Game Changer: Hepatitis C Drug May Revolutionize Treatment | Science Blog

The drug boceprevir helps cure hard-to-treat hepatitis C, says Saint Louis University investigator Bruce R. Bacon, M.D., author of the March 31 New England Journal of Medicine article detailing the study’s findings. The results, which were first reported at the 61st annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease’s last November, offer a brighter outlook for patients who have not responded to standard treatment.

via scienceblog.com

A new drug may give hope to those suffering from Hepatitis C who have not responded to standard treatment.

NASA’s Messenger Spacecraft Brings Mercury Into Focus - NYTimes.com

In NASA’s Lens, Mercury Comes Into Focus

On Wednesday NASA showed off some of the first pictures taken by its Mercury Messenger spacecraft, which entered the planet’s orbit on March 17. The Messenger is to spend at least a year photographing, measuring and studying Mercury.

via nytimes.com

NASA's Mercury Messenger spacecraft is sending photos of Mercury.

Radiation Found in US Milk, EPA Says

In a written statement, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that results from a screening sample taken March 25 from Spokane, Wash., detected 0.8 pCi/L of iodine-131. That would be more than 5,000 times lower than the Derived Intervention Level set by the US Food and Drug Administration, the agency said.

The EPA statement said it has increased the level of radiation monitoring in response to the radiation leaks from the earthquake stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex in Japan.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Should we be concerned because radiation was found in milk from Washington state?

Type 2 diabetes and alcohol: Type 2 diabetes risk lower for moderate drinkers, study finds - latimes.com

Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol may have its health benefits, and lowering the risk of Type 2 diabetes could be one of them, a study finds.

via latimes.com

Moderate amounts of alcoholic drinks by men may have an effect on whether or not they contract type 2 diabetes.

Crime alerts for Canoga Park, Cheviot Hills and 11 other L.A. neighborhoods | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

Six neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Canoga Park (A) was the most unusual, recording 13 reports compared with a weekly average of 3.3 over the last three months.

via latimesblogs.latimes.com

This is sad news! I used to live in Canoga Park many, many years ago in much safer and happier times.

Housing Prices Fell Again in January - NYTimes.com

Housing prices slid in January for the sixth month in a row, putting them barely above the lows reached in the depths of the recession, according to data released Tuesday

via nytimes.com

Here is some more discouraging news about the U.S. housing market.

We Need a New Mindset to Unbuild Cities - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com

People in Cleveland, Detroit, Flint and Youngstown, and in Bilbao, Leipzig and Turin, have plenty of ideas about what cities can do with vacant and abandoned land: urban agriculture; watershed restoration and stream daylighting; side-lot programs; extensive park networks; public arts zones; new museums.

What if the government used a fraction of the billions it spends to subsidize home-building on 'unbuilding' projects instead?

What we need is a new mindset. Physical growth has been a powerful American narrative, embodied in huge public expenditures from the Louisiana Purchase to the Interstate Highway System and the mortgage interest deduction. The nation now needs a parallel commitment to physical ungrowth. Ungrowth is not surrender but a phase of urban evolution.

via nytimes.com

This article will provoke thought. What are your ideas about promoting "ungrowth?"

Fiesta Bowl Spending and Donations Questioned - NYTimes.com

Top executives at the Fiesta Bowl, the host of one of the nation’s pre-eminent college football games, funneled campaign contributions to local politicians, flew other Arizona elected officials around the country at the bowl’s expense, racked up a $1,000 bill at a strip club, and even spent $30,000 on a birthday party for the chief executive, according to an investigative report commissioned by the bowl’s board of directors.

via nytimes.com

Things like this seem to be happening all the time... unfortunately!!!

What is Congestive Heart Failure?

Actress Elizabeth Taylor died Wednesday at the age of 79. While she had a number of illnesses and injuries over the year, media reports stated congestive heart failure caused her death.

Congestive heart failure, as defined by the American Heart Association , is when the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body's other organs. The Los Angeles Times said this can starve the muscles of oxygen and nutrients as the heart must work harder to supply blood to the body.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Most people do not know what congestive heart failure is... do you?

