Articles by Jim Algar
Ocean Acidification Harming Shellfish, NOAA Puts up $1.4 Million Grant to Fight Threat
Shellfish growers and scientists join forces to combat growing threat to the shellfish industry. NOAA grant will help researchers study the problem of ocean acidification.
Arctic Warming Harms Polar Bears and Fish Migration
Warming in the Arctic happening twice as fast as anywhere in the world, new "report card" indicates. Trend could have worrisome impacts on the regions wildlife, researchers say.
Voyager 1 Rides 'Tsunami' Through Interstellar Space
Voyager 1 spacecraft finds itself in a cosmic shock wave as it moves through interstellar space. Such waves are caused by the sun emits powerful blasts of plasma outward through the solar system and beyond.
Paralyzed Woman Gets Gift of Movement Back with Robotic Arm
Sensors implanted in brain of paralyzed woman gave her exquisite control of robotic arm. Paralyzed from the neck down, she was able to lift and manipulate a variety of everyday objects.
Venus Probe's Mission Will End in Fiery Blaze
Venus Express space probe, "running on fumes," will go out in a ball of fire as it hits the planet's deadly atmosphere. Scientists pleased with the probe's 8 years of scientific exploration around Venus.
Curiosity Detects Mysterious Spike in Mars' Methane Gas
Presence of methane gas on Mars once again suggests an intriguing possibility, that the Red Planet is harboring some kink of life. Mysterious "spike" in methane levels recorded by NASA's Curiosity rover on the planet's surface.
NHL Experiencing Mumps Mayhem
Hockey players falling victim to mumps. National Hockey League working to contain outbreak that has affect more than a dozen players.
Teen Marijuana Use Drops as More States Legalize
Survey finds fewer teens indulging in use of drugs, alcohol or tobacco. Marijuana use drops slightly even as more states legalize the drug for adults.
Olympus BioScapes Competition Shows Beauty is in the Eye of the Microscope
Microscopic images honored as marriages of science and art. Annual BioScapes competition presents 2014 winners.
Horse Genome Paid the Price of Domestication
Mankind altered the horse genome, not always for the better, during the animals' domestication. Study of ancient horse DNA shows the changes humanity wrought.
Tanning Bed Dangers Leading Thousands To ERs Each Year
Customers at tanning salons face risk of injuries that can send them to the hospital, study finds. Skin burns and eye injuries most usual reason for ER visits.
Hundreds Attend Funeral of Jessica Chambers: Who Set the Mississippi Teen on Fire?
Police are asking the community to help in finding out what happened in last hours of life for teenager burned to death. No leads reported in death of 'big-hearted and kind' 19-year-old.
Texas Girl Loses Over 50 Pounds Following Weight Loss Surgery: The Amazing Story of Alexis Shapiro
Young girl whose weight climbed after removal of brain tumor now losing pounds thanks to gastric surgery. Alexis Smith had weighed 200 pounds at age 13.
Men With Poor Semen Production May Be Suffering from Bigger Health Problems: Study
Low semen quality in men may indicate presence of other significant health problems, study finds. Semen production a good indicator of general health, researchers discover.
Bill Nye 'The Science Guy' Claims Creationism is Making Our Children Stupid: Do You Agree?
Bill Nye says creationism in the classroom is creation a generation of children "who can't think." It will limit their future opportunities, he charges.
Low Fat Diet May Let Breast Cancer Patients Live Longer
Study finds women suffering from particular types of breast cancer can improve their survival chances with a low-fat diet. Benefits are greatest with hormone-unrelated forms of breast cancer, researchers say.
Elusive Dark Matter Possibly Detected in X-Ray Signals from Andromeda and Perseus Galaxy Cluster
Strange anomaly in emissions from distant galaxies may be tangible evidence of existence of dark matter, researchers say. Strange photons recorded by X-ray space telescope cannot be coming from any known cosmic sources, they say.
These Were the Runners-Up to the Physics World Breakthroughs of 2014
Science magazine picks the breakthroughs of the year in physics. Comet landing topped the list, but there was plenty of science excitement in the runners-up.
NASA Receives Higher Budget Than Requested Under 'Cromnibus' Bill
As Congress passes spending bill to avoid government shutdown, NASA gets an unexpected bonus. Space agency will have more funds to spend in 2015 than it asked for.
Weird Bone Worms Get Even Weirder with Discovery of Species' Mega Males
Weird "zombie worms" of the deep ocean get even weirder with discovery of new species. Males of the new species have experienced "reverse" evolution, researchers say.
Volcanoes Are Latest Suspect in Dinosaur Extinction
Dating of ancient giant lava flows yields new "suspect" in the hunt for the "dinosaur killing" event, study says. Volcanoes, not an asteroid impact, may have done them in, researchers say.
Rosetta's Snapshot Confirms Comet 67P's True Colors
Spacecraft orbiting distant comet takes first true-color snapshot of the space rock. Trouble is, there's not much color there.
Swarm of Pluto-Sized Objects Swarm Young Star
Astronomers studying "adolescent" version of our own sun say it may be surrounded with Pluto-like dwarf planets. Observations provide insights into how solar systems form, from birth to maturity, researchers say.
Cilia Seem Harmless, But Scientists Say They May Be Source of Many Genetic Diseases
Tiny, hair-like tendrils on most human cells may have a link to some genetic disorders, researchers say. They may be at the root of diseases of the kidneys, eyes, and many others, they say.
Snoring and Lack of Sleep Put Kids at Risk for Obesity: Study
Kids who don't sleep well face an increased risk of obesity by early adolescence, researchers find. Both lack of sleep or disrupted sleep ups the risk, they find.
Pineapple Express Pummels California With Rain, Snow and High Winds
Rain, snow and high winds pound Northern California, bring flooding and power outages. Storm expected to move into Southern California overnight.
Bird Evolution Decoded: Scientists Map Genomes of 48 Species
Scientist combine efforts in giant genome investigation of world's bird species. Findings create most detailed family tree of birds from the time of the dinosaurs to the present, researchers say.
Ebola Vaccine Trial Halted Due to Joint Pains
Swiss trial of possible Ebola vaccine halted after volunteer patients complain of joint pain. Such temporary stoppages are 'usual' in drug trials, researchers say, and the trial should continue shortly.
Geminid Meteor Shower to Light Up Weekend Skies: Where and When to View
Geminids are a meteor shower with a difference; while most such cosmic displays are the results of comets, the Geminids source is an asteroid. Best viewing of this year's shower will be between 10 p.m. and dawn, experts say.
How Did Gamma Ray Bursts Affect Extinction Events in Earth's Past?
Scientists look at gamma-ray bursts as possible culprits in extinction events in Earth's distant past. Such cosmic explosions could damage our atmosphere, flooding the planet with deadly ultraviolet radiation, researchers suggest.
