Articles by Jim Algar
The end of the ‘typical’ American family
The "typical" American family of the 1950s is gone, replaced by a diversity of new arrangements. "Different is the new normal," a sociologist says.
Mammalian ancestors were nocturnal long before the origin of true mammals
Fossil evidence of the eye structure of ancient ancestors of mammals showed many preferred a nighttime existence. Finding contradicts previous belief of nocturnal behavior only evolving with modern mammals.
What is our place in the universe? Scientists map our galactic supercluster
Our cosmic neighborhood gets a name, Laniakea, Hawaiian for "immense heaven." Astronomers use galactic motions to create 3D map of our place in the cosmos.
Low carb beats low fat diet for weight loss, better heart health: Here's why
In year-long study, low carbs trump low fat as best, healthiest way to lose weight. Key to any diet is committing to stick with it, researchers acknowledge.
The endangerment of languages: Will economic progress render them extinct?
Economic growth threatens minority languages, study finds. Dominant languages often drive speakers of minority language to abandon them.
Chirp! Invasive camel crickets make home in basements of eastern U.S.
An Asian cricket is taking up residence in homes in the U.S. East, researchers find. The cannibalistic species - camel cricket - has become more numerous than native U.S. crickets, they say.
Gecko sex-in-space experiment ends in death, not new life
Geckos sent into space to study effect of zero gravity on their mating habits died from equipment malfunction, Russian officials suspect. One male and four females did not survive 44 days in space, they say.
Daily fruit intake helps cut risk of heart disease
Risk of heart attacks, heart failure and stroke can all be reduced with a daily serving of fruit, study finds. Lowering of blood pressure also seen, researchers say.
Gibraltar cave engravings may hold clue to how Neanderthals lived, thought
Engravings found in cave inhabited by Neanderthals may show they had capability of abstract thought involved in creating art, researchers suggest. Finding is controversial and has reignited debate of Neanderthal culture.
Bardarbunga volcano burps and burps, putting Iceland on alert
Lava fountains at Iceland volcano briefly puts aviation alert at red, the highest level. Level then reduced as amounts of ash produced said not a danger.
Future of quantum computing lights up with single laser method
Quantum computers come a step closer with laser control of state of a single molecule. Control of a molecule's quantum state achieved at room temperature, researchers say.
Human brain can be trained to prefer healthy food over junk food: Study
Brain's reward center can be reprogrammed to up enjoyment of healthy foods, researchers say. We can train ourselves to avoid "toxic" junk food, they say.
Can math and computers help catch ocean polluters? Yes, says UNSW researcher
Where is the trash in the floating garbage patches of the world's oceans coming from? Computer models are revealing some surprising answers, researchers say.
Kraft recalls 7,691 cases of single slice American cheese over premature spoilage/food-borne illness concerns
Improper storage of ingredient in Kraft American cheese slices prompts company to order voluntary recall. Kraft said it has received no reports of illnesses.
Trans fat labels on products can be misleading, warns CDC
Foods labeled "0 gram" of trans fat can still contain amounts of the cholesterol-increasing ingredient, study finds. FDA loophole allows foods with 0.5 grams per serving to list as "0 grams."
Help! There are mites living on your face and they poop too!
Tiny arachnids are living and eating on human faces, researchers say. Yes, that means on yours too! Face mites, tiny creatures living on the skin of our faces, are not rare, research suggests; in fact, they're absolutely ubiquitous.
Paleo-Eskimos, and not Inuit, were the first settlers in Arctic, DNA study reveals
First migration of people into Arctic regions of North American left no genetic traces in modern Inuit, study finds. First "Paleo-Eskimo" culture died out 700 years ago.
Genetic changes transformed wild rabbits into tame bunnies, DNA study reveals
A few subtle shifts in the genome of wild rabbits created today's beloved pet rabbits, researchers find. Genetic variations helped turn skittish animals into contented lap-sitters.
Shocker! Huge nest of 5,000 wasps found in British bedroom
Unused bedroom of British home where window was left open attracts thousand of wasps. Over 3 months, the insects built a giant 3-foot nest on a bed.
PNG rocked by volcanic eruption, dividing world's attention between Iceland and the Pacific
Erupting volcano in Papua New Guinea causes evacuations, shifting of airline flight paths. On the other side of the world, scientists continue to monitor Iceland volcano for signs of further eruption.
Yellowstone super-eruption: Would you be safe? Not if you live anywhere in North America
Computer models show a supervolcano in Yellowstone could cover the entire U.S. with ash. Eruption would "create its own winds" and spread ash from coast to coast, researchers say.
E-cigarettes emit harmful secondhand smoke full of toxic metals
While secondhand smoke from e-cigarettes is safer than that of traditional cigarettes by some measures, they emit worrisome levels of toxic metals, a study finds. Toxic chromium and nickel found in the smoke of the e-devices.
Our sun's power is stable and steadfast, scientists find
Experiment sees energy of the sun being created. Detector deep under an Italian mountain sees neutrinos created deep in the sun in a fusion furnace.
U.S. Southwest: Beware the looming 35-year ‘megadrought’
Computer models suggest U.S. region could face worst drought seen in centuries. Researchers put the chance of a decades-long drought at 80 percent.
Dead star torn apart in thermonuclear supernova
Scientists see "dead" white dwarf star come back to life in massive supernova explosion. Detection of rare event in another galaxy proves theory of such explosions.
Your own personal germ cloud: How your microbes follow you around
Every person has his own unique cloud of bacteria that follows him everywhere, study finds. Each is so unique they could serve the same identification purpose as fingerprints.
Phone call re-analyzed, raises hopes of finding Malaysia Airlines flight 370
New analysis of attempts by ground staff to contact missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 suggests possible modification of main search area. Satellite "handshake" suggests aircraft turned south earlier than thought, investigators say.
Unwanted species invades the Great Lakes
Anglers dumping unused bait fish into the Great Lakes may be spreading invasive species, study find. DNA of invasive species like Asian carp found in water samples taken from bait tanks, researchers say.
Asteroids smash around new star, NASA may be witnessing rocky planet’s birth
Sudden increase of dust around distant star put down to cosmic collision. Result may be the formation of new planets, astronomers say.
What do we have in common with worms and flies? Our genomes
Genetic studies of fruit flies and roundworms could yield insights into human disease, researchers say. Despite being dissimilar species, there are similarities in genomes, they say.
