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When you talk to your child in the womb before it’s born, they may remember what you’ve said. Researchers used a made-up word that was played repeatedly in the final month before birth, and brain scans on the newborns showed that they recognized the word. Babies begin to hear about halfway through pregnancy. Source Link
No one seems to be tuning-into the push for ultra high-def TV’s, so it’s time to slash prices. The TV’s touted as a much clearer picture than ordinary HD will still cost over $5,000 for a 65-inch model. And experts say it’s best to wait to buy, because next year’s ultra high-def models will have major improvements. Source Link
If the big football weekend is a bust for your team, you could be wearing that defeat on your waistline next week. A study found that on a Monday, disappointed sports fans loaded up on saturated fats and sugars, while fans of the winning team opted for healthier foods. Other research has shown that a sports loss can also lead to reckless driving and heart attacks. Source Link
Kindergartners could be starting their school life at a disadvantage if they spend too much time watching TV. A new study found that every hour of TV viewing above the recommended two-hour daily limit lead to poorer reading and math skills, and an increased risk of being picked on by classmates. Source Link
There’s a new weapon in the battle against one of the deadliest cancers. Researchers say a simple blood test and an ultrasound exam could help detect ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women while it’s still treatable. Often there are no physical symptoms of ovarian cancer until it’s progressed to a stage where survival is unlikely. Source Link
The world’s biggest maker of smartphones wants you to add another device to your wrist. The Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch will be unveiled next week. The announcement could help Samsung steal some thunder from Apple, which is expected to launch its next iPhone the following week, and may also announce a smartwatch of its own. Source Link
You can put one more thing to on the to-do list for your high schooler who’s looking for a college. The career networking website LinkedIn is opening its service to teenagers. The popular tool for adult job seekers could help young people build an online resume to pitch themselves to college recruiters. Source Link
More of America’s workers will be wandering on the holiday that celebrates them. AAA says they expect 34 million people will travel during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. That’s a 4-percent increase over last year and the best Labor Day travel numbers since 2008, just before the Great Recession began. Source Link
The Baby Boomer generation has no plans to retire to a rocking chair on the front porch. A new survey found that seven out of ten plan to work in retirement, and 40-percent say they expect to work for the rest of their lives. Twice as many Boomer senior citizens are still working as compared to a generation ago. Source Link
Looking for the most creative person in the office? See if you can spy a messy desk. Researchers compared workplace cleanliness with a number of factors and found that pigpens were more likely to be creative and embrace new ideas, while the neatniks were more generous but preferred the status quo. Source Link
Heading back to school doesn’t have to put a strain on young backs. Experts say a good backpack for kids will have two wide, padded shoulder straps and a cushioned back. Keep the load balanced in the bag, limit the cargo to no more than 20-percent of the child’s weight, and teach kids to bend at their knees when lifting a backpack. Source Link
Parents aren’t the only ones concerned about their kid’s privacy online. A new report says more than half of teenagers have avoided downloading apps because of concerns about personal information being shared. But researchers say some of that could be from teens who don’t want apps that let parents keep track of their moves. Source Link
If you want to feel better about giving to a good cause, you should make a connection beyond your checkbook. A new study of people who got to know someone in need found higher levels of happiness when they had a social connection to those who benefitted from their giving. Source Link
Hooking this gadget to your TV could make it easier to ditch that cable bill. It’s a combination streaming video player and over-air tuner and antenna to bring you live TV broadcasts and online services like Netflix. The hybrid video device could be on the market by the end of the year. Source Link
Creators of the annual Beloit College “Mindset List” say there’s a new vocabulary for millions of 18-year olds who are beginning their college careers now. For members of the Class of 2017, “GM” means food that’s genetically modified, a “tablet” probably isn’t something that you take in the morning, and having a “chat” seldoms involves talking. Source Link
Here’s a prescription for keeping high blood pressure in-check -- a simple medication plus free checkups. That’s what helped drive down high blood pressure for nearly 100,000 Californians in an eight-year study. Participants got a generic combination medicine and office visits for blood pressure checks with no co-pays. Source Link
About one out of three high school graduates aren’t ready to make the move to college. The folks who give the ACT test say results show that 31 percent of all high school graduates were not ready for any college coursework requiring English, science, math or reading skills. Just one-quarter of graduates passed all four tests. Source Link
