Study Ranks Food Pathogens by Cost to Society

"Of the food pathogens that cost society the most money — in terms of medical care, lost days of work, long-term chronic health problems or deaths — half are found in poultry, pork, beef and other meat products, according to a study due for release Thursday."

U.S. Report Puts Egypt With Worst Religion Violators

"A government agency's annual report on violations of religious rights added Egypt on Thursday to the list of the world's 14 worst violators."

Plagiarism Goes Social

"Social and user-generated Web sites are the most popular sources for student copying, says a report by the creator of a plagiarism-detection service."

Study: First Stars Were Massive, Fast-Spinning

"The first stars that dotted the universe were not only immense, but probably also fast-spinning, according to a new study that sheds light on the nature of stellar evolution."

High-Schoolers Who Work Less Likely to Finish College

"Students who work more than 15 hours a week in high school show lower rates of college completion, suggests a new study assessing the harm of high school work intensity."

Study: Social Media Has Little Impact on Online Retail Purchases

"All those marketers who are rushing to increase their social media spend take note: A new study says social media has almost no influence on online purchasing behavior."

Unemployment Rates Down in 317 Cities, Most Since '09

"Unemployment rates fell in 317 of 372 metro areas last month compared to March 2010, the Labor Department said Wednesday."

To Profs, YouTube Tops Twitter

"Think Twitter is a great professional and teaching tool for professors? You're not alone. But according to a new study, you're in a very slim minority."

2010 Southern Baptist Convention Compensation Study

"The 2010 Compensation Study was a joint project of state Baptist conventions, GuideStone Financial Resources, and LifeWay Christian Resources. Compensation and congregational data was collected anonymously from ministers and office/custodial personnel of Southern Baptist churches and church-type missions. Reports are based on compensation for nearly 12,000 respondents from all 50 states."

Increasing Share of Adults Have College Degrees, Census Bureau Finds

"The percentage of adults with postsecondary degrees is higher than ever, and women are obtaining those degrees at higher rates than men are, according to a new report."

Stents: How New Technology Drives Health Costs

"Heart devices known as drug-eluting stents have added as much as $1.57 billion to U.S. health costs since their introduction in 2003, U.S. researchers said on Monday. The study offers an illustration of how new technology can drive health costs, the researchers said in the Archives of Internal Medicine."

U.S. Sees Troubling Water Trend

"Projected changes in water levels could create major problems for the U.S. economy and environmental health, government officials said."

U.S. Obesity Stigma Spreads Worldwide

"Obesity has been stigmatized for several decades in the United States and the stigma has spread worldwide, U.S. researchers say."

Americans Depend More on Federal Aid Than Ever

"Americans depended more on government assistance in 2010 than at any other time in the nation’s history, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data finds. The trend shows few signs of easing, even though the economic recovery is nearly 2 years old."

Elderly Face Lack of Geriatric Specialists, New Report Warns

"Doctors who specialize in aging are in short supply and their shortage will grow worse in coming decades, a new report concludes."

7% of Americans Subscribe to Netflix

"Netflix knocked over a new milestone Monday: It now has more subscribers than the largest cable TV operator in the U.S. Netflix's global subscriber base grew almost 70% over the past year, to 23.6 million users."

Belief in Vengeful God May Affect Cheating

"College students who believe in a God seen as mean or punishing are less apt than others to cheat on a test, U.S. and Canadian researchers found."

Child Abuse May Change Brain

"Physical, sexual or emotional abuse in childhood increases the risk of depression in teens by altering a person's response to stress, Canadian researchers say."

IMF Predicts Chinese Economy to Surpass U.S. in 2016

"The International Monetary Fund's latest forecast predicts that China's economy will outflank the United States' in 2016."

2011 College Grads Finding a Better Job Market

"Employers plan to hire 19.3% more recent graduates this year, a report says."

Poll: Youth Without Degrees at End of Job Line

"The nation's economic upheaval has been especially hard on young people trying to start their working lives with a high school education or less. Only about a third are working full-time, compared with two-thirds of recent college grads, according to an Associated Press-Viacom poll."

CDC Study Links Bullying With Family Violence

"While bullies and their victims traffic in threats, taunts and fights in the schoolyard, a report on Thursday showed those on both sides are also more likely to live with violence at home."

