Lifestyle

There have been debates about the way that technology and digital media affect personal relationships since the dawn of social media, but a recent study conducted by a U.K. law firm found that it plays more of a role in divorces that people probably think. According to technology-centered publication Digital Trends, the law firm of Slater and Gordon conducted a study of 2,000 Britons to collect data about their thoughts, habits, and behaviors on social media as it relates to their marriages. The overall conclusion of the survey is that yes, social media does have a negative effect on some marriages. One in seven married people said that they would consider a divorce based on what their spouse was doing on social media sites. Furthermore, 17% of respondents said that they fought with the...

A couple getting hitched on a Malibu beach saw a whole new kind of a wedding crasher after a climber got stuck on a nearby cliff. The couple, David and Jihan Chesher of Pleasant Valley, MO, had to stop their April 25 wedding as the climber was rescued by a Fire Department helicopter. The climber, Adam, had gotten stuck halfway up the side of Point Dume, not far from where the wedding was happening on the beach. The person he'd been climbing with had called for a rescue, but firetrucks and other emergency vehicles had been unable to get to him. That's when the local fire department sent over a rescue helicopter, which made a very loud entrance as it came around the side of the cliff. Fortunately, the Cheshers had a good sense of humor despite spending months planning their dream outdoor...

A newly published study out of Harvard University suggests that consuming fruits and vegetables containing pesticide residues can lead to a reduction in semen quality. Researchers found that men who ate the most fruits and vegetables with high pesticide residue levels had, on average, a 49% lower sperm count and 32% fewer normally formed sperm than men who ate less produce tainted with pesticides. The team has made clear, however, that not all fruits and vegetables pose a risk to male fertility. “These findings should not discourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables in general,” Jorge Chavarro, an assistant professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in a press release. “In fact, we found that total intake of fruit and vegetables w...

Everyone agrees that children learning science is crucial, especially in the face of economic and environmental challenges that will require science, technology, engineering and math-heavy solutions in the years to come. But does one of the best-known processes in science education -- the science fair -- meaningfully support that goal? That’s what a new study is aiming to figure out, backed by a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Science fairs have “never been really rigorously researched,” Abigail Jurist Levy, the leader of the research team, told Education Week April 24. “As valued as they are by some, and as criticized as they are by others, we really don't know what they offer students in terms of learning experiences and engendering enthusiasm in science.” Over t...

The cost to rent a home is rising, but this isn't stopping millennials from doing it. Mortgage rate trends are in home buyers' favor; by the end of 2014 they had fallen to the lowest rates in a year and a half, which reduced borrowing costs. However, millennials are still renting -- or living at home -- for a few reasons. According to CNBC, the average rate for renting a home has jumped 14% in the last five years. Experts sat the rate will likely rise another 3.3% in 2015 alone, which brings the average rent price in the U.S. to $1,161. So if rent prices are rising and borrowing costs are falling, why aren't millennials buying houses? CNN Money reports that the percentage of homeowners between the ages of 18 and 34 is at a record low -- only 13.2%. Furthermore, 31% of people aged 18 to ...

UPDATED 7/17/20 Each year, children all over the United States attend summer camps in order to stay active while on vacation from school. But for some children, choices for overnight camps are limited if they have disabilities or are from low income families. Although there are many summer programs for low income families, not every community offers a local summer camp for underprivileged kids. Fortunately there are many benefactors and volunteers that help to provide summer programs for low income families at no charge. andnbsp; But the Kiwanis Club of Knoxville, TN, aims to change that with their Fresh Air Camp for children who would otherwise miss out on this crucial summer activity. This Kiwanis summer camp serves underprivileged kids from all around the greater Knoxville area. This...

Where a President chooses to move with his family after his term is over is usually a subject of interest and leaves at least a few cities vying to be the new home of the recent former first family. Most people assumed that after the White House and Washington, the Obama family would return to Chicago -- but sources say that they may be considering a move to New York City. According to gossip-columnist for the Chicago-Sun Times Michael Sneed, people close to the family have said that the Obama's definitely want to be in New York City after the President's term is over in 2017. Many people (40%) never move from the place they're born and many prefer to return to places they've lived before when relocating. Otherwise, 44% of people say that they choose a new place because of a job opportun...

Parenting has never been the easiest task in the world, but it certainly doesn't get any easier when dealing with a full-time job as well. For women in particular, managing the work-home balance can seem downright impossible,. But according to a recent study, which is set to be published in the April 2015 issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family, quantity really doesn't matter as much as quality when it comes to spending time with young kids. As the Washington Post reports, this study is the first "large-scale longitudinal study of parent time," analyzing quantity and quality for time spent with young children (approximately ages three to 11). The study reportedly found that the amount of time spent with kids at a young age "has virtually no relationship to how children turn out" in t...

From its rich levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids to its high protein content, there are plenty of reasons to buy fresh seafood for you and your family. Now, a large American study may have found another: research suggests that a mostly plant-based diet -- one that includes seafood and fish as well -- may lower the risk of colorectal cancers. Previous research has long suggested that vegetarians have a reduced risk of certain cancers, as well as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. However, when a research team at Loma Linda University at California studied the dietary patterns, medical records and cancer registries of Seventh-Day Adventists to examine the link between eating habits and cancer prevalence, they found that there was a clear link between diet and colo...

The most famous llamas in recent memory are ultimately being retired from public life -- much to their owners' disappointment. Last month, the llamas created a social media frenzy after escaping and running around an Arizona neighborhood, but USDA regulations dictate that they cannot be shown in public without the proper licensing. Before the event, the llamas were routinely used for therapy and educational purposes and were brought to schools, events, and elderly living homes. After the escape debacle, the USDA approached the llamas' owners, Bub Bullis and Karen Freund, and informed them that they would need a license to show them. The owners aren't happy about the decision. "If this opens up a can of worms where everybody across the country gets shut down doing this, that's real...