Excessive alcohol consumption cost the U.S. $223.5 billion in 2006 alone, and nearly half of that burden was borne by the government, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Family MattersParenting
‘Educational TV’ for Babies? It Doesn’t Exist
If there was any doubt that television is not a good use of toddlers’ time, consider the findings of one study that drilled down into babies’ understanding of what they were watching on TV. When groups of 6-, 12- and …
A Surprising Link Between Bacteria and Colon Cancer
Could bacteria be responsible for colon cancer? In papers published in the journal Genome Research, two research teams, working independently, describe a group of bacteria that are linked to higher rates of the disease.
What Reality TV Teaches Teen Girls
Of the many aspects of American culture reflected in reality television, actual reality is not one of them. But not every viewer knows that: a new survey by the Girl Scouts Research Institute finds that some 8 out of 10 girls who …
Children Who Hear Swear Words on TV Are More Aggressive
When children are exposed to violence on TV and in video games, studies show they tend to become more aggressive themselves. But a new study reveals that even just exposure to swear words in media may lead children to become more …
Do People Really Drink More When the Economy Tanks?
A new study suggests that in hard economic times, people drink more alcohol. Intuitively, it might make sense, but the findings run counter to most previous research, which shows that alcoholism and other drinking-related …
Study: Nearly 1 in 8 Shy Teens May Have Social Phobia
Almost everyone has felt some jitters before speaking in public or walking into a party. For some people, however, that everyday shyness can become so crippling that they’re unable to give a presentation at work or muster up the …
New ADHD Guidelines Include Kids as Young as 4
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for diagnosing and treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschoolers as young as 4. Previous guidelines, issued in 2000 and 2001, focused on …
Family MattersAutism
Risk of Autism Is Five Times Higher in Low-Birthweight Babies
Low-birthweight babies are at risk for all sorts of motor and cognitive delays, and researchers have just added autism to the list. A new study from the University of Pennsylvania finds that premature babies weighing less than …
Study: 1 in 6 Cell Phones Contaminated With Fecal Matter
What’s on your smartphone? Probably fecal matter, according to new research by London scientists.
A Superbug Toxin Could Help Fight Infection
A team of British and American researchers report that targeting a toxin produced by nearly all Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, including the “superbug” known as MRSA, could lead to potential new treatments for infection.