Your resting heart rate is an easy measure of health and fitness, and a new study suggests that a rising rate over time may signal heart problems.
Family MattersCulture
Holiday Identity Crisis? Kids Celebrating Hanukkah in a Santa-Crazed World
It’s that time of year when preschoolers churn out painting after painting of Christmas trees and stockings. But never did I think a child of mine would bring home that genre of artwork. Because we’re Jewish — and not the …
Family MattersChildhood
6 Last-Minute Kid Gifts, Both Practical and Whimsical
If you’re still scrambling to find Christmas gifts for the kids, here are some unconventional (or ingenious) playthings and products out there. Bonus: we’ve included gift ideas for Mom and Dad, to help make holiday travels a …
Should Journals Describe How Scientists Made a Killer Flu?
In an unprecedented move, the U.S. government asked scientific journals not to publish the details of experiments on the deadly H5N1, for fear that the information could be used with malice. Is such censorship smart?
Study: Sleep-Deprived Police Officers Risk Everyone’s Safety
Many police officers are putting themselves — and the public — at risk by failing to address their sleep problems and excessive fatigue, a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests.
Got Money? Then You Might Lack Compassion
Are the rich really the unfeeling boors they’re made out to be? Studies suggest that the richer people are, the less compassion they show.
Early Results of an Experimental Malaria Vaccine Hold Promise
British scientists report they have developed an experimental vaccine that shows early potential to neutralize many, perhaps all, strains of the deadliest malaria parasite.
The Goldilocks Principle of Stress: Too Little Is Almost As Bad as Too Much
Stress isn’t all bad. You need just the right amount of adversity in life to learn to cope with the troubles ahead.
Study: Fake Tans Help Keep Women Out of the Sun
Women who get their tans from a bottle tend to do less real sunbathing and cut back on tanning bed use, according to a new study.
Can Patients Handle the Truth? Getting Access to Doctors’ Notes
A new study asks patients if they want to read what their doctor is writing in their chart. Overwhelmingly, the answer was yes. Not surprisingly, doctors resist.
The Truth About Vitamin D
Vitamin D has been touted as a magic bullet, protecting against bone fractures, heart disease and even cancer. Now, a government group takes a closer look at the data.
‘Christmas Tree Syndrome’: Not as Pleasant as It Sounds
Sneezing and sniffling this season? It could be your Christmas tree’s fault, a new study suggests.
The Case Against the Ban on ‘Bath Salts’ and Fake Marijuana
No one would suggest leaving potentially dangerous, untested drugs on the market. But an outright ban hinders valuable research on compounds that could hold clues to treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s.