Infotrak

The pandemic has impacted America's education system in many ways. One positive aspect is the use of modern technology, with real time audio video interaction. Ravi Hutheesing, author of “Pivot: Empowering Students Today to Succeed in an Unpredictable Tomorrow,” joins us to explain how the COVID-19 lockdowns exposed the strengths and weaknesses of America's education system.

Sperm counts among men in the industrialized world have plummeted by 60 percent in the past 40 years. Could this worrisome trend impact the future of the human race? Shanna H. Swan, PhD, Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, author of "Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race," says if trends continue at the current rate, most couples may have to seek assisted reproduction by the year 2045.

You see and hear ads that say "we buy houses for cash." But what types of real estate investors are behind those ads? Eric Sussman, PhD, adjunct real estate professor at the University of California Los Angeles, explains the pluses and minuses for home sellers.

They taste like energy drinks, but pack a wallop in terms of alcohol content. Supersized alco pops are sending a shocking number of young people to emergency rooms. Matthew E. Rossheim, PhD, MPH, CPH, Assistant Professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at George Mason University, will explain what parents need to know.

Recent studies estimate that we use an astounding 129 billion face masks globally every month, roughly 3 million each minute. Prof. Elvis Genbo Xu, from the Department of Biology at the University of Southern Denmark, says little effort has been made so far to address the massive environmental impact of these disposable masks, most of which are not biodegradable.

Take whatever money you have saved for retirement, and cut it in half. That's what one top retirement planning expert says, because most of us don't realize the dramatic impact of taxes. But there are ways to minimize the pain, according to Ed Slott, author of “The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb: How to Take Financial Control, Avoid Unnecessary Taxes, and Combat the Latest Threats to Your Retirement Savings.”

Rates of suicide, bullying, eating disorders and other mental health challenges are rising dramatically among teenagers. Achea Redd, author of "Authentic You: A Girl's Guide to Growing Up Fearless and True," outlines the character traits that are critical to thrive as an adolescent, and what parents can do to help.

A tsunami of unemployment fraud is sweeping the states, costing taxpayers BILLIONS of dollars. We’ll examine the reasons and what to do if you are targeted by fraudsters, with expert advice from Mark Eichorn, Assistant Director in the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection.

Does age discrimination cause older women in the workplace to pull back from high-powered roles? Bonnie Marcus, author of “Not Done Yet! How Women Over 50 Regain Their Confidence and Claim Workplace Power” thinks so. She explains how older women can reclaim their confidence and power.

Parents may think if a kid isn't showing motivation to work hard in school, that may never change. But, Kui Xie, Professor of Educational Studies at Ohio State University, says recent research shows there's a key to unlock motivation.

Every 30 minutes, a child in the U.S. is injured from a TV or furniture tip-over incident. We’ll get critical advice for parents from Kim Dulic from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, on how to secure televisions in homes where young children live or visit.

Surprising results of research has found that street lights, neon signs, and other nighttime light pollution can increase the likelihood of a preterm birth by almost 13%. Laura Argys, PhD, Professor of Economics, University of Colorado, Denver, will explain.

Each day, millions of Americans are participating in virtual meetings--otherwise known as Zoom meetings-- leading to a very real concern: Zoom fatigue. But there are ways to avoid video conferencing burn out. We'll get useful tips from Jeremy Bailenson, PhD, founding director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, and Thomas More Storke Professor in the Department of Communication.

The pandemic lockdowns created many challenges for every American, including social isolation, which has had a severe impact on teens and young adults. We'll talk to Gregory Koufacos, Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor who specializes in working with young men, author of "The Primal Method: A Book for Emerging Men," who says research has found high levels of anxiety and depression in this age group. He'll discuss the issue and the surprising value of video gaming, outdoor activities and jobs for young men who are struggling.

The nation was shocked at the recent collapse of the Texas electrical grid. Are other areas of the country at risk of similar outages? We'll find out from Ed Hirs, PhD, Lecturer and Energy Fellow at the University of Houston Department of Economics.

While they may be annoying, experts say humans couldn't exist without insects. We'll hear from Akito Kawahara, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Florida, Curator of the Florida Museum of Natural History's McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, to learn why everyone should be concerned by studies that sound the alarm about plummeting insect numbers and diversity.

A recent study found a surprising link between a student's achievements in music and math. Martin Bergee, Professor of Music Education and Music Therapy at the University of Kansas, shares his findings.

How can workplaces be more supportive and accommodating to employees with disabilities, physical and otherwise? Diversity and inclusion expert Tova Sherman, the author of “Win, Win, Win!: The 18 Inclusion-isms You Need to Become a Disability Confident Employer,” says it all begins with having the right mindset.

Are you paying too much for your insurance--possibly way too much? Jeff Arnold, consumer advocate, and author of "How to Beat Your Insurance Company," says there may be discounts that can save you money.

High blood pressure is unhealthy, and your doctor may recommend a daily brisk walk to bring it down. Phil Chilibeck, PhD, Kinesiology Professor at the University of Saskatchewa led a recent study that points to an even more effective activity to lower your blood pressure.