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The article presents breakthrough inventions of 2007. Some of the inventions spotlighted are the Venturi Eclectic wind and solar powered automobile, City Cars, methane fueled rockets, glasses for the deaf that display subtitles on the lenses, and the Head Impact Technology System helmet which uses sensors to tell whether the person who is struck needs medical attention or not.

The article discusses various inventions of 2007, including the Apple iPhone and the Venturi Eclectic wind and solar powered car.

The article discusses the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by United States soldiers in Iraq. For all the tangled nudes, the hideous hoods, the dangling wires and the dog leash, perhaps the single most shocking thing about the images from Abu Ghraib prison is the woman in so many of the pictures: smiling broadly or giving a thumbs up or just standing casually in the demented scene as if posing in a college dormitory. Psychologists and historians who study torture give what is probably the most disturbing explanation of all: they are us. For under certain circumstances, almost anyone has the capacity to commit the atrocities seen in the photos that have shocked the world. The 372nd reservists were assigned duty at Abu Ghraib in October 2003. In his investigation of the abuses, Major General Antonio Taguba found that soldiers were "actively requested" by military intelligence officers and private contractors to "set physical and mental conditions for favorable interrogation of witnesses." How much was ordered by higher-ups and how much was free-lance sadism will presumably become clearer when the accused men and women of the 372nd face the criminal-justice system. Psychologists who have studied torture and prisoner abuse say it is remarkably easy for people to lapse into sadistic behavior when they have complete power over other human beings, especially if they feel the behavior has been sanctioned by an authority figure. In a 1971 experiment relevant to Abu Ghraib, Stanford psychologist Philip Zimbardo created a fake prison ward on campus and randomly assigned student volunteers to be prisoners or guards. What was to be a two-week experiment had to be cut short after just six days because the guards "began to use the prisoners as playthings for their amusement," recalled Zimbardo.

Reports on the growing popularity of low-carbohydrate diets among Americans. Examples of diet programs that restrict carbohydrates, including Atkins, South Beach and Zone; Details of the debate about claims made by Dr. Robert Atkins that a high-protein, low-carb diet changes the metabolism; Examples of celebrities on low-carb diets, including Jennifer Aniston, Whoopi Goldberg and Bill Clinton; Estimates of numbers of Americans restricting their intake of carbohydrates; Statistics on sales of low-carb-related products, from specialty foods to books; Reaction of companies that sell high-carb foods and beverages to the trend; Examples of restaurants, including McDonald's, that offer low-carb fare; Examples of low-carb products; Statistics on obesity and weight-related health problems among Americans; Details of concerns raised by nutritionists about the diets; Attempts to differentiate between good and bad carbs; Problems with the labeling of low-carb foods; Response of food retailers to the low-carb trend; Response of existing diet programs, such as Weight Watchers, to the trend; Speculation about whether the diet will prove to be a fad.

Discusses why some women who are successful in their careers are choosing to stay at home to look after their children. Reasons why life has become harder for many working executives, including long hours and the requirement by many companies that employees remain available even when at home; Claim that demands on mothers have increased as children become involved in more activities; Statistics on the numbers of professional women who have taken a break from their careers; Claim that younger women have become more outspoken about their personal needs in the workplace; Discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of staying at home; Discussion of ways in which women can re-enter the workforce after several years at home.

Discusses the mistakes that Martha Stewart made that led to her conviction on federal charges of obstructing justice and other crimes. Impact on the jury of a combination of compelling evidence from the prosecution and a curt defense testimony based on the idea that Stewart was too smart to lie; Conviction based on a series of lies to the FBI and to the Securities & Exchange Commission; List of errors, including Stewart's stock sale, questionable legal advice, and poor public relations; Inclusion of a timeline showing the highlights of her life; Affect of the trial on her company. INSETS: THE RECIPE FOR A RISE AND FALL;AN EMPIRE IN DISTRESS.

