Articles by Jim Algar
Miracle Rescue Of Toddler Caught on Police Body Camera
Just under two minutes, the footage shows the rescue of "Baby Lily" from the river car crash that killed her mother and left the toddler in critical condition.
Humans Adapted To Rainforest Life Earlier Than We Thought
Fossil evidence from Sri Lanka shows early humans conquered the many challenges of living in rainforests as long ago as 20,000 years, scientists say. That's some 12,000 years earlier than previously believed, they say.
China's Yutu Rover Reveals Our Moon's Hidden Layers
Lunar rover peering deep below the lunar surface finds evidence of an explosive past, scientists say. Chinese "Jade Rabbit" rover finds "layer cake" effect of alternating lava and soil, they note.
23andMe To Use Data From Genetic Testing For Drug Discovery
Genetic-testing startup wants to leverage its vast database of genetic information to enter drug research arena. Company officials say they can "push the limits" in pharmaceutical research.
Antarctic Octopus Survives The Cold With Blue Blood
Pigment that gives its blood a blue tinge helps an Antarctic octopus survive in near-freezing waters, scientists find. Ability to control oxygen supply may also help it deal with warming from climate change, they say.
We've Discovered An Impressive Amount Of Marine Species, But Still Many More Waiting To Be Found
Scientist pull together massive database of the world's known marine species. List now includes more than 220,000 species, but many more await discovery, they say.
The Life Of A Queen: Worker Bees And Queen Bees Have Vastly Different Microbiomes
Researchers look at queen bees, vital to the functioning and health of any bee colony. Study finds their internal gut microbial community is completely different to that of worker bees.
Green Light Given For Powdered Alcohol
A controversial product gets approval from federal agency, but states can still ban it, agency says. 'Powderized' alcohol is meant to be mixed with water to create 'instant' cocktails.
How The Brain Makes Daily Judgments And Decisions
Researchers learn how our brains make first important decisions on incoming visual stimuli. Neurons and feedback help us put them into categories important to our survival, they say.
NASA Tests Giant Rocket Booster In Desert, But What Is It For?
NASA has tested giant rocket as part of a controversial project it says could send humans to Mars. Critics say the technology is outdated and that NASA's reduced budget isn't up to the challenges.
Tylenol Maker Admits To Selling Drugs Contaminated With Metals
Johnson & Johnson subsidiary will pay $25 million to settle a suit over children's medications contaminated in faulty manufacturing. Infants' Tylenol and Children's Motrin were both subjects of recall in 2010.
Research Makes Stronger Glass With Thermal Reversibility
Scientists identify a way to make glass that will be more durable, maintain its strength longer. Findings can also be applied to concrete used in structures, they say.
Venus Bares All: Radar Reveals Planet's True Surface
Earth-bound astronomers use radar instruments to peer beneath the obscuring cloud atmosphere, gaining a look at the surface of Venus. Radar image reveals volcanoes, craters and mountain ranges.
The Timid Cockroach: Researchers Find The Insects Have Personalities
Cockroaches may not seem warm and fuzzy, but they do exhibit individual personalities, researchers find. Some are shy, others more adventurous, and it all likely adds to their evolutionary success, scientists say.
Chameleons Use Crystals To Change Color
Chameleons can change their color without resorting to skin pigments, researchers find. Instead, they alter their color by controlling the wavelengths of light their skin reflects.
Burger King Drops Sodas From Kids' Menu
With the announcement that fast food's Big Three -- McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King -- are all offering healthier options for drinks in the kids' meal menus, advocacy groups say the move is long overdue in the face of rising U.S. childhood obesity.
Don't Want Your Kid To Become A Narcissist? Here's What Not To Do
Parents who overvalue their children, telling them they're special or superior, may be putting their kids on the road to narcissism, researchers say. More realistic warmth and affection leads to kids with good self-esteem, they suggest.
A Meatless Diet Of Veggies And Fish Can Reduce Risk Of Colorectal Cancer
Compared to nonvegetarians, people on any form of vegetarian diet face lower cancer risk, study finds. Benefit is seen in vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians and pescovegetarians, researchers say.
What A 'Brain In A Jar' Tells Us About The Biology Of Jet Lag
Scientist use light to cause "jet lag" in fruit fly brains. Study is the first to identify how light cues can "reset" the body clock through an organism's neural network, they say.
Video Shows NASA's Earth-Observing Satellites Orbiting Our Planet And Watching Over Us
NASA releases mesmerizing video of its Earth-observing satellites in their orbital dances around our planet. Animation shows 12 hours of the satellites' orbits 400 miles above our heads.
Dance Opera Film To Show The Artful 'Symmetry' Of The Large Hadron Collider
Film combines dance, music, digital art to ask existential questions about our desire to understand the universe -- and our place within it. Film was partly shot within CERN's giant particle accelerator.
Dogs Can Be Trained To Sniff Out Thyroid Cancer, And Frankie Is The Proof
Dog can detect the presence of thyroid cancer with a simple sniff of a person's urine sample, researchers say. Specially trained dog almost matched the accuracy of the best available diagnostic test using a needle biopsy, they say.
Zombie Apocalypse? Head For The Hills!
Researchers apply computer modeling to zombie outbreaks to determine their spread and where safety lies. Although strictly hypothetical and "for fun," the study has provided researchers insights into modeling spread of actual virus diseases, they say.
Psychedelic Drugs Don't Affect Mental Health: Study
Drugs like LSD or "magic" mushrooms don't lead to development of mental health problems, researchers suggest. Alcohol and other controlled substances present greater risk, they say.
DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals: 25 Teams Will Compete For $3.5 Million Cash Prizes
Robots will face tests of their ability to provide assistance following natural or man-made disasters. Teams from around the world will bring their robots to California in June.
Antidepressant Medication May Help Lower Stroke, Coronary Artery Disease Risks
Antidepressant therapy may be keeping those with serious depression from risks in cardiovascular health. Improved mood may bring improved heart health behaviors such as exercise, researchers suggest.
Tough New Paint Is Self-Cleaning And Waterproof
Nanocoating using common sunscreen ingredient created tough, durable and waterproof surfaces. Titanium dioxide particles create paint that sheds liquids from many kinds of surfaces.
170-Year-Old Beer: Researchers Analyze Shipwrecked Drink To Discover Flavor
Samples have been obtained from bottles of beer laying in a shipwreck beneath the Baltic Sea since the 1840s. Although still chemically recognizable as beer, it isn't going to win any brewing awards, researchers admit.
Baby Praying Mantises Are Incredibly Precise Ballerinas
Praying mantises put spin to good use in making split-second jumps to a target, researchers find. Spin helps rather than hinders the accuracy of their leaps, high-speed video confirms.
Post-Menopausal Killer Whales Run The Family
Female orcas, which can live to be 90, act as "wise women" to help their families survive, researchers find. Long post-menopausal lifespan brings advantage of accumulated wisdom and experience.