Are we ready for a tablet-sized smartphone? Samsung thinks so. The new Samsung Mega makes calls and features a 6.3 inch screen that’s just a bit smaller than popular tablets like the iPad Mini and Nexus 7. The new king of the “phablets” is coming first to AT&T, and will also be offered by Sprint and U.S. Cellular. Source Link
Breastfeeding may help some women extend the odds against breast cancer. Researchers found that women who breastfed their babies for more than six months developed breast cancer a decade later than those who did not breastfeed. But the benefit was not seen in breastfeeding women who smoked after pregnancy. Source Link
Getting more exercise today won’t eliminate your insomnia tonight. A new study disproves the notion that sleep problems can be quickly solved by picking up the pace on a treadmill. Researchers say exercise will help, but you’ll need to be patient because it takes time to reprogram the brain to return to normal patterns of sleep. Source Link
One can relieve your hunger pangs, but the other may be more power-hungry. A new report claims that using an iPhone requires more electricity than it takes to run a refrigerator for a year. The calculation includes all the power needed for the smartphone’s wireless connections, data usage, and battery charges. Source Link
What’s the price tag for parenthood? A new government report says it’s now an average of a quarter-million dollars to house, feed and pay for everything to raise a newborn to age 18. That’s a 23-percent increase compared to the adjusted cost of raising a child 50 years ago, with bigger more expensive homes, and higher health care and child care costs today. Source Link
There’s new evidence that brushing up on your dental hygiene could help you beat cancer. Scientists say an infection from a common type of mouth bacteria can contribute to colorectal cancer. The bacteria levels were higher in people with gum disease, which often occurs because of poor brushing and flossing habits. Source Link
When it comes to being happy, Facebook can’t beat face-to-face. A study found that using Facebook was associated with a decline in happiness in people, even with all of the virtual socializing and "liking.” On the other hand, face-to-face interactions with others led people to feel better over time. Source Link
Can a soda habit make young children surly? A new study found that 5-year olds who drank sugar-sweetened soda showed increased aggression, withdrawal and difficulty paying attention. Researchers say a number of the ingredients in soda, including sugar and caffeine, could be to blame for the behavior problems. Source Link
Chivalry isn’t dead, but that doesn’t mean ladies can’t pick up the occasional tab for a date. Two-thirds of men surveyed believe that women should pay for a date from time to time. About 40-percent of women said they were annoyed by that, and just as many men said they’d break it off with a woman who didn’t offer to pay for a date. Source Link
It’s probably a sign of the times as Americans learn about government eavesdropping on phone calls. An inventor has created a pouch that blocks your smartphone from being tracked, although you can’t make or receive calls either. Smartphones can be hacked-into even when they’re powered off, unless the battery has been removed. Source Link
Man’s Best Friend could be doing a big favor for women everywhere. Researchers are using specially-trained dogs to learn how to detect the scent of ovarian cancer long before symptoms occur. The canine effort could lead to development a man-made testing device to sniff-out signs of the deadly cancer that strikes 20,000 women each year. Source Link
Here’s a number the folks at Facebook like -- 128 million. That’s how many Americans visit the social networking site each day, and three-fourths of them are using a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. Those numbers could boost Facebook’s efforts to capture more advertising dollars and put more pitches in your mobile News Feed. Source Link
The decline of the middle class is hurting business at the marriage license office. A new study found that Americans without college degrees are less likely to get married, stay married and have their children within marriage. Researchers blame economic uncertainty with the dwindling number of good-paying jobs that don’t require a degree. Source Link
These days, the cost of living beats the cost of schooling for many college students. A new analysis by The College Board shows that housing and food costs are more than tuition for most students who attend public universities in their home state. In the past five years, tuition costs have risen 27-percent over inflation. Source Link
Not having an eye for a famous face might help determine your risk for early onset dementia. Researchers say people who had trouble recognizing and naming pictures of well-known people such as Elvis Presley or John F. Kennedy may have been showing signs of the condition that can occur between age 40 and 65. Source Link
There may be evidence that the “near-death experience” is a real thing. Scientists who tested rats found that their brain activity increased in the moments after cardiac arrest. If the same is true for humans, it could help to explain the “bright light” and other experiences that some have described when they came back to life after clinical death. Source Link