Discusses how the cable company Comcast offered an unsolicited bid to takeover the Walt Disney Co. Negotiations between Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and Disney CEO Michael Eisner about the proposed merger; Consideration of the poor financial performances at Disney's theme parks and animation business; Business strategies used by Roberts; Competition for Comcast from phone companies that will deliver video programming, phone services, and broadband Internet access through a single line; How Rupert Murdoch of News Corp. bought control of DirecTV satellite services.

Focuses on billionaire Warren Buffet, who is a member of the board of directors for Coca-Cola Co. How he is making money in a bear market; His views on American business and the stock market; Website on which his annual letter to shareholders will be released; Topics of the Berkshire Hathaway investment portfolio, accountability, corporate reform, corporate governance, and stock options; Background on Buffet, his financial reputation, and his influence on other investors; His recent investments as of March 10, 2003. INSETS: WARREN'S WORLD;Four Hits….

Profiles the seven astronauts who died upon the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia when it re-entered Earth's atmosphere in February, 2003. Moment of silence that mission chief Rick Husband called for upon the Columbia in order to remember the astronauts who died upon the Challenger and Apollo 1; Joy that the astronauts aboard Columbia took in new experiences in space; Description of astronaut David Brown; Research projects that the astronauts were conducting on board; Biographical information about astronaut Michael Anderson; E-mail questions that Willie McCool answered in space; Profile of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut; Remarks from Kalpana Chawla about being in space; Events during their final day in space; E-mail that Laurel Clark sent to her friends.

Reports on the outlook for the class of 2002 high school and college graduates to find employment in the United States. Examples of potential employees, their current employment, and their education; Idea that they must keep their employment options flexible; Effect of layoffs and demotions on new job seekers; Discussion of job opportunities; Increase in recruitment among accounting firms and the U.S. government.

Reports on age-related infertility in women. Discussion of the argument of Sylvia Ann Hewlett's book 'Creating a Life: Professional Women and the Quest for Children' that many career-focused women can not expect to wait until they are 40 or older to have children; Reference to the debate about how to best balance work and home life; Details of the decline in a woman's chance of getting pregnant as she ages; Mention of the American Infertility Association and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Focuses on the financial collapse of Enron Corp. and the involvement of former chief financial officer Andrew Fastow in the company's questionable finances. Decision of Fastow to invoke the Fifth Amendment in testimony before the United States Congress; Reputation of Fastow at Enron, as well as his efforts to use special-purpose entities to transfer Enron's debt to outside companies; Relationship with former chief executive officer of Enron, Jeffrey Skilling; Biographical information on Fastow.

Focuses on the attempt of the United States government to compensate families of the September 11, 2001 victims. How the federal Victim Compensation Fund, the country's largest experiment in paying mass victims and their families without placing blame, works; Where the money comes from; Dispersal of the money by Kenneth Feinberg; Criticism toward Feinberg by some victims' families.

Examines the Enron scandal. Destruction of audit material by accounting firm Arthur Andersen prior to the company's collapse; Criminal investigation by the United States Justice Department; Implication of the U.S. White House, which received a call from Enron chief executive officer Kenneth L. Lay; Question of whether a crime was committed; Class action lawsuits against Enron; Role of Andersen; Proposed plans to protect 401(k)s.

Focuses on the financial troubles of Enron Corp., an energy-trading company. Reasons for the decline of Enron's stock; Impact of Enron's debt and bad investments on shareholders and employees; Discussion of the role of former chief operating officer Jeff Skilling and chief executive officer Ken Lay in the management of Enron; Efforts to sell the company to rival Dynegy.

Reports on the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in New York City. Possibility that the crash was terrorist-related; Investigation by the United States Federal Aviation Administration into the rudder-and-tail assembly of the plane; Details of the crash and the investigation into its cause; Actions of the flight crew during the flight.

Focuses on Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States and how they will be impacted by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. How the attacks have changed peoples views; Expectation that family gatherings will remember those who lost family members in the attacks; Interactions between family members who have had different levels of contact with the attacks; Efforts of single people to start relationships; Religious revival in the country.

