“Super Memory” Pill–and Possibly an Alzheimer’s Cure–Could Be Around the Corne'

"Scientists have isolated a gene in mice that works to give them "super memories' and reverses the course of several degenerative mental illnesses like Alzheimer's. And because of the similarity of mice and human brains, a powerful brain pill for humans may now not be far off."

Pair of NASA Studies Reaffirm Impact of Global Warming

"NASA officials have released a pair of new studies showing that global warming could lead to a major transformation for Earth's plants and animals over the next century."

Many U.S. Surgeons Don’t Discuss Patients’ Wishes in End-of-Life Care: Study

"Many U.S. surgeons fail to discuss their patients’ wishes in case a risky operation goes awry, and even more would not operate if patients limited what could be done to keep them alive, a survey found."

Revenues up for State, Local Governments

"Tax revenues of U.S. state and local governments rose in the third quarter, the U.S. Census said on Tuesday, marking the eighth straight quarter of growth and heralding the promise of continued economic recovery in areas where revenues collapsed during the recent recession."

Social Networking Booming in Egypt, Russia, Survey Finds

"People in poorer countries send text messages more often than those in wealthier countries. Men in Spain and Germany access the Internet on their phones twice as much as women do. . ."

FBI: U.S. Violent Crime Down in 2011, Fewer Murders, Rapes

"Murders, rapes and other violent crimes dropped sharply in the United States in the first six months of 2011, continuing a downward trend that has lasted 4 1/2 years, the FBI reported on Monday."

Report: States Have Cut Thousands of Government Jobs Since Recession

"State governments across the country have cut more than 80,000 jobs since the beginning of the recession, reflecting steep drops in tax revenue and providing a drag on the economies in many parts of the country, the Associated Press has found."

Online Holiday Sales Hit $31B, 15% Over Last Year So Far

"Shoppers have spent $30.9 billion online from Nov. 1 through Dec. 16, up from $26.9 billion at the same point last year, said the Reston, Va.-based company, which tracks Web use."

Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Will Be Arrested by Age 23

"The new data show a sharp increase from a previous study that stunned the American public when it was published 44 years ago by criminologist Ron Christensen. That study found 22% of youth would be arrested by age 23. The latest study finds 30.2% of young people will be arrested by age 23."

Report: Half of U.S. Schools Fail Federal Standards

"Nearly half of America's public schools didn't meet federal achievement standards this year, marking the largest failure rate since the much-criticized No Child Left Behind Law took effect a decade ago, according to a national report released Thursday."

CEO Pay Jumped 36.5% Last Year

"After two years of lower pay packages, chief executives at the nation's major companies enjoyed a 36.5% jump in pay last year, according to a leading survey of CEO compensation."

Millions of Americans Are Victims of Sexual Violence: CDC

"According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 million American women and men suffer some type of partner violence each year, with by far the biggest burden borne by women. American women suffer more than 1 million rapes annually, the CDC report said, and almost one in every five women will be the victim of rape at some point in her life."

'I Do' Not? Marriage Rates at Record Low, Pew Analysis Finds

"Just over half of all adult Americans, 51%, are currently married, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by the Pew Research Center. The center predicts that, if the current trends continue, the share of currently married adults will fall below half within a few years. In 1960, 72% of all adults 18 and older were married."

AT&T Still Worst Carrier, Consumer Reports Says

"AT&T remains the worst carrier in the United States, according to an annual customer satisfaction survey compiled by Consumer Reports and released on Tuesday."

Floods, Landslides, Fire and Drought: Extreme Weather the Norm in 2011

"According to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) provisional status report, issued at the United Nations climate talks in Durban, 2011 was the 10th warmest year on record and warmer than any other year with a La Nina event."

2011 is Record Year for $1B Disasters in U.S.

"The United States had a record 12 weather and climate disasters that caused at least $1 billion in damages in 2011, and that number could increase as other assessments wrap up, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday."

Atheists Who Go to Church: Doing It for the Children

"A new study out of Rice University has found that 17 percent -- about one out of five scientists who describe themselves as either atheists or agnostics -- actually go to church, although not too often, and not because they feel a spiritual yearning to join the faithful. More likely, it's because of the kids."

Poll: Religious Believers Concerned With Environment

"A majority of the religious in the United States supports environmental regulation, a poll released Wednesday said."

NASA Catalogs Thousands of Asteroids Near Earth

"About 1,000 asteroids big enough to cause catastrophic damage if they hit Earth are orbiting relatively nearby, a NASA survey shows."

National Report Praises School-Choice System for New York City Students

"New York has the most effective school-choice system of any of the nation’s largest school districts, allowing students and parents the most freedom and providing them with the most relevant information on educational performance, according to a new Brookings Institution report scheduled for publication online Wednesday."

Private-College Presidents Getting Higher Salaries

"Chief executives at 36 private colleges earned more than $1 million in 2009, as the median compensation rose to $385,900, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education."

Doctors Shy to Tell Parents Their Kid Is Overweight

". . . doctors and other health professionals might be reticent to warn parents their child is overweight, according to a study published Dec. 5 in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Less than a quarter of parents of overweight children recall ever being told their child had a weight problem, the study found."

Earth-like Planet Discovered in 'Habitable' Zone

"Astronomers on Monday reported the discovery of an Earth-like planet outside the solar system whose size and distance from its own star put it in the 'habitable' zone. . ."

Study: 84 Percent of Workers Looking to Leave Their Jobs

"A new survey by Right Management, the consulting arm of staffing group Manpower, finds that a whopping 84% of employees are planning on searching for a new job in 2012."

Study Finds How Child Abuse Changes the Brain

"Children exposed to family violence show the same pattern of activity in their brains as soldiers exposed to combat, scientists said on Monday."

Supreme Court Rejects Worship at Public School Appeal

"The U.S. Supreme Court let stand on Monday a ruling that religious groups cannot use public schools facilities for worship services outside of normal school hours in a case about church-state separation."

U.S. Power Grid Needs Cybersecurity Protection: Panel

"The threat of cyberattacks on the U.S. power grid should be dealt with by a single federal agency, not the welter of groups now charged with the electric system's security, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported on Monday."

Cost of Federal Unemployment Benefits So Far: $434 Billion

"Jobless Americans have collected $434 billion in unemployment benefits over the past four years. Taxpayers have footed $184.7 billion of the tab incurred during the federal government's unparalleled response to the Great Recession, according to Labor Department data. State and federal taxes on employers cover the rest."

Would You Kill One Person to Save Five? New Research on a Classic Debate

"This dilemma is a famous philosophical conundrum that was originally called the 'trolley problem.' Now a team from Michigan State University's psychology department has used virtual-reality technology to test how we respond psychologically and physiologically when faced with this problem."

Most People Go Online 'for No Particular Reason,' Survey Finds

"Americans are going online to pass the time more than they were just a few years ago, according to a new study."

Better Data, Better Rates

"Colleges may be able to improve their graduation rates by gaining a better understanding of the students they enroll, according to a report being released today."

International Comparison Of Teacher Quality

"Not only does our public-education system rank 26th out of 34 nations when it comes to graduation rates, but the U.S. also fails at treating teachers as professionals."

New Zealand Has World's Cleanest Government, Survey Finds

"New Zealand tops the list of the world’s cleanest governments, followed by Finland and Denmark, while Somalia and North Korea tied for the dubious distinction of most corrupt, according to a report Wednesday from Transparency International."

Districts Pay Less in Poor Schools, Report Says

"Tens of thousands of schools serving low-income students are being shortchanged because districts spend fewer state and local dollars on teacher salaries in those schools than on salaries in schools serving higher-income students."

Gender Inequality Persists in Multitasking: Study

"Men may be helping more in the home but working women still do more multitasking in U.S. families than their partners and are finding it stressful, according to a new study."

Study: Cyber Monday was Biggest Online Shopping Day Ever in U.S.

"Monday was the highest-grossing online shopping day in U.S. history, with spending reaching $1.25 billion, according to market research firm comScore. That's up 22% from the previous record, which was last year's Cyber Monday."

Americans to Forfeit $34.3 Billion in Vacation Days

"The average American worker earned 14 vacation days this year but will only take 12 of them, according to a survey by Expedia. That's about the same number of days they left on the table last year."