Close ties between grandparents and adult grandchildren who help each other can pay dividends for both generations. A new study found fewer symptoms of depression for both the seniors and the young adults. Grandparents who gave their time or resources to their grandchildren got the most benefit. Source Link
New research supports what many a mother has known -- it’s hard to pinpoint a due date for a pregnancy. Experts say a typical pregnancy may vary by as much as five weeks, and only four-percent of women deliver at the standard 280 days. The findings could help guide doctors about when to intervene in a pregnancy. Source Link
The annual iPhone countdown is underway. Apple will reportedly unveil the newest edition of the world’s most popular smartphone on September 10th. Analysts aren’t expecting many changes, but the biggest may be that there’s more than one, and that Apple will begin offering a new low-priced iPhone along with the new flagship model. Source Link
One of the best ways to land a paying job is to show that you can help others for free. Three out of four hiring executives say skills-based volunteering makes a job candidate more desirable. Volunteering is especially helpful for those with less real-world work experience, like graduating college students and returning military veterans. Source Link
A new study says kids who suffer from chronic stomach aches are at higher risk for anxiety disorders when they’re older. Stress can trigger the pain and the reaction to it can become a vicious cycle. Researchers say the link is important to note so parents can have their child screened for mental health issues that are treatable. Source Link
It had a 60-year run, but TV is being dethroned as the king of home entertainment by the newest generation of digital devices. Experts say the average American is now spending more time per day with apps, streaming video, or web browsing than they are watching TV. Television viewing isn’t shrinking yet, but we’re spending more time with small screens. Source Link
Urging your overweight partner to diet may have the opposite effect on their eating habits. A study found that both women and men tended to react negatively to such well-meaning encouragement, leading to binge eating or extreme dieting. Experts say a better approach is to look for ways you both can eat healthy and get more exercise. Source Link
Social media is now part of life for most American adults. A new survey found that three out of four adults say they use an online social networking site. It’s not just young people, because 43-percent of those 65 and older use social media. And 30-percent of adults are expressing themselves in short bursts on Twitter. Source Link
Forget about the toy versions -- real smartphones are playthings for many a young child. A parent’s survey found that one-in-four children younger than age 5 use a smartphone. By age nine, it’s 40-percent of children with a phone, and just over half of 13-year olds have a phone of their own. Only 10-percent of parents say they’ve uncomfortable giving their child a phone. Source Link
A consumer group is challenging the notion that smartphone and tablet apps can teach your baby. It wants the Federal Trade Commission to stop software makers from making claims that the programs can be educational. Critics say no studies have shown any learning benefits for babies from screen viewing. Source Link
“Retail Therapy” may not be such a bad habit after all. Researchers say shopping that’s just for the fun of it can be good for you, because it can spread enjoyment to other people. But those who overspend to keep up with the Joneses often find themselves lonelier than before they started. Source Link
It’s another reason why people say a dog is man’s best friend. A study found that dogs are likely to yawn along with their owner when it’s genuine. Scientists say the trick is evidence of a dog’s ability to empathize and bond. Apes are the only other animals known to catch each other’s yawns. Source Link
Can you prevent Alzheimer’s disease by keeping your blood sugar in-check? Researchers say higher blood-glucose levels, even those well below diabetes, appear to raise the risk of developing dementia. In the absence of any effective drug treatments, maintain healthy blood sugar may be the best way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Source Link
When it comes time to do their banking, more Americans have traded the teller window for a tiny screen. Just over half say they now use online banking, and about one-third are using their smartphones to handle those transactions. That nearly double the number who banked by cell phone just two years ago. Source Link
Watching video on mobile devices is popular, but not so much when people are actually on-the-go. A new survey found that the most popular place to watch video on a mobile device is in your living room. Only 32% of people watched streaming video when they were out and about, perhaps a testament to the spotty quality of mobile data networks. Source Link
Technology makes up a big chunk of what you’ll spend to send a child off to college, but there are ways to save money too. A laptop is essential, but certified refurbished models can cost less and come with factory warranties. Few students need their own printer, and a tablet computer won’t be of much use in completing school assignments. Source Link
This year, you’ll get four ways to fight the flu with just one shot. The FDA has approved the first vaccine that targets four strains of the influenza virus. The single vaccine will protect against the two most common forms of the flu, plus the two strains that are expected to be prevalent during the upcoming flu season. Source Link
