‘Illegal’ GM Soybeans Seized from Sudan
A shipment of GM soybeans reportedly hailing from the United States has recently been refused entry into Sudan. This is not the first time that Sudanese authorities have barred the import of GMOs into the country; it has a history of taking a firm stand against them on many occasions. Although Sudan's GMO policy is not entirely clear-cut from a legal...
What Drives Motivation and How to Have More
A recent study out of Technische Universität München in Germany found that internal, unconscious motivation can significantly improve performance. Researchers found that willpower alone is not enough when it comes to rising to a difficult challenge as the reserves of willpower are quickly depleted. Professor Hugo Kehr, Chair of Psychology at the university noted, "There are three components to motivation. The...
Why Drug Commericals are Misleading
Commercials for both prescription and over-the-counter drugs are so prevalent on the airwaves that you don't have to wait very long to find one once you turn on the television. In fact, a 2012 study published in the medical journal BMJ reported that pharmaceutical companies spend 19 times more money on advertising than they do on research. While this fact seems...
Biotech Companies Fight Against Hawaiian Anti-GMO Law
The battle rages on between the deep pockets of agribusiness and the resilience and growing numbers of those against the genetic alteration of our food. In a desperate attempt to stop the spread of anti-GMO laws in Hawaii, DuPont, Syngenta and Agrigenetics, Inc. have filed a lawsuit against Kauai's ordinance restricting GMO use. The law in place since last November...
Seven Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality this Winter
Especially in colder climates, many people tend to keep their windows and doors tightly shut in the wintertime. While this may keep the heat in, it also contributes to stuffy, dry indoor environments. It can also trap dust and other pollutants in the air for you to breathe. Without proper attention to indoor air quality, many homes become saturated with...
Could Probiotic Candy Really Fight Cavities?
You brush, floss and rinse daily, try to limit sweetened beverages and sugary candies in an effort to avoid cavities. But have you ever considered probiotics to combat tooth decay? Turns out this could be the ticket to eliminating the cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. Microbiologists in Berlin recently tested out a probiotic-laced mint on a group of volunteers to...
Medical Students Taught Meditation Techniques to Help Prevent Burnout
Medicine is a very demanding profession, and it is estimated that between 20 and 60 percent of doctors experience burnout at some point. This can be dangerous to both the doctors themselves, and to their patients, as quality of care may decrease and propensity for medical errors may increase if a physician is over-strained. To help future physicians manage their...
The Pursuit of Gross National Product Drives Japan Workers to Death: Can We Learn Something?
More, more, more... better, better, better. Ever since the war, Japan has held one common goal - to be bigger, better and wealthier than any other country. Hard work has always been at the cornerstone of Japan's post-war ambition. This pursuit of gross national product has been the envy of many an industrialized nation, including America. However, the success of...
Study – Mindfulness Aids in Lowering Blood Pressure
Mindfulness, an important aspect of meditation centered around conscious awareness and focus on the present, can be highly beneficial to overall well-being. A growing body of research has linked this practice with benefits including better sleep and relief from mental distress. A new study has found another positive effect of mindfulness, specificaly mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) - it may help lower...
McDonald’s Employee Resource Site Warns Workers to Forego Fast Food for Healthier Options
McDonald's may have thought it was doing a good thing for employees when it started an Employee Resource Website, managed by a third-party vendor. However, after several "blunders," and a viral report of a site post making suggestions for employees to forego fast food for healthier fare, the site has now been taken down. A graphic on the site showed...