Youth Attempt Suicide Sooner Than Thought

"About one in nine people attempt suicide by the time they graduate from high school, U.S. researchers say."

Behavioral Therapy for Obesity May Help Family Too

"When obese people lose weight with behavioral therapy, their family members may get a bit trimmer as well, a new study suggests."

Past Decade Ties for World's Hottest: UN Agency

"Thirteen of the warmest years recorded have occurred within the last decade and a half, proving that global warming is a reality, the UN's World Meteorological Organisation said on Tuesday."

Poverty Dominates Many School Districts: Census

"Nearly half of all children in America live in school districts with high levels of poverty, according to U.S. Census data released on Tuesday that pointed to financial traps many public schools are caught in."

More Exercise Results in Healthier Eating

"People who exercise also start to eat better and as a result their brain may change, U.S. researchers suggest."

U.S. Teens Hardly Eating Any Produce

"U.S. teenage consumption of fruit and vegetables comes nowhere near the recommended four to five servings per day, health officials say."

Sun Worship Discovery at Stonehenge

"Archeologists say they've discovered evidence of ancient sun worship that ties Britain's Stonehenge site into the surrounding landscape."

Report: Millions of Birds Killed By Power Lines

"Tens of millions of flamingos, storks, pelicans and other migratory birds are being killed across the world when they fly into power lines, according to a new study."

Few Americans With HIV Have Virus Under Control

"Only 28 percent of the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV have the infection under control, increasing the risk that they will spread the disease to others, U.S. health officials said Tuesday."

Fed Lent Banks Nearly $8 Trillion During Crisis, Report Shows

"While the nation's largest banks were publicly reassuring nervous investors of their stability during the height of the financial crisis, they were also quietly approaching the Federal Reserve, hat in hand. The total price tag: $7.77 trillion, many times the amount of the better-known TARP bailout."

Consumers Feeling Rosier About the Economy

"The Consumer Confidence Index shot up to 56.0 in November from 40.9 the previous month, the Conference Board reported Tuesday, the highest reading since July."

Home Prices Fall to 8-Year Lows

"Home prices continued to sink in the third quarter, falling to levels not seen since early 2003."

UN Warns 25 Pct of World Land Highly Degraded

"The United Nations has completed the first-ever global assessment of the state of the planet's land resources, finding in a report Monday that a quarter of all land is highly degraded and warning the trend must be reversed if the world's growing population is to be fed."

For-Profit Certification for Teachers Is Booming

"More than 110 alternative certification programs — including iteachTexas, which Mr. Arrington is completing, and nonprofits like Teach for America — produce 40 percent of all new teachers in Texas, according to an analysis of Texas Education Agency data by Ed Fuller, a Penn State University education professor and former University of Texas researcher."

More Than 1 in 5 Americans are Economically Insecure

"More than one in five Americans saw at least a quarter of their available household income vanish in the Great Recession, yet lacked a sufficient financial cushion, according to a report released Monday."

U.S. Higher Education as a Global Force

"This month saw the launch of the new report from the American Council on Education on the globalization of higher education, 'Strength through Global Leadership and Engagement.'"

Major Engagement

Results of the National Survey on Student Engagement

Many Colleges Use Facebook to Recruit Students, Survey Finds

"Almost 80 percent of respondents said they used the social-networking site as an admissions tool."

One in 12 Teenagers Self Harm, Study Finds

"One in 12 young people, mostly girls, engage in self-harming such as cutting, burning or taking life-threatening risks and around 10 percent of these continue to deliberately harm themselves into young adulthood, a study found Thursday."

Middle-Class Neighborhoods Squeezed Out, Income Gap Rises

"American middle-class neighborhoods are on the decline and the divide between the rich and poor is widening, according to a study on Wednesday."

Aging Brains Use Extra Regions to Shore Up Eroding Abilities

"Though it may lose some abilities, the older brain compensates by bringing alternate circuits to bear, say several reports from the Society for Neuroscience meeting."

Alumni of Liberal-Arts Colleges See Value in Their Degrees

"On Tuesday, the Annapolis Group, which represents 130 private liberal-arts colleges, released the findings of a national survey of college graduates. Alumni of Annapolis Group colleges, the survey found, reported the highest level of satisfaction with their undergraduate experience."

Report: School Counselors Have Come to a ‘Crossroads’

"Today’s school counselors see a 'striking gap' between their ideals and their day-to-day work. . ."

Strangers Can Spot 'Kindness' Gene: Study

"People with a certain gene trait are known to be more kind and caring than people without it, and strangers can quickly tell the difference, according to US research published on Monday."

1 in 5 Adults on Behavioral Meds

"More than 20 percent of American adults took at least one drug for conditions like anxiety and depression in 2010, according to an analysis of prescription data, including more than one in four women."

In Online Dating, Beauty Is in The Profile

"Women are able to spot less-attractive men just by their online profiles without even looking at their pictures, a new study finds."

Study: Android is Half of All Smartphone Sales

"Gartner says Android had more than half of the worldwide smartphone market in the third quarter, up from 25 percent a year ago."

Women More Likely to Have 'Broken Heart Syndrome'

"A nationwide U.S. study finds that females are more likely to suffer 'broken heart syndrome,' when sudden or prolonged stress causes overwhelming heart attack-like symptoms."

Report Calls for Assisted Dying in Canada

"A report commissioned by The Royal Society of Canada calls for the decriminalization of assisted dying in Canada."

Counseling Helps Obese Lose Weight

"About 40 percent of obese patients enrolled in two counselor-enhanced weight-loss programs lost at least 5 percent of their body weight, U.S. researchers found."

Bachelor's Degree Is Still Best Path to Middle-Class Jobs and Earnings, Report Says

"Earning a bachelor's degree is still the best path to middle-class employment and wages in the United States, and while those with only a high-school diploma can achieve the same status, it will become harder for them to find and secure such jobs, says a new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce."

Survey: Most Kids are as Social Media Savvy as Adults by 13

"The survey, conducted by AVG for the fourth installation of its Digital Diaries study, revealed 53 percent of those polled in the U.S. said their kids were already on Facebook and Twitter as early tweens: 11. By the time they're 13, they're old hands at posting status updates, tweeting and uploading pictures for their friends."

Second-Generation Latinas Close Gap with Whites in College Enrollment

"Second-generation Latinas are enrolling in college at the same rate as third-generation non-Hispanic white women, but they are not completing their education at a comparable rate, according to a new study of immigrant-origin young adults released Tuesday by the Migration Policy Institute."

More Foreign Students Studying in USA

"International students and their dependents contributed more than $20 billion to the U.S. economy last year as record numbers of foreigners enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, reports to be released today show. The numbers of U.S. students earning college credit abroad also is on the rise."

57 Members of Congress Among Wealthy 1%

"Fifty-seven members, or roughly 11%, of Congress can count themselves among the top 1% of wealth, with an estimated net worth of $9 million, according to a USA TODAY analysis of personal financial disclosures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics."

Chance of 2012 U.S. Recession Tops 50 Percent

"The European debt crisis is raising the odds of a U.S. recession, with economic contraction more likely than not by early 2012, according to research from the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank."

Smart Thinking Can Be Learned

"Intelligence and smart thinking are not the same; smart thinking is not an innate quality but rather a skill to be cultivated, U.S. researchers say."

Diabetes Forecast to Hit One in 10 Adults by 2030

"One in 10 adults will have diabetes by 2030, posing a huge challenge to healthcare systems around the world, according to a report released on Monday."

Poorer Americans See Sharper Health Declines With Age

"Age-related declines in physical health occur more rapidly among poorer Americans, according to a new study."

Employer Health Insurance Hits New Low: Gallup

"The percentage of Americans who have health insurance through their employer slipped to a new low of 44.5 percent in the third quarter, a drop of over 5 percentage points in three years, according to a poll released on Friday."

Study Finds Few Problems With Fracking

"It's not hydraulic fracturing that poses a threat to groundwater but rather certain aspects of drilling operations, a Texas study concluded."

Teachers Can Help Abused Kids Adjust

"Abused children can return to school and do well academically if teachers can help them control their emotions, focus and stay motivated, U.S. researchers say."

Anti-Social Personalities Join Gangs

"People with extreme anti-social personalities seek out others like themselves and form gangs, British researchers say."

