Stories by Lisa Stein

Are there toxic toys on your holiday gift list?

Out shopping for toys for those special kiddies in your life who have been nice (and even naughty)? Be careful: some of those would-be stocking stuffers may be toxic.

Warning: A little water can hurt babies—So don't dilute infant formula

Parents beware: diluting infant formula can be deadly. Just ask a cash-strapped Tampa, Fla., woman who, in an attempt to save money and stretch out meals for her hungry five-month-old son, watered down his formula, unwittingly causing a potentially fatal condition known as water intoxication...

The Incredible Journey: Microchip ID Reunites Owners with Cat--13 Years Later

Implant credited with long-lost pet's triumphant return

Ballot Initiatives: States decriminalize pot, nix abortion limits...

Voters also okay doctor-assisted suicide, embryonic stem cell research and more...

Palin takes on fruit flies--And loses

Amid the hoopla about Sarah Palin's very un-hockey mom $150,000 campaign wardrobe, the Republican veep candidate managed to drop another flammable tidbit that set off the science community,
not to mention the blogosphere...

Study clears acrylamide of gastrointestinal cancer link

Lovers of foods cooked at high temps will be happy to know that a new study indicates a chemical called acrylamide, which forms in French fries, chips, cereals, coffee, cakes and other palate-pleasers, apparently does not raise the risk of gastrointestinal cancer...

Snap, crackle and pop: How healthy are kids' breakfast cereals?

Now here's a surprise: most cereals marketed to kids are chock full o' sugar and salt but don't contain much fiber. Wondering which ones are the best of the lot?

The real McCain-Obama debate over bear DNA

When the presidential nominees verbally duked it out during their first televised debate Friday night, many people -- including perhaps Democrat Barack Obama -- were flummoxed when Republican John McCain started railing about forking over funds to study bear DNA...

California bans drivers from text messaging

Hey drivers, here's a thought: How about keeping your eyes (and ears) on the road instead of on your cell phone? Just have to chat or text message while driving?

U.S. health officials: All school-age children should get flu shots

As flu season  fast approaches, U.S. health officials are urging all children between the ages of six months and 18 years of age to get flu shots.

McCain's Veep Pick Palin: Open ANWR to Drilling

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain today surprised the nation by picking first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate.

Mystery of the "Montauk Monster"

Nothing like a bizarre-looking sea "monster" to draw crowds to a tony resort town. The blogosphere has been abuzz since Gawker.com early this week featured a story and photo of a bulky hairless corpse with sharp teeth and a snout that reportedly washed up in Montauk on the eastern tip of Long Island, N.Y...

Living with Cancer: Kris Carr's Story

A photographer and actress is diagnosed with tumors in her liver and lungs, but keeps her spirits up and taps resources to make the disease manageable

Eating With Tension

Ecology -- Oncology -- Immunology -- Privacy

Living with Cancer

Keep up your spirits and tap available resources to make the disease manageable

GINA Becomes Genuine

Can Lifestyle Changes Bring Out the Best in Genes?

New research shows diet and exercise may change how genes act

News Bytes of the Week--Imagine there's no evolution: Yoko says oh no to Expelled

Anthropologists say women prized since 5000 B.C.; New mega-Earth discovered; Making fuel from car exhaust; and more...

Congress Passes Bill Barring Genetic Discrimination

Action culminates more than a dozen years of legislative haggling

News Bytes of the Week: Toxic Pets?

Trading security for sweets, Researchers trick Wi-Fi, Traders' testosterone levels predict their profits and more...