Health Headlines
Farmers say salmonella scare has hurt tomato sales
AP - Friday, July 4, 2008 4:13 p.m.
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- Expect fewer slices of red, ripe tomatoes next to the grill this holiday weekend....
Why Americans Are Obsessed With Bottled Water
NPR - Friday, July 4, 2008 7 a.m.
The author of \'Bottlemania\' addresses the country\'s addiction to bottled water and its environmental costs.
Lucknow Is For Lovers
NPR - Thursday, July 3, 2008 9:33 p.m.
Young Indians have their own reasons to celebrate a 19th century shrine to national independence.
Predicting In Vitro Success Made Easier
NPR - Thursday, July 3, 2008 3:29 p.m.
A Stanford University researcher has found a way to predict with 70 percent accuracy whether a particular in vitro fertilization cycle will be successful. The breakthrough should make it easier to treat those who try to become pregnant with IVF.
Scientists: Watermelon yields Viagra-like effects
AP - Thursday, July 3, 2008 2:48 p.m.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra - but don\'t necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks going all night long....
Haywire brain chemical linked to sudden baby death
AP - Thursday, July 3, 2008 2:09 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Scientists have new evidence that the brain chemical best known for regulating mood also plays a role in the mystifying killer of seemingly healthy babies - sudden infant death syndrome....
Filipina with upside-down feet walks for 1st time
AP - Thursday, July 3, 2008 2:07 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP) -- A Filipino teenager who came to New York so doctors could perform surgery to untwist her severely clubbed feet took her first unaided steps Wednesday in pink-and-white sneakers - the first shoes she\'s ever worn....
What's So Special About Menthol?
NPR - Thursday, July 3, 2008 10 a.m.
Smokers in Detroit talk about why menthol cigarettes are so popular in the black community. Then, Donna Christensen, head of the Congressional Black Caucus\'s Health Task Force, discusses why she is pushing to get stronger language into pending tobacco legislation.
Childhood Home Of George Washington Excavated
NPR - Thursday, July 3, 2008 6:26 a.m.
George Washington slept there for years — it\'s the Virginia house he grew up in. Archaeologists have excavated the house, or what\'s left of it, and they say they\'ve found artifacts that suggest that the Washingtons started out genteel but fell on hard times.
Most Patients Happy With German Health Care
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 9:54 p.m.
German health benefits are very generous, and there\'s usually little or no wait to get elective surgery or diagnostic tests, such as MRIs. It\'s one of the best health care systems in the world. It\'s visible in little ways that most Germans take for granted.
Glacier Bay Park's Gravity Shifts As Ice Melts
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 9:01 p.m.
The ice sheet in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska has receded so much that the Earth\'s crust is rebounding. Alaskans who live in the area have grown used to expanding properties, brown bears — even a slight drop in gravity.
Female Athletes Suffer Pain For Glory
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 9 p.m.
Female athletes suffer a higher rate of injuries than males, particularly to their knees. But some people are reluctant to talk about this "injury epidemic" out of fear of jeopardizing Title IX. Warrior Girls author Michael Sokolove discusses injury risk and prevention.
NJ officials warn of lamp oil poisonings
AP - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 4:12 p.m.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey officials have issued a health alert saying six people have been sickened by mistaking lamp oil for apple juice, including one person who died....
Kroger expands ground beef recall
AP - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 3:10 p.m.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Kroger Co. expanded its voluntary recall of some ground beef products beyond stores in Michigan and parts of Ohio to its stores in more than 20 states on Wednesday....
First floods, now pesky mosquitoes for Midwest
AP - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 2:52 p.m.
CHICAGO (AP) -- First came the floods - now the mosquitoes. An explosion of pesky insects are pestering clean-up crews and just about anyone venturing outside in the waterlogged Midwest....
Scientists Make Herpes Breakthrough
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 2:46 p.m.
Those infected with a herpes virus are infected for life. That\'s because the virus goes "latent." Sometimes, it awakes from its slumber, producing painful illnesses. Now, scientists say they know how the virus becomes latent and why it wakes up.
