Articles by Jim Algar
Adorable and ancient: fossil of tiniest hedgehog found in Canada
Tiniest hedgehog ever lived in a warmer Canada 52 million years ago, paleontologists say. Creature no bigger than a human thumb scientifically dubbed "tiny forest dweller".
Study implicates pesticides in insectivorous bird decline
Chemicals used to combat crop pests may be behind drop in populations of insect-eating bird species, study suggests. Pesticides leaching into soil, water may represent threat to other species as well, researchers say.
Mysterious process behind origins of stardust solved
Observation of supernova reveals cosmic dust "factory" at work, astronomers say. Mystery of the origins of interstellar dust has long puzzled, they say.
Forgotten vials of smallpox, dating back to ‘50s, found at NIH lab
Unaccounted-for vials of smallpox virus found at FDA-operated lab at the National Institutes of Health. CDC says testing confirmed presence of smallpox DNA.
Chimpanzees love to follow new trends, such as sticking grass in ear
Chimpanzees show a desire to be "dedicated followers of fashion," researcher says. Habit of placing grass stem in ear, begun by one chimp, has been taken up by the group.
Aerobic and resistance exercise combo may help diabetics control blood glucose levels
Use of both aerobic and resistance exercise regimes found most effected in controlling type 2 diabetes, study finds. Lifestyles should include both if possible, researchers say.
Ancient human skull, about 100,000 years old, features Neanderthal-like inner ear
Structure in skull of early human may be evidence of interbreeding with Neanderthals, finding suggests. Structure of inner ear resembles that previously thought unique to Neanderthals.
Biggest ever bird had over a 20-foot wingspan, lived 55 million years ago
Fossil finds confirms largest bird ever to fly in Earth's skies, researchers say. From 55 million years ago, the 24-foot wings of the creatures would have been seen over every continent on the globe.
Bees give a shout when they hit upon fine nectar
Bee species seeks to defend food source by loudly declaring 'don't mess with us.' Easily detectable signals meant to discourage competitors.
Amazon wasn't always so lush and green, it was downright barren at one point
Much of today's Amazon rainforest was once much drier and devoid of trees, researchers say. Region would have been more like African savannah until 2,000 years ago, they say.
Mercury's violent childhood one reason for planet's iron richness
Cosmic collisions reason why Mercury is a 'freak' among solar system's rocky planets, scientists say. Planet has more iron than it should, they explain.
Antarctic winds patterns due to climate change are boosting sea levels
Shifting winds with climate change could increase melting rate of Antarctic ice, driving up sea levels around the world. Rises of up to 10 feet possible, researchers say.
Most people prefer electric shocks than being left alone with their thoughts
Being alone and quiet too much for most people in a study, researchers found. Most said they would rather resort to giving themselves an electric shock just for the experience.
'Biological sunscreen' helps mantis shrimp see world in UV light
Marine shrimp with one of the most complex eyes in nature uses UV 'filters' to see. Mantis shrimp can see in frequencies far beyond those of human vision, an may be able to signal in secret in the very short UV range.
Saturn moon Titan may be hiding a very salty underground ocean
Buried ocean on Saturn's moon Titan is likely a "dead sea" and unlikely to be habitable by alien life, scientists say. Ocean under the icy surface is probably as salty as any here in Earth, they say.
Headbangers at heavy metal concerts risk brain bleed
Headbanging by a fan at a Motorhead concert left him with a blood clot on the brain, doctors say. He recovered, but only after needing surgery, they add.
NASA, Boeing collaborating on $2.8B Space Launch System rocket
NASA finalizes contract with Boeing for first stage of Space Launch System. First test flight of gargantuan booster set for 2017.
Ultrasound helps astronomers determine age of stars by listening to their heartbeats
Astronomers using ultrasound to listen to the 'heartbeat' of young stars. Technique allows determining the age, lifestyle of a star, they say.
Who says plants can't hear? They hear those hungry caterpillars coming, say scientists
Plants can 'hear' caterpillars coming and react by bolstering defenses, study finds. Vibrations of munching predators serves as alarm.
Bone house wasps craft their home with bodies of dead ants
Wasp species uses macabre building material -- the bodies of dead ants -- to protect the eggs in its nests. Behavior is seen nowhere else in nature, researchers say.
Tibetan 'super athlete' gene courtesy of an extinct human species
Genes from a long-extinct human lineage may have given modern humans in Tibet their adaptation to high altitudes. Gene is also sometimes called 'super athlete' gene.
Red Kangaroo tail is not just for wagging, but for helping kangaroos walk
Kangaroos' tails are essentially used as fifth legs, helping them efficiently move forward as they graze, a study finds. Kangaroos are the only animals to use their tails in this way, researchers say.
Saturn's moon Titan boasts ocean as salty as the Dead Sea
Ocean under the icy shell of Saturn's moon Titan is likely a salty "dead sea" unlikely to support life, researchers say. Oh, and it's slowly freezing solid.
Muscle power is the machine behind 'Bio-Bot' robots (VIDEO)
Researchers combine living cells with 3D printed skeleton to create bio-bot that can be moved and controlled. Tiny bio-bots could have medical and other uses, they say.
Parrotfish population decline is putting Caribbean coral reefs at risk
Dwindling numbers of parrotfish that act as marine 'landscapers' by keeping reefs free of algae could be putting Caribbean coral reefs at risk. There's been a 50 percent decline in the region's coral during past decades, researchers say.
Bigfoot DNA fails to confirm mythical creature's existence
Genetic analysis of hair samples purported to be from Bigfoot or yetis comes up with lots of DNA. Unfortunately, it's all from known, modern-day animals like bears or wolves.
NASA satellite on quest to measure carbon dioxide
NASA puts satellite in orbit to measure levels of greenhouse gas CO2 in Earth's atmosphere. Two-year mission will sample all areas of the Earth every 16 days.
Cassini spacecraft marks 10th anniversary, grand finale set for 2017
NASA scientists hail 10 years of science discoveries by Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn. Spacecraft's original four-year mission has been extended multiple times.
Fabien Cousteau emerges after breaking grandpa Jacques' undersea living record
Fabien Cousteau beats underwater living record set by his grandfather Jacques in 1963. Younger Cousteau returns to the surface after 31 days underwater off Florida.
New beetle species discovered in the deepest cave in the world
New kind of beetle discovered in the 'Everest of the caves' in Russia. World's deepest known cave is at least 7,000 feet deep.