Doctor and Patient: Interns at the Operating Table - NYTimes.com

Interns at the Operating Table

By PAULINE W. CHEN, M.D.

Getty Images

via well.blogs.nytimes.com

Here is a real good article about interns and residents becoming involved in surgeries.

David Brenner, Radiation Expert, in Spotlight in Japan Nuclear Crisis - NYTimes.com

As soon as David J. Brenner heard about the undersea earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated northern Japan on March 11, he checked a map of the region’s nuclear power plants. One, because of its coastal location and reactor design, looked particularly vulnerable: Fukushima Daiichi. He hoped he was wrong.

via nytimes.com

Should we be afraid of nuclear contamination as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan?

A Century Later, Jury’s Still Out on Caffeine Limits - NYTimes.com

The latest skirmish in the caffeine wars — this one involving the high levels of caffeine in so-called energy drinks, especially those consumed by children — recalls one of the earliest.

via nytimes.com

So, no one really knows how much caffeine is too much for good health. Read this interesting article- the jury is still out.

Florida woman recipient in hand transplant

Surgeons at Emory University Hospital have successfully transplanted a new left hand onto a 21-year-old woman who lost hers to illness as a child, the first such procedure in Georgia and one that may eventually help soldiers who lose limbs in combat, doctors announced Monday.

via myfoxphoenix.com

This will be good news for lots of people when the procedure can be performed more widely.

Health Dept. Releases Medical Marijuana Rules

Arizona Department of Health Services has released its rules for medical marijuana use and distribution as the program will begin on April 14.

The state health department has been working for months to develop regulations after Arizona voters approved Proposition 203 , the use of medical marijuana, last fall.

via myfoxphoenix.com

It is hard to believe this is happening in Arizona! What do you think about legalized marijuana?

More Thrills, Fewer Bills - MSN Autos

Ford Mustang V6

Click to enlarge picture

Ford Mustang V6

Horsepower: 305
Not to be outdone, the original pony car easily tops the 300-horse mark in V6 guise. The 3.7-liter V6 gets an econobox-like 31 mpg highway, a significant 5-mpg advantage over the 412-horsepower V8 GT. Further, the V6 checks in at $7,500 less than the GT. The freshened 2011 Mustang V6 is an eye-catcher, and the savvy buyer can use the V6 savings for a performance package that adds suspension mods, lowering springs, special brake calipers, an upgraded gear ratio and ultracool 19-inch rolling stock.

via editorial.autos.msn.com

I just love Mustangs! What car do you like the most?

NASA's Venerable Comet Hunter Wraps Up Mission - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

At 33 minutes after 4 p.m. PDT today, NASA's Stardust spacecraft finished its last transmission to Earth. The transmission came on the heels of the venerable spacecraft's final rocket burn, which was designed to provide insight into how much fuel remained aboard after its encounter with comet Tempel 1 in February.

"Stardust has been teaching us about our solar system since it was launched in 1999," said Stardust-NExT project manager Tim Larson from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "It makes sense that its very last moments would be providing us with data we can use to plan deep space mission operations in the future."

via jpl.nasa.gov

NASA's spacecraft, called Stardust, has completed it's mission of comet-hunting since it was launched in 1999.

How To Get Rid Of All That Space Junk

How about a laser? One that is strong enough to nudge debris out of earth orbit. That's what NASA contractor James Mason wants to do, and his lab simulations suggest that the idea is possible. Mason wants to use a 5kW ground-based laser and a ground-based 1.5 meter telescope to spot potentially hazardous space waste and shove it off, by about 200 meters per day of lasering. It's kind-of like air traffic control for near earth orbit.

via huffingtonpost.com

Read this article about how to get rid of all the "space junk."

Using a Neti Pot for Sinus Health

PHOENIX - When you walk outside or get in the car to leave home, take a deep breath.  The scent of orange and grapefruit blossoms are heavy in the air as citrus and other plants are flowering.

That sweet smell means trouble for people who suffer from allergies.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Here is some help for those who suffer from allergies.

