Infotrak

Many people--especially men--have a limited number of friends. Marisa G. Franco, PhD, Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland, author of "Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make - and Keep – Friends," says friendships are vital. She explains how improve the number and quality of friends you have.

Are you carrying a balance on your credit card? About half of U. S. consumers are, and that means these card holders face higher costs due to inflation. We have tips from Ted Rossman, Senior Industry Analyst at CreditCards.com, to help you pay down debt and consolidate balances.

The pandemic lockdowns greatly affected schools and students, causing learning losses that may take years to overcome. Karyn Lewis is the Director of the Center for School and Student Progress at NWEA, a nonprofit research firm that creates academic assessments for students pre-K to grade 12. She says losses in math were the most severe, but reading was also badly affected. She offers advice for parents who are concerned about their child's learning.

Those online product reviews--can they be trusted? Brett Hollenbeck, PhD, Assistant Professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, says there are an astounding number of fake reviews on websites...so buyer beware!

A victim of domestic violence, who survived and later thrived with her own successful business, says survivors of domestic abuse should not let the experience define them. Pennie Crockett, author of "Dangerous Love: From Battered to Boss Lady," shares her inspiring story and offers advice to those struggling to escape abusive situations.

An alarming number of American teens tried vaping last year. Ana Maria Rule, PhD, MHS, Assistant Scientist in Environmental Health and Engineering at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, shares the results of a disturbing study that examined what users are breathing in when they vape.

Then, how effective is a self-guided approach to weight loss? Recent research from Mindy H. Lee, graduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, says it can make a difference. She explains why diet flexibility is key to making weight loss and maintenance sustainable in the long run.

More than 40,000 organ or tissue transplants were performed last year in the US. But behind every organ donation--usually because of an unexpected accident or tragedy--there is a family reeling over sudden grief and loss. After the sudden loss of her teenage daughter, Tara Storch co-founded Taylor's Gift Foundation to support other donor families.

More than 50% of American households have a dog, cat, or both. Home hygiene specialist Erin Matthews outlined ways to control indoor allergens and pollutants from pets and other common sources.

Many people struggle to retain even a fraction of the knowledge we consume throughout our day, and wind up frustrated when we can’t recall the information we need when we need it. Mr. Forte explained a simple method using existing smartphone technology to not only consume information, but to manage and streamline it. Tiago Forte, productivity consultant, and author of “Building A Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential,” explains a simple method using existing smartphone technology to not only consume information, but to manage and streamline it.

What are teenagers actually doing on their smartphones? One researcher says contrary to what many adults think, teens are not simply addicted to their screens--they're actually navigating a networked world. Emily Weinstein, PhD, Principal Investigator at Project Zero in the Harvard Graduate School of Education, author of “Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (And Adults Are Missing),” discusses about the social stresses that have been drastically amplified in social media, then are further exacerbated because parents often don’t understand.

Plastic pollution is a major global issue, but innovative new ideas may offer ways to reduce the plastic that ends up in landfills. Biomedical engineer Parisa Kamgar, P.E., inventor and environmental activist, explains a newly emerging eco-friendly packaging strategy for consumer products.

Gambling is more available than any time in history and that means the dangers for compulsive gamblers are greater than ever. How can those at risk seek help? Simone Rodda, PhD, Associate Professor in the Auckland University of Technology, Psychology and Neuroscience in Auckland, New Zealand, explained who is most likely to seek help, and the types of assistance that is available for problem gamblers.

As school bells ring and the new school year begins, how can parents best arrange a family routine that's organized, efficient and fun? Parenting expert Laura Linn Knight, author of “Break Free from Reactive Parenting,” offers some great advice!

A recent study of patients who had knee replacement for osteoarthritis found that more than half of them had the very same risk factor. Dr. Chris Wall, Deputy Director, Department of Orthopaedics, Toowoomba Hospital, Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, Rural Clinical School, University of Queensland in Australia, shares important details from his recent study.

SNAP--the supplemental nutrition assistance program--has provided food to many lower-income Americans. But new research from Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, PhD, Associate Professor at The Ohio State University College of Social Work, shows SNAP has another important benefit.

Traumatic brain injury is now the leading cause of death and disability in children 0-4 and 15-19 years of age. Alan Cook, MD, Medical Director in the Center for Clinical Research at the School of Community and Rural Health, The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center said that ER visits for concussions and similar injuries have nearly tripled in the past 20 years, and that the trend was the greatest among girls.

While smart thermostats can save homeowners money, they also prompt inadvertent, widespread energy-demand spikes on the power grid. Max Zhang, PhD, Professor at Cornell’s College of Engineering, Faculty Director at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, explains why the attempt to transition away from fossil fuels will cause the problem to become far more serious.

Obviously, parents play a vital role in the development of children. We'll get some wise advice for parents to unlock their child's potential, from Dana Suskind, MD, Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, and Founder and Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago, and author of “Parent Nation: Unlocking Every Child's Potential, Fulfilling Society's Promise.”

How hot is too hot for the human body? S. Tony Wolf, Postdoctoral Researcher in Kinesiology at Penn State University, was the co-author of a study that found that a high combination of heat and humidity gets dangerous faster than many previously thought. He'll tell you what temperature should give you concern.