Health & Safety

Female Drosophila bifurca flies have an organ to store sperm (right) that male flies compete to fill, crowding out rivals.

For Female Fruit Flies, Mr. Right Has The Biggest Sperm

8:25pm May 25, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

It's not unusual for males to try to impress females with big body parts. Consider antlers on deer, or elaborate tails on peacocks. Some male fruit flies take a different approach: giant sperm.

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Beef sides hang in a chilling room at a slaughterhouse in Nebraska.

We Don't Know How Many Workers Are Injured At Slaughterhouses. Here's Why

5:12pm May 25, 2016

by Grant Gerlock

Injuries in the meat industry are likely to be under-reported, a new GAO report finds. Workers may be sent back to the line without seeing a doctor, or may not report out of fear of losing their jobs.

Asking Mom: 'Did You Know I Was Depressed In High School?'

4:32pm May 25, 2016

by Kenny Malone

Telling your parents you have mental health issues can be tough, even if you are a trained psychotherapist. Add in another culture and there's even more room for apprehension and misunderstanding.

There will be about 55 percent more people with diabetes as baby boomers become senior citizens, a report finds.

Baby Boomers Will Become Sicker Seniors Than Earlier Generations

3:30pm May 25, 2016

by Alison Kodjak

The seniors of tomorrow will have much higher rates of diabetes and obesity than the seniors of today, according to a data analysis. That means higher medical bills for them — and for taxpayers, too.

A scene from the movie Timbuktu, nominated in 2014 for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Health & Safety

Dear Hollywood, This Is How You Make A Movie With African Characters

2:22pm May 25, 2016

by Bob Mondello

Sean Penn's new movie set in Africa got booed at Cannes. Critics said its African characters were "bleeding wallpaper." Here are 4 films that give African characters (and actors) their due.

A view from the Shark Valley Visitors Center in Everglades National Park. Much of the freshwater that used to replenish South Florida's saw grass prairie has been diverted to agriculture, researchers say.

Rising Seas Push Too Much Salt Into The Florida Everglades

2:02pm May 25, 2016

by Christopher Joyce

Rising sea levels put extra pressure on coastal bedrock in South Florida. Eventually, as seawater moves in, it could contaminate plants on the surface and the region's stores of freshwater beneath.

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Margaret Chan (left), director general of the World Health Organization, is among the dignitaries visiting a military base in Conakry, Guinea, on a tour of west African countries affected by Ebola. Also pictured: Guinean President Alpha Conde (fourth from

WHO Aims To Reform Itself But Health Experts Aren't Yet Impressed

12:29pm May 25, 2016

by Michaeleen Doucleff

The health agency is making changes so it can get boots on the ground if a pandemic strikes. But critics say it hasn't gone far enough.

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A startup called Opternative offers online vision tests using a computer and a smartphone.

Online Eye Exam Site Makes Waves In Eye Care Industry

10:44am May 25, 2016

by Bradley George

Need a vision test? Now you can do it online with a computer and a smartphone. The site has attracted a lot of attention in the tech world, but eye care professionals have concerns.

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WHO Plans To Reshape Itself To Better Handle International Outbreaks

7:14pm May 24, 2016

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Health officials have warned for years that the world is not ready for the next big pandemic. Leaders at the World Health Organization are meeting this week to try to change that.

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Small Ohio Town Passes Progressive Parental Leave Policy

5:09pm May 24, 2016

The Village of Newburgh Heights, outside Cleveland, is a working class community of about 2,500 residents.