What do most people consider to be a full life? A new survey found that the median ideal lifespan would be 90 years, or about 11 years longer than the typical life expectancy. But enough is enough -- about six out of ten people say they would not be interested in treatments that would slow aging and extend life perhaps to 120 years old. Source Link
Want a natural cure for insomnia? Try sleeping under the stars for seven days. A study found that a one-week camping trip with only natural daylight and darkness can reset the body’s levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep. Researchers blame the problem on too many bright lights and glowing screens in the evening that push the sleep cycle later. Source Link
A list of the ten top jobs that employers say are the hardest to fill isn’t just high-tech, high-degree positions. While engineers, accountants and nurses are on the list, you’ll also find truck drivers, mechanics and machine operators among the hard-to-find. Employers say there’s a skills gap that makes it hard to hire qualified candidates. Source Link
“Gluten-free” is a popular choice for many, and now the FDA wants to be sure the food label fits for those whose health depends on it. New guidelines will strictly define what can be labeled gluten-free. The foods without proteins derived from grains can be a lifesaver for millions of people who suffer from Celiac disease. Source Link
If you’re planning ahead for the school year, experts say a good night’s sleep seven days a week is part of the recipe for building better young learners. Kids who sleep-in on weekends tend to come up short on Monday mornings. And kids should start every day with fruits, proteins and whole grains instead of sweet cereals that can cause a blood sugar crash by mid-morning. Source Link
Finding your lost Android phone will soon become easier. Google is unveiling a free service that lets you go online to pinpoint your phone’s location on a map, and let you sound the ringer, or wipe all the data if it’s been stolen. The Android Device Manager, which is similar to the “Find My Phone” feature for iPhones, will work on almost any Android phone sold in the past two years. Source Link
What kind of lunch break makes for a better afternoon on the job? It depends. Subjects in a new study had the same meal, but some ate at their desks and others went to a restaurant for a longer lunch. Those who left the office were less able to catch mistakes in the afternoon, but those laid-back lunch breakers might also be more creative and social in the second half of the day. Source Link
The best treatment for Alzheimer’s disease may be exercise. A new study found that a moderate exercise program improved memory recall and brain function better than any drug treatment for older adults with mild cognitive impairment. That means 150 minutes a week of exercise that increases heart rate and makes you sweat. Source Link
Who would have guessed that the theater nerds would have better job prospects than the tech geeks? New figures show the unemployment rate for recent IT graduates is double that of drama majors. Experts say IT hiring is cyclical and in a downturn now, and new graduates may not have the right training or experience to land a job quickly. Source Link
Tattoos don’t cause skin cancer, but they can make it harder to spot if it should develop. Experts say resist the urge to put a tattoo over moles or birthmarks because they can turn cancerous. Tattoo removal won’t solve the problem either, because it also removes the skin pigments that can show cancer development. Source Link
American moms are making a better effort to breastfeed their babies. A new report shows three out of four mothers try breastfeeding and one-quarter of them continue for one year. Breast milk can protect infants from infection, and some studies show that breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight and more likely to have a higher IQ. Source Link
It’s
usually a lack of rain that makes for a farmer’s misery, but not this
year in the South. Crops in places like Georgia and the Carolinas are
literally drowning from heavy rains that can cause vegetables to swell,
split and lose flavor. Melon, tomato and peach crops may be hard hit by
the record rainfall. Source Link
Does singing “Happy Birthday” and then blowing out candles make that cake taste better? A new study found that the rituals we perform before eating food can improve the taste. Researchers want to see if the same thing could work with repeated, specific rituals performed before surgery to help reduce pain for patients. Source Link
Long-term heavy smokers may want to add a lung CT scan to their annual health checkup. A government panel says the scans could detect lung cancer earlier and help prevent up to 20,000 deaths per year. The group targeted for the annual lung scans would be those over age 55 who have been smoking for at least 30 years. Source Link
The good guys in the world of hackers are showing automakers how computers that control a car’s functions can be compromised, in hopes of uncovering the bugs before any bad guys can exploit them. A demonstration showed how to hack a car’s steering or braking systems. Other researchers have been able to open electronic door locks on some luxury cars. Source Link
What would it cost your fast food budget if McDonald’s doubled it’s worker’s pay to $15 an hour? One researcher says the price of a Big Mac would jump by 68 cents. Some say that pay hike would also reduce the number of minimum wage workers on food stamps, which could save some taxpayer money. Source Link
