A study in Nature shows that egalitarianism begins to appear in most kids between ages 3 and 8. Scientists who studied 229 Swiss children found that at age 3, 9 percent were willing to share candy with another person. But by age 8, that number rose to 45 percent.
Painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety drugs are being prescribed to out-patients in high doses, without the oversight of a doctor. A new study found that in the last 20 years there has been a 500 percent increase in the death rate from medication errors made at home.
Last week we reported on a study that showed that self breast exams don't help prevent death from breast cancer in women. The interview generated quite a response from listeners. Several women wrote in to say that they had found cancerous lumps in their own breasts and wouldn't be alive today if not for breast self exams.
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A new Web site called "Hospital Compare" evaluates hospital death rates around the country and shows how individual hospitals stack up against the national average. Guests discuss the reliability of the data on the site and describe the measures hospitals are taking to improve performance.
While both John McCain and Barack Obama agree that the American health care system needs reform, the candidates differ markedly in their vision of the remedy. Political scientist Jonathan Oberlander offers an in-depth comparison of the candidates' proposals.
The recent arrest of a popular woman who happens to be an illegal immigrant has some North Carolina doctors concerned. The woman's immigration status apparently was turned over to authorities after she received medical care. Doctors worry that illegal immigrants will be afraid to seek care, which might lead to public health problems.
A team of researchers sorting through satellite images of cows in 300 pastures makes a surprising discovery: Cows tend to face either magnetic north or south when grazing or resting.
The war in Iraq has had a severe impact on the country's children. More than 650 children were reported killed there last year. Iraq's children also have been the victims of kidnapping, torture and rape. A clinic for children suffering post-traumatic stress disorder is opening this month in Baghdad.
At Maryland's Camp Calleva, most campers engage in typical activities like rafting, kayaking or rock climbing. But a few spend a week in a program called Building Green, learning about environmentally friendly design and alternative energy. This year's project: alternative fuels.
One more Bigfoot hoax went down in history this week. But Jeffrey Meldrum, a professor of anatomy and biological sciences at Idaho State University, says strange tracks are part of a growing body of evidence that something may be out there.
We bring you a roundup of research being presented at this week's American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia.
New research published this week in the journal Science looks at "automatic mental associations" and finds that they can be good predictors of which way an undecided voter will sway.
Is persuasion an art or a science? We talk to Robert Cialdini, a social psychologist, who thinks a little psychology can improve your shot at getting what you want.
About a decade ago, health officials declared an "end" to measles in the United States. That has changed: 131 cases of measles have been reported so far this year, the most in more than a decade. The virus is finding its way to unvaccinated children — including the home-schooled.
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The United States spends $2 trillion on health care every year. If costs continue to rise, health economists say the U.S. could see a significant drain on spending in areas such as the military or education. McCain and Obama both promise to cut costs, but their plans may not be aggressive enough.
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The Bush administration has proposed a rule that would strengthen protection for health care professionals who refuse to take part in abortions for moral or religious reasons.
Scientists have isolated an organ in a mouse's nose that can detect alarm pheromones emitted by other mice. This kind of chemical signaling of danger or fear is known in fish, insects and even plants, but it has not been extensively studied much in mammals.
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The Department of Health and Human Services has beefed up its Web site that compares hospitals, making more information available to consumers.
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After rushing a stranger to the emergency room, health economist Philip Musgrove discovered that getting insurance information can trump getting emergency care.
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Meditating daily can lower blood pressure and reduce dependence on medication, according to a new study. Relaxation techniques increase the formation of a compound that opens up blood vessels, which in turn lowers blood pressure.
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