FDA panel urges more testing for diabetes drugs
AP - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 2:29 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Diabetes drugs should face tougher safety standards that could cost manufacturers millions but protect patients from unforeseen heart risks, a government panel has recommended....
Afghanistan Strives To Register All Newborns
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 1:04 p.m.
A new UNICEF-funded program aims to issue birth certificates to all newborn babies in Afghanistan by the end of 2009. If successful, this would be the first time ever that all babies in the country have been accounted for at birth. The registration push should help the country improve health services and education.
Skeeter advice: Wear repellent, avoid perfumes
AP - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 12:56 p.m.
Flooding, heavy rains and summer heat have produced a bumper crop of pesky mosquitoes, particularly in the waterlogged Midwest. Here\'s how experts recommend avoiding the bugs and treating their bites:...
More than 4,000 Danes may have salmonella
AP - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 10:56 a.m.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- Danish health officials fear more than 4,000 people may be infected with salmonella and are checking everything from refrigerators to credit card receipts to find the source of what may be the worst outbreak in 15 years....
Fighting Cancer With An Inflatable Colon
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 10 a.m.
Colon cancer kills more Americans every year than AIDS or breast cancer, even though it\'s one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Part of the problem has been that many people are squeamish about getting a colonoscopy. An exhibit of a massive inflatable colon attempts to combat people\'s fears.
Keeping German Doctors On A Budget Lowers Costs
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 9:05 a.m.
Nearly every German has ready access to doctors, cheap drugs, high-tech medicine, dental care, nursing homes and home care. All this — and Germany spends half what the United States does per person. One way the country accomplishes this is by putting doctors on a budget.
Health Clinic Treats Germany's Few Uninsured
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 9 a.m.
Only .2 percent of Germany\'s legal residents are uninsured, compared with nearly 18 percent of Americans who have no coverage. Many clinics for the uninsured in the U.S. can\'t meet the demand of people in need of free care. But it\'s a different story in Germany.
In the U.S. and Holland, Diabetes Looks Different
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 9 a.m.
The Netherlands\' health care system resembles a giant HMO in many ways. Unlike in the U.S., however, Dutch citizens are universally insured, and the system is organized around encouraging preventive care for patients with chronic illness.
France's Model Health Care For New Mothers
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 9 a.m.
Generous paid maternity leave, free in-home nurse visits, subsidized child care — sound like a mother\'s paradise? It\'s just regular care in France. Two American mothers find that the U.S. health care system can\'t compete with France\'s model standard.
In Switzerland, A Health Care Model For America?
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 8:53 a.m.
Switzerland\'s health care system could be the perfect political compromise for the U.S. Those who can afford to buy insurance are required by law. For those who can\'t, the government provides subsidies. Swiss citizens, like Cecile Crettol-Rappaz, say they wouldn\'t trade it for any other system.
Why Health Care? Why Now?
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 8:48 a.m.
Europe spends far less on health care than the United States, while managing to cover all citizens and rank above the U.S. on most measures of good health.
MS Patient Falls Into American Insurance Gap
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 7:33 a.m.
After he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Jeff Rubin of Philadelphia went bankrupt paying for his medical bills. Would that happen in England? Both the U.S. and the U.K. ration health care. A look at patient experiences on either side of the Atlantic.
Madagascar Chameleon's Short, Vibrant Life
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 3 a.m.
Flowers called annuals live for a year, shed seeds and then die. A chameleon from Madagascar lives a similar life. These chameleons spend most of their lives in the form of eggs. Once hatched, they live just a few months and then die — leaving only eggs to survive until the next hatching season.
Chef Proves School Lunch Can Be Healthy, Cheap
NPR - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 midnight
Chef Dominique Valadier once worked in the glamorous world of French Riviera restaurants. Now he is making his gourmet meals, with all local ingredients, for public school children.
Britain Weighs the Social Cost of High-Priced Drugs
NPR - Tuesday, July 1, 2008 11:52 p.m.
Tarceva has been shown to extend life in some lung cancer patients by a few months. But Great Britain\'s government health service has decided not to provide the drug. Cancer patient Donald Sutherland and his doctor, Fergus Macbeth, explain how they live with that decision.
