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Saturday

Catching Hospital Workers Dirty-Handed

Studies show that only about 40 percent of health care workers in the U.S. wash their hands as often as they should. Rob Carr/AP hide caption

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Rob Carr/AP

Health Care

Catching Hospital Workers Dirty-Handed

Studies show only about 40 percent of health care workers in the U.S. wash their hands as often as they should. So some hospitals are trying to monitor just how regularly their employees are washing up — by testing out new surveillance technologies.

Catching Hospital Workers Dirty-Handed

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Friday

Cell Phone Bans Don't Decrease Accidents, Study Says

According to a study of four jurisdictions that have banned the use of hand-held devices while driving, the laws have not reduced accident rates. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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Technology

Cell Phone Bans Don't Decrease Accidents, Study Says

A study by the Highway Loss Data Institute looked at accident rates before and after cell phone bans took effect in New York, the District of Columbia, Connecticut and California and found that month-to-month fluctuations in collision claims didn't change. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls the study "irresponsible."

Haiti Moves Past Broken Bones To Future Needs

A woman receives treatment in a U.S.-run emergency clinic in Port-au-Prince. John W. Poole/NPR hide caption

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John W. Poole/NPR

Radio Pictures

Haiti Moves Past Broken Bones To Future Needs

Victims of Haiti's earthquake still need urgent medical care. But once broken bones are set and amputations completed, patients will need longer-term help. Haiti's next challenge: How to house and care for those recovering from life-changing injuries.

Haiti Moves Past Broken Bones To Future Needs

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Thursday

Politics

Truth Squad Fact Checks Obama's State Of The Union

President Obama gave his first State of the Union address Wednesday night. Ever year, Morning Edition checks some of the facts to find out more about what the president said in his speech. Steve Inskeep talks to: NPR's David Welna on the budget, NPR's Julie Rovner on health care, NPR's Christopher Joyce on nuclear plants, NPR's Jackie Northam on the Afghan war; and NPR's Mary Louise Kelly on the Iraq war.

Truth Squad Fact Checks Obama's State Of The Union

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Wednesday

Study: Humans Were Born To Run Barefoot

A barefooted runner takes to the streets. Charlie Riedel/AP hide caption

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Charlie Riedel/AP

Fitness & Nutrition

Study: Humans Were Born To Run Barefoot

Researchers say that people who learned to run barefoot put less stress on their feet and legs than their shod peers. And it's more energy efficient, too. Barefoot is, after all, the natural way to run.

Study: Humans Were Born To Run Barefoot

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Tuesday

National

Study: Kids Fixated With Television, Internet and Texting

Children ages 8 to 18 consume an average of nearly eight hours each day of various forms of media, up from 6 hours in 2005, according to a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. In addition to TV consumption, kids are increasingly texting and talking on cell phones. The numbers are especially high within African-American and Latino communities. Host Michel Martin speaks with Vicky Rideout, an author of the study, freelance writer Rosie Molinary and Dannette Tucker, a mother of two and a regular Tell Me More parenting contributor. They discuss why kids are using so many mediums offer tips to parents on how to balance the amount of exposure.

Study: Kids Fixated With Television, Internet and Texting

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Willpower And The 'Slacker' Brain
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Radiolab

Willpower And The 'Slacker' Brain

The reason for a lack of willpower may be that you're working your prefrontal cortex too hard. If you give it too many jobs to do, it gets tired, calls it a day and gives into temptation.

Listen to Cake Topple Your Brain

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Health Care

GOP Struggles For Consensus On Health Care

Republicans have some ideas for how their stalled health overhaul can get started again: Find some bipartisanship. The problem is that most Republicans don't agree on many of the proposals fellow party members are shopping around Capitol Hill.

GOP Struggles For Consensus On Health Care

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Monday

Global Health

Bill Gates Sets Out His Global Charitable Goals

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed billions to improving the health of vulnerable people worldwide. Co-Chair Bill Gates assesses the foundation's work to date and discusses how innovation and partnerships can continue making a difference for the world's poorest, despite the economic downturn.

Bill Gates Sets Out His Global Charitable Goals

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Teen Drinking May Cause Irreversible Brain Damage

The red specks highlight where the integrity of the brain's white matter is significantly less in the teens who binge drink, compared to those who do not. Courtesy of Susan Tapert/Tim McQueeny/UCSD hide caption

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Courtesy of Susan Tapert/Tim McQueeny/UCSD

Your Health

Teen Drinking May Cause Irreversible Brain Damage

For teenagers, the effects of a drunken night out may linger long after the hangover wears off. A recent study finds damaged nerve tissue in the brains of teenagers who drink heavily, and poorer performance on thought and memory tests.

Teen Drinking May Cause Irreversible Brain Damage

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Menthol May Be Nicotine's Partner In Addiction

According to a new study, people who smoke menthol cigarettes seem to have more difficulty quitting than those who smoke regular cigarettes. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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Menthol May Be Nicotine's Partner In Addiction

Nicotine is definitely addictive, but scientists are still debating menthol's role in hooking people on tobacco. Some studies suggest that menthol allows smokers to take deeper drags or puffs on cigarettes, drawing in a greater amount of nicotine and its byproducts. Other researchers say there's no proof.

Menthol May Be Nicotine's Partner In Addiction

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Sunday

National

This Is 'Your Face On Meth,' Kids

Sheriff Tom Allman says he has found a way to keep kids off methamphetamine. If they could see what they'd look like after using the highly addictive drug, it might get them to stay away from it forever. With help from some image-altering software, Allman is out to show teens the face of meth.

This Is 'Your Face On Meth,' Kids

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Friday