US Approves Lauded New Drug for Late-Stage Skin Cancer

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved on Friday a new drug from Bristol-Myers Squib to treat patients with metastatic or late-stage melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Here is good news for late-stage skin cancer sufferers.

First Diaphragm Procedure Of Its Kind In Arizona - AZhealthspot News Story - KPHO Phoenix

TUCSON, Ariz. -- A quadriplegic patient has become the first Arizonan to undergo a new medical procedure that allows him to breathe on his own.

University Medical Center in Tucson said one of its doctors successfully implanted an electrical diaphragm stimulator on a 20-year-old man who suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of a gunshot to the neck.

via kpho.com

Doctors at the University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona have successfully implanted an electrical diaphragm stimulator in a quadriplegic patient, allowing the patient to breathe on his own.

Navajo-Area Health Officials See Rise in HIV Cases

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - Indian Health Service officials say they've seen an increase in the number of new HIV cases on the Navajo Nation.

About 15 new cases were diagnosed at Navajo-area facilities in 2000. That number stood at 40 for 2009 and 35 last year.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Why are the number of HIV cases rising on the Navajo Indian Reservation?

Scientists Seek Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

As scientists race to find a biological cause for chronic fatigue syndrome, long considered by many doctors to exist in patients' heads, the National Institutes of Health could shed new light on the debate at a major scientific workshop on the disorder.

Researchers at the University of Utah and elsewhere are working to create diagnostic tests, based partly on proteins or other markers that appear to show up in greater quantities in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Diagnosing the disorder is difficult, in part because symptoms vary among patients.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Do you suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome? Here is an article about that subject.

Kids' Baseball Field Designed for Disabilities

SCOTTSDALE - A new ballpark was unveiled Tuesday in the valley, and it's the first of its kind here in the valley.

Located near Frank Lloyd Wright and Lia Vinda, the baseball field was built exclusively for special needs kids.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Here is an uplifting story- worth your time to read

Google Invests in Biomass Fuel Firm CoolPlanetBiofuels | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

If you think Google is going to take over the world, you can at least rest assured they’re going to do it in a green way. The internet giant has invested in yet another green initiative, pouring some serious cash into biomass fuel firm CoolPlanetBiofuels. The eco start-up is currently developing technology to produce fuel from inedible biomass such as grass and wood chips. So will Google bio- fueling stations be the next big thing?

via inhabitat.com

Here is good reading about Google's investment into biomass fuel.

FOX FYI: Stress Busting Foods

You know the old saying, you are what you eat? Well, that includes how stressed out you feel.

"If you choose to go for chocolate, pies, pastries, biscuits, sweets, cookies, that kind of thing, donuts, then you can expect, you might not feel your best," said nutritionist and author, Gillian McKeith.

via myfoxphoenix.com

I knew there was a good reason I like strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. This article is good reading, especially if you are stressed.

YouTube - dog takes blanket from cat

One chilly evening, the dog decided to steal the blanket from the cat perched on the back of the futon.

via youtube.com

This is a good video. Enjoy!

HIV: Kidney donor infected recipient - latimes.com

HIV transmission via live organ donation can still happen. To be more specific: It has now happened for the first time since 1989. A person suffering from kidney failure -- who had no known history of sexually transmitted infections, injection drug use or high-risk sexual activity -- was given a kidney, and HIV, in 2009.

via latimes.com

This should not happen in this day and time. A kidney transplant patient was infected with HIV. What can be done to make sure this does not happen again?

Man posing as officer pulls over undercover police vehicle | timesfreepress.com

A security guard who apparently wanted to play police officer pulled over the wrong person Tuesday, according to Dalton police.

via timesfreepress.com

Well, this security guard chose the wrong person to play police officer for.

The Tarantulas Emerge - The Firefly Forest

The Tarantulas Emerge

August 15, 2005, updated May 12, 2008 -->

Tarantulas (spiders in the family Theraphosidae) will emerge during the summer here in Tucson, Arizona. The tarantulas here spend most of their time in underground burrows, but during the summer, the males emerge after dark to look for females.

via fireflyforest.net

Wow, my daughter and son-in-law used to live in Tucson. I wonder if they saw any tarantulas.

