Articles by Jim Algar
Stick to Your Own Meds: Woman Burns from Inside Out After Taking Friend's Antibiotics
An extreme reaction to antibiotic medication has a young California woman fighting for her life in a hospital. The 19-year-old took a medication intended for a friend.
Asteroids Beat Out Comets for Best Theory of Origin of Earth's Water
Water found by spacecraft orbiting comet doesn't match water on Earth, researchers find. That puts asteroids ahead of comets as best theory for how water came to the early Earth 4 billion years ago, they say.
Meet the Most Endangered Marine Mammal
Small porpoise with a "smiling" face could be extinct in 4 years, experts warn. Illegal fishing said threat to the vaquita porpoise in the Gulf of California.
Time Magazine's Person of the Year Honors Ebola Fighters
Time Magazine honors the world's Ebola fighters collectively as its Person of the Year. Magazine says they displayed 'the hero's heart.'
Michigan Cops Pull Drivers Over for Tickets, Give Them Holiday Presents Instead
Police play Santa, give out gifts instead of traffic citations. YouTube video of gift giving by cops goes viral.
This Is Not a Joke: Laughing Gas May Treat Depression
Nitrous oxide, the "laughing gas" often used in dentists' offices, may be a cure for depression, scientists say. Patients inhaling nitrous oxide in research study reported an improvement in their depressive symptoms.
Blood Test Could Detect Breast Cancer
Simple blood test looking at trace metals in the body could lead to early diagnosis of breast cancer, study suggests. Technique could improve outcomes of treatment be catching cancer earlier.
X-Rays Explain How Dinosaur Tracks Were Made
Researchers X-ray guinea fowl walking through poppy seeds to understand dinosaur footprints. Findings can tell paleontologists more about how dinosaurs walked, researchers say.
Mountain-Sized Asteroid Headed for Earth Won't Harm Us: Here's Why
Astronomers say recently discovered asteroid has orbital path that will keep it from threatening Earth. Computer projections show no risk for at leas the next 150 years.
Researchers Find Flaw in Hummingbird's Hover Design
Motion in their field of view throws hovering hummingbirds "off target" when attempting to feed at flowers, study finds. It's a "glitch" in their fine-tuned hovering expertise, researchers say.
Scientists Recreate Spark of Life
Researchers bombard chemicals with lasers to recreate conditions that may have sparked beginning of life on earth. Experiment produced the component building blocks of DNA.
84 Percent of Vegetarians Become Meat Eaters Again: Study
Study finds many vegetarians unable to stick with it, with a third going back to meat within months. Animal rights group calls results of their own study a bad sign for animals.
Rare Conjoined Twins Die at Atlanta Hospital Soon after Birth, Parents Announce in Heartbreaking Video
Conjoined twin boys born in an Atlanta hospital died one day after their birth. Problems with their shared heart could not be overcome, doctors say.
World's Largest Telescope Construction on Track in Atacama Desert in Chile: Hello, Universe!
Telescope intended to turn a giant eye on the universe gets official approval and construction will begin soon. The European Extremely Large Telescope will operate from a mountaintop in the Andes.
Smoking Makes Y Chromosome Disappear in Men, Shortens Life Span and Increases Cancer Risk: Study
Study in Sweden links smoking in men to changes in their chromosomes. Loss of the Y chromosome could have health impacts, researchers say.
Text Messaging Helps People Take Medications: Study
Regular text message can help people on long-term prescriptions for chronic illness in remembering to take their medicines, study finds. Patients receiving the texts called them very beneficial.
Orion Successful Test Flight Critical Step in a Future Deep Space Journey to Mars
NASA calls first flight test of Orion capsule a "textbook" success. After launch and Earth orbits, craft splashed do safely in the Pacific Ocean for recovery.
Obesity May Shorten Your Life by Eight Years
Being overweight can takes years off your life and rob you of healthy living years as well, study finds. Chronic heart disease and diabetes are among the ailments obesity can bring into your life, researchers say.
'Technoference' May be Hurting Your Love Life: Put the Device Away
Smartphones and other high-tech devices are getting in the way of our personal relationships, study finds. The distractions and interruptions are coming between couples, researchers say.
Electric Eel Shock More Powerful than Taser: Here's How the Fish Locates its Prey
Electric eels hunt by electricity, researchers find. The eels send out electric signals that cause muscles of hidden prey to twitch, giving away their location.
Taking Steps to a Better Work Life: Why Walking is Useful in the Workplace
Walking while working, using a treadmill workstation, improved both physical and mental health, study shows. In-office exercise means more job satisfaction, less boredom, researchers say.
Einstein Papers Project Gives World Peep into Genius' Love Life and More
Huge archive of letters, papers and diaries of Albert Einstein goes online. Digital collection will bring Einstein's work to a wider public, researchers say.
Rolling Stone UVA Campus Gang Rape Story Has Holes: Magazines Apologizes for 'Discrepancies'
Rolling Stone backs away from controversial story alleging gang rape at the University of Virginia. Magazine says new information suggests its trust of woman making the allegations was 'misplaced.'
Low Doses of Aspirin May Do More Harm than Good to Women Under 65
Increased risk of bleeding when taking aspirin may outweigh benefits of possible protection against heart attacks for many women, study finds. Use of aspirin as 'primary prevention' is hotly debated in the medical profession.
Conjoined Twins Born in Atlanta Hospital Share Heart, Torso, Arms, Legs
Conjoined twin boys born in Atlanta hospital who share a heart cannot be separated, doctors say. The twins' page has been followed by thousands on a family Facebook page.
2014 To Be Hottest Year on Record, and Not in a Good Way
This year on track to be the hottest since record-keeping began more than a hundred years ago. U.N. weather organization releases report confirming global warming is continuing unabated.
Chromosome Duplication Makes Giants
Researchers zero in on a gene that may cause gigantism, a condition causing abnormal growth in children. Duplication of a part of the X chromosome may be behind it, they say.
1 in 12 Americans Suffer from Depression, So Why Are Only a Third of Them Getting Help?
Many American suffer from depression but few seek professional medical help, study finds. Depression is highest in middle-aged women, researchers say.
World's Fastest 2D Camera Records a Hundred Billion Frames a Second
Incredible frame rate of new high-speed camera will open up new visions in science, researchers say. The device can capture moving light, the fastest thing in the universe.
Giraffe Population Dropped Drastically in Last 15 Years: What's Causing Decline?
Assessment of African giraffe finds numbers dropping due to poaching, habitat loss. Experts call it a "silent extinction."