U.S. Voters Find Religious Belief Important in a Leader

"Two-thirds of Americans believe it is important for a presidential candidate to have strong religious beliefs, even if those beliefs are different than their own, a survey released on Tuesday found."

Study Links Religious Services to Optimism

"Regular attendance at religious services is associated with a more optimistic outlook and a lesser inclination to be depressed, compared to those who do not attend services at all, a study concluded on Thursday."

Corporal Punishment Article

"In 1979 . . .Sweden became the first country to ban physical punishment of children. Since then, 30 more countries have passed bans on corporal punishment at home, and even more have banned it in schools, according to the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children."

What Spurs Students to Stay in College and Learn?

"When freshmen observed certain classroom methods, they were 30 percent more likely to return for their sophomore year, researchers found."

Online-Course Enrollments Grow, but at a Slower Pace

"The Sloan Consortium reports that as substantial as recent growth has been, this year's enrollment rise of 2 percent paled beside last year's reported rate of 21 percent."

Doctors Often Fail to Report Child Abuse, Says Study

"A new study finds that pediatricians and other primary care providers are good at identifying physical injuries in children that might be the result of abuse, but they are not as good at judging when to report those cases to authorities."

Fatherhood Cuts Crime, Drinking, Smoking

"Studies have shown marriage changes men's negative behavior and U.S. researchers say fatherhood can also have an impact on crime, and tobacco and alcohol use."

How Flexible Work Actually Works

"Imagine unlimited paid vacation and sick leave, with no mandated office hours. Chaos, right? Not according to a handful of award-winning employers profiled in a new report on effective workplaces."

Students Pick Easier Majors Despite Less Pay

"College students continue to gravitate toward liberal-arts majors despite better pay prospects for those who study engineering, science and math—disciplines deemed too rigorous for many."

Half Of Young Professionals Value Facebook Access, Smartphone Options Over Salary

"Cisco surveyed 1,400 college students aged 18 to 23, and 1,400 young professionals under the age of 30 across 14 countries. HR and IT managers take note: 'The growing use of the Internet and mobile devices in the workplace is creating a significant impact on job decisions, hiring and work-life balance.'"

Study: Fear a Factor in Stock Decisions

"Investors fearful about their stocks project that fear onto others which then leads them to sell stocks earlier than they might otherwise, U.S. researchers say."

Report: World Online Music Sales up 7 Percent in 2011

"Global online music revenues are expected to rise by about 7 percent this year to $6.3 billion as digital services such as Spotify and iTunes gain momentum, technology research firm Gartner said on Tuesday."

People Rationalize if There's No Alternative

"People who feel they're stuck with something are more likely to be content than people who think there is a way out, U.S. and Canadian researchers say."

Teachers: Many Not Ready for Kindergarten

"Most U.S. kindergarten teachers think most young children are unprepared for school when they enter kindergarten, a survey indicates."

Most Job Openings in 3 Years, Government Report Shows

"U.S. employers advertised more jobs in September than at any other point in the past three years, a hopeful sign that job market is slowly improving."

Cave Painters Were Realists, DNA Study Finds

"Cave painters during the Ice Age were more like da Vinci than Dali, sketching realistic depictions of horses they saw rather than dreaming them up, a study of ancient DNA finds."

Could Old Age Lessen Climate Change? Study Sees Promise

". . . a new study looks at how it could affect climate change, finding that individual carbon dioxide emissions decline in old age as the elderly drive less and buy fewer carbon-intensive goods."

Global Income Inequality: Where the U.S. Ranks

"The U.S. has a higher level of income inequality than Europe, as well as Canada, Australia and South Korea, according to data gathered by the World Bank."

Women, Young Adults More Likely to Ponder Suicide

"A new federal survey estimates that more than 8 million adults in the United States had considered suicide in a year's time and more than two million actually made plans to kill themselves."

Four in 10 Express Negative View of Occupy

"American opinion may be starting to turn against the Occupy protests, with 40 percent of people polled saying they view them unfavorably."

Revised Government Formula Shows New Poverty High: 49.1M

"The ranks of America's poor are greater than previously known, due to rising medical costs and other expenses, new census estimates show."

Survey: Sexual Harassment Common in Grades 7-12

"During the 2010-11 school year, 48% of students in grades 7-12 experienced some form of sexual harassment in person or electronically, according to a national survey being released today by the American Association of University Women."

U.S. Graduates as Compared with the World

"More people are attending college in the United States than ever before. There were 18 million undergraduate students in 2009, and more than 1.6 million Bachelor's degrees were awarded that year. But are college students studying the subjects that will lead to good jobs and keep America competitive in the world economy?"

Dad's Depression May Rub Off on Kids

"According to a new study -- one of the first to examine mental-health patterns in a nationally representative sample of dads and kids -- a child's odds of developing emotional or behavioral problems increase by as much as 70% if the father shows signs of depression."

How Cellphones Shape the Lives of College Students

"The majority of college students today use smartphones -- although three-quarters don't foot their own bills. Not surprisingly, this has changed the classroom dynamic. Some 88% text during class; 40% use their phones for last-minute test prep; and a quarter take their devices out during each class."

College Students Still Vulnerable to Bullying

"Bullying and cyberbullying don't end when students go from high school to college, a new study finds."

Why Science Majors Change Their Minds

"Studies have found that roughly 40 percent of students planning engineering and science majors end up switching to other subjects or failing to get any degree."

Extreme Poverty Spikes in U.S., Study Finds

"The number of people living in neighborhoods of extreme poverty grew substantially, by one third, over the past decade, according to a new report, erasing most of the gains from the 1990’s when concentrated poverty declined."

Thirty Companies Paid No Income Tax 2008-2010: Report

"Thirty large and profitable U.S. corporations paid no income taxes in 2008 through 2010, said a study on Thursday that arrives as Congress faces rising demands for tax reform, but seems unable or unwilling to act."

Teens Don't Know How to Lose Weight Properly

"Teens who try to lose weight may be going about it the wrong way. A study presented by a doctoral student at Temple University found that obese students have great interest in weight loss, but this intent can mean increased smoking and soda drinking."

The Candidate Skills/Qualities Employers Want

"When it comes to the importance of candidate skills/qualities, employers are looking for team players and candidates who have strong verbal communication skills, according to respondents to NACE’s Job Outlook 2012 survey."

Students Push Their Facebook Use Further Into Course Work

"College students are taking social media to a new level, using Web sites like Facebook to communicate with other students about their coursework, according to results of a new survey on student technology use."

Music Makes Wine Taste Better

"The study shows that people who drink wine while listening to music perceive the wine to have the same taste characteristics of the particular artist."

Tablets Finally Overtaking e-Readers, Says Pew Report

"One in every 10 American adults now has an iPad or something like it, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. But what's more interesting is that in the time period between May 2011 and now, e-reader ownership appears to have declined among adults."

Forbes: Most Powerful People 2011

"What do the president of the United States, the Dalai Lama, a billionaire drug dealer and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg all have in common? They are all featured on Forbes' annual ranking of the world’s most powerful people."

Independent Reading Doesn't Up Achievement

"Independent reading doesn't improve children's achievement in reading, at least among children age 11 at the end of elementary school, U.S. researchers say."

Food Stamp Use up 62 Percent in Recession

"The percentage of Americans receiving food stamps increased 61.2 percent between 2007, when the recession began, and 2010, U.S. researchers say."

Why Women Score Lower in Tech Aptitude

"Males score better than females on technical aptitude tests because males are more interested than females in technical things, a U.S. researcher says."

Research: Video Games Help With Creativity in Boys and Girls

"That finding, thought to be the first demonstration of a relationship between technology use and creativity, comes from a new study of nearly 500 12-year-olds in Michigan, conducted by researchers at Michigan State University's Children and Technology Project."

Obama is on the Rise Politically

"A new Quinnipiac Poll gives Obama an approval rating of 47% -- not great, to be sure, but better than the 41% he rang up in the same poll last month. Obama's approval rating in the Gallup daily tracking poll is only 43%, but he was below 40% just recently."

Hating Incumbency and Incumbents Too

"According to a poll, only 33 percent of registered voters believe their own lawmaker deserved to be re-elected."

