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Tuesday

FDA OKs Prescription-Free Plan B Pill For Women 15 And Up

The Plan B One-Step morning-after pill will now be available to women as young as 15 without a prescription. AP hide caption

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AP

Shots - Health News

FDA OKs Prescription-Free Plan B Pill For Women 15 And Up

Under the proposal, teenagers below 15 would now need a prescription to purchase the morning-after pill. That age was previously 17. The plan would also allow the product to be sold on retail shelves, rather than behind the pharmacy counters, with age to be verified by cashiers rather than pharmacy staff.

FDA OKs Prescription-Free Plan B Pill For Women 15 And Up

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How Doctors Would Know If Syrians Were Hit With Nerve Gas

Doctors at a hospital in Aleppo, Syria, treat a boy injured in what the government said was a chemical weapons attack on March 19. Syria's government and rebels accused each other of firing a rocket loaded with chemical agents outside of Aleppo. George Ourfalian/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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George Ourfalian/Reuters/Landov

Shots - Health News

How Doctors Would Know If Syrians Were Hit With Nerve Gas

An international team of doctors is helping Syrian health workers recognize the signs of a chemical attack. They're also teaching them how to collect and preserve tissues as potential evidence if war crimes charges are brought.

How Doctors Would Know If Syrians Were Hit With Nerve Gas

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Criminologist Believes Violent Behavior Is Biological
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Author Interviews

Criminologist Believes Violent Behavior Is Biological

Fresh Air

In a new book, The Anatomy of Violence, Adrian Raine argues that violent behavior has a biological basis just like depression or schizophrenia. This raises questions about treatment, accountability and punishment, including the death penalty.

Criminologist Believes Violent Behavior Is Biological

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Why Calif. Doesn't Want Smokers To Pay More For Health Insurance

Californian State Assemblyman Richard Pan (center) is the author of legislation that would bar higher prices for health insurance sold to smokers. Rich Pedroncelli/AP hide caption

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Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Shots - Health News

Why Calif. Doesn't Want Smokers To Pay More For Health Insurance

LAist 89.3

The federal health law allows states to charge smokers up to 50 percent more for a health plan sold through the new exchanges. But a bill moving forward in the California Legislature would prevent that from happening.

Why Calif. Doesn't Want Smokers To Pay More For Health Insurance

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Monday

Big Sibling's Big Influence: Some Behaviors Run In The Family
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Shots - Health News

Big Sibling's Big Influence: Some Behaviors Run In The Family

Psychologists have long known that children often model their behavior on the actions of parents or peers. But science has only recently begun to measure the influence of siblings. An older brother's or sister's behavior can be very contagious, it turns out — for good and for bad.

Big Sibling's Big Influence: Some Behaviors Run In The Family

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How To Turn Down The Heat On Fiery Family Arguments

Parents can minimize the negative impact of their arguments on their children using a few simple techniques to calm down. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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Shots - Health News

How To Turn Down The Heat On Fiery Family Arguments

Psychologists say kids who get entangled in their parents' arguments often suffer shame and low self-esteem. So some are trying to teach parents who feel they just can't stop arguing when they get angry how to "get to calm."

How To Turn Down The Heat On Fiery Family Arguments

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Shhh, The Kids Can Hear You Arguing (Even When They're Asleep)

Even during sleep, babies' brains continue to take in and process angry voices. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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Shots - Health News

Shhh, The Kids Can Hear You Arguing (Even When They're Asleep)

In scans of sleeping infants' brains, certain areas light up when they hear angry voices. But is that heightened activation damaging, or does it mean the children are learning to cope?

Shhh, The Kids Can Hear You Arguing (Even When They're Asleep)

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Sunday

Media

Anti-Drug PSAs: Do They Work?

The U.S. has spent millions of dollars since the 1980s on anti-drug ads. But research shows that some of these older public service announcements might be counterproductive. Now that the ads are shifting to reach teens who want to rebel, new studies show they may actually be more effective.

Anti-Drug PSAs: Do They Work?

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Saturday

E-Cigarettes Bring Smokers Back Inside, For Now

Actor Stephen Dorff smokes an e-cigarette in a commercial for Blu E-Cigs. YouTube hide caption

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YouTube

Business

E-Cigarettes Bring Smokers Back Inside, For Now

Fewer Americans are buying cigarettes these days, but smokeless products like e-cigarettes are on the rise. They're not regulated like other tobacco products, but the FDA warns that day may yet come.

E-Cigarettes Bring Smokers Back Inside, For Now

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Friday

Freaky Friday: Autonomous Tissue Grabbers Are On Their Way

A miniature ninja throwing star or a surgical device? The microgripper, shown here coming out of a catheter tube, is activated by body heat. The sharp appendages fold up when the device warms up. Evin Gultepe, Gracias Lab, Johns Hopkins University. hide caption

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Evin Gultepe, Gracias Lab, Johns Hopkins University.

Shots - Health News

Freaky Friday: Autonomous Tissue Grabbers Are On Their Way

Scientists have deployed hundreds of tiny, experimental robots to help with biopsies. They're as small as a speck of dust. They look like tiny ninja throwing stars. And researchers use magnets to retrieve them.