Kids' musical instruments booming with bacteria - latimes.com

The musical instruments kids play in school bands and orchestras are traveling denizens of bacteria and fungi, say the authors of a new study. Music education is great for kids, they note, but please, please wash the instruments!

via latimes.com

Guess what could be growing inside your child's musical instrument. If you child plays an instrument, then you need to read this article.

This image released by NASA shows an enhanced photo image of ... - Yahoo! News Photos

This image released by NASA shows an enhanced photo image of Mercury from its Messenger probe’s 2008 flyby of the planet. NASA says it was a taste of pictures likely to come after March 17, 2011, when the probe enters Mercury’s orbit.

via news.yahoo.com

This image was taken several years ago. Since the spacecraft Messenger is only 120 miles above Mars, we should be getting some really nice pictures soon.

NASA spacecraft now circling Mercury — a first - Yahoo! News

For the first time, Earth has a regular orbiting eye-in-the-sky spying on the solar system's smallest and strangest planet, Mercury.

NASA's spacecraft called Messenger successfully veered into a pinpoint orbit Thursday night after a 6 1/2-year trip and 4.9 billion miles and tricky maneuvering to fend off the gravitational pull of the sun. It is the fifth planet in our solar system that NASA has orbited, in addition to the Earth and the moon.

via news.yahoo.com

This is exciting news. NASA's spacecraft Messenger is orbiting only 120 miles above Mars, after a 6 1/2 year trip to get there.

PD Changes Training Policy After Tragic Recruit Fatality - PoliceLink

Recruits eager to join the Police Department will no longer have to endure strikes to the head – or defend themselves in training when they are exhausted.

The changes will help prevent recruit injuries and improve the department, Norfolk’s acting chief of police and a panel of experts said Tuesday during a news conference.

via policelink.monster.com

This procedure at a Virginia Police Academy should be implemented throughout the U.S. What do you think?

Heavy Smoking Declines in U.S. - MSN Health & Fitness - Quit Smoking

(HealthDay News) -- The number of people who smoke a pack or more a day has dropped significantly in the United States, and perhaps nowhere more than in California, a new study finds.

The number of people smoking less than a pack but at least 10 cigarettes a day has also dropped significantly, added the researchers, who examined national data on smoking rates from 1965 to 2007 to come to their conclusion.

via health.msn.com

More and more people are cutting down on smoking or completely quitting the habit.

Maricopa County Testing Workers for Nicotine

Smoking is tied to nearly half a million deaths in the United States each year. It increases a person's risk of stroke, heart disease, and cancer.

All those health complications mean higher health care costs, and Maricopa County has become the first public agency to give employees a discount in health insurance if they don't smoke.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Smokers in Maricopa County, Arizona will be paying more for their health insurance.

Tsunami magnet: Calif. town hit 34 times since '34 - World news - Asia-Pacific - msnbc.com

CRESCENT CITY, Calif. — Since the tidal gauge was installed in the boat basin in 1934, this small port on California's rugged northern coast has been hit by 34 tsunamis, large and small.

via msnbc.msn.com

One would think that officials in control of Crescent City's harbor would attempt to change the harbor to avoid future damage by tsunamis.

How the Japan Earthquake Shortened Days on Earth - Yahoo! News

The massive earthquake that struck northeast Japan Friday (March 11) has shortened the length Earth's day by a fraction and shifted how the planet's mass is distributed.

A new analysis of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan has found that the intense temblor has accelerated Earth's spin, shortening the length of the 24-hour day by 1.8 microseconds, according to geophysicist Richard Gross at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

via news.yahoo.com

The earthquake that struck near Japan shortened the length of Earth's days.

Washed Away: Three Tsunami-Swept Towns - Yahoo! News

As Japanese authorities continue to assess the damage from Friday's 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, chilling details are emerging about towns washed away and massive numbers of residents gone in a flash.

via news.yahoo.com

Massive numbers of Japanese residents near the Tsunami-swept area are missing.