Prominent Scientist and Skeptic Finds He Now Agrees Global Warming is Real

"A prominent physicist and skeptic of global warming spent two years trying to find out if mainstream climate scientists were wrong. In the end, he determined they were right: Temperatures really are rising rapidly."

Study Links Good Mood With Longer Life Span

"Happy people don’t just enjoy life; they’re likely to live longer, too. A new study has found that those in better moods were 35% less likely to die in the next 5 years when taking their life situations into account."

Asia-Based Computers Spread Half World's Spam

"Sophos' latest research reveals that even as the U.S. remains the single worst offender with 11.3 percent, Asian nations now contribute 'more than half of all spam messages now being relayed via the continent' at 50.1 percent."

Half of Hospital Rooms Rife With Drug-Resistant Bug, Study Finds

"Nearly half of hospital rooms of patients infected with drug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii are contaminated with the bacteria, a small new survey shows. Surfaces such as bedrails, drawer handles and touchpads are particularly prone to harboring the germ."

Best-Ever US Student Math Scores — But Still Behind

"New test scores released Tuesday show the nation's fourth- and eighth-graders doing their best ever in math. In reading, eighth-graders had some modest improvements."

Trees Not Adapting Well to Climate Change

"More than half of tree species in eastern U.S. forests aren't adapting to climate change as quickly or consistently as predicted, researchers said."

Study: Infants Can Follow Others' Thoughts

"University of Missouri researchers say babies 10 months old can understand the thought processes of others, offering clues to how people acquire knowledge."

Classroom Background Noise Limits Learning

"Student test scores can suffer negative effects from subtle classroom noise, such as the humming of the air conditioning and heating systems, researcher say."

Discovery May Help Produce Stem Cells

"A new way to rejuvenate old stem cells raises the possibility that patients' own stem cells may one day be rescued and banked, U.S. researchers say."

World Getting More Obese; U.S. No. 1

"Twenty-five percent of Americans are obese, compared with 20 percent of Britons and slightly more than 10 percent of Germans, the index indicated."

Sugary Drink Makers Target Latino Youth, Report Says

"A new study conducted by Yale University suggests that soft drink and other sugary beverage manufacturers target their marketing campaigns to Latino and African-American children and teenagers."

Report: Prescription Drug Deaths Skyrocket

"More people die in America every year from prescription drug abuse than die from heroin and cocaine combined. That stunning finding comes in a new report Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

Many U.S. Catholics Have Independent Streak – Survey

"A majority of American Roman Catholics feel strongly about the sacraments and traditional church values such as caring for the poor, but they may not agree with the church teachings on topics such as abortion, same-sex marriage and maintaining a celibate, male clergy, a survey has found."

"Freshman 15" Weight Gain is a Myth: Study

"The idea that college freshmen gain an average of 15 pounds in their first year of school is a myth -- the average is really between 2.4 pounds for women and 3.4 pounds for men, the co-author of a new study said Tuesday."

Economists: Europe Crisis to Cloud U.S. Economy in 2012

"Most economists surveyed by USA TODAY say the European debt crisis will remain a threat to the global economy next year and will hurt U.S. economic growth despite last week's deal aimed at averting a meltdown."

At Best Places to Work, Trust, Pride and Camaraderie Overshadow Pay

"The Great Place to Work Institute examines elements that make for a standout workplace and has released its first-ever list of multinational companies most successful at keeping their employees happy."

Netflix Takes Up 32.7% of Internet Bandwidth

Despite recent troubles, Netflix is a major force on the Internet, accounting for 32.7% of peak U.S. downstream traffic, according to a new report.

Most Americans Want Popular Presidential Vote

"For the first time since the historic 2000 presidential election, a majority of Republicans now favor adopting a popular vote system to elect the president of the United States over the Electoral College, a new Gallup poll shows. Nearly two-thirds of Americans overall would prefer the popular vote."

Report: Facebook Dominates Display Ads

"Facebook accounts for 15 percent of total spent online, beating Google and Yahoo sites, which are tied with 10 percent each. Facebook also is responsible for 28 percent of all display ads seen online in the U.S., up from 23 percent in the same quarter last year."

How a Few Bad Apples Ruin Everything

"A growing body of research suggests that having just a few nasty, lazy or incompetent characters around can ruin the performance of a team or an entire organization—no matter how stellar the other employees."

People Look at Labels Less Than They Think

"Consumers think they look at food labels more than they actually do, University of Minnesota researchers suggest."

World Needs to Update its Flu Vaccines: Study

"As Americans line up for flu shots, they should consider that the vaccines may be far less effective than thought, according to a new study."

Income of Top 1 Percent Far Outgrew Others: Report

"Incomes for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans nearly tripled from 1979 to 2007, far outpacing income growth for all other groups, said a new report that underscored sharply increased U.S. income disparity."

Warming Could Exceed Safe Levels in This Lifetime

"Global temperature rise could exceed 'safe' levels of two degrees Celsius in some parts of the world in many of our lifetimes if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, two research papers published in the journal Nature warned."

Tuition and Fees Rise More Than 8% at U.S. Public Colleges

"Tuition and fees at America's public colleges rose more than 8% this year as a weakened economy and severe cuts in state funding took their toll, a report out today says."

Study: Tablet Users are Rich, Educated, News-Loving

"Owners of iPads and other tablet devices tend to be news junkies who are wealthier and more highly educated than than the general population, according to a new report."

It's Never Too Late to Lose Weight, Study Hints

"Teens who are overweight or obese have higher chances of dying from heart disease down the line, but that extra risk virtually vanishes if they shed the spare pounds as adults."

Study: Teens Who Drink a Lot of Soda Tend to Be More Violent

"Drinking lots of soda may increase the risk of violent behavior in teens, a new study suggests."

Motherhood Changes Brain Function

"Motherhood is associated with a host of new behaviors that are driven, at least in part, by alterations in brain function, researchers in Israel say."

Home Prices Rose in Half of Major U.S. Cities

"Home prices rose in August in half of major U.S. cities measured by a private survey, a sign that prices are stabilizing in some hard-hit portions of the country."

Survey: Economists Bleaker About U.S. Economy

Fewer U.S. companies expect to hire new workers in coming months, as business economists grow increasingly pessimistic about the overall economy's growth in the coming year.

Survey: Religious Identity Slips Among U.S. Catholics

"One in four Americans call themselves Catholic, but a survey released Monday finds this is more a cultural brand label for many than a religious identity."

Americans' Student Loan Balance Now Exceeds $1 Trillion

"USA Today parses through New York Federal Reserve's latest report (pdf) on Household Debt and Credit and finds that for the first time, this year the amount of student loans will surpass the $100 billion mark and the outstanding balance will exceed $1 trillion."

For-Profit Colleges are Focus of Student Loan Issue

Tom Harkins' report, 'Debt without a Diploma,' found that "nearly half of all federal student loan defaults occur at for-profit schools, although the schools have only 10% of higher education students. . ."

Why Companies are Often Terrible at Changing

". . . a survey published in 2011 by the Economist Intelligence Unit and Celerant Consulting (Sharlene's employer) found that despite increases in both executive time and spending, companies are simply not that good at changing, failing nearly half of the time (44%)."

New Climate Study Deals Blow to Skeptics

"An independent study of global temperature records has reaffirmed previous conclusions by climate scientists that global warming is real."

Exercise Helps Increase Cancer Survival

"Energy balance -- calories consumed, offset by the number burned -- is gaining attention by U.S. researchers as a way to reduce cancer rates, a surgeon says."

Ways to Ease Math Anxiety Studied

"U.S. researchers say a brain study has revealed how successful students overcome math anxiety by controlling their fears."

Study: No Negative Impact From E-Readers

"A comparison of reading texts on paper with reading from an e-book found no disadvantages associated with the electronic version, European researchers say."

Largest Study on Cell Phones and Cancer Finds No Link

"The biggest study to look for any connection has found no link. It followed more than 350,000 people for about a decade and says heavy cell phone users have the same cancer rates as people who don't use cell phones."

CDC: 88 Percent of Americans Consume Too Much Sodium

"Eighty-eight percent of U.S. children and adults consume more sodium per day than the amount recommended by federal dietary guidelines, according to a new report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

The Rising Value of a Science Degree

"If you’re trying to figure out what to study in college, a new report suggests you would do well choosing a major in science, technology, engineering or math."