Reports on the economic impact to United States industries of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Job cuts and layoffs in various industries, including travel and airlines; Other factors affecting the economy, including a reluctance among European investors to invest in the U.S.; Forecasts for consumer spending throughout 2001 and 2002; Political activity designed to aid the economy, including proposed bailout packages; Government defense budget spending.

Focuses on problems with airport security in the United States which may have led to the hijacking of four aircraft on September 11, 2001. Comments on the lack of oversight by the country's Federal Aviation Administration; Changes in the system, including banning curbside check-in and conducting random searches of flight crew; Impact of the suicidal behavior of the hijackers; Possible fines against American Airlines; Comments on identification badges that were stolen from hotel rooms. INSETS: HOLES IN THE SECURITY NET;Is This What We Really Want?, by Lisa Beyer.

Focuses on Jeffrey Immelt, corporate executive officer of General Electric, and successor of Jack Welch. Career and biographical information; His thoughts on following Welch; Discussion of the beginning of his tenure in the midst of a global economic slowdown. INSET: WHERE GE GETS ITS JUICE.

Reports on relations between the United States and Mexico, especially in the Rio Grande border region. Discussion of the economic interdependency of the two countries, which includes migrant workers and illegal immigrants; Issue of tuberculosis and health care in the four border states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas; Topics of cultural assimilation and border patrols.

Reports on the performance of the United States stock markets as of April 24, 2000. Record fall of the Nasdaq and lows for the Dow Jones; Description of bear markets in which every rally becomes a chance to unload instead of every dip being an opportunity to buy; Commonality of rapid market moves due to the quick dissemination of information via the Internet. INSET: How to Value a Stock, by John Greenwald.

Reports on the stock prices of several so-called dot-com companies which have been plagued with low revenues and growing investor disinterest. Why some of these companies may have to shut down; Declining market capitalization of companies such as CDNow and iVillage; Need for several chief executive officers (CEO)s to devise a strategy to save their companies; Companies which are succeeding; Companies which may succeed. INSET: The Day the World Ended, by Michael Krantz.

Focuses on the design economy in the United States. View of Mark Dziersk, president of the Industrial Designers Society of America, on design and functionality; Reason for the interest in design; How Target stores has designer Michael Graves do inexpensive versions of his work for sale to the mass market; Use of plastics in design products; Household items and personal style; Corporate demand for design strategies; Question of the sustainability of the design economy. INSET: Marc Newson Wants to Curve the World.

Discusses the merger between CBS and Viacom and the relationship between chief executive officers (CEO) Mel Karmazin and Sumner Redstone, respectively. How neither of the companies needed the merger; The merger combining CBS' assets, such as broadcast television and radio advertising with Viacom's cable and movie-studio properties such as VH-1 and Paramount Pictures; Background information for both CEOs; View that Karmazin and Redstone are kindred spirits. INSETS: `I'm at the Top of My Game,' by Daniel Kadlec;Silicon Valley Is Not Impressed, by Michael Krantz.

Reports that Americans are increasingly engaging in risky behavior in the late 1990s. Involvement in extreme sports in the United States; Number of people changing jobs; Those that leave secure positions to start Internet companies; Quit rate, day trading and the way people spend money; How US culture is built around risk taking; Profiles of risk takers. INSETS: For Our Ancestors, Taking Risks Was a Good Bet;We Dare You to Take This Quiz.

The article discusses the phenomena of parkour that has evolved on college campuses in the United States. Parkour is a sport that involves using architectural structures as obstacles in a cross country-like running course. Campus officials in colleges and universities nationwide have had to balance liability and safety issues with personal freedom. Advocates of parkour are trying to gain acceptance for the sport in the face of these issues.

This article focuses on school district guidelines in Louisville, Kentucky, where schoolchildren are bussed with the objective of keeping the percentage of African Americans in any one school from falling below 15% or rising above 50%. The system has made Jefferson County one of the most integrated school districts in the U.S. The school district will appear before the U.S. Supreme Court, which will rule on the legality of their desegregation method. INSET: BALANCING ACT.