United States Sends Rescue Teams to Japan - Yahoo! News

The first of the two American rescue teams sent in response to Japan's request for international aid following the 8.9 earthquake the nation experienced Friday reportedly landed at an airport near Tokyo on Sunday. The Los Angeles County Urban Search and Rescue team's crew began preparing to go and aid Japan almost immediately after news of the earthquake's devastation. The other U.S. team, stationed in Fairfax, Va., is due to arrive soon as well.

via news.yahoo.com

The U.S. has sent humanitarian aid to Japan.

Pot docs face new rules in Colorado - Yahoo! News

Colorado's dispute over which doctors can recommend medical marijuana could become more confusing this week when state health authorities consider tighter limits at the same time lawmakers debate conflicting rules.

One question is whether doctors with conditions on their medical licenses — such as a surgeon being banned from surgery after developing arthritis — should be able to recommend pot.

via news.yahoo.com

Which doctors in Colorado can prescribe medical marijuana?

Phoenix Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Colo.

A report of smoke in the cockpit forced a Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix to make an emergency landing at the Colorado Springs Airport, but no one was injured.

The plane landed without incident at 11:42 a.m. Sunday after the pilots reported the smoke.

via myfoxphoenix.com

This story had a good ending.

European Cereal Boxes Linked to Cancer Not a Danger for U.S. Consumers - Yahoo! News

Some recycled cardboard cereal boxes sold in Europe have been found to contain dangerous levels of mineral oils — types of petroleum hydrocarbons. The oils, which may be carcinogenic, are even leaching through the plastic bags inside the boxes and onto the cereal.

via news.yahoo.com

Using recycled cardboard could be hazardous to your health.

Q&A: Parkinson's Disease - Yahoo! News

Dr. Xiang Gao, a Harvard Medical School research scientist, released data this week suggesting that the use of ibuprofen may be associated with a decreased risk of Parkinson's disease. The data were highlighted in the current issue of Neurology.

via news.yahoo.com

Ibuprofen may help in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Aspirin, other meds linked to stomach bleeding risks - Yahoo! News

People taking low doses of aspirin to protect their heart may be at risk for stomach bleeding, and those taking both aspirin and other common drugs may have an even higher bleeding risk, according to a new study.

via news.yahoo.com

If you take aspirin in low doses for your heart and take other drugs you may be at risk for stomach bleeding. You need to read this article.

Americans Have Worse Health Than English Peers, Study Finds - Yahoo! News

From birth through old age, Americans have poorer health than their British counterparts, a new study finds.

Researchers used data on nearly 40,000 residents of the United States and 70,000 residents of England taken from nationally representative health surveys of the respective countries.

After all the numbers were crunched, Americans had higher rates of nearly all chronic diseases and markers of diseases than people of a similar age in England.

via news.yahoo.com

Why are Americans in poorer health than their British counterparts?

Elderly Tend to Drive Slower to Make Up for Reaction Time - Yahoo! News

One reason that elderly people tend to be slower drivers than younger people is because they have a narrower field of vision and have more difficulty seeing pedestrians, according to a new study.

Israeli researchers tested experienced elderly and non-elderly drivers, and compared the differences between them in reaction times and when pedestrians were perceived as hazards.

via news.yahoo.com

Did you ever wonder why older drivers tend to drive slower? This article may help you understand more about this question.

Alzheimer's drug hits two forms of toxic protein - Yahoo! News

Early studies suggest an experimental Alzheimer's drug attacks free-floating bits of a protein called beta amyloid, a sign the drug may fight what some researchers consider to be the disease's chief culprit.

via news.yahoo.com

Here is some more encouraging news for Alzheimer's patients.

Animal Study May Explain Low Birth Weight-Obesity Link - Yahoo! News

Newborns with a low birth weight due to their mother's poor nutrition during pregnancy may be "programmed" to eat more, research in animals suggests.

via news.yahoo.com

This is a reason prospective mothers should exercise proper nutrition during pregnancy.

