of Alzheimer's drugs that may slow cognitive decline in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's. The drugs can work on the proteins that cause plaque buildup in the brain, researchers say.
Discovery Shows Origins Of Agriculture Twice As Old As Previously Thought
Archaeological finds on the shores of the Sea of Galilee suggest humans were engaged in agriculture 23,000 years ago. That's nearly twice as early as had been previously been believed, researchers say.
Sea Level Rises Would Leave World's Coastal Cities 'Dysfunctional,' Expert Warns
New projections put sea level rise higher than previous estimates, researchers say. As global warming melts the world's ice, coastal cities could be at risk, they say.
Study In Dolphins Could Lead To Clues To Prevent Diabetes
Analysis of dolphin diets suggests at least one saturated fat is good, not bad, when it come to diabetes. The findings could have applications in treating metabolic syndrome, also known as prediabetes, in humans, researchers say.
Scientists Identify Taste Of Fat, Say It's Distinct From Other Tastes Humans Can Detect
There's more to fat than texture and mouth feel; it has a taste of its own, researchers say. The finding could help provide a better understanding of how fat in food is linked to obesity, they suggest.
Computers That Can Recognize Sketches Faster Than Humans
A computer's 'deep neural network' shows a very human-like ability to look at a sketch and say what it is, its developers say. Oh, and by the way, it does it better and faster than you can.
Lack Of Knowledge About Animal Diseases Puts Humanity At Risk, Researchers Say
More research should be devoted to diseases that can move from wildlife to livestock to humans, researchers say. Diseases such as Ebola, HIV, SARS and MERS all began as viruses in animals, they point out.
DNA Suggests Single Migration Wave From Siberia Populated Ancient Americas
Genomic analysis of ancient and modern peoples in the Americas suggests one founding migration wave, study says. Other reseachers argue for additional migrations based on DNA findings in South America.
NASA Releases New Take On Famous 'Blue Marble' Space Photo Of Earth
Satellite a million miles away captures a new, dramatic image of the entire Earth floating in space. NASA satellite will snap a selfie of Earth every day, the space agency says.
Comet Mission Scientists Worried As Philae Lander Has Been Silent
The lander placed on the surface of Comet 67P by the Rosetta spacecraft has been silent for days, controllers say. There are concerns it may have been moved by activity on the comet's surface.
Many Chronic Pain Sufferers Seek Alternative Therapies, But Don't Tell Their Doctors
When conventional care doesn't offer relief, many pain sufferers turn to other treatment options, a study finds. Many do so without consulting with or informing their primary physicians, researchers find.
What People Read About Food Can Predict A Country's Future Level Of Obesity, Study Finds
The kinds of foods mentioned in newspapers - healthy versus unhealthy - can predict future obesity, researchers find. Trending mentions of sweet snacks vs. healthy fruits and vegetables make newspapers 'crystal balls' about obesity, they say.
Dead Galaxies In Distant Cluster May Be Packed With Dark Matter
Galaxies falling into a giant galactic cluster may have escaped being shredded by gravity by the dark matter they contained, scientists say. Although dead for 7 billion years in terms of producing stars, they remain intact.
Astronomers Find Cannibal Star Making A Meal Of Its Cosmic Companion
Rare binary star system features a white dwarf actively consuming its much larger companion star, astronomers say. The result could be a supernova explosion, they say.
It's Official: 2014 Was Hottest Year On Record As Warming Trend Continues
Temperatures on land and at sea made 2014 the hottest year since weather record-keeping began, a report says. Atmospheric greenhouse gases also reached record levels, researchers say.
Chances Of Obese People Getting Back To Normal Weight? 'Slim,' Says Study
Once a person becomes obese, the odds of their recovering a normal body weight are long, researchers say. Strategies to prevent weight gain in the first place would be more effective than diet and exercise after the fact, they suggest.
Mammal Evolution 'Exploded' During Jurassic Era
Mostly unnoticed by dinosaurs, mammals were evolving at breakneck speed during the Age of Reptiles, researchers say. The Jurassic saw mammals experimenting with body plans and tooth varieties, fossils show.
Not Sleeping Enough? It Might Make You Mistake An Enemy For A Friend
Sleep deprivation makes it difficult to discern facial expressions and tell friend from foe, researchers find. The finding could have consequences for some sleep-starved groups, they warn.
Birth Order Has No Meaningful Effect On IQ Or Personality, Massive Study Finds
Any differences in intelligence or personality due to birth order are statistically insignificant, researchers find. Birth order has no practical effect on a person's life in terms of IQ or personal traits, they say.
Where There's Smoke There's Fire ... And Possibly A Heart Attack
Smoke from wildfires drifting into cities causes increased cardiac problems, researchers find. Pollution from smoke can cause health problems in cities far from the site of the fire, they say.
Multiple Wonders In First Close-Up Photos Of Pluto And Its Moons (Video)
The first images of Pluto and its moons show icy mountains, signs of geological activity and no craters. Some of Pluto's surface is the youngest ever seen in the solar system, scientists say.
Wireless Data Successfully Transmitted Over Active TV Channels
Wireless data transmission could make use of the little-used over-the-air UHF TV channels, researchers say. The technology could improve Wi-Fi options in urban areas.
Turns Out Black Leopards Have Spots; Scientists Have Figured Out How To See Them
A camera trick has black leopards showing their spots, researchers say. The technique could help conservationists in their efforts to save the endangered species.
Wider Use Of Cholesterol-Lowering Statin Drugs Could Save More Lives, Studies Show
Expanded use of statins under new guidelines would save lives, and be cost-effective health care, studies say. Some 26 percent of Americans now take statin drugs.
Mars Rover Finds Rocks Suggesting Red Planet Had Continental Crust
A geologic find by the Curiosity rover suggests Mars in its distant past may have been much more like the Earth, researchers say. Early Mars may have had tectonic plates that formed continents, they suggest.
Chimpanzees May Possess Hands More Evolved Than The Human Hand
Human hands may have changed little from those of ancient ancestors while chimps' hands have continued to evolve, researchers say. The finding contradicts belief that human hands evolved as we began to create stone tools.
Climate Change Could Up Death Rate In Seniors, Study Says
Extreme heat with climate change could put the health of U.S. seniors at risk, Harvard researchers say. The study looks at the long-term impact of climate on health.
You Can Enjoy That Cup Of Coffee: No Link To Lifestyle Diseases, Researchers Say
Genes that make us crave coffee don't impact the risk of diseases like obesity or Type 2 diabetes, researchers say. Coffee neither 'causes nor protects against' such diseases, they say.