Do You Know Where Your Mushrooms Come From?
NPR - Tuesday, July 1, 2008 9:01 p.m.
U.S. law doesn\'t require a country of origin label for produce. Although the law will change this fall, a recent trip to a produce wholesale market illustrated the confusion over where produce is grown.
Ban On Trans Fats Begins In New York
NPR - Tuesday, July 1, 2008 2:11 p.m.
The strictest ban on trans fats in the U.S. has gone into full effect in New York City. The ban extends to nearly all prepared food in restaurants and bakeries. Marion Nestle, a professor at New York University, discusses healthy substitutes.
Study: Red Rice Yeast Helps Cut Bad Cholesterol
NPR - Tuesday, July 1, 2008 2:09 p.m.
A new study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings says red rice yeast, combined with healthy diet and exercise, helps reduce LDL cholesterol. But tests found that several brands of the supplement were contaminated with a compound toxic to the kidneys.
'School Phobia' Plunges Family Into Misery
NPR - Tuesday, July 1, 2008 6:52 a.m.
Teenager Rebecca Maykish suffers from such severe anxiety in classrooms that she stopped attending school regularly at age 8. She and her family are locked in a battle with their Pennsylvania school district over how to pay for her education.
Darwin's Theory Of Evolution — Or Wallace's?
NPR - Tuesday, July 1, 2008 4:54 a.m.
Tuesday marks the 150th anniversary of the formal presentation of the theory of evolution. Charles Darwin is credited with developing the theory, but some scholars say Darwin\'s contemporary, Alfred Russel Wallace, deserves credit, too.
3-D mammograms, cameras may improve breast exams
AP - Monday, June 30, 2008 6:18 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Remember peeking through a View-Master? Scientists are using the same concept behind the classic kids\' toy to try to see mammograms in 3-D....
WHO: New quick TB test rolled out in Africa
AP - Monday, June 30, 2008 10:59 a.m.
GENEVA (AP) -- A new test to quickly diagnose drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis will be rolled out in four African countries this year, the World Health Organization said Monday....
Cleveland Clinic hooks up with Weight Watchers
AP - Monday, June 30, 2008 4:32 a.m.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Cleveland Clinic, highly regarded for its cardiac care, doesn\'t hire smokers or allow trans-fats on its menus, and now it\'s joining with a nationally known weight control program to help its employees shape up and slim down....
Fast food chains ditch trans fats to meet NYC ban
AP - Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:40 p.m.
Fast food restaurants have been changing their recipes to adapt to New York City\'s trans fat ban. Here are some of the menu overhauls at major chains:...
NYC keeps the cannoli but drops the trans fats
AP - Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:39 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Making cannoli is serious business in New York. It\'s a dessert so tempting that even a hit man in the "Godfather" couldn\'t leave a box behind....
Decoding Body Language
NPR - Saturday, June 28, 2008 1 p.m.
Crossing of the arms, biting of the lower lip, a change in breathing rate — all of these body movements can communicate a wide range of things. But what do they mean? Retired FBI Special Agent Joe Navarro, who made a career out of "reading" the body language of spies and criminals, offers insight on what our bodies say without our permission.
US checks if tomatoes caused Salmonella outbreak
AP - Friday, June 27, 2008 10:05 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- As salmonella cases continue to climb, the government is checking if tainted tomatoes really are to blame for the record outbreak - or if the problem is with another ingredient, or a warehouse that is contaminating newly harvested tomatoes....
Nuclear Preparedness? Yawn...
NPR - Friday, June 27, 2008 12:08 p.m.
U.S. scientists meeting to discuss how to respond to a terrorist nuclear attack on American soil say our country is largely unprepared. The first step: getting people to care.
Brain Scientist Gets a 'Stroke of Insight'
NPR - Friday, June 27, 2008 10:04 a.m.
Imagine experiencing a stroke, and knowing exactly what is happening to you. That\'s just what happened to brain scientist Jill Bolte Taylor, who talks about the experience and what it taught her.