Aspirin May Protect Against Colorectal Cancer -- But Only in Certain People - Yahoo! News

Taking aspirin to protect against colorectal cancer may be effective, but mostly in people at increased risk for the disease due to elevated levels of an inflammatory biomarker in their blood, according to a new study.

via news.yahoo.com

Taking aspirin to protect against colorectal cancer may not be effective for everyone. Read this article to find out why.

Device Approved to Continue Blood Flow During Brain Surgery - Yahoo! News

A device that permits the rerouting of blood flow during surgery to treat a brain aneurysm or tumor in people at greater risk of stroke has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

via news.yahoo.com

Read about new technology to enable surgeons performing brain surgery to re-route blood flow.

Number of Cancer Survivors in U.S. Rises by 20% in 6 years - NYTimes.com

20% Rise Seen in Number of Survivors of Cancer

via nytimes.com

Here is great news for those suffering from cancer and for future victims of cancer.

Scientists Find Gene Links to Heart Disease - FoxNews.com

Scientists have found 13 new gene variants that increase a person's risk of developing heart disease, the world's number one killer, in a series of large-scale international genetic studies.

via foxnews.com

Here is a very informative and interesting article about genetic factors affecting your chances of developing heart disease.

Blood Pressure Drug Delays Kidney Disease in Diabetics - MSN Health - High Blood Pressure

(HealthDay News) -- A drug normally used to lower blood pressure may also help protect the kidneys of people with type 2 diabetes, researchers are reporting with a caveat.

In a new study, an international team of researchers found that the drug pressure-reducing medication olmesartan, brand name Benicar, could increase the time before any kidney problems were evident by 23 percent.

via health.msn.com

This article should interest those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.

A Little Alcohol May Stave Off Alzheimer's - MSN Health - Health Topics

Drinking light to moderate amounts of alcohol may actually lower the risk for developing both Alzheimer's and some forms of age-related dementia, new German research suggests.

via health.msn.com

Here is some encouraging news for those who may suffer from forms of age-related dementia.

Medical University of South Carolina - US News Best Hospitals

This year Medical University of South Carolina was ranked in 6 adult and 1 pediatric specialties, as shown below. Medical University of South Carolina is a 680-bed general medical and surgical facility. The latest data show it has 31,605 admissions and performs 17,355 inpatient and 19,531 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room has 72,512 visits. Located in Charleston, SC, it is accredited by the Joint Commission. It is also a teaching hospital

via health.usnews.com

Read about the Medical University of South Carolina and its rankings.

Could Getting More Fiber Help You Live Longer? - US News and World Report

Hear fiber and you probably think of bran cereal, which doesn't exactly make you salivate. But new research suggests more fiber could equal more years. Analyzing data from nearly 400,000 men and women ages 50 to 71, researchers found that those who consumed the most fiber were 22 percent less likely to die from any cause during the nine years they were studied. Men were 24 to 56 percent and women 34 to 59 percent less likely to die of heart and infectious or respiratory diseases, according to findings from the National Institutes of Health's AARP Diet and Health Study, published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

via health.usnews.com

We should all be eating more fiber. Here is an informative article you should read.

Journal of Pediatrics - Editorial

Study Shows Caffeine Negatively Affects Children: A Majority Consume Caffeine Daily

Cincinnati, OH, December 16, 2010 -- Caffeine consumption in children is often blamed for sleep problems and bedwetting. Information on childhood caffeine consumption is limited, and many parents may not know the amount or effects of their child’s caffeine consumption. In a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that 75% of children surveyed consumed caffeine on a daily basis, and the more caffeine the children consumed, the less they slept.

via jpeds.com

Here is an interesting article about your children and caffeine consumption, even in children as young as 5 years old.

CDC - Facts, Autism Spectrum Disorders - NCBDDD

Facts About ASDs

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.  People with ASDs handle information in their brain differently than other people. 

via cdc.gov

If you desire to learn more about autism, here is a great source of information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Study: Full Bladder Leads to Better Decisions

Have an important decision to make? Wait until you've got to "go," then make your choice.

That is the finding of a new study to be published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Well, I guess we should all make those big decisions when we have a full bladder. I wonder what they will discover next!

