APP- etites: Downsizing the Fat Continent

Obesity is a global problem

The US Census Bureau conducted its first National Health Survey in the early 1960s. The results of the survey indicated that 23 percent of American adults were overweight.  The number increased steadily over the course of two more national surveys over the years. By the late 1970s, the proportion of overweight American adults had swollen to […]

Top 10 Most Affordable Cities for Millennials in the US

Right now, home-ownership might seem like a tall order for some of America’s 75 million millennials. More than 25 percent of them still live with their parents in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, say experts. Many in that group barely have enough for an emergency.  That is on the surface, anyway. Underneath, the mood among these […]

Pets Make You Healthier, say Scientists

It’s the end of the day and you are headed home with your head bowed. Something made you particularly tired and upset at the office. You come up to the door and absent-mindedly fumble with the keys. You are so exhausted you cannot seem to think straight. Things change once you step inside. Almost instantly, you feel better. […]

20 Inventions that Changed Everything

Inventions do not happen in random order. Science and technology advance along a logical line, with one invention leading to another.  When plotted along a curve, what becomes clear is the breathtaking pace of technological progress. The innovations have come in rapid succession, each one setting in motion a chain reaction that triggers others. In this […]

Don’t Wash Raw Chicken, USDA Warns

Don't wash raw chicken!

You might think it’s good hygiene to give that bird a rinse before you cook it. A US government report says otherwise. The report, a joint effort between the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and researchers from the University of North Carolina, supports findings of previous research on the subject. You should rinse fresh fruits and […]

Trump’s Overhaul of Endangered Species Act Is Devastating, Say Experts

Trump administration dismantles ESA

“We have become great because of the lavish use of our resources.” Teddy Roosevelt, Republican and 26th president of the United States. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration enacted what the New York Times has called “the most sweeping set of changes in decades” to regulations governing America’s Endangered Species Act (ESA). The changes weaken […]

How Mosquitoes Shaped History

MOSQUITOES AND HISTORY

In Spanish, the word mosquito means “little gnat,” but there is nothing diminutive about its association with human suffering. There is little doubt that few creatures on the planet evoke as much aversion as the mosquito. Their buzzing presence and their itchy, irritating bites can ruin any afternoon outdoors.  There is also the infuriating noise, completely […]

Do Sudoku, Sex, and Sugar Make You Smarter?

The internet is rife with talk about increasing the brain’s intellectual capacities. That’s hardly surprising. After all, who doesn’t need a boost from time to time? Brain-boosting theories are popular because they capture the hopeful fancy that we could be doing infinitely more with our minds… if only we knew how.  Many scientists remain skeptical that […]

New Google Feature Promises to Stop Telemarketers for Good

No, it’s not just your imagination. Those blasted unsolicited calls — at best infuriating, at worst criminal — are getting worse. Because smartphones have practically become extensions of our bodies, spam calls and telemarketers can follow us wherever we go. They disrupt meetings, the odd coffee break, and even quality time with the family. Finally, […]