Reduced Reflexes May Indicate Future Stroke
NPR - Friday, June 27, 2008 10:03 a.m.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and the leading cause of adult disability. New research finds that it may be possible to identify those at risk by screening for detectable neurological abnormalities, such as reduced reflexes and unstable posture.
What Your Nose Knows and How Artists Use It
NPR - Friday, June 27, 2008 10:03 a.m.
A smell scientist takes a look at what our noses can tell us about the world around us, and the co-curator of the "Odor Limits" exhibition in Philadelphia, Pa., discusses how artists are using smell in their creations.
Census Aims to Catalog World's Oceans
NPR - Friday, June 27, 2008 10:02 a.m.
Taking a census of the world\'s oceans is a tall order, with scientists estimating that there may be three times as many species yet to be discovered as are already known. Ocean explorer Sylvia Earle checks in on the progress of the project.
President Helps Churches Combat HIV/AIDS
NPR - Friday, June 27, 2008 9 a.m.
The Bush Administration is hosting a conference focused on helping religious communities address pressing social issues, including the spread of HIV/AIDS. U.S. Global AIDS coordinator Ambassador Mark Dybul discusses how the U.S. government is supporting communities of faith in their efforts to help victims of AIDS and their families.
What's Next for Francis Collins, Genome Decoder?
NPR - Friday, June 27, 2008 7:34 a.m.
The man who guided one of his generation\'s greatest scientific achievements is leaving his government job. Francis Collins helped to map the human genome as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute. He\'s leaving his post Aug. 1.
Safeguarding the World's Chocolate Supply
NPR - Friday, June 27, 2008 7:12 a.m.
Mars, the maker of M&Ms;, is teaming with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and IBM to make chocolate give up its secrets. They\'re spending more than $10 million in an effort to sequence the genome of the cacao plant — from which chocolate is made.
NYC urges docs to do routine HIV testing on adults
AP - Thursday, June 26, 2008 11:19 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Health officials are trying to persuade doctors to offer HIV tests to nearly every patient in a New York City community hit harder than most by AIDS....
WHO Proposes Checklist to Reduce Surgery Errors
NPR - Thursday, June 26, 2008 9:26 p.m.
The safety checklist has 22 items spread out over the before, during and after stages of an operation. During a pilot program, hospitals initially said they were adhering to proven standards of care only a third of the time. That rate later improved to two-thirds of the time.
Young Victim of Iraqi Insurgents Heals in U.S.
NPR - Thursday, June 26, 2008 2:12 p.m.
Hamoody Jauda was 2 years old when he was shot in the face by insurgents in Iraq. An American group brought him to the U.S. for medical treatment. Two years later, he\'s still undergoing treatments — and much about his old life is a distant memory.
US advisory panel OK's 2 new combination vaccines
AP - Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:58 p.m.
ATLANTA (AP) -- A federal advisory panel on Thursday endorsed two new combination vaccines designed to reduce the number of needle sticks that young children must endure to get the recommended immunizations....
Reserving Tamiflu for workers in case of pandemic
AP - Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:58 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fears of bird flu are receding and sales of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu have slumped. Now its maker is offering a deal to U.S. employers: Pay an annual fee and reserve enough to protect every worker if a new super-flu strikes....
Disabled Groups Say Little has Changed in China
NPR - Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:51 p.m.
China\'s stated aim is to hold a "humanistic Olympics" that includes welcoming the disabled to the games. Some disabled groups, though, have found little change in the prejudice they face. Others say there is little room to participate and contribute.
Why Doctors May Take an Accidental Pay Cut
NPR - Thursday, June 26, 2008 10 a.m.
If Senate does not pass the pending Medicare Bill, many doctors who take Medicare will suffer a pay cut of more than 10 percent starting July 1. No one intended for the cut to happen, health policy correspondent Julie Rovner says.
Sheryl Lee Ralph Preaches HIV Testing for All
NPR - Thursday, June 26, 2008 9 a.m.
In preparation for National HIV Testing Day, award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph is on a mission to encourage everyone — particularly African-Americans — to get tested for HIV. Ralph explains her passion for HIV advocacy, and why she hasn\'t stopped spreading the message.
