Ditching the doctor
By Michelle Hogan
The FDA allows drugs to be sold directly to consumers if they think a doctor's care and advice isn't needed for the safe and effective use of the drug, and if they believe consumers can diagnose themselves. But with the need for profits pushing pharmaceutical companies into new strategies, commentator Michelle Hogan thinks the rules may need updating.

Cleaning up SUVs
By Katy Love
Looking at our highways, it’s clear that the majority of Americans love SUVs—despite their polluting reputation. Environmentalists would like to see the end of the SUV craze, but commentator Katy Love maintains that instead of trying to get rid of them, we should require that they be made cleaner and more efficient.

Dolls in the sun
By Stu Hutson
We’ve all had our bad hair or skin days. But the fact is that our bodies shift dramatically over a matter of years, months or even hours—and often in ways that we don’t anticipate. Commentator Stu Hutson explores why, on some days, it just isn’t safe to leave the doll house.

Betting on a long shot
By Tai Viinikka
A search for Little Green Men seems ridiculous to some people; to others, the idea that we could possibly be alone seems like the height of hubris. The debate is polarized, both sides seem sure they're right -- but commentator Tai Viinikka maintains that a little bit of listening for alien messages is more valuable than all the human arguments in this world.

Always a little green
By Andrea Baird
Every day of the year your local grocery store seemingly defies the seasonal laws of planting and harvesting to bring you rows of glistening fresh fruits and vegetables. Andrea Baird explains how grocers keep their produce shelves stocked, and why we sacrifice flavor for convenience.

Designed to fail
By Carrie Lock
Almost a year ago, cattlemen found the first case of mad cow disease in the United States, scaring everyone from steak-lovers to foreign beef importers. The USDA has been slow to implement regulations to prevent this fearsome disease from spreading. Commentator Carrie Lock wonders what should they do to keep our food supply safe?

Beetlemania
By Chris German, Ryan Olson and Kelly Young
For the past century, scientists from Harvard have traveled to the Dominican Republic to establish one of the world’s largest collections of insects. Now they are sharing their thousands of dried beetles, butterflies, and other insects with Dominican scientists and researchers around the world – using the Internet.

Algae clear the air
By Chris German, Katy Love, Ryan Olson and Tai Viinikka
Dr. Isaac Berzin has spent the past several years working on a project that may change the face of modern pollution control. He has found a way to use algae to consume large amounts of the gases released by large polluters like power plants. The green solution doesn’t stop there, either; think algae-derived biodiesel, bioplastics, neutraceuticals, or even animal feed, and you’ll realize just how much work these tiny plants can do.

Watching IQ drop
By Carrie Lock, Michelle Hogan and Laura Hrastar
It’s easy to understand why violence in the home is bad for children, and new research has been able to quantify its detrimental effects. Children exposed to violence have shown developmental delays, a reduction in IQ and even problems with brain development. The presence of hazardous materials around the home, like lead paint, can also cause harmful effects. It all makes a strong case for getting children into safe environments as quickly as possible.

The secrets of flamboyant foliage
By Chris German, Katy Love and Ryan Olson
For years scientists have know how leaves change color in the fall. The green chlorophyll used to absorb sunlight breaks down, allowing other colors to be revealed. Now they’re beginning to understand why. Those vibrant reds in the woods of New England may actually act as a sunscreen.