Infotrak

Recent research in low-resource communities in the southern US found a disturbingly high incidence of parasitic infections in kids. Theresa Gildner, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, explains how environmental conditions, combined with infrastructural neglect and inadequate access to health care, create the perfect breeding ground for these infections.

Could the familiar AM radio be disappearing from car dashboards? Paul McLane, Editor in Chief of Radio World, explains why it's already happening with some makes and models, and why the trend is worrisome.

We've all heard the idea that running is bad for your knees. But is it true? Robert Hyldahl, PhD, Assistant Professor of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, has the surprising answer.

If you've been thinking that inflation is a temporary problem that will soon go away, think again! Sarah Foster, Analyst and Principal US Economy Reporter at Bankrate.com, says inflation may continue to impact the day-to-day expenses of Americans for years to come, not to mention our retirement contributions and emergency savings.

When disaster strikes, quality medical care could be out of reach. Joseph Alton, MD, board-certified obstetrician and pelvic surgeon, co-author of the "The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for When Help is NOT on the Way," explains why your survival and that of your family may count on having the right first aid supplies, plus some knowledge of basic emergency care.

A shocking 2/3rds of US school children are not getting proper instruction on how to read. The result: they're unable to read at grade level. Malia Hollowell, author of "The Science of Reading in Action: Brain-Friendly Strategies Every Teacher Needs to Know," shares common barriers to quality instruction, and how teachers and parents can take action.

Would you like to have more friends? Making new friends doesn't need to be as challenging as you may think. Laura Tremaine, author of "The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs," offers some wise and practical advice.

For many teens, that first formal job is a rite of passage. Prof. Sarah J. Clark, MPH, Research Scientist in the Department of Pediatrics and Co-Director of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at the University of Michigan, shares the results of her organization's survey of parents, exploring their views of the pluses and minuses of teenage employment.

Despite America's prosperity, a significant number of people are living below the poverty line at any given time. Mark R. Rank, PhD, Herbert S. Hadley Professor of Social Welfare at Washington University in St. Louis, author of "The Poverty Paradox: Understanding Economic Hardship Amid American Prosperity," explains the reasons.

According to the FBI, Jewish people make up less than 2.5% the US population, yet are victims of 10% of all hate crimes. We'll learn more from Matthew Berger, Executive Director of the non-profit Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.

We often hear that walking is good for health, especially for seniors, but how many daily steps actually lower the risk of heart disease? Erin Dooley, PhD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, has the answer.

A recent report shows historic highs in the employment of the disabled. Andrew Houtenville, PhD, Professor of Economics at the University of Hampshire and Research Director of the UNH Institute on Disability, explains what is driving historic highs in the employment of people with disabilities, and why disabled employment has outstripped the non-disabled since the start of pandemic lockdowns.

It's an artificial intelligence chatbot, otherwise known as ChatGPT. Ask it a question and you'll get a surprisingly intelligent answer. We asked ChatGPT to explain its strengths and weaknesses, and if there's a risk of bias in its responses. It also outlines the top 5 human endeavors in which it anticipates making the biggest impact.

What's the third leading cause of preventable deaths in America? If you guessed alcohol, you'd be right, but a new program targeting drunk drivers may lower the death count. We'll get the information you need to know from Beau Kilmer, PhD, McCauley Chair in Drug Policy Innovation, at the RAND Corporation and Co-Director, RAND Drug Policy Research Center.

If you've noticed a significant increase in fraudulent schemes lately, you'd be right. Rob Docters, Partner and Head of Ethics Practices at Abbey Road, LLP, co-author of "Ethics and Hidden Greed: Your Defense against Unethical Strategies and Violations of Trust" explains the factors causing the jump in fraud.

Being disabled as a child or adult isn't the end of the world, especially if you have support along the way. We'll hear inspiring thoughts on the topic from H Penny Mishkin, Columbia University occupational therapist, and author of "How I See It: A Personal and Historical View of Disability," who managed a successful 30 year career despite having total blindness.

It seems that there are many paradoxes related to our health, and here's one of the latest: statin drugs, which are prescribed to lower cholesterol, have prevented millions of heart attacks, but a study by John P. Thyfault, PhD, Professor of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Director of the Health Activity Center at the University of Missouri, found that these meds may also counteract the benefits of exercise.

Tragically, suicide death rates have risen substantially among adolescents in the US. Deepa L. Sekhar, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Penn State College of Medicine, Executive Director of Penn State PRO Wellness, says improved screening at schools could lower the risk

Does a four-day workweek with a five-day paycheck sound like a dream to you? It's becoming a reality at hundreds of businesses, with positive results for both employees and companies. Juliet B. Schor, PhD, Professor of Sociology, Boston College, shares her landmark international study of the trend.

1 in 3 elderly Americans die with Alzheimers, or another form of dementia, but a recent study found that are common vitamin supplement may help ward off the debilitating disease. Samuel Zahinoor Ismail, MD FRCPC, Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Epidemiology, and Pathology at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and O'Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary, shares his fascinating findings.