Robotic Baby Seal Coming to U.S. Shores
NPR - Thursday, June 26, 2008 8:16 a.m.
A company that makes a robotic baby seal from Japan named Paro plans to sell it in the U.S. to help comfort people with dementia, autism and other problems related to social isolation. But some doctors say real pets provide the best kind of therapy.
Linking Climate Change, National Security
NPR - Thursday, June 26, 2008 6:15 a.m.
Intelligence agencies are debating the effects of climate change on national security. A classified assessment delivered to Congress concludes that rising global temperatures would indirectly present a security threat to the United States.
How Art Got His Groove Back
NPR - Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:04 a.m.
Social ties and participation in leisure activities help keep people healthy as they age. But when friends move away, or even pass away, how do you make new ones? The answer for 81-year-old Art Himmel? Karaoke.
My Cancer, 2 Years Later
NPR - Thursday, June 26, 2008 midnight
When he started his blog, Leroy Sievers thought he had six months to live. Doctors found a brain tumor and lung cancer. Today, on My Cancer\'s second anniversary, he\'s facing a prognosis just as bleak.
US panel endorses 2nd vaccine for kids' virus
AP - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 3:10 p.m.
ATLANTA (AP) -- A federal advisory panel has endorsed a second vaccine to combat a common and potentially fatal virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting in children....
Scientists identify possible Alzheimer's gene
AP - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 3:08 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Scientists have identified a gene that may raise the risk of getting the most common kind of Alzheimer\'s disease by about 45 percent in people who inherit a certain form of it....
NYC: Many 9/11 injury plaintiffs not seriously ill
AP - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 3:06 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Many of the thousands of people who have gone to court claiming ground zero-related illnesses don\'t have serious health problems, lawyers for the city claim in court papers....
Studies Find Link Between Alzheimer's, Calcium
NPR - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 2:41 p.m.
Two new studies are likely to change scientists\' understanding of Alzheimer\'s disease and could lead to better treatments. The studies both find a link between Alzheimer\'s disease and the way cells handle calcium.
Health insurance lags most in Southwest, CDC says
AP - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 9:04 a.m.
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Southwest has the lowest rate of health insurance coverage in the country, with 30 percent of non-elderly adults and 18 percent of children uninsured, according to a new government study....
Famed Surgeon's Journey Marked with Hardship, Honor
NPR - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 9 a.m.
Benjamin Carson grew up in an inner-city, single parent home, and struggled in school. As a man, he rose to become a ground-breaking neurosurgeon, touching people\'s lives with his healing skills and his power to inspire. Carson talks about his life, career, and his newest honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
After a Stroke, a Scientist Studies Herself
NPR - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 9 a.m.
Neurological researcher Jill Bolte Taylor suffered a stroke 12 years ago. While the damage caused by a stroke is often devastating, Taylor was able to make a complete recovery after becoming her own experimental subject.
CDC: About 8 percent of Americans have diabetes
AP - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 4:33 a.m.
ATLANTA (AP) -- The number of Americans with diabetes has grown to about 24 million people, or roughly 8 percent of the U.S. population, the government said Tuesday....
Raw Milk: Panacea or Poison?
NPR - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 4 a.m.
Only eight states allow raw milk to be sold in stores for human consumption, but that hasn\'t stopped people across the country from drinking it. Fans argue that pasteurization kills good bacteria as well as bad, but experts are divided.
Wireless hospitals systems can disrupt med devices
AP - Tuesday, June 24, 2008 2:49 p.m.
CHICAGO (AP) -- Wireless systems used by many hospitals to keep track of medical equipment can cause potentially deadly breakdowns in lifesaving devices such as breathing and dialysis machines, researchers reported Tuesday in a study that warned hospitals to conduct safety tests....
The Mystery and Power of the Itch
NPR - Tuesday, June 24, 2008 12:32 p.m.
Just thinking about itching makes you itch. In The New Yorker, Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon, writes about some itching horror stories, including the case of a woman who scratched through her skull and into her brain.
