Articles by Jim Algar
When It Comes To Continental Drift, India Has Been A Speed Demon, Study Finds
India got a geologic 'boost' that sped it toward a collision with Eurasia, MIT researchers suggest. The speed of the resulting impact created the Himalayas, the highest mountain range on Earth.
Young People Think Cyberbullying More Likely To Happen To Someone Else
Young people understand the risks of cyberbullying but don't think it's likely to affect them personally, a study suggests. Many young people convince themselves other groups are more at risk, researchers find.
Exoplanet 'Too Big' For Its Star Mystifies Scientists
A giant exoplanet orbiting very close to a very small host star doesn't match current theories of planet formation, astronomers say. The mysterious planet is orbiting a small dwarf star 500 light years from Earth.
High School Scientists Discover A Pulsar In Widest Orbit Yet Seen
High school students help identify the signal of a rare cosmic phenomenon, a double neutron star system. Less than 10 percent of neutron stars have an orbital companion, and a system in which both are neutron stars is even more rare, astronomers say.
Underwater Volcano Off US West Coast Still Spewing Lava As Scientists Monitor Activity
Researchers in Oregon and Washington, using a network of seismometers and sensors, gather real-time data on an undersea volcano's eruption. The underwater observatory has 'wired' the seafloor volcano.
Want To Live Longer? Add 2 MInutes Of Walking To Every Hour Of Your Life.
Known dangers of a sedentary lifestyle can be alleviated with as little as 2 minutes of walking in each hour of sitting, study suggests. Even such light activity can "confer a survival benefit," researchers say.
Climate Change Could Push 1 In 6 Species To Brink Of Extinction
Loss in biodiversity could accelerate if global warming isn't checked, researchers say. World leaders are currently preparing for an important climate summit in December.
Deadly Nepal Quake Lifted Some Regions, While Mount Everest Is Now Shorter Than It Was
Radar satellite measurements yield precise data on ground movement during the catastrophic Nepal earthquake. Large areas were lifted vertically, while other areas saw a slight lowering.
Astronomers Say Cosmic Graveyard Of Dead 'Zombie' Stars May Exist In Center Of Milky Way Galaxy
Mysterious X-rays coming from the middle of the Milky Way galaxy, near the massive black hole that lives in its center, are a cosmic puzzle, astronomers say. Pulsars, white dwarfs, or even 'zombie' stars have been put forward as possible sources of the mysterious radiation.
Asteroid 'Double Whammy' May Have Triggered Massive Volcanic Eruptions, Ended Dinosaurs' Reign On Earth
An asteroid impact 66 million years ago probably 'rang' the Earth 'like a bell,' setting off catastrophic volcanic activity, researchers suggest. Gigantic lava flows and clouds of gas may have been the last nail in the coffin for dinosaurs.
Survey Finds Many Patients Unaware Of Risks From Medical Scans They Undergo
Many patients are ignorant of the radiation risks inherent in certain types of medical scan tests, a survey finds. Patients should be made more aware of such risks, medical professionals say.
Evidence Of Possible Ice Cap Seen In Latest Photos Of Pluto Taken By Approaching Space Probe
As it prepares to fly by Pluto, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft has snapped the best photos of Pluto ever taken. The probe will reach its destination on July 14.
Health Officials Declare Rubella Completely Eradicated In The Americas
A successful mass vaccination program has been given credit for eradication of rubella in the Americas. Also known as German measles, the disease can be disastrous for unborn children if the mother is infected.
A Job That Challenges You Mentally Could Help Prevent Dementia
A job that keeps you intellectually on your toes could have long-term benefits. A recent study found that people with more mentally demanding careers are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's or dementia as they age.
Tiny 'Bat-Dinosaur' May Have Been 'A Failed Experiment In Flight'
The fossil of a minuscule dinosaur provides evidence of what could have been bat-like wings. These membranes may have allowed 'Yi qi' to glide or even make short, flapping flights.
Divers Film Sunken World War II Japanese 'Megasubmarine' In Hawaiian Waters (Video)
A giant Japanese submarine that carried aircraft meant to bomb the U.S. has been photographed off Pearl Harbor. Captured at the end of World War II, the sub was deliberately sunk to hide its secrets from the Soviet Union.
Bullying Seen As More Serious Cause Of Mental Health Problems Than Child Abuse
Children who are bullied face an even higher risk of ongoing mental health problems than victims of other forms of abuse, researchers suggest. Society's different attitudes toward bullying and child abuse are part of the problem, they say.
Better Hunting Weapons Of Early Humans Didn't Cause Demise Of Neanderthals, Study Finds
The tools and techniques of Neanderthals were just as good as those brought to Europe by early humans, researchers suggest. Clues for the demise of our Neanderthal cousins must be sought elsewhere, they say.
Habitat Range Of Burmese Pythons In Florida Is 'All About Food And Sex'
Researchers have conducted the most extensive tracking study of Burmese pythons to date. Knowledge of their habitats and range may help control the spread of the invasive species.
Spacecraft Snaps Dramatic Images Of Mercury Before A Smashing End
Just days before crashing into Mercury, the Messenger spacecraft has snapped 'psychedelic' photos of the planet. The space probe has been studying the planet since entering its orbit in 2011.
Switching To Rural African-Style Diet May Reduce Risk Of Colon Cancer
African and African-American volunteers swapped diets for two weeks and saw changes in their level of colon cancer risk.
Senate Bill Would Give FDA More Regulatory Power Over Personal Care Products
Sponsors of the measure say new powers of oversight and regulation are needed to ensure product safety. Existing federal protections are outdated and inadequate, they say.
Suffer From Lower Back Pain? Your Vertebrae May Be More Like A Chimpanzee's
In evolving to walk upright on two legs, human vertebrae have changed shape, in some people more so than in others. Some people whose vertebrae are similar in shape to chimpanzee's are more susceptible to back pain, researchers suggest.
Discovery Of 'Reset' Button For Body Clocks Could Help Us Deal With Jet Lag
Researchers discover how light/dark cycles trigger brain proteins to regulate our body clocks. These findings could lead to treatments for conditions linked to body clock disruption.
Being A Couch Potato For Just An Hour A Day Puts Chidren At Risk Of Obesity: Study
Children as young as kindergarten age can become overweight by spending a hour a day watching television, a study finds. The research is the latest to find a positive link between television viewing and obesity.
Dino Fossil Is So Odd It's Dubbed 'The Platypus Of Dinosaurs'
A dinosaur fossil found in Chile was cousin to some of the most fearsome prehistoric meat eaters, but it was a vegetarian, paleontologists say. The fossil displays a mixed bag of anatomical features, they report.
Reading To Young Children Strengthens Language-Processing Areas Of The Brain
Scientists used MRI scans to study the effect that reading to young children has on the brain. They observed activity in brain areas involved in both reading and verbal skills.
Giant Agave Plant Preparing To Bloom After 50 Years - Because It's About To Die
A giant agave specimen is prepared to blosson in its final act of its life. The plant has been growing in a university greenhouse in Missouri for at least 50 years.
Nearby Solar System Looking Less Likely To Host Alien Life
The Tau Ceti solar system, a longtime favorite of science fiction writers, probably doesn't harbor alien life after all. Despite similarities to our own solar system, researchers say the existence of life on its planets is unlikely.
Cosmic Tsunamis May Raise Old, Lifeless Galaxies From The Dead
Colliding clusters of galaxies may generate a 'Lazarus' effect on dead galaxies within them, leading to a brief but intense bout of new star formations. Astronomers have observed this in a merging cluster 2.3 billion light years away.
