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."