Articles by Jim Algar
Sea Snakes Thought Extinct Found Swimming In Australian Waters
Sea snakes of a species believed to be extinct have been found in ocean waters off Western Australia. The snakes were discovered more than a thousand miles from their only known natural habitat, researchers say.
PTSD In Veterans Can Emerge Years Later If Left Untreated, Study Finds
Post-traumatic stress disorder experienced after return from deployment can recede, but then come back even five years later. Findings suggest that the screening of returning veterans should continue for longer.
Hubble Spots Cosmic 'Star Wars' Lightsaber In Star-Birthing Nebula (Video)
A young star is seen blasting out jets of material, creating an image reminiscent of lightsabers in 'Star Wars.' The Hubble image captures the phenomenon happening inside our Milky Way home galaxy.
Link Found Between Specific Brain Chemical And Autism
Dysfunctional activity involving an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain shows links to autistic behavior, researchers say. The result could be sensory overload resulting in autistic symptoms, they suggest.
Possible Inhabitable 'Super-Earth' Discovered - And It's Not That Far Away (Video)
A planet orbiting a nearby red dwarf star is in the habitable zone, suggesting the possiblity of life, astronomers say. It's the closest such planet to Earth ever found, they note.
Red Deer Cave Fossil Suggests Ancient Human Ancestor May Have Hung Around Longer Than Thought
Partial bone found in China has showed very primitive features but has been dated to just 14,000 years ago, researchers said. Study findings suggested at least one species of human ancestor survived until much more recently than previously believed.
What Makes A Memorable Photo? Computers Can Predict Almost As Well As Humans Can
Artificial intelligence allows computers to look at a photo and predict how memorable people will find it. A 'deep learning' algorithm mimics what the human brain does, researchers say.
Monster Salamander Living In Chinese Cave May Be 200 Years Old (Video)
An example of a 'living fossil,' the world's largest amphibian, has been found in southwestern China. Hunting and habitat destruction has pushed the giant salamander to critically endangered status.
Parrot Species Observed In Rare Behavior Of Making, And Sharing, Tools
Parrot species native to Madagascar can use tools to grind seashells as a way to get their daily calcium intake, researchers find. It's the first time a nonhuman species has been observed using a tool for grinding, they say.
Newly Discovered Dinosaur Species Carried A Mysterious Sail On Its Back, Fossil Shows
The sail on the back of a dino found in Spain could have been a natural 'radiator' helping to maintain the creature's body temperature, scientists speculate. Or, like a camel's hump, it could have been storage for fat during lean times, they say.
Captive Panda Matings Most Successful When Partners Can Choose Each Other, Researchers Find
The notoriously difficult challenge of getting pandas in captivity to mate could be overcome by letting the animals indicate their choice of a partner, researchers suggest. Pandas who select each other are the most successful in producing cubs, they say.
Scientists Trying To Genetically Resurrect Extinct Galapagos Tortoise
Researchers hope to recreate the extinct Galapagos tortoise species, the last example of which died three years ago at age 100. Tortoises with similar genetics from other Galapagos Islands will be bred in an effort to resurrect the extinct species, researchers say.
A Case Of Shingles Can Up Your Risk Of Heart Attack, Stroke, Study Finds
The risk of cardiovascular conditions goes up in the first few months after the appearance of shingles, a study finds. Risks of heart attack and stroke return to normal levels after six months, researchers note.
Arctic Region Warming Faster Than Other Parts Of The Planet, Report Says (Video)
Warming temperatures in the Arctic are having a profound effect on the region and on its wildlife, researchers say. Temperatures are rising there twice as fast as anywhere in the world, they report.
Autism In Children Linked To Mothers' Use Of Antidepressants During Pregnancy
Use of antidepressants by expectant mothers may increase risk of autism spectrum disorders in children, a study suggest. Still, autism remains a rare condition even with the increased risk.
