Articles by Jim Algar
Fat Fish Yield Genetic Insights Into Human Obesity
'Binge eating' blind cavefish in Mexico share a genetic mutation with people whose insatiable appetite pushes them to obesity, researchers find. The finding could help scientists understand more about human obesity.
Air Travel And Climate Change May Be Linked In 'Feedback' Loop
Longer flight times caused by changes to the jet stream could keep airliners aloft longer, resulting in more exhaust emissions of CO2 per flight, researchers suggest. Air travel and climate could could get locked in a 'feedback' loop, they say.
Molecular 'Linchpin' For Spread Of Cancer Identified
Targeting a protein molecule that drives metastasizing cancer could yield new treatment, researchers say. Protein drives movement of cancer cells around the body, they discover.
Not Everyone Ages At The Same Rate, And the Difference Can Be Dramatic, Study Finds
'Biological age' doesn't always stay in sync with chronological age, a study finds. Some people age three times faster than others, researchers say.
Climate Change Is Putting The Squeeze On Bumblebees: Will They Become Extinct?
Scientists are worried by the loss of bumblebee habitats caused by global warming. There is concern the important pollinators may be headed for disaster.
FDA Extends Deadline For Chain Restaurants, Other Retail Establishments To Put Up Calorie Count In Menus
The FDA will to give restaurants, grocery stores and other food-related business an additional year to prepare for calorie information rules. New requirements will go into effect in December 2016.
Exotic System Of 'Quintuplet' Stars All Orbiting Each Other Discovered
Astronomers detect a rare multiple star system in which five suns are gravitationally bound together. Multiple systems are not that rare, but one with so many stars is an unusual find, they say.
Some Antidepressant Treatments May Increase Risk Of Birth Defects, CDC Study Reveals
An increase in rare birth defects have been seen in some babies whose mothers took certain antidepressants during pregnancy, although the risk still remained low, a study finds. No links were found between birth defects and Zoloft, by far the most commonly used antidepressant, researchers say.
Expect Climate Change To Influence Shocking Rise In Sea Level: At Least 20 Feet
Scientists say periods in the Earth's past when it was as warm as it's become today led to significant sea level rises. The melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets were the biggest drivers of the increases, they say.
Borneo Bats And Pitcher Plants Share Strange Relationship, And Acoustic Reflectors Are The Key
Carnivorous plants have evolved a way to 'call' bats in a relationship that benefits them both, researchers find. The bats get a handy place to roost; the plants get fertilized courtesy of bat droppings.
Astronomers Teach A Computer To 'See' And Identify Galaxies In Telescope Images
Artificial intelligence lets a computer recognize galaxies in images that would need hundreds of human eyes on them, researchers say. An algorithm can 'intuitively' pick out types of galaxies, they say.
Gene Therapy Cures Deaf Mice, Offers Hope Of Treatment For Congenital Deafness In Children
Mice that had defective genes replaces with working copies showed evidence of a restored ability to sense sound, researchers say. The finding could help with human congenital deafness, they suggest.
Dinosaur With Bizarre 'Halo' Of Horns Discovered
An early ancestor of triceratops sported a unique frill or bone 'halo' on its head, as well as a large nose horn, paleontologists say. Fossils give insights into the evolution of horned dinosaurs.
CAC Scan Of Heart May Help Predict Early Death Risk
A simple CT scan to detect calcium in the heart's arteries can help doctors tell how long you may live, a study finds. The test could be part of a regular physical exam, researchers suggest.
FDA Approves Novartis Heart Drug Entresto
New drug could help half of the six million people in the U.S. diagnosed with heart failure, experts say. Drug received FDA approval under the agency expedited review process.
NASA Releases Time-Lapse Video Of Mars Rover Opportunity's Journey: 11 Years In Just 8 Minutes
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory releases video of Martian 'marathon' starring NASA's Opportunity rover. The short video covers 11 years of movement across the Red Planet.
Coral Bleaching Is Bad For Reef And Marine Ecosystem: What You Should Know
Warm ocean waters threaten many of the world's coral reefs, scientists say. That includes some in U.S. waters in Hawaii and Florida, they report.
Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Halve Heart Failure Risk Among Seniors
Moderate exercise and healthy habits can significantly reduce risks of heart failure as we get older, a study suggests. Simple lifestyle changes can have big results, researchers say.
Mammogram Overrated? Regular Breast Cancer Screening May Cause 'Widespread Overdiagnosis,' Study Warns
Increased mammogram screening leads to smaller, possibly non-cancerous tumors being diagnosed, study finds. However, it doesn't lead to a reduction in breast cancer death rates, researchers say.
NuSTAR Spies 'Biggest And Baddest' Black Holes Hiding Behind Gas And Dust
Finding of previously hidden supermassive black holes suggests millions more may exist but are cloaked and invisible, astronomers say. NASA space telescope has managed to bring some of them out of hiding.
Cats Resort To Chemical Weapon Against Mice: Urine
Cats use chemical warfare to turn mice into easy victims as prey. Mice who grow up smelling cat urine don't run away when they encounter it as adults, researchers find.
MegaBots And Suidobashi's Giant Robots Will Face Off In Robot Duel Challenge
The U.S. challenge of a Transformers-like giant robot duel has been accepted by the Japanese. American and Japanese robots will go hand-to-hand until one is left standing, their makers say.
Sunburn Art Is The Latest Trend But Doctors Aren't Happy
A new trend of creating skin art with intentional sunburns poses the danger of skin cancer, dermatologists warn. 'Sunburn art' is becoming a social media trend.
Traders' Hormones May Destabilize Financial Markets, Study Reveals
Fueled by pressure and competition and experiencing elevated hormone levels, market traders are often pushed into risky decisions, a study finds. The feeling of being on a 'winning streak' can push them even further, with risks of financial crashes, researchers suggest.
Colorado Has Successfully Lowered Teenage Pregnancies Rate: Here's How It Did It
Colorado credits a program that provides free contraceptives for the decline in the teen birth rate. The program also resulted in a reduction of teen abortions as well, state health officials say.
New Horizons Develops Glitch As It Nears Pluto: Here's What Happened
Spacecraft approaching the dwarf planet goes briefly silent as autopilot shuts down main communications computer.
Washington Woman Dies From Measles: First Case In The US In More Than A Decade
A measles death in Washington is the first such death confirmed in the U.S. since 2003, officials say. The woman was likely exposed during a recent outbreak in the state, they say.
Mother Slams Jim Carrey For Slamming California's Strict Vaccination Law (And It's Not What You Think)
An Oregon mother says Jim Carrey's Twitter rant against California's vaccination law used a picture of her autistic son without permission. Her son's autism has no link to vaccinations, she says.
The Nose Knows: This Test Can Identify Children With Autism
Sniff response to odors both pleasant and unpleasant may indicate autism in children, researchers say. The finding suggests a possible nonverbal test for children, even toddlers, they say.
New Horizons Spots Mysterious Spots On Pluto: What Are They Really?
A string of similarly-sized dark patches evenly spaced along Pluto's equator has scientists scratching their heads. Nothing like it has been seen before, they say.