The Psychology of Cheating

Article on the psychology of cheating

Mothers' Pesticide Exposure Linked To Kids' IQs

"Scientists report that children exposed before birth to a common class of pesticides can have lower IQ levels when they reach school age. The pesticides, known as organophosphates, are widely used in agriculture. The new data come from three independent studies published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives."

Why Academics Suffer Burnout

"Survey finds high stress levels for those who work in higher education, and especially for younger scholars -- all over the world."

To Tug Hearts, Music First Must Tickle the Neurons

"But now some scientists are. . .trying to understand and quantify what makes music expressive — what specific aspects make one version of, say, a Beethoven sonata convey more emotion than another."

Music Can Keep Brain Sharp Into Old Age

"Music lessons in childhood may keep people's brains sharper as they age even if they don't keep up with playing an instrument, U.S. researchers say."

Survey: Frequent Twitter Users Have Shorter Relationships

"Is someone you know tweeting a great deal? According to a recent survey, he or she might be prone to having shorter relationships."

Dieters Easily Deluded By So-Called 'Healthy' Foods

"Because dieters are more inclined than non-dieters to seek out foods that are labeled as healthy, they also are more likely to choose mislabeled foods that are actually unhealthy, according to a new study."

Prosecutions of Tax Evaders up 25%

"Criminal tax prosecutions by the federal government hit a 10-year high in 2010, powered in part by a continuing crackdown on offshore tax evasion by wealthy Americans."

Staph Seen in Nearly Half of U.S. Meat

"Almost half of the meat and poultry sold at U.S. supermarkets and grocery stores contains a type of bacteria that is potentially harmful to humans, a new study estimates."

Sweden and Singapore the Most Competitive Countries in the Digital Economy

"Sweden and Singapore are the most competitive countries in the digital economy, according to a study by the World Economic Forum (WEF)."

Diet Soda Doesn't Raise Diabetes Risk: Study

"Diet soda and other artificially-sweetened drinks - previously implicated in raising the chance of developing diabetes - are not guilty, suggests a new study from Harvard University researchers."

Africa Birthplace of Language

"Languages from central and southern Africa have the most sounds of any in the world, which suggests that the area is the original birthplace of human language."

Graduate-School Applications From Foreign Students Continue to Rise

"Foreign-student applications to American graduate schools are up 9 percent over last year, with much of the increase fueled by a double-digit expansion in applications from prospective Chinese students, according to a report released today by the Council of Graduate Schools."

Study: States Mandating In Vitro Coverage See Fewer Multiple Births

"A new study finds that in states that mandate insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization, there are fewer twins and triplets. The researcher says this saves lots of money, since multiple births put a strain on neonatal intensive care units and other health services."

Mom's Ums And Uhs Can Help Toddlers Learn Language

"Most parents try their best to speak clearly and fluently to their toddlers, but they shouldn't sweat it if an occasional 'um' or 'uh' shows up in their speech. In fact, a study just published in the journal Developmental Science suggests this kind of verbal fumbling, called disfluency, can actually help young children learn language."

Study: Women to be Financial "Power Houses" in 2020

"New research finds over the next decade women will increasingly be the financial decision-makers for businesses. But their power depends in part on their age group."

PC Market Takes Beating From iPads

"Apple’s iPad and the tablet revolution are beating at the gates of the traditional PC sector, biting into the category and bringing uncertainty about the future of the industry."

Schizophrenic Brain Cells Created in Lab

"Skin cells taken from four individuals with schizophrenia have been turned into brain cells, or neurons, and grown in lab dishes, the first time a complex mental disorder has been examined using living brain cells."

Most American Catholics Use Contraception

"Catholic women overwhelmingly use birth control, despite an official ban by the church, a new study finds."

US Suicides Rise, Fall with Economy - CDC Report

"Suicides in the United States ebb and flow with the economy, rising in bad times and falling in good, researchers at the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday."

Obese Can Suffer From Social Anxiety

"Obese people with social anxiety related only to their weight may have anxiety as severe as those with social anxiety disorder, U.S. researchers say."

Senate Panel Slams Goldman in Scathing Report

"In the most damning official U.S. report yet produced on Wall Street's role in the financial crisis, a Senate panel accused powerhouse Goldman Sachs of misleading clients and manipulating markets, while also condemning greed, weak regulation and conflicts of interest throughout the financial system."