Against the Odds, Injured Soldier Returning to Duty
NPR - Tuesday, June 24, 2008 11:46 a.m.
Up to 20 percent of soldiers who have fought in Iraq say they sustained a brain injury. Most with a severe brain injury never return to active duty. Army Spc. Freddy Meyers was shot in the head last May and initially could neither talk nor walk. Now he wants to go back to duty.
Unlikely Heroes: Goats Rescue N.Y. Bog Turtles
NPR - Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:07 a.m.
An invasive weed is drying up the swamps that house the last of New York\'s endangered bog turtles. But the turtles have an unlikely savior: The government and a nonprofit are bringing in goats and cattle to eat the weeds and restore the swamps.
Brain injuries cause half of seniors' fall deaths
AP - Tuesday, June 24, 2008 4:32 a.m.
ATLANTA (AP) -- The elderly fear breaking a hip when they fall, but a government study indicates that hitting their head can also have deadly consequences: Brain injuries account for half of all deaths from falls....
Intel Report Eyes Climate Change-Security Link
NPR - Monday, June 23, 2008 2:34 p.m.
U.S. intelligence agencies have produced a classified assessment of the implications of climate change for U.S. national security. The National Intelligence Assessment has been delivered to Congress and will be the subject of a hearing later this week.
Future of AIDS Funding at Stake in Senate
NPR - Monday, June 23, 2008 2:31 p.m.
For months, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has led a group of senators blocking a vote on a global AIDS bill that would increase funding to $50 billion over the next five years. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) says lawmakers must reach a compromise by Tuesday, or else President Bush will head to the G8 summit empty-handed.
Lack of sunshine vitamin may cloud survival odds
AP - Monday, June 23, 2008 1 p.m.
CHICAGO (AP) -- New research linking low vitamin D levels with deaths from heart disease and other causes bolsters mounting evidence about the "sunshine" vitamin\'s role in good health....
Salmonella can ride water into tomatoes
AP - Monday, June 23, 2008 12:14 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Pick a tomato in the blazing sun and plunge it straight into cold water. If that happened on the way to market, it might be contaminated. Too big of a temperature difference can make a tomato literally suck water inside the fruit through the scar where its stem used to be. If salmonella happens to be lurking on the skin, that\'s one way it can penetrate and, if the tomato isn\'t eaten right away, have time to multiply....
Tomato consumer tips
AP - Monday, June 23, 2008 11:44 a.m.
With the outbreak from salmonella-tainted tomatoes in its fifth week, what\'s the latest consumer advice?...
Study: Emergency Rooms Often Neglect Mentally Ill
NPR - Monday, June 23, 2008 11:44 a.m.
People with mental illnesses sometimes wait for as long as 24 hours before receiving treatment at hospital emergency rooms, according to a recent study. In some cases, the wait can be deadly. Dr. David Mendelson, author of the study, explains the findings. Nancy Sharby, whose children are mentally ill, shares her experience.
Lessons Learned from Santa Barbara Spill
NPR - Monday, June 23, 2008 10 a.m.
As the presidential hopefuls debate the pros and cons of offshore drilling, natives of Santa Barbara, California remember the huge spill of 1969. Many say that disaster was the catalyst for the U.S. environmental movement.
Bush Pushes to Ease Offshore Drilling
NPR - Monday, June 23, 2008 10 a.m.
President Bush has been pressing Congress to ease restrictions on offshore drilling. Even if his proposals are realized by July 4, as he would like, we won\'t see prices drop anytime soon. Chevron spokesman Mickey Driver discusses the challenges of building off-shore oil rigs.
NASA Helps Astronauts Cast Ballots from Space
NPR - Monday, June 23, 2008 9:53 a.m.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are far away from the action in the presidential race. Luckily for them, NASA and Texas understand the unique needs of space-traveling citizens, who want their votes counted.
New clue to Alzheimer's found in form of protein
AP - Sunday, June 22, 2008 12:16 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Researchers have uncovered a new clue to the cause of Alzheimer\'s disease. The brains of people with the memory-robbing form of dementia are cluttered with a plaque made up of beta-amyloid, a sticky protein. But there long has been a question whether this is a cause of the disease or a side effect. Also involved are tangles of a protein called tau; some scientists suspect this is the cause....
