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Study: Oxygen Levels Have Varied Little Over Ages
A new study finds oxygen has probably not varied all that dramatically since dinosaurs first roamed the Earth. Scientists in Ireland say the atmosphere seems to have been at least 15 percent oxygen for hundreds of millions of years.
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Florida's Tourism Executives Revisit Offshore Drilling
Florida's biggest business is tourism, and its beaches are the state's crown jewel. The state's tourism industry has strongly opposed offshore oil drilling, but in September, an annual tourism convention will focus on the risks and rewards of this practice.
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Tracing The Roots Of 'Irish Madness'
For five generations, Patrick Tracey's family has been plagued by what he calls "a perfect storm of schizophrenia." In his new book, <em>Stalking Irish Madness</em>, he traces his family lineage — and the roots of the disease — all the way back to Ireland.
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Football Uniforms Turn Up The Heat
Injury-inducing collisions aren't the only safety issues football coaches and trainers need to worry about, physiologists say. High temperatures and humidity can also take a serious toll on players wrapped up in pads and uniforms.
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As Kids Grow Older, Egalitarianism Honed
A study in <em>Nature</em> shows that egalitarianism begins to appear in most kids between ages 3 and 8. Scientists who studied 229 Swiss children found that at age 3, 9 percent were willing to share candy with another person. But by age 8, that number rose to 45 percent.
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Medication Error Death Rate Up 500 Percent
Painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety drugs are being prescribed to out-patients in high doses, without the oversight of a doctor. A new study found that in the last 20 years there has been a 500 percent increase in the death rate from medication errors made at home.
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Breast Exam Rebuttal: 'An Exam Saved Me'
Last week we reported on a study that showed that self breast exams don't help prevent death from breast cancer in women. The interview generated quite a response from listeners. Several women wrote in to say that they had found cancerous lumps in their own breasts and wouldn't be alive today if not for breast self exams.
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A Partisan Divide On Health Care Reform
While both John McCain and Barack Obama agree that the American health care system needs reform, the candidates differ markedly in their vision of the remedy. Political scientist Jonathan Oberlander offers an in-depth comparison of the candidates' proposals.
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Web Sites Compare How Hospitals Measure Up
A new Web site called "Hospital Compare" evaluates hospital death rates around the country and shows how individual hospitals stack up against the national average. Guests discuss the reliability of the data on the site and describe the measures hospitals are taking to improve performance.
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Doctors Fear Effects Of Illegal Immigrant's Arrest
The recent arrest of a popular woman who happens to be an illegal immigrant has some North Carolina doctors concerned. The woman's immigration status apparently was turned over to authorities after she received medical care. Doctors worry that illegal immigrants will be afraid to seek care, which might lead to public health problems.
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Moo North: Cows Sense Earth's Magnetism
A team of researchers sorting through satellite images of cows in 300 pastures makes a surprising discovery: Cows tend to face either magnetic north or south when grazing or resting.
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Treating Iraqi Children For PTSD
The war in Iraq has had a severe impact on the country's children. More than 650 children were reported killed there last year. Iraq's children also have been the victims of kidnapping, torture and rape. A clinic for children suffering post-traumatic stress disorder is opening this month in Baghdad.
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Sounds From The Wild: The Laughing Kookaburra
It's a common sound in the Australian bush, starting up just around daylight: the laughing call of the kookaburra. These birds get together in small groups, have a chat and then go into a full laughter song, letting other kookaburras know where their territory is.
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Eco-Camp Offers Lessons On Alternative Fuels
At Maryland's Camp Calleva, most campers engage in typical activities like rafting, kayaking or rock climbing. But a few spend a week in a program called Building Green, learning about environmentally friendly design and alternative energy. This year's project: alternative fuels.
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If Bigfoot Isn't In Georgia, Where Is He?
One more Bigfoot hoax went down in history this week. But Jeffrey Meldrum, a professor of anatomy and biological sciences at Idaho State University, says strange tracks are part of a growing body of evidence that <em>something</em> may be out there.
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