LJ's Placements & Salaries Survey 2011

"A total 1,789 LIS graduates responded to LJ’s annual Placements & Salaries Survey, representing a solid 37.3% of the approximately 4790 2010 graduates from the 38 participating schools."

The PC is Dying, But Very, Very Slowly

"The trend is clear: Personal computer sales are slumping, and smartphone and tablet sales are booming. But Intel proved late Tuesday that the PC isn't going away anytime soon."

Use of Mobile Apps Grows on Campus, But 'Cloud' Services Are Slow to Catch On

"This year has seen a substantial increase in the number of colleges offering mobile apps for campus resources and services. But the use of Web-based services, known as 'the cloud,' for administrative services is growing slowly, according to a national survey of campus-technology leaders."

Brain Memory Finding May Help Schizophrenia Research

"A variation in a part of the brain may explain why some people have a better memory of reality than others and could advance understanding of brain disorders like schizophrenia, scientists said on Tuesday."

More Facebook Friends Linked to Bigger Brain Areas

"Scientists have found a direct link between the number of "friends" a person has on Facebook and the size of certain brain regions, raising the possibility that using online social networks might change our brains."

Computers May 'Re-wire' Themselves

"U.S. scientists say a new nanomaterial that 'steers' electricity could lead to computers that would adapt their own circuitry based on changing needs."

Study: Rivers, Streams Source of CO2

"Streams and rivers release significant carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which needs to be taken into account in climate modeling, U.S. researchers say."

One in 4 U.S. Children Saw Family Violence

"More than 25 percent of U.S. children, including 11 percent during the past year, have been exposed to physical violence between their parents, researchers say."

Study Says Sea Level to Rise for 500 Years

"Scientists in Denmark say climate models suggest the emission of greenhouse gases and pollution of the atmosphere will raise sea levels for the next 500 years."

Half of Americans Support Legalizing Marijuana Use, Poll Shows

"Half of Americans now support legalizing marijuana use, a record high, amid growing support for decriminalization that could build pressure to eventually change U.S. laws on the drug, a Gallup poll showed on Monday."

Doing Less With Less - U.S. Counties Cut Spending

"Counties across the United States are slashing spending and making long-term changes to their budgets as federal and state governments pull back on aid, according to a survey to be released on Wednesday."

Study Shows First-Ever Malaria Vaccine Cuts Risk of Disease in Half

"The results of a large-scale study of the first-ever malaria vaccine cuts the risk of the disease in half and could save millions of lives of small children."

Research Librarians Consider the Risks and Rewards of Collaboration

"Big-scale collaborations and digital-era collection strategies took center stage at the Association of Research Libraries’ membership meeting, held here last week."

180 Private Colleges Fail Education Dept.'s Latest Financial-Responsibility Test

"A total of 150 private nonprofit colleges failed the U.S. Department of Education's most recent financial-responsibility test, which covers the 2010 fiscal year, according to data released by the department on Wednesday."

Babies Sense Fairness, can Be Altruistic

"Infants as young as 15 months detect the difference between equal and unequal distribution of food and are willing to share, U.S. researchers say."

Study Links Swearing on TV to Teen Aggression

"Swearing on television during prime time will most likely get a show fined by the Federal Communication Commission, and new research suggests it might be for good reasons."

12 Percent of Shy Teens May Have Social Phobia

"A small portion of shy teenagers may actually have social phobia, according to a new national study of adolescents."

Climate Change Spawns the Incredible Shrinking Ant

"Plants and animals are shrinking because of warmer temperatures and lack of water, researchers said on Monday, warning it could have profound implications for food production in years ahead."

Many Cancer Survivors Struggle With PTSD Symptoms

"A cancer diagnosis can leave lasting psychological scars akin to those inflicted by war, according to a new survey."

Study: Materialistic Values Compromise Marriages

"Researchers have found that focusing on money and possessions can take a toll on couples' happiness and stability."

New Enrollment Dips a Bit at U.S. Graduate Schools

"Enrollment of new students at graduate schools in the United States dropped slightly from 2009 to 2010, despite an 8.4 percent increase in applications. It was the first decline in first-time graduate enrollment since 2003, according to the Council of Graduate Schools, and came after a 5.5 percent increase the previous year."

Spawn of Medieval "Black Death" Bug Still Roam the Earth

"The Black Death in medieval Europe was more than the deadliest plague outbreak on record: The epidemic appears to be responsible for the cases of plague that still infect humans today."

Websites Leak More Info Than Most Know: Study

"Consumers are less anonymous than they think while surfing the Web, according to a study released on Tuesday that triggered new calls for 'do not track' rules."

Many Employees Do Not Want the Boss's Job

"A new survey from staffing firm OfficeTeam finds that more than three-fourths of office workers don’t want their boss’s job."

Study: Worms Show Extinction Recovery

"After a global extinction 65 million years ago that wiped out much of life on Earth, lowly worms were likely the first life to re-emerge, U.S. researchers say."

U.S. Wireless Subscriptions Top Population

"The number of wireless phone subscribers in the United States is greater than the nation's population, the wireless industry's trade association said Tuesday."

CEO Confidence Declines Again, At Two-Year Low

"The Conference Board’s measure of chief executive confidence declined further in the third quarter. The measure now stands at 42, versus 55 in the second quarter, the board says in a statement, noting that a reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses."

Study: Great Lakes' Mercury Pollution Poses Health Risks

"Mercury pollution in the Great Lakes region is much greater than previously reported, and people eating some of the fish there face potential health risks, a new report concludes."

Study: Chocolate Lovers Have Lower Risk of Stroke

"The news keeps getting sweeter: eating chocolate has been linked to lower blood pressure, a reduced risk of heart disease and now, in a new study, a lower risk of stroke in women."

Senate Panel Slams 2004 Corporate Tax Break

"A Senate panel on Tuesday released a study that concluded a 2004 law that gave U.S. corporations a huge tax break to bring foreign profits back home did nothing to create jobs, undercutting new proposals for a similar initiative to boost the listless economy."

10 Ways Mobile Gadgets Have Changed our Lives

"With an estimated 5 billion mobile phone connections in the world, not to mention the emerging number of tablet computers and other on-the-go connectivity gadgets, mobile technology has altered the way we live."

Thin Moms And Dads Pass On 'Skinny Genes'

"Like mother, like daughter? Turns out, the "inter-generational transmission of thinness" is real. Parental weight strongly influences slimness in children, a study of 7,000 families finds."

Talk Therapy Lifts Severe Schizophrenics

"These new findings suggest that such patients have far more capability to improve their lives than was previously assumed and, if replicated, could change the way that doctors treat the one million patients for whom the disorder is profoundly limiting."

Scientists Use Cloning to Make Human Stem Cells

"U.S. scientists for the first time have used a cloning technique to get tailor-made embryonic stem cells to grow in unfertilized human egg cells, a landmark finding and a potential new flashpoint for opponents of stem cell research."

State Lawmakers Push to Allow Guns on College Campuses

"State lawmakers across the USA are pushing a growing number of bills this year that would legalize carrying guns on college campuses, according to groups tracking the trend."

Report Shows Minority Students Suspended at Higher Rates

"U.S. public schools suspend black, Hispanic and disabled students at much higher rates than others, according to a new report by a Colorado-based civil rights group."

Depressed Brains May Hate Differently

"Depressed people are often withdrawn and antisocial. This doesn't necessarily mean that they don't like other people, but it could mean that their brains don't process feelings of hate in a normal way, a new study suggests."

Money Beats Happiness

"Money cannot buy happiness, but most people would choose it anyway, says a new study of more than 2,600 people published in the American Economic Review."

Study: $6.7 Billion Wasted in Primary Care

"About $6.7 billion was spent on unnecessary tests or prescribing unnecessary drugs in primary care in 2009, U.S. researchers found."

Doctors Unequipped for Bereaved Outreach

"Most U.S. cancer physicians say they reach out to bereaved family members but two-thirds feel poorly trained in this area, researchers suggest."

Study: Some Learn Better From Mistakes

"People who think they can learn from their mistakes have a different brain reaction to errors than those who don't think they can, U.S. researchers say."