Countries Whose People Work the Most Hours

"A study of 34 countries has found that Mexican, Japanese and Portuguese nationals spend the most time each day on work, studying and household chores."

Study: 2 Million Babies Stillborn Every Year

"More than 2 million babies are stillborn every year worldwide and about half could be saved if their mothers had better medical care, according to researchers' estimates."

Weight Loss Improves Memory, Research Shows

"Here's another good reason to lose weight: It may improve your memory and concentration, new research suggests."

The Burden of Supporting the Elderly

"The ratio of working-age people to retirement-age counterparts is dwindling across the developed world."

US Internet Ad Revenue Hit Record in 2010

"U.S. Internet advertising revenue hit a record $26 billion in 2010, boosted by the popularity of online videos and social media."

Half of All Americans Take Vitamins and Supplements in Survey

"Do you take vitamins every morning? The numbers are growing. A new government study found that more than half of American adults take at least one dietary supplement."

US Lagging Other Nations in Using Technology, Study Shows

"The United States continues to lag other nations in its use of computing and communications technology, according to an annual study issued Tuesday by the World Economic Forum."

Study Suggests Feds Could Recoup Billions in Unpaid Taxes by Withholding Passports

"The Government Accountability Office, at the request of Congress, released a study Monday examining how the government could leverage the passport process to recover unpaid taxes. The office found that in fiscal 2008, Americans who received passports owed a collective $5.8 billion to the IRS."

High School Students Take Harder Classes, Do Better

"The typical American high school student is taking harder courses and performing better in them, according to a new study released on Wednesday."

Study: Prisons Failing to Deter Repeat Criminals in 41 States

"The number of inmates returning to state prisons within three years of release has remained steady for more than a decade, a strong indicator that prison systems are failing to deter criminals from re-offending, a new study has concluded."

Shale Gas May Be Worse Than Coal

"The new kid on the energy block, shale gas, may be worse for climate change than coal, a study concludes."

Nitrogen Key in Feeding World But Pollution Costly: Study

"Nitrogen compounds play a vital role in feeding a rising world population but they also pollute air, soil and water, costing each person in Europe up to 740 euros ($1,066) a year, according to a study published on Monday."

Study Reveals New Target for Antidepressants

"British scientists using human stem cells say they have found out how antidepressants make new brain cells -- a finding that should help drug researchers develop better and more efficient medicines to fight depression."

Report: Bing Comprised 30% of Web Searches in March

"Micrsoft's Bing powered 30% of Internet searches during the month of March, says a report from online research firm Experian Hitwise."

20 Highest Paid CEOs

"These lucky corporate chiefs took home the most pay in 2010. Some saw their compensation more than double — even triple! — from a year earlier."

The Key to a Long Life: Conscientious Habits

"Long before the age of gene therapy and miracle medical treatments, the secrets of long life were being gathered and revealed in a unique study of 1,500 children born about 1910. By studying these people throughout their lives, successive generations of researchers collected nearly 10 million pieces of observable data and have been able to produce solid insights into human longevity."

Study: Fracking for Natural Gas More Hazardous Than Burning Coal

"According to the study, the amount of methane gas discharged by fracking essentially negates any advantage natural gas holds over oil and coal as a cleaner energy source."

Multitasking Gets Harder With Age

"A new study suggests that older brains behave differently when it comes to switching between two tasks."

Doctors Won't Always Take Their Own Advice: Study

"When doctors step into their patients' shoes, their treatment decisions don't always line up with the advice they give in their clinics, a US survey suggests."

Recent Pop Songs Reflect Our 'Me Me Me' Attitudes, Study Says

"Researchers used a text analysis program to examine song lyrics for the 10 most popular songs (according to the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart) for every year from 1980 to 2007. They found that the decades-old songs were more likely to use more first-person plural pronouns (we, our, us), while the newer lyrics contained more first-person singular pronouns (me, my, mine). But modern songs aren't just more "me"-focused -- they're also meaner, the study shows."

Students Worldwide Addicted to Media

"It doesn't matter if a college student lives in the United States, Chile, China, Slovakia, Mexico or Lebanon -- many are addicted to media, researchers say."

