Infotrak

Parenting has changed tremendously in recent years. Research psychologist and psychotherapist Frieda Birnbaum, PhD, is the oldest woman in America to give birth to twins. She is also the author of "Life Begins At 60: A New View of Motherhood, Marriage, and Reinventing Ourselves.” She explains how parenting changed in the span of having kids in her 30s to having them in her 60s, and the pluses and minuses of older parenting.

Marta L. Tellado, PhD, is the President and CEO of Consumer Reports and author of “Buyer Aware: Harnessing Our Consumer Power for a Safe, Fair, and Transparent Marketplace.” She talks about the rampant online abuse of our privacy and our personal data, with suggestions to protect yourself.

A woman goes for a run on a country road and is assaulted and murdered in broad daylight. We'll hear from Caroline Tocci, President & Co-Founder/Director of The Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation, who founded an organization in memory of her cousin, devoted to safety awareness for women. She offers tips and advice, especially for female runners, to help them stay safe.

Are your eyes feeling tired? Digital eyestrain is affecting people of all ages, but James S W Wolffsohn, PhD, Professor of Optometry at Aston University in Birmingham, England, has some helpful advice.

Kids are getting digital devices at surprisingly young ages. Catherine Pearlman, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Massachusetts Global, licensed clinical social worker, author of "First Phone: A Child's Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety, and Etiquette," shares tips to help keep kids safe and avoid social media mistakes.

Recent research shows that regular activity not only helps older adults enjoy life more, but it improves their scores on cognitive tests. We'll talk to Stephen Smagula, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, who found that having a daily routine results in healthier aging.

When veterans leave the military, they may struggle with the transition to higher education or a new career. Arpita Ghosh, PhD, Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Kansas, outlines the assistance that makes a difference in the transition.

Many people--especially men--have a limited number of friends. Marisa G. Franco, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland, author of "Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make - and Keep – Friends," says friendships are vital. She explains how improve the number and quality of friends you have.

Are you carrying a balance on your credit card? About half of U. S. consumers are, and that means these card holders face higher costs due to inflation. We have tips from Ted Rossman, Senior Industry Analyst at CreditCards.com, to help you pay down debt and consolidate balances.

The pandemic lockdowns greatly affected schools and students, causing learning losses that may take years to overcome. Karyn Lewis is the Director of the Center for School and Student Progress at NWEA, a nonprofit research firm that creates academic assessments for students pre-K to grade 12. She says losses in math were the most severe, but reading was also badly affected. She offers advice for parents who are concerned about their child's learning.

Those online product reviews--can they be trusted? Brett Hollenbeck, PhD, Assistant Professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, says there are an astounding number of fake reviews on websites...so buyer beware!

A victim of domestic violence, who survived and later thrived with her own successful business, says survivors of domestic abuse should not let the experience define them. Pennie Crockett, author of "Dangerous Love: From Battered to Boss Lady," shares her inspiring story and offers advice to those struggling to escape abusive situations.

An alarming number of American teens tried vaping last year. Ana Maria Rule, PhD, MHS, Assistant Scientist in Environmental Health and Engineering at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, shares the results of a disturbing study that examined what users are breathing in when they vape.

Then, how effective is a self-guided approach to weight loss? Recent research from Mindy H. Lee, graduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, says it can make a difference. She explains why diet flexibility is key to making weight loss and maintenance sustainable in the long run.

More than 40,000 organ or tissue transplants were performed last year in the US. But behind every organ donation--usually because of an unexpected accident or tragedy--there is a family reeling over sudden grief and loss. After the sudden loss of her teenage daughter, Tara Storch co-founded Taylor's Gift Foundation to support other donor families.

More than 50% of American households have a dog, cat, or both. Home hygiene specialist Erin Matthews outlined ways to control indoor allergens and pollutants from pets and other common sources.

Many people struggle to retain even a fraction of the knowledge we consume throughout our day, and wind up frustrated when we can’t recall the information we need when we need it. Mr. Forte explained a simple method using existing smartphone technology to not only consume information, but to manage and streamline it. Tiago Forte, productivity consultant, and author of “Building A Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential,” explains a simple method using existing smartphone technology to not only consume information, but to manage and streamline it.

What are teenagers actually doing on their smartphones? One researcher says contrary to what many adults think, teens are not simply addicted to their screens--they're actually navigating a networked world. Emily Weinstein, PhD, Principal Investigator at Project Zero in the Harvard Graduate School of Education, author of “Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (And Adults Are Missing),” discusses about the social stresses that have been drastically amplified in social media, then are further exacerbated because parents often don’t understand.

Plastic pollution is a major global issue, but innovative new ideas may offer ways to reduce the plastic that ends up in landfills. Biomedical engineer Parisa Kamgar, P.E., inventor and environmental activist, explains a newly emerging eco-friendly packaging strategy for consumer products.

Gambling is more available than any time in history and that means the dangers for compulsive gamblers are greater than ever. How can those at risk seek help? Simone Rodda, PhD, Associate Professor in the Auckland University of Technology, Psychology and Neuroscience in Auckland, New Zealand, explained who is most likely to seek help, and the types of assistance that is available for problem gamblers.