Articles by Jim Algar
Chinese smartphone apps sniffs outs polluting sources
Smartphone app will allow 'naming and shaming' of polluters in China. App gives real-time emission data, shows map location of polluting factories.
Milky Way may be home to more than we know, given expansive extraterrestrial living conditions
Checklist for conditions under which extraterrestrial life could exist needs to be expanded, scientist says. Findings on Earth suggest more possibilities than thought, he notes.
Human male face evolved to take a beating
Researchers suggest shape of male face the result of evolutionary changes that allowed better odds of winning fights over resources. Study ignites debate over evolutionary pressures.
World Oceans Day 2014: Time to do something to protect the marine ecosystem
Global events Sunday, June 8, to honor and celebrate the world's oceans. Protecting the ocean is theme for 2014 event.
NASA selects 12 cutting-edge proposals for space science as candidates for further research
NASA picks 12 proposals aimed at cutting-edge science. A submarine for one of Saturn's moons and an asteroid capturing technique among those chosen.
Citrus greening may possibly be halted by gout treatment, UF researchers find
The disease decimating Florida's $9 billion citrus industry may be susceptible to several compounds, researchers say. One of them has been used to treat gout in humans.
Prehistoric forest fire fossils capture amazing diversity of ancient plant life
Fossils in Canada show how ancient forests recovered from forest fires. The find dates to the last days of the dinosaurs and will help scientists determine the environment just before the mass extinction.
2014 HQ124 asteroid 'The Beast' will blow Earth a kiss on Sunday: Time to panic?
Asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier will make a close fly-by of Earth on June 8. The space rock will pass within just under a million miles.
China's bulldozing of mountains not such a great idea environmentally, say experts
Researchers warn of environmental impact of China's effort to expand cities by lopping off tops of mountains. Flooding, landslides and decrease in water quality likely results, they say.
Prehistoric 3D dinosaur fossil eggs of flying reptile discovered in China
Fossilized eggs of flying reptile uncovered in China. Fossils called the first three-dimensionally preserved eggs of the creatures ever found.
Myanmar boasts flower, fauna never known to science
As Myanmar emerges from global isolation, species previously unknown to science are being discovered, Conservation efforts are urged to protect "biotreasures."
Asteroid 'The Beast' is on its way; arriving near Earth come Sunday
Asteroid the size of a football stadium to make close fly-by of Earth on Sunday. Planet group has classified it as "potentially hazardous."
U.S. temps heating fastest in southwest, northeast as entire country gets warmer
Opposite corners of the Unites States seeing the fastest rate of temperature increases. Thirty years of continual warming studied.
Chobani marketing ignites social media backlash, yogurt maker offers apology sample to scientists
Yogurt maker Chobani is back tracking from marketing effort that many saw as anti-science. "Nature ... not science" tagline draws criticism.
New tech may bring vibrancy to fading Leonardo da Vinci portrait
Nondestructive testing of fading Leonardo da Vinci portrait could help in future conservation efforts, researchers say. Exposure to light, humidity is causing image to fade.
Two new drugs, breath test are latest diagnostic tools for detecting lung cancer
Cancer researchers report new weapons in the fight against lung cancer. New breath test, experimental drugs described.
Harvard rare tome bound by human skin
Scientific tests confirm a volume in Harvard University's rare book collection is bound in human skin. The practice was one common, researchers say.
Truvia sweetener not so sweet for fruit flies as it kills them dead
An ingredient found in the artificial sweetener Truvia is shown to be a safe insecticide while nontoxic to humans. Fruit flies that consume Truvia die within a day, researchers say.
Spiders tune-up webs to communicate, assess caught prey and check out potential mates
Spiders "tune" their webs to create a communications tool, British researchers find. Spider can "play" their webs like a musical instrument, they say.
Monarch butterfly population in decline due to milkweed drought
Loss of plant vital for survival of monarch butterflies is decimating their populations, researchers say. Milkweed losses to herbicides linked to 90 percent drop in numbers.
Koalas are the definition of a tree hugger and it's likely not why you think
Koalas are tree-huggers to beat the heat, researchers say. It's not about food or comfort, it's about staying cool.
China marks Tiananmen anniversary with strict censorship actions
China clamps down on Internet sites on 25th anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests. Search engines and media sites are blocked throughout the country.
Breast cancer chemo treatment may bring on heart ailment issue
Some kinds of drugs used in breast cancer chemotherapy can lead to possibly fatal heart conditions, study finds. Cardiologists and oncologists need to work together, researchers say.
World's really, really old pairs of pants found in China tomb
Researchers say they've discovered world's oldest trousers in ancient Chinese graveyard. The design of the 3,000-year-old pants suggests horseback riding spurred the development of such garments.
Alaska's Pavlov volcano flow hits the red alert level
Increased eruption activity from Alaskan volcano prompts issuing of aviation alert. Red alert called in the state for the first time since 2009.
Pot heads find sleeping can get tough
Marijuana use, particularly if begun young, can lead to sleep problems later in life, a study indicates. Sleep quality can suffer, and daytime sleepiness is common, researchers say.
What is NASA up to on the International Space Station?
A little agriculture and a planned 'room extension' are keeping astronauts busy on the International Space Station. Lettuce is ready for harvesting, while an "add-a-room" module is being readied for testing.
China takes heed of U.S. move and aims to cap emissions
China hints at following lead of United States for capping emission levels. Such an action would be a significant policy shift for the Asian giant.
Is the moon the next Wi-Fi hotspot for Earth?
NASA, MIT successfully test broadband connections between the Earth and the moon. The data rate achieved with lasers beats any Wi-Fi on Earth.
Mega-Earth planet discovered by scientists
New 'mega-Earth' planet detected orbiting star 500 light years away. Much more massive than Earth, it has implications for life on other planets.
