On:

The population of the United States is now over 300 million. Can we sustain a rate of growth like this?

Economically, no: Andrew Buncombe writes in the Independent that “the average US citizen uses far more than his or her fair share of the planet’s resources?consuming more than four times the worldwide average of energy, almost three times as much water and producing more than twice the average amount of rubbish and five times the amount of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming.” We have to hope that rapidly developing countries like China and India don’t follow our example.

Even at 300 million, we have only 5% of the world’s population, yet, according to Buncombe, we use “23% of its energy, 15% of its meat and 28% of its paper.”
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On:

The mosquito season is finally ending in most of the US and yes, it IS true that mosquitoes like to bite some of us more than others. What causes us to itch, anyway?

Corey Binns writes in LiveScience.com that we have special nerves that send us those prickly feelings. While some nerve fibers focus on deliver pain sensations and touch, others are dedicated to making us itch. Histamine is the culprit. This is a protein that is released during an allergic reaction which tells our special itch nerves to send signals to the spinal cord, where they are transmitted to the brain. Antihistamines work by interrupting these signals.
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On:

One way to do it is to move to a third-world country. But how can we be happier while staying right where we are?

Psychologist Michael Frisch has discovered that As much as 50% of your happiness is genetic, so it’s inherited from your parents. What that means is that we inherit or basic serotonin level. Serotonin is our “happiness hormone” and can be elevated by meditation, certain foods and by sex.

The other 50% of our happiness is made up of 16 specific areas, ranging from health to goals to relationships. For many people, their spiritual life is vital to their happiness and fulfillment, probably because having faith allows people to be optimistic. Helping others is another key, and so are and strong, rewarding relationships with loved ones.
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On:

New research measured secondhand tobacco smoke in cars and found pollution levels that are hazardous to children?and to you. Two years ago, we reported that, contrary to popular opinion, smoking can MAKE you fat. Now it’s been discovered that People who are both very obese and who smoke increase their risk of death by 3.5 to 5 times. We also know that second hand smoke kills?and that includes the smoke inside the automobiles of people who smoke.
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