Study: Unemployment Shortens Life Span

"The study found sustained unemployment raises the risk of premature death by 63 percent. The risk is increased 78 percent for men compared with 37 percent for women."

Higher Life Expectancy Means Lower Church Attendance

"As life expectancy increases, churches should expect to see more gray hair and fewer young people in the pews. That's the result of a new analysis of people's religious decisions."

Study: Young Children May Make Parents Less Fit

"A study found that mothers of young children were heavier and ate more calories, sugary drinks and fatty foods than childless women. Dads and moms in the study were less active than their peers without kids."

Gartner: Apple to Top Tablet Market Through 2015

"Apple's iOS -- the operating system behind the iPad -- will remain the top platform in the tablet market through 2015, says tech analysts at Gartner."

Study: Weight-Loss Combo Pill Shows Promise

"Two existing drugs, in combination, have shown significant promise in promoting weight loss, according to a new report."

U.S. Adults Favor Taxpayer-Funded Research for Embryonic Stem Cells Research

"Seventy-two percent of U.S. adults say they favor expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cells research, a survey indicates."

Stepchildren Judge Stepparents on Benefits

"Stepchildren relate with stepparents based on the stepparents' treatment of them and their evaluation of the stepparents' behavior, U.S. researchers suggest."

Study Finds Genes Drive Caffeine Cravings

"Genetics may explain why some people consume large amounts of caffeine in beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda and food such as chocolate, a U.S. study says."

More Pupils Are Learning Online, Fueling Debate on Quality

"Nationwide, an estimated 1.03 million students at the K-12 level took an online course in 2007-8, up 47 percent from two years earlier, according to the Sloan Consortium, an advocacy group for online education. About 200,000 students attend online schools full time, often charter schools that appeal to home-schooling families, according to another report."

Government Healthcare: 1 in 4 U.S. Adults

"Almost 26 percent of U.S. adults get their healthcare coverage from Medicare, Medicaid and or military/veterans' benefits, a Gallup poll indicates."

Cities Said Most At Risk in Climate Change

"Fast-growing urban areas worldwide, especially in developing countries, will suffer disproportionately from impacts of changing climate, a U.S. researcher says."

Hospital Errors 10 Times Higher Than Thought

"About one in three people in the United States will encounter some kind of mistake during a hospital stay, U.S. researchers said on Thursday."

NSSE’s Validity Questioned

"...a small but growing number of researchers are questioning whether there really are positive correlations between NSSE measurements and the outcomes that tend to be most important to colleges: retention and graduation. Two new studies raising such doubts will be released this week in New Orleans at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association."

Cameraphone Sales Seen Topping 1 Billion in 2011

"Sales of cameraphones will grow to more than 1 billion handsets this year, helped by fast growth at the high end of the market, research firm Strategy Analytics said on Thursday."

Study: Android Will Rule Half of Smartphone Market By Next Year

"Gartner predicts worldwide smartphone sales will reach 468 million units in 2011 and Android will command 38.5% of the smartphone market. By 2012, that rate will increase to 49.9%, but it will drop slightly to 48.8% by 2015."

Survey: Minority of Evangelical Leaders Say Bible Requires Tithing

"The survey, conducted by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) among its 100-member board of directors, found that 42% of evangelical leaders believe the Bible requires tithing, while 58% do not."

Addiction to Food, Drugs Similar in the Brain

"Ice cream and other tasty, high-calorie foods would seem to have little in common with cocaine, but in some people's brains they can elicit cravings and trigger responses similar to those caused by addictive drugs, a new study suggests."

Calif. Study: Prosecutors' Misconduct Reverses 18 Convictions in 2010

"California prosecutors committed 130 instances of misconduct last year, some of which were so egregious that they resulted in the reversals of 18 convictions, including eight for murder, a new study said Wednesday."

Antisocial Behavior Shows in Teenage Brain Scans

"Brain scans of aggressive, antisocial teenage boys with the condition known as conduct disorder have found differences in the size and structure of parts of the brain that may be linked to their behavior."

CEO Pay Rose 27 Percent in 2010

"...median CEO pay jumped 27% in 2010 as the executives’ compensation started working its way back to prerecession levels, a USA TODAY analysis of data from GovernanceMetrics International found."