Cloud Computing Disappoints Early Adopters: Survey

"Few organizations have moved to cloud computing -- the delivery of computing as a service from remote centers -- and of those that have, many are disappointed with the results, a survey published on Tuesday found."

Middle-Aged Women Happier With Moderate Exercise

"Middle-aged women encouraged to exercise at moderate intensity were much happier and more likely to continue working out than peers who exercised more intensely, a new study found."

Tobacco Companies Knew of Radiation in Cigarettes, Covered It Up

"Tobacco companies knew that cigarettes contained a radioactive substance called polonium-210, but hid that knowledge from the public for over four decades, a new study of historical documents revealed."

Study Shows Unprecedented Loss of Ozone Above Arctic

"In findings published in a new study in the journal Nature, scientists said a hole in the ozone was caused by an unusually long period of low temperatures in the stratosphere, the protective layer that shields the Earth’s surface from harmful radiation."

Fortune: 25 Highest-Paid Women

"Oracle's Safra Catz raked in a whopping $42 million in total compensation last year. See how much the other top earners took home."

Google Chrome on Track to Overtake Firefox in 2011

"According to data provided by StatCounter, Google Chrome is currently in position to rise above Mozilla’s Firefox and become the second most popular Web browser by December 2011."

Forecast Says Double-Dip Recession is Imminent

"The U.S. economy is staring down another recession, according to a forecast from the Economic Cycle Research Institute."

Prehistoric Art was Child's Play

"Prehistoric etchings found in a cave in France are the work of children as young as three years old, research suggests."

'Autistic' Mice Help Researchers Study Disorder

"Researchers have engineered a new type of mouse that models autism and could aid in the development of treatments for the disorder, a new study says."

Cellphone Carriers Keep Personal Data Up to 7 Years, Report Says

"A document obtained by the ACLU shows for the first time how the four largest cellphone companies in the U.S. treat data about their subscribers' calls, text messages, Web surfing and approximate locations."

Aerosol Particles Dry Out South Asian Monsoons: Study

"Summer monsoons that provide up to 80 percent of the water South Asia needs have gotten drier in the past half century, possibly due to aerosol particles spewed by burning fossil fuels, climate scientists said on Thursday."

HP's Whitman Sets the Record for Female Fortune 500 CEOs

"With Meg Whitman nabbing the CEO job at Hewlett-Packard--and the four women at the bottom of this list (below) new to the top job this year--America now has 15 female Fortune 500 CEOs."

Study: Largest U.S. Group of Poor Kids is Now Hispanic

"For the first time in U.S. history, the largest single group of poor children in any racial or ethnic category is Hispanic, according to a new survey."

Tobacco Companies Knew of Radiation in Cigarettes, Covered It Up

"Tobacco companies knew that cigarettes contained a radioactive substance called polonium-210, but hid that knowledge from the public for over four decades, a new study of historical documents revealed."

Warmer World May Mean Smaller Animals

"Many animal species could shrink in physical size as an unanticipated consequence of global warming, British researchers say."

U.S. CEOs' View of Economy Deteriorating

"U.S. chief executives' view of the economy deteriorated sharply in the third quarter, with the number who expect to cut jobs roughly doubling, according to a survey released on Thursday."

Middle-Aged Women Happier With Moderate Exercise

"Middle-aged women encouraged to exercise at moderate intensity were much happier and more likely to continue working out than peers who exercised more intensely, a new study found."

Some Couples Pull Back From the Edge of Divorce

"Doherty's survey of 2,484 parents who filed for divorce in Minnesota offers new insight into how people decide whether to call it quits or try again. About a quarter of those surveyed thought there was still hope for the marriage . . ."

Poll on Global Citizenship Released

"The survey looks at American attitudes toward global citizenship." This is to be the "first of a series of surveys on contemporary issues surrounding media consumption, changing culture and our faith."

Fortune: 50 Most Powerful Women in Business

This is Fortune magazine's "annual ranking of America's leading businesswomen." You also can see the ranking from several previous years.

Record 81% Unhappy With Way US Is Governed

"Majorities of Democrats and Republicans alike are unhappy with the US government, leading to a record high of 81% who are dissatisfied with the way America is bring governed, the latest Gallup poll shows."

Health Insurance Premiums Climb Faster in 2011

"The cost of health insurance continues to climb for companies and workers, with annual family premiums this year growing at a pace triple that of 2010 and outpacing wage increases, according to a survey."

For Women, Risk of Depression Falls as Coffee Intake Rises

"A few cups of coffee a day may help keep the blues at bay. According to a large new study, women who drink caffeinated coffee are less likely to become depressed -- and the more they drink, the more their risk of depression goes down."

Most Food Stamp Recipients Have No Earned Income

"Some 70% of households that relied on food stamps last year had no earned income, a new report shows."

Signs Young Christians Aren't Waiting

"True love doesn’t wait after all. That’s the implication in the upcoming October issue of an evangelical magazine that claims that young, unmarried Christians are having premarital sex almost as much as their non-Christian peers."

Middle-Class Schools Miss the Mark

"Middle-class public schools educate the majority of U.S. students but pay lower teacher salaries, have larger class sizes and spend less per pupil than low-income and wealthy schools, according to a report to be issued Monday."

Business School Applications Drop

"Applications for two-year, full-time M.B.A. programs dropped nearly 10% from a year ago. Prolonged uncertainty about the job market has soured some would-be applicants' interest."

Psychopaths More Cautious Than Stockbrokers

"A new study from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland pitted a group of stockbrokers against a group of actual psychopaths in various computer simulations and intelligence tests, and found that the money men were significantly more reckless, competitive, and manipulative."

Study Shows More Mental Illness, but Decline in Getting Help

"According to a new study, more American adults than ever are reporting being disabled by the symptoms of depression, anxiety or other emotional problems."

New Study Says Birds Learn How to Build Nests

"A new study has found birds learn the art of nest-building, rather than it being just an instinctive skill."

Record 81% Unhappy With Way US Is Governed

"Majorities of Democrats and Republicans alike are unhappy with the US government, leading to a record high of 81% who are dissatisfied with the way America is bring governed, the latest Gallup poll shows."

Study: Obese People's Brains May Crave high-Calorie Foods

"A new study links low blood sugar in obese people to a greater desire within the brain for high-calorie foods, a finding that offers insight into why people who become overweight tend to stay that way."

HP's Whitman Sets the Record for Female Fortune 500 CEOs

"With Meg Whitman nabbing the CEO job at Hewlett-Packard--and the four women at the bottom of this list (below) new to the top job this year--America now has 15 female Fortune 500 CEOs."

Nielsen: Android Share of U.S. Smartphone Market Hits 43%

"The share of smartphones running Google's (GOOG) Android OS hit 43% in August, but of those who bought smartphones in the past 3 months, 56% bought Androids."

Survey: Birth Order Affects Job, Salary

". . .it turns out that first-born kids are the most likely to earn six figure salaries and hold a top executive position among workers with siblings, according to findings from jobs website CareerBuilder.com. Meanwhile, middle kids are the most likely to report holding an entry-level spot and earning less than $35,000, while siblings born last are the most likely to work in middle management."

Crime Witness ID Method Can Affect Error Rate: Study

"Showing photographs of suspected criminals to witnesses in sequence, rather than all at once, can produce fewer mistakes in identifications, according to new research."

Two Versions Of The Perfect Leader Go Head To Head. Who Triumphs?

"What kind of leader do people want? Moreover, what kind of leader should I be if I want to rise to the top? Research suggests two different and somewhat contradictory answers."

Risks Seen for Children of Illegal Immigrants

"Children whose parents are illegal immigrants or who lack legal status themselves face 'uniformly negative' effects on their social development throughout youth, a study says."

One in Three Texters Would Rather Text Than Talk

"Nearly three out of four Americans send text messages on the phone and among those who do, 31 percent prefer texting to talking, according to a study released Monday by the Pew Research Center."

Universities Seeking Out Students of Means

"More than half of the admissions officers at public research universities, and more than a third at four-year colleges said that they had been working harder in the past year to recruit students who need no financial aid and can pay full price, according to the survey of 462 admissions directors and enrollment managers conducted in August and early September."

Report Finds Improved Performance by Hospitals

"The report found that hospital performance nationwide continued to improve steadily in 2010 on a variety of measures and is now at high levels."