Article About Balneotherapy and Moor Mud

Here is a link to an informative article about balneotherapy and moor mud. I didn't know what these terms meant until I stumbled upon this article.

Aspen Named Most Expensive Town in America - FoxNews.com

ASPEN, Colo. -- The lowest-priced single-family home on the market in Aspen is listed for $559,000. It is located in a trailer park.

via foxnews.com

Read about how "the other half" lives in Aspen, Colorado. Wow!

Fewer Children Suffering From Ear Infections - FoxNews.com

They are certainly the most common reason parents bring their kids to the doctor, but ear infections in young children are on the decline – and researchers think it might have to do with the fact that parents are smoking less.

via foxnews.com

Children are not getting ear infections as often as they used to.

NASA - NASA Readies for World's Largest Can Crusher Test

NASA Readies for World's Largest Can Crusher Test

02.25.11

Preparing for Shell Buckling Knockdown Factor test at the Marshall Center. (NASA/MSFC)
View all images Place a soda can on the floor in an upright position and then stand on it -- gradually applying weight -- until the can ripples and collapses.

It's similar to what a team of NASA engineers will do to an immense aluminum-lithium rocket fuel tank in late March; their hope is to use data from the test to generate new "shell-buckling design factors" that will enable light-weight, safe and sturdy "skins" for future launch vehicles.

via nasa.gov

The world's largest can crusher test and NASA- what's going on here?

Study: Happiness Leads to Better Life

Being happy can make life better. According to a recent study, happy people tend to live longer and experience better health than their unhappy peers.

Lead author Ed Diener, a professor emeritus of psychology at Illinois University , analyzed more than 160 long-term studies that evaluated the health status of people stressed by natural events.

via myfoxphoenix.com

We should all strive to be happier!

Fennville Basketball Player Wes Leonard Dies after Winning Layup

FENNVILLE, Mich. (AP) - One moment: a perfect shot to end a perfect season. The star player, just 16, lifted off the floor in celebration. Teenagers triumphant, crowds cheering, the district playoffs ahead, the future open wide.

The next: Wes Leonard on the gym floor, his enlarged heart failing, his life fading just a few moments after his victory layup. Packed bleachers suddenly stunned by an event that made basketball seem a distant, unimportant memory.

via myfoxphoenix.com

This is a sad story and makes you stop and think. Should our children be given more extensive physical exams before participating in sports?

Invasive Amphibian Species Upend a Darwin Idea - NYTimes.com

Charles Darwin has had a remarkable record over the past century, not only in the affirmation of evolution by natural selection, but in the number of his more specific ideas that have been proved correct.

via nytimes.com

Could any of Darwin's ideas about natural selection have been incorrect?

Eastern Cougar Is Declared Extinct, With an Asterisk - NYTimes.com

Seven decades after the last reported sighting of the eastern cougar, the federal Fish and Wildlife Service declared it extinct Wednesday and recommended that it be removed from the nation’s endangered species list.

via nytimes.com

I hope Eastern Cougars are not extinct. Read here and find out more.

WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Too many hours on the job may put teens at risk

(HealthDay News) -- High school students who work more than 20 hours a week at part-time jobs during the school year may be more likely to have academic and behavior problems, according to a new study.

via abcnews4.com

If your kids are in high school and working more than 20 hours, you need to read this article.

Berries may offer sweet protection against Parkinson's disease - Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

People who eat foods rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, especially berries, may be protecting themselves from developing Parkinson's disease, a new study suggests.

In addition to berries, flavonoids are found in a variety of foods such as apples, chocolate, and citrus fruits. These compounds have been touted as protective against some diseases because of their antioxidant effects, researchers say.

via live5news.com

Here is some more good news about antioxidants.

Classroom of the Future Melds Technology and Imagination

PHOENIX - It's bound to be their favorite class of the day. Desert Trails Elementary in north Phoenix has a new technology lab, complete with iPads and video cameras.

They are learning all kinds of subjects in a cutting-edge way -- it's the classroom of the future.

via myfoxphoenix.com

Read about the high tech classroom of the future.