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The Salt
In The Battle Between Health And Taste, Why White Bread Still Wins
January 11, 2013 We know we need to eat more whole grains like whole-wheat bread, but white bread crust gives off chemicals that smell better to most of us. To combat this, manufacturers add sugar to whole-wheat foods, but this can make them less healthy.
Shots - Health News
Alzheimer's Drug Dials Back Deafness In Mice
January 9, 2013 An experimental drug developed to fight Alzheimer's disease partially reversed hearing loss caused by exposure to extremely loud sounds, researchers say. The results apply only to mice, but scientists are encouraged by the fact that the medicine caused new hair cells to grow in the animals' inner ears.
Education
Elite Colleges Struggle To Recruit Smart, Low-Income Kids
January 9, 2013 Top schools often offer scholarships that not only include free tuition, but also free room and board for top students from poor families. Each year, however, colleges are confronted with a paradox: No matter how many incentives they provide, enrollment of highly talented, low-income student barely seems to budge.
Environment
Deep In Canadian Lakes, Signs Of Tar Sands Pollution
January 8, 2013 The contaminants researchers found at the bottom of Alberta lakes are from air pollutants coming from tar sands oil production and processing facilities. The pollution wasn't picked up by the industry-funded monitoring program that was supposed to track environmental risks from tar sands over recent decades.
The Two-Way
Kilograms With Weight Problems May Get High-Tech Cleanings
January 7, 2013 It's important to science and trade that a kilogram in one part of the world weigh the same as others. But particles in the air may be adding microscopic amounts of weight to some of the "official" kilograms around the world. Scientists have a new method of cleaning those weights.
Shots - Health News
As Norovirus Rages, A Robot Named 'Vomiting Larry' Gets His Closeup
January 4, 2013 Developed by British researchers, Larry the robot has helped scientists see that a little vomit can go a long way. He vomits on command. And his barf can be tagged with fluorescent dye that makes it easy for scientists to track.
Shots - Health News
You Can't See It, But You'll Be A Different Person In 10 Years
January 3, 2013 People generally fail to appreciate how much their personality and values will change in the years ahead — even though they recognize that they have changed in the past, according to fresh research.
The Salt
Apes Have Food, Will Share For A Social Payoff
January 3, 2013 Humans have a long tradition of sharing food with strangers, and it turns out bonobos do it, too. In fact, the bonobos in a recent experiment were more likely to offer fruit and nuts to a stranger than to a familiar ape. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're altruistic.
Science
'Stand Your Ground' Linked To Increase In Homicides
January 2, 2013 A controversial self-defense statute appears to produce more killings, according to a new study. Advocates for the law say it's working as designed. But researchers have different explanations about what might be happening.