Men, Women Jealous for Different Reasons When Mate Strays

"Romantic jealousy seems to have a gender divide when it comes to cheating: Men typically ask more questions about the sexual aspects of an affair while women inquire more about emotional infidelity, a new study finds."

Laughing With Others Eases Pain, Study Says

"Having a good laugh with friends can help us to deal with pain -- proving laughter really is the best medicine -- a UK study out Wednesday found."

Europe's Oceans Changing at Unprecedented Rate: Report

"Europe's seas are changing at an unprecedented rate as ice sheets melt, temperatures rise and marine life migrates due to climate change, a report by the Climate Change and European Marine Ecosystem Research (CLAMER) project warned."

Household Income Drops to Lowest Point Since '96

"The median income of U.S. households fell 2.3% in 2010 to the lowest level since 1996 after adjusting for inflation, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday."

More Americans Tailoring Religion to Fit Their Needs

"Barna's new book on U.S. Christians, Futurecast, tracks changes from 1991 to 2011, in annual national surveys of 1,000 to 1,600 U.S. adults. All the major trend lines of religious belief and behavior he measured ran downward — except two. More people claim they have accepted Jesus as their savior and expect to go to heaven."

Bankruptcy Among College Grads Grows

"Bankruptcy has gotten more educated over the past five years, as financial distress spread to more of the population with college degrees, according to study results released Tuesday."

Poverty Rate Rises in America

"Amid a still struggling economy, more people in America fell below the poverty line last year, according to new census data released Tuesday. The nation's poverty rate rose to 15.1% in 2010, its highest level since 1993. In 2009, 14.3% of people in America were living in poverty."

More Bullying Cases Have Parents Turning to Courts

"Bullying lawsuits are on the rise nationwide, says Francisco Negron, general counsel for the National School Boards Association."

E-Book Readers Comparison Chart

E-Book Readers Comparison Chart

Hand Washing, Procedures Would Save $33B

"Simple, inexpensive infection control adopted in U.S. hospitals may reduce thousands of preventable deaths and save billions of dollars, a researcher says."

News of Politicians Not That Influential

"News coverage of U.S. politicians and their rhetoric appears to have less influence on the public compared to other news coverage, a political scientist says."

100 Largest Protestant Churches and Top 100 Fastest Growing Churches

"Outreach Magazine is out today with its latest downloadable lists of the nation's to 100 largest Protestant churches and top 100 fastest growing churches."

Exercise Works as Second Depression Drug

"Exercise can be as effective as a second medication for depressed patients whose condition has not been cured by a single medication, U.S. researchers say."

Peer Pressure is Brain Hardwired

"A part of the brain associated with rewards showed higher activity when a person wins among peers, compared to winning alone, U.S. researchers say."

Male Bosses Still Preferred over Female Ones

"Almost half of U.S. workers say they don't care if they have male or a female boss, a Gallup poll suggests. While 32 percent of those polled said they would prefer to work for a male and 22 percent said they preferred to work for a female, the edge for a male boss is the smallest it has been since Gallup began asking the question in 1953."

High Salaries and Fees Boost US Health Costs

"High doctors’ salaries and climbing fees may be the major reasons that health care costs are so much steeper in the United States than in other developed countries, a new study concludes."

Twitter Now Has 100 Million Active Users

"More than 100 million users are 'active' and log onto Twitter daily, or about half its registered members, and a growing number are doing so from a plethora of mobile devices, Chief Executive Dick Costolo told reporters on Thursday."

Dieters in Weight Watchers Study Drop Up to 15 Pounds in a Year

"Overweight and obese adults who followed the Weight Watchers program lost more than twice as much weight as those who received weight-loss advice from a doctor or nurse, according to a new yearlong study funded by the company."

Men are Happier at Work Than Women, Survey Finds

"It’s bad enough that men statistically tend to haul in bigger paychecks than women with comparable jobs and responsibilities. But adding insult to injury, they’re also happier than women with their work-life balance, a new survey shows."

Working-Age Poor Population Highest Since '60s

"Counting adults 18-64 who were laid off in the recent recession as well as single twenty-somethings still looking for jobs, the new working-age poor represent nearly 3 out of 5 poor people — a switch from the early 1970s when children made up the main impoverished group."

US Falls to 5th in Global Competitiveness, Survey Shows

"The U.S. has tumbled further down a global ranking of the world's most competitive economies, landing at fifth place because of its huge deficits and declining public faith in government, a global economic group said Wednesday."

Global Cybercrimes Cost $114 Billion Annually: Symantec

"A study by Symantec Corp, the maker of Norton computer security software, estimates the cost of global cybercrimes at $114 billion annually."

Businesses Post Most Job Openings in 3 Years

"Companies advertised the most job openings in three years, a hopeful sign after the worst month for hiring in nearly a year."

The Benefits of Exercise Add Up: Over Time, a Little Goes a Long Way

"Increasingly, evidence suggests that even moderate amounts of exercise can lead to measurable health benefits. But while you don't have to be a marathoner to be healthy, it helps if you exercise consistently and stay active over a lifetime, according to a new British study."

Health Care Fraud Prosecutions on Pace to Rise 85%

"New government statisticsc show federal health care fraud prosecutions in the first eight months of 2011 are on pace to rise 85% over last year due in large part to ramped-up enforcement efforts under the Obama administration."

Electric Motor Made From a Single Molecule

"The motor, made from a single molecule just a billionth of a metre across, is reported in Nature Nanotechnology."

America's Top 10 Least Secure Cities to be Online

"Conducted by the security firm AVG between Aug. 5 and Aug. 22, the survey polled 8,000 consumers in 35 U.S. cities who own an Internet-connected device and have Internet access at home."

Companies That Make Their Employees Happier

". . .the happiest employees in the U.S. credit their bliss to first-rate employee incentives, ample benefits, career advancement programs and great work-life balance."

Survey on Faking Sick Days

"The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive for Kronos Incorporated, found that about half of all Americans have taken a fake sick day. That’s about on par with countries including Canada and Australia."

Deep Divisions in Americans' Views on Race, Faith

"The survey of nearly 2,500 Americans by a pair of Washington think tanks found sharp divisions on a host of issues, ranging from immigration policy to attitudes toward followers of other religious faiths."

Many U.S. Schools Adding iPads, Trimming Textbooks

"Apple officials say they know of more than 600 districts that have launched what are called 'one-to-one' programs, in which at least one classroom of students is getting iPads for each student to use throughout the school day."

E-books' Popularity is Rewriting the Sales Story

"Random House, the USA's largest publisher, says more than 20% of U.S. revenue in the first half of this year were from digital sales. . .Eight of the top 20 titles on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list this week are e-books."

What Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents

"Today, new teachers remain in our profession an average of just 4.5 years, and many of them list 'issues with parents' as one of their reasons for throwing in the towel."

Pew Report: College Plagiarism Has Increased

"The Pew Research Center, in conjunction with the Chronicle of Higher Education, recently surveyed 1,055 college presidents from two- to four-year schools, private and public. More than half of those top officials said they've seen an increase in plagiarism in the past 10 years."

Half of Americans Drink Sugary Drinks Daily

"About half of Americans drink a sugar-sweetened beverage on any given day, with teenagers and young men consuming way more than recommended limits for staying healthy."

Number of "Majority Minority" U.S. Cities Grows: Brookings

"The ethnic map of U.S. cities has drastically changed in the last decade, which could affect how major metropolitan areas provide social, educational and health services, according to a study released by the Brookings Institution."

Some CEO Pay More Than Firms' Taxes

"Twenty-five of the 100 highest paid U.S. CEOs earned more last year than their companies paid in federal income tax, a study by a Washington think tank said."

Sugary Drinks Add 300 Calories a Day to Youths' Diets

"Teens who drink soda, energy drinks and other sugary beverages are guzzling about 327 calories a day from them, which is equal to about 2½ cans of cola, new government data shows."

College Presidents Are Bullish on Online Education but Face Skeptical Public

"Delivering courses in cyberclassrooms has gained broad acceptance among top college leaders, but the general public is far less convinced of online education's quality, according to new survey data released this week by the Pew Research Center, in association with The Chronicle."

