Articles by Jim Algar
FDA approves oxycodone painkiller designed to prevent drug abuse
New formulation of controversial pain killer oxycodone has added ingredient meant to reduce abuse of drug. If crushed and snorted or injected, euphoric effect is muted.
Is Antarctica really getting icier? Maybe, maybe not
Data errors may mean increase in Antarctic sea ice isn't really happening, study finds. Changes in algorithm used to estimate ice cover may have introduced errors, researchers say.
CDC lab director resigns after anthrax controversy
Head of CDC bioterror lab resigns in wake of safety, security breaches at agency. In wake of anthrax accident he had been reassigned, CDC says.
American Red Cross in dire need of blood, donations drop significantly
Fourth of July saw fewer blood donations than expected, Red Cross warns of shortages. Agency has appealed for donors of all blood types.
Blue whale feeding areas conflict with shipping lanes, study raises concerns
Risk of ship strikes on blue whales could be reduced with changes to U.S. West Coast shipping lanes, researchers say. Study of tagged whales has identified feeding areas that put the animals at risk from ships.
Study shows dogs can get green with envy
Study suggests dogs can get jealous, perhaps when social bonds are threatened. Researchers say findings contradicts assumption jealousy is a strictly human response.
Airplanes followed a pattern of biological evolution, physics study says
Evolution of bigger, more efficient aircraft mimics that of development of living creatures that fly, study finds. Finding suggests some aircraft, like supersonic Concorde, strayed down evolutionary "dead ends".
Elephants have 2000 genes coding for smell, more than any other mammal
Elephants, with their long trunks, are found to have the most discerning noses in the animal kingdom. Dogs have more sensitive noses, but elephants can distinguish among thousands of odors, besting our canine friends.
Tracking the cell: Scientists reconstruct animal development
Scientists team up microscopes and computers to track cells in a developing embryo. Technique yields a 3D view of how each cell grows and changes, they say.
Bats navigate using polarized light, first known mammals to do so
Bats can used polarized light at sunset to calibrate their internal compass for nighttime flight, study finds. Exact technique remains unknown, researchers admit.
Deadly MERS virus might be airborne
Finding of deadly MERS virus in infected barn suggests disease might spread through the air. If true, disease might spread to humans more easily, researchers say.
80 new genes discovered to play role in schizophrenia
Genetics study provide more evidence of biological origins of schizophrenia. Finding could improve detection, treatment.
Anti-cancer drug can expose hidden HIV in the body
HIV hibernating in human cells can be "flushed out" into the open by an anti-cancer drug, study shows. Finding could open new avenue for eventual HIV cure.
Miss Idaho Sierra Sandison wins adulation of Type 1 diabetes community after flaunting insulin pump in bikini
Winner of Miss Idaho pageant proudly displays her insulin pump, clearly visible in contest's swimsuit competition. She's proud to promote awareness of the disease, she says.
Ohio teenager death prompts FDA to issue warning about deadly risks of powdered caffeine
Caffeine powder used as an energy booster or a weight loss aid can be fatal, experts say. FDA is investigating after death of Ohio high school wrestler.
AIDS research dealt major blow as top experts killed in MH17 attack
Prominent figures in AIDS research among victims in downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. Six were on their way to AIDS conference in Melbourne.
Deadly eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts: How to protect yourself
Mosquitoes infected with dangerous horse disease that can be contracted by people found in Massachusetts. Residents urged to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Mars rover Curiosity finds 'Lebanon' on Red Planet aka huge iron meteorite
An iron meteorite nearly 7-feet long discovered on Martian surface by NASA rover. The iron-rich space rock has been dubbed "Lebanon" by scientists.
Georgia cop Raleigh Callaway family turns to social media for kidney donor
Family hopes Facebook can help find kidney donor for ailing father. Georgia police officer Raleigh Callaway said in Stage 5 kidney failure.
Mosquito-borne chikungunya virus declared epidemic in Puerto Rico, 2 cases in the States
First cases of mosquito-borne disease hitting the Caribbean region hard are confirmed in the U.S. One patient thought to have been infected here, not during travel abroad.
Do the Danish hold the key to happiness? Perhaps, says study, in their genome
Study links genetics and levels of human happiness. Finding could reveal why Danes regularly top list of world happiest people, researchers say.
Study shows fish oil may reduce risk of brain damage in alcoholics
Fish oil might lessen inflammation, cell death in brain alcohol abusers. Experiments with rats finds Omega-3 oils reduce impact of alcohol on brain cells.
U.S. teens sexually active, but not proactive: Many skipping HIV tests, CDC reports
U.S. teens and young adults account for most new cases of HIV, but they're not getting tested, report says. Most unaware they are infected, researchers find.
Conservationists rejoice: Bald eagles make a comeback on California’s Channel Islands
Nesting pair of bald eagles spotted on island off California is an encouraging sign, conservationists say. Sighting confirms the birds are returning to their historic range.
Eastern U.S. faces high risk of earthquakes
New earthquake hazard map shows U.S. Midwest and East Coast at higher risk of earthquakes than previously believed. Seismic hazard map given first update since 2008.
Does Europa harbor an ocean? NASA asks for ideas on how to study Jupiter’s moon
Space agency seeks proposal for instruments to study Jupiter's moon Europa. Main focus will be liquid water ocean believed to exist under moon's icy surface.
Bread wheat is less simple than you’d think; scientists finally about to unlock complex genome
Effort to determine genome of bread wheat is on the home stretch, researchers say. Knowledge could bring better, hardier varieties of the globally-important grain.
Creating ‘biological pacemakers’ from the heart, a gene therapy breakthrough
"Biological" pacemaker could replace electronic version in humans, researchers say. Gene therapy can create alternate "timekeeper" for the heart, they report.
Zap! Scientists crush diamond with laser to study planetary diamond cores
Scientists use laser to create immense pressures to see what happens to matter inside stars, planets. A diamond was subjected to pressures like those inside Saturn.
Scientists use ‘metal-detector’ instruments to trace activity of magma under Mount Rainier
Network of sensors yield underground 'X-ray' of volcanic plumbing under Washington's Mount Rainier. Study tracks magma from deep origins toward volcano's peak.
