Articles by Jim Algar
520 million-year-old brain of one of oldest predators found, structures still intact
Well-preserved fossil of ancient marine predator shows link to living descendants, researchers say. Ancient "abnormal shrimp" could be 6 feet long, they say.
Lake in Washington sickens more than 200 people, norovirus suspected
Weekend swimmers at a Washington lake struck with illness. Symptoms include nausea, cramps and diarrhea.
Breathe in, breathe out, get off the couch: stress slows metabolism of high-fat meal, study says
Stress and depression impair body's ability to burn fat, study finds. Mental states could be a factor in obesity, researchers say.
Bizarre, mysterious and enormous crater in Siberia baffles scientists
Huge hole in remote area of Siberia has researchers scrambling for an explanation. 250-foot-wide crater may be result of underground explosion of gas, officials say.
U.S. House of Representatives censures CDC, suspicious of ‘incompetence’ or a ‘cover-up’
U.S. lawmakers say CDC had plenty of advance warning of safety problems. House committee skeptical of center's response to recent accidents.
Sensors placed on Arctic ice sheets to track melting and breakup
International science team to measure and monitor entire season of Arctic ice melt. Sensors put in place in March will make measurements all the way through to September.
Pentagon pits SpaceX against ULA in space launch competition
U.S. Air Force to put 2016 military satellite launch out for competitive bids. Move follows criticism of United Launch Alliance monopoly of sensitive intelligence satellite launches.
Getting the best help: top U.S. hospitals of 2014-15 objectively ranked
Mayo Clinic tops magazine's list of U.S. hospitals. Ranking is based on achievements in 16 medical specialties.
Major study suggests health challenges vary depending on sexual orientation
Some risky health behaviors such as drinking and smoking more prevalent in U.S. gay, bisexual population, study finds. Study is first of gay health issues on a national level.
A primitive menu: ancient North American peoples dined on elephant ancestor
Early Clovis people had big appetites, or at least hunted big prey, archaeologists say. Dig unearths evidence they hunted ancient and now extinct elephant relative known as a gomphothere.
NASA says we can find other Earth, all we need is super giant telescope
Giant space telescope set to launch in 2018 could be the tool to find extraterrestrial life, NASA experts say. Discovery could be "very, very close," they say.
Rate of Alzheimer’s diagnosis falling in the U.S., study shows
Fewer new cases of Alzheimer's, other forms of dementia, seen in developed countries, studies find. Improved overall health and eduction cited as factors.
Data at the atomic scale: breakthrough may lead to next-gen storage devices
Manipulation of individual atoms at room temperature could be a step to nano-scale computer memory. Scientists in Switzerland able to place 20 individual atoms on a surface.
Mississippi girl supposedly cured of HIV, now tested positive for virus
Researchers express disappointment at news of relapse of girl though cured of HIV following her birth. Recent tests show a return of the virus.
CDC seals anthrax and flu labs as probe questions lab safety
After series of accidents involving handling of dangerous pathogens, Centers for Disease Control closes two labs. CDC head says incidents "should never have happened."
How hot will your city be in 2100? Blistering hot, predicts Climate Central report
U.S. cities to see scorching heat by the end of the century. Interactive website lets you see just how hot you'll get.
Pornography or sex addiction have similar effect on brain as drug addiction: Research
Brain scans of people with compulsive sexual behaviors show similarities to those of drug addicts. Brain reward centers show similar activity in both behaviors, a study finds.
Orbital Sciences Corp Cygnus spacecraft to attempt launch on Sunday
Severe weather has delayed launch of commercial robotic supply craft to the International Space Station. Orb-2 mission will get another chance at a launch on Sunday if weather improves.
Celestial 'string of pearls' joins two elliptical, merging galaxies
Beautiful blue "beads on a string" created by two colliding galaxies spotted by the Hubble telescope. Rarely seen phenomenon excites astronomers.
Russian space trash blazes through Australian sky, gives beautiful show
Not a meteor nor an asteroid, but piece of Russian rocket creates cosmic light show over Australia. Twitter and YouTube awash in reports, video of dramatic fireball.
Evidence of HIV seen in girl thought to be cured of the virus
Mississippi girl considered cured of HIV with drugs following birth shows signs virus has returned, doctors say. Failed "cure" seen as setback in search for AIDS cure.
Seven dwarf galaxies found thanks to 'homemade' robotic telescope
Telescope modeled after those used at sporting events spots seven new dwarf galaxies. Find could yield clues to galaxy formation, dark matter, astronomers say.
Chimpanzee intelligence strongly depends on genetics. Sound familiar?
Study of genes' role in chimpanzee intelligence shows that smarts are inheritable. Findings strongly support nature over nurture, researchers say.
Researchers watch 'molecular-movie' of water-splitting process in photosynthesis
Researchers use powerful laser to watch photosynthesis in action. Work could be a step on the way to engineering artificial photosynthesis, they say.
Can't take the heat? Future summers will only get worse, climate scientists say
U.S. cities will be as hot as some of the hottest places in the world today by 2100, climate group says. Boston will feel like Miami, and most U.S. cities will see similar rises in temperature.
Mental illness may leave you jobless -- 80 percent of mentally ill people are unemployed
Report finds job prospects for the mentally ill are dismal and dropping. Advocacy group calls for commitment to support employment help.
Letrozole may help infertile women become pregnant: Breast cancer drug fights polycystic ovary syndrome
Breast cancer drug used as infertility treatment improves ovulation, conception leading to successful birth, study indicates. Drug hailed as affordable infertility treatment option.
Back pain is NOT linked to weather conditions. No, it's not.
Despite widespread beliefs, study finds no link between weather and low back pain. Australian study said first to rigorously use precise weather data.
Massive school of anchovies swimming off California coast baffles boffins
Giant shoal of anchovies in California waters puzzle marine scientists. Size of school, estimated as high as hundreds of millions of fish, bigger than anything seen for decades, they say.
Clue toward evolutionary origin of sexes found in algae
Development of the sexes may not have been as complex as once thought, study finds. Change in single gene may have helped create distinct male, female sexes, research on algae shows.