Hubble Eyes Atmospheric Mysteries Of 10 'Hot Jupiter'-Like Planets
Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes help solve mystery of 'missing' water on giant 'hot Jupiter' planets. The water's there, astronomers say, just hidden in the cloudy, hazy atmospheres of the distant exoplanets.
World's Most Sensitive Detector Gets Upgrade As Search For Dark Matter Goes On
Scientists tweak and recalibrate a detector deep within the Earth designed to spot mysterious particles of dark matter. The experimental detector is now 20 times more sensitive to particles known as WIMPS, the leading candidates for invisible dark matter.
Toxic Marine Algae Causing Brain Damage In California Sea Lions
A toxin in algae causes sea lions to become confused, interfering with their search for food, researchers say. The result is stranding of malnourished animals on California beaches.
Timing Counts In Treating Breast Cancer As Delays Can Be Deadly, Researchers Confirm
Delays in either surgery or chemotherapy for breast cancer can reduce survival odds, studies show. A delay in surgery of even 30 days can see survival rates decline by 10 percent; a 90-day delay in follow-up chemo also presents risks, studies show.
Massive Storm Seen Raging Across Surface Of A Distant Star
NASA space telescopes have spotted a dark, swirling storm on a relatively cool, distant star. The storm is similar to the Great Red Spot on Jupiter in our solar system, researchers say.
Cheerleading Said Safest School Sport, But Injuries Can Be Severe When They Happen
As cheerleading become more competitive and athletic, injuries can be more serious, researchers say. However, it is still among the safest of school sporting activities.
Researchers Teach A Computer To Learn Like Humans Do
An algorithm allows a computer to learn about a class of objects after seeing just one example. The technique mimics how the human brain can learn from even limited data, researchers say.
NASA Releases New Photo Of Saturn's Moon Titan In Blue-Green Glory
A composite image of Titan in false colors of infrared wavelengths shows surface features normally hidden beneath a hazy atmosphere. The image offers a new glimpse of the solar system's second-largest moon.
In A Veterinary First, Seven Puppies Conceived Through In Vitro Fertilization Are Born
IFV births in dogs, which has eluded researchers for decades, has been accomplished in Cornell University labs. The technique could prove useful in wildlife conservation, helping save endangered species of wild dogs, wolves and foxes, researchers say.
Plant Growth Not Keeping Up With CO2 Rise, Dimming Hopes Of Climate Change Mitigation
Despite availability of increased carbon dioxide plants need to grow, increases in global plant growth are lower than predicted. That suggests climate models assuming help from plants in lessening climate change need reevaluation, researchers say.
Supercomputer Yields Beautiful Peek Inside A Spinning Star (Video)
Researchers created a visual model of the turbulent swirling within a hot, young and spinning star. The model can help us understand the relationship between stars' ages, spins and their magnetic fields, they say.
Ultrasound Could Be Newest Weapon In The Fight Against Cancer
Researchers say nanobubbles of cancer drugs can be 'popped' directly inside tumors using ultrasound in an effort to combat cancer of the liver. The finding offers the possibility of new treatment for the approximately 35,000 cases of liver cancer diagnosed annually.
Two Groups Now Have Launch Plans To Put First Private Robot On The Moon
U.S. and Israeli firms have both secured launch commitments in their pursuit of a $30 million prize to put a commercial lander on the moon. Other teams in the competition have until the end of 2016 to arrange their own launches.
Amazing Image Shows How Dolphins 'See' A Person Using Echolocation
Researchers use special equipment to turn dolphin sounds into an image of what the marine mammals can detect. The creatures may even be able to share what they 'see' with other dolphins using their language of clicks and squeaks, researchers suggest.
England's Stonehenge First Built In Wales, Moved Later, Study Suggests
Identification of a quarry in Wales where stones were cut suggests they may have first been used to construct the monument there, researchers say. The stones were quarried 500 years before Stonehenge was built, suggesting initial use in Wales before they were moved to England.