Survey: Most Muslim Americans Have Moderate Views

"Almost half the nation's estimated 2.8 million Muslims fault their leaders for not speaking out against Islamic extremists but a vast majority are far more satisfied with the way things are going in the USA than the overall population, according to the first comprehensive survey of U.S. Muslims in four years."

Study: Jogging Beats Weight Lifting for Losing Belly Fat

"Aerobic exercise is better than resistance training if you want to lose the belly fat that poses a serious threat to your health, researchers say."

Consumer Confidence Plunges to Lowest Level Since Great Recession

"A key reading on consumer confidence plunged in August, to its lowest level since April 2009. The Conference Board, a New York-based business research group, said its Consumer Confidence Index for August fell to 44.5, down from 59.2 in July."

Report: Young Women are 'Power Users' of Social Media Sites

"People keep on flocking to sites like Facebook and Twitter, and young women are leading the way. The percentage of Internet users who are on social-networking sites continues to climb, according to a survey released Friday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project."

Study: Young Hispanics Surpass Blacks in College Enrollment

"Analyzing U.S. Census Bureau data, the researchers found that in 2010 Hispanic enrollment surged by 24% over the previous year. For that same time period, college enrollment for blacks and Asians also increased, but not as dramatically as that of Hispanics."

Culture Drives Gender Gap in Spatial Abilities, Study Finds

"According to the research, women in cultures where men are in charge score lower than their male counterparts on a test that measures the ability to rotate objects in the mind's eye. But in communities where women are at the forefront, the gender gap disappears."

Study: Medieval Plague May Be Extinct

"The version of plague that caused the Black Death in 14th century Europe may now be extinct, researchers report, but other deadly forms remain in circulation today. The plague that ravaged Europe wiped out nearly a third to two-thirds of the population according to various estimates. Its cause was eventually identified as the bacteria Yersinia pestis."

Earth Bulging Around Center

"A new analysis of satellite data shows that melting glaciers are contributing to a planet that is bulging around the center."

Worrying Can Impact Interpersonal Relationships

"A new research study, led by a Case Western Reserve University faculty member in psychology, also shows that worrying can be so intrusive and obsessive that it interferes in the person’s life and endangers the health of social relationships."

Social Contacts Help Men, Not Women, in Job Market

"The study finds that work experience doesn’t improve women’s chances of finding a job through social contacts."

Pew: Half of U.S. Adults Now Use Social Networks

"A new study says half of all American adults are now on social networks, and use among Baby Boomers is growing."

Culture of Some Colleges May Foster Gender Segregation by Major, Study Finds

"Certain colleges may have cultures that nudge female students into stereotypically female fields and men into stereotypically male ones, suggests a study whose findings are slated to be presented here on Tuesday at the annual conference of the American Sociological Association."

Men Often Fall for Miss Right After a Single Date

"A study found most men reckon they know whether or not it's 'the real thing' after just one date. By contrast, women are more indecisive on the issue, waiting until at least the sixth date before making their mind up. Staggeringly, nearly one in four men said they believed in 'love at first sight' and knew whether a girl was 'the one' within seconds."

18 States Have Changed Their Teacher Tenure Laws This Year

"Lawmakers in 18 states have passed bills changing the tenure laws for teachers in public schools this year, according to a new report from the Education Commission of the States."

Hispanic Enrollment Jumps 24%, Making Those Students the Largest Campus Minority

"A 24-percent spike in Hispanic college enrollment has brought the number of Hispanic young people attending college to an all-time high and made them the largest minority group of 18- to 24-year-olds on campuses in the country, according to a report released on Thursday by the Pew Hispanic Center."

'Baby Fever' is Real — and Not Just in Women, Study Claims

"A new study in the psychological journal Emotion claims that "baby fever" — that sudden, visceral, and almost irresistible urge to have a baby — not only exists, it can be found in both men and women."

Workplace Drama Can Damage Your Home Life

"When our colleagues don’t invite us to lunch, gossip about us, are condescending or otherwise rude to us at work, the impact can be so intense that we take our problems home, affecting our families and partners who in turn may also take the stress to their workplaces, a new Baylor University study reports."

Poll Finds Disapproval of Congress at All-Time High

"Americans are plenty angry at Congress in the aftermath of the debt crisis and Republicans could pay the greatest price, a new Associated Press-GfK poll suggests."

Half of U.S. Adults Will Be Obese by 2030, Study Says

"If the U.S. government doesn’t make a change in the food environment, then half of all American adults will be obese by 2030, The Washington Post reported."

Facebook Has Officially Hit 1 Trillion Page Views

"Facebook has officially hit 1 trillion page views, according to figures released for web traffic in June, Time magazine’s TechLand column reports."

Early Risers and Professional Success

"As part of research published last year by Harvard Business Review, biologist Christoph Randler found that people who were most energetic in the mornings were more likely to identify long-range goals for themselves and feel in charge of making things happen."

Study: World is Getting Fatter, Needs to Stop

"The problem of obesity is spreading around the world and poses serious health threats. The finding is part of a new special report on obesity, and how to combat it in the medical journal the Lancet."

Report Shows Increased Need for Academic Libraries

"The need for libraries on college and university campuses has increased, according to a new study released by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Research and Statistics."

Astronomers Report Seeing Supermassive Black Hole Swallowing Star

"The unprecedented sight was revealed in bursts of radiation from a constellation 4.5 billion light-years away, scientists say in the journal Nature."

Report: Majority of Congress With No Education in Business

"Almost 80 percent of lawmakers have no academic background in business or economics, even as Congress grapples with deficits, unemployment and other economic issues of tremendous complexity, according to an independent analysis released Tuesday."

An Insurance Maze for U.S. Doctors

"American doctors spent more than $80,000 per year per physician dealing with insurance and payment issues, or roughly four times as much as their counterparts in Canada, according to a recent report."

Geologists Sharply Cut Estimate of Shale Gas

"A shale formation has about 84 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas, according to the report from the United States Geological Survey."

Trying To Unravel The Mysteries Of Arctic Warming

"The Arctic is heating up twice as fast as the rest of the Earth, and sea ice is rapidly disappearing during the summer months. Some studies now suggest the Arctic Ocean could be free of ice in the summertime by the year 2030, with major repercussions in the region and beyond."

Future Heart Health 'Shaped By Diet'

"Growing up starved of calories may give you a higher risk of heart disease 50 years on, research suggests."

About 77 Million Children and Teens in School or College

"About 77 million U.S. children and teens, or 27 percent of population, were enrolled in school -- nursery school to college -- in 2009, the Census Bureau says."

Psychology of Making Near-Future Predictions

"With one of the first studies of its kind, researchers at Washington University say they are unlocking the process our brain uses to make these everyday near-future predictions."

Math Anxiety? Study Examines Nerves By the Numbers

"The new report, published in the journal Emotion, looked at the reasons why some students succeed on a math test while others flounder. Scientists measured working memory capacity, a mental scratch pad that temporarily stores and processes information, in 73 college students with low and high levels of math anxiety."

What's Fueling Bible Belt Divorces?

"Southern men and women had higher rates of divorce in 2009 than their counterparts in other parts of the country: 10.2 per 1,000 for men and 11.1 per 1,000 for women, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday."

Social Workers Can Get Secondary Trauma

"Hearing repeated stories of suffering from trauma victims causes serious psychological stress in clinical social workers, U.S. researchers found."

NASA Telescope Discovers Coldest Stars

"NASA scientists say they've discovered the coldest class of star-like bodies, with temperatures as cool as that of the human body."

Less Educated, Less Attending Services

"Less-educated white Americans are dropping out of the religious sector, similarly to the way they left the labor market, a U.S. researcher says a study shows."

CBO: Growth Will Be Stunted for Years

"The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday U.S. economic growth will stay 'well below' its potential for several years."

Study: Social Sites Raise Risky Behavior

"U.S. teenagers who spend time on Internet social networking sites are at an increased risk of smoking, drinking and drug use, a Columbia University study says."

Obesity Costs Some States $15 Billion Per Year

"Obesity costs some states as much as $15 billion a year, a new study says."

El Nino Doubles Risk of Civil Wars: Study

"The El Nino climate cycle, which spreads warm, dry air around the globe every four years or so, doubles the risk of civil wars in 90 tropical countries, researchers reported Wednesday."