Health & Safety

Scientists say that understanding how the cocktail party effect works could help people who have trouble deciphering sounds in a noisy environment. Guests make it look easy at a Dolce and Gabbana Lounge party in London in 2010.

Hear That? In A Din Of Voices, Our Brains Can Tune In To One

11:49am March 07, 2013

by Jon Hamilton

Scientists are beginning to understand how people focus on a single voice in a crowded, noisy room. This ability, known as the "cocktail party effect," appears to rely on areas of the brain that have completely filtered out unwanted sounds.

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Good advice, but strict rules at mealtime may backfire.

Health & Safety

Selling Kids On Veggies When Rules Like 'Clean Your Plate' Fail

5:14pm March 06, 2013

by Patti Neighmond

Involving kids in preparing dinner may be a better way to get kids to eat their vegetables than strictures like "no dessert until you eat your vegetables." But health experts say there's nothing wrong with an occasional treat.

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Bonobos share a piece of fruit at the Lola ya Bonobo sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Health & Safety

How Did Our Brains Evolve To Equate Food With Love?

12:12pm March 05, 2013

by Jon Hamilton

Until recently, our brains' way of connecting food with love and a sense of well-being was purely a good thing. But in a world where it's possible to feast every day, it can be a problem.

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A promo image depicting a parent's perception of his child's weight.

Health & Safety

Your Child's Fat, Mine's Fine: Rose-Colored Glasses And The Obesity Epidemic

8:30pm March 04, 2013

by Shankar Vedantam

Despite current trends, most parents assume their own kids won't grow up to be overweight adults. That 'optimism bias' has neurological roots, brain scientists say.

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Many homes that were rebuilt after the earthquake in 2010 are even more dangerous than the original ones. This three-story home was put up after the quake but is already slated for demolition to make way for an 18-unit housing project.

What Happened To The Aid Meant To Rebuild Haiti?

4:39pm March 04, 2013

by Jason Beaubien

Three years after an earthquake destroyed much of Haiti's capital, it's clear that only a fraction of the $9 billion pledged in international relief reached the country. Most of what did arrive went to short-term relief, instead of rebuilding people's homes.

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Mapping The Effects Of The Sequester On Science

1:03pm March 01, 2013

On Friday March 1, automatic cuts known as the 'sequester' go into effect across the federal budget. Michael Lubell of the American Physical Society discusses what scientific programs will likely be affected, in fields from medical research to renewable energy development.

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Health & Safety

Why Processed Food Is Cheaper Than Healthier Options

6:32am March 01, 2013

Earlier in the week in our "On the Run" series, we heard a mom explain how mac and cheese was more affordable than fresh fruit. Morning Edition reached out to Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, a nutritionist and economist, to explain why that would be true.

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With a proper balance of medication and therapy, some people diagnosed with mental illness can succeed in the workplace.

Health & Safety

Balancing Work, Medication And Mental Illness

6:04pm February 28, 2013

by NPR Staff

After Elyn Saks was diagnosed with schizophrenia, she thought she'd never be able to hold a job. Saks explains how she went on to become a law professor at the University of Southern California. Dr. Richard Friedman, of Weill Cornell Medical College, discusses balancing work and mental illness.

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The Brown-Spencer family gathers for dinner at their home in Mechanicsville, Va. This family of eight manages to eat together nearly every weeknight, but they've had to cut back on many after-school activities to make it work. From left: Doug Brown, Laura

Health & Safety

Family Dinner: Treasured Tradition Or Bygone Ideal?

3:06pm February 28, 2013

by Allison Aubrey

We'd all like to live the Norman Rockwell scenario, but for some families, the hectic pace of modern life means dinners are often more likely to channel The Simpsons. Studies suggest that regular family meals contribute to healthy eating habits. So what to make of this tradition in transition?

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Yvonne Condes helps her son Alec get ready for baseball practice.

In Many Families, Exercise Is By Appointment Only

1:18pm February 28, 2013

Many parents struggle to find the time to get their kids the exercise they need. But some parents are trying to make walking and biking part of their daily lives, not something they have to schedule.

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