Stink Bombs Could Save Lives
NPR - Saturday, June 21, 2008 1 p.m.
The rotten-egg funk of a stink bomb comes from hydrogen sulfide gas. It\'s great for clearing a room, and new research shows it may also help heart attack and trauma patients stay alive. David Lefer, a professor of medicine and pathology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, talks with Guy Raz about the medical uses for stinky fumes.
Female Chimps Practice Safe Sex
NPR - Saturday, June 21, 2008 12:42 p.m.
Female chimpanzees tend to be more discreet than other primates about making sounds during sex. A team of researchers set out to discover why.
Report compares costs of animal disease outbreak
AP - Saturday, June 21, 2008 4:09 a.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government acknowledged that an outbreak of one of the most contagious animal diseases from any of five locations being considered for a new high-security laboratory - an event it considered highly unlikely - would be more devastating to the U.S. economy than an outbreak from the isolated island lab where such research is now conducted....
US health official says flu threat high
AP - Saturday, June 21, 2008 1:52 a.m.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- A top U.S. health official says the threat of a flu pandemic remains high. And while the world has made great strides to prepare, it\'s not enough....
NASA Lander Touches Ice on Mars
NPR - Friday, June 20, 2008 3:55 p.m.
For the first time, a NASA lander has touched Martian ice. Scientists say they are convinced white chunks dug up by the Phoenix craft are in fact frozen water on the Red Planet.
FDA inspectors to Fla., Mexico in salmonella probe
AP - Friday, June 20, 2008 2:14 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- There may be a break in the salmonella case: Food and Drug Administration inspectors headed for farms in Florida and Mexico on Friday, as new clues emerge to the possible source of salmonella-tainted tomatoes that have now sickened 552 people....
Teens May Have Made Pact to Get Pregnant
NPR - Friday, June 20, 2008 2:10 p.m.
At least 17 teenagers at a Massachusetts high school may have made a pact to get pregnant and raise their babies together. Michele Norris talks with Time magazine\'s Kathleen Kingsbury about the unusual spike in teen pregnancies in Gloucester.
Ways to Conserve Energy and Lower Bills
NPR - Friday, June 20, 2008 11:28 a.m.
This week, President Bush said the U.S. could boost domestic oil production by drilling for oil offshore. John McCain said building more nuclear plants will help meet our energy needs. Is this the solution? Whatever happened to energy conservation?
Waking up to Smell the Coffee Good for Brain too
NPR - Friday, June 20, 2008 11:26 a.m.
A new study says that chemicals in coffee\'s aroma help protect the brain from stress-related damage. A neuroscientist from the project talks about the team\'s findings and whether we should just sniff our morning coffee instead of drinking it.
Bio-defense research not for all, not Hollywood
AP - Friday, June 20, 2008 11:19 a.m.
FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- Actor Kevin Spacey\'s character dies of a deadly virus in the movie "Outbreak" after he stretches his air hose too far and it rips a hole in his protective biohazard suit....
Electric Car Lets Family Save on Gas, with Flair
NPR - Friday, June 20, 2008 11:09 a.m.
Todd Poelstra and Sally Day of Tucson, Ariz., drive a Zap Xebra, an all-electric car that costs about $10 a month to charge. The Xebra helps the family save big on gas, but with its bright green color, it\'s hard to run errands around town without drawing stares.
Teens Teaching Each Other About Sex
NPR - Friday, June 20, 2008 8:23 a.m.
What advice would teens give each other about sex? Farai Chideya talks with 17-year-old Jacquelyn Richards, a peer educator with Planned Parenthood, about the challenges young people face and why sex education is important.
Teens and Sex: What You Need to Know
NPR - Friday, June 20, 2008 8:21 a.m.
It\'s difficult to know when to teach your kids about "the birds and the bees," but it\'s important that you do. For insight, Farai Chideya speaks with clinical psychologist Dr. Sharon Maxwell, author of The Talk: What Your Kids Need to Hear From You About Sex.