This article discusses the increasing popularity of the use of indoor tanning by teenage girls. Surveys have found that high percentages of these young women have used or are using tanning beds on a regular basis. Perpetually-tanned celebrities like Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson contribute to the tanning obsession. Doctors have noted an alarming increase in skin cancer in young women in the past ten years. Some states have laws prohibiting young people from tanning salons without parental permission. INSET: SHOULD WE ALL RUN FROM THE SUN?.

This article focuses on Myspace.com, and the illegal encounters it is allegedly encouraging. In one case, a 14-year-old girl is suing Myspace for not protecting underage users from online predators after discovering that the man she had sex with was 19 years old. Law enforcement agencies and elected officials are stepping up their efforts to get teen-laden networking sites to improve their safety measures.

Discusses the role of alchemist David Emery in a project to convert the poultry industry's trash into a lucrative venture. How the innovative lab at Unsung ARS converts feathers and quills to an airy fiber which can be used to make auto parts and medical devices; Cooperation between the ARS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find high-tech solutions to problems such as how to eradicate plant and animal diseases; Support from the government for the employment of unused agricultural products in places other than landfills; Efforts of ARS to raise its profile in the business community be passing out information on CD-ROMS at trade shows and sending executives e-mail updates on new technologies available for licensing. INSET: A HALF-CENTURY OF INVENTION.

Offers a look at the pharmaceutical industry's marketing techniques following a rise of regulations on the sale and illegal marketing of drugs for off-label uses not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Report on the large presence of pharmaceutical lobbyists in the U.S.; Increase of prescription drug sales in 2003; Discussion of two cases involving off-label sales of prescription drugs that rekindled the debate about whether drugmakers are generating profits at the expense of public health; Report that the promotion of drugs for off-label use is illegal; Statement that salespeople paid doctors to prescribe the drug Neurontin; Claim that continuing medical education receives much of its funding from the pharmaceutical industry, creating conflicts of interest; Reference to the book "On the Take: How Medicine's Complicity with Big Business Can Endanger Your Health," by Jerome Kassirer.

The author reports on efforts by New York's attorney general, Eliot Spitzer, to reform the system that has brought about exponential increases in executive pay. Spitzer, 44, has pushed through reform of stock-research and investment-banking practices, lobbied for a reduction in mutual-fund fees and left a trail of disgraced executives in his wake. Spitzer will be at it again this week. He's expected to file a lawsuit seeking to force former New York Stock Exchange (N.Y.S.E.) chief Richard Grasso to return most of the $140 million in accrued pay he received shortly before resigning under pressure last year. In a sense, Spitzer is taking on the whole clubby system that keeps driving CEO pay higher. Boards stacked with cronies too often still rubber-stamp excessively rich packages. Then there are the perks that simply aren't disclosed. Median compensation for CEOs of companies in the S&P 500 rose 27% in 2003 on top of an 11.4% hike in 2002, according to the latest pay survey by the Corporate Library. And, yes, corporate profits rose sharply during 2003, up 18%. But that wasn't the case in 2002, and the gap between pay for the average worker and the typical large-company CEO has widened further. Some companies are adopting more sophisticated formulas that peg CEO compensation to benchmarks other than the stock price in a bid to align pay more closely with performance. The N.Y.S.E., meanwhile, is reforming. But the changes afoot aren't enough for Spitzer. INSET: Some firms have begun to rein in CEO pay. . ..

Discusses the methods used by U.S. interrogators to get information from religious extremists and insurgents. Consideration of the abuse of prisoners by U.S. military officers at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq; Rules associated with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Efforts of U.S. intelligence to develop methods of electroshock and the use of LSD that would encourage prisoners to tell the truth; How the international laws of the Geneva Convention prohibit torture as a form of interrogation; Use of tactics such as sleep and sensory deprivation in order to promote stress in detainees; Practices used at Guantánamo Bay.

Focuses on snack foods that are low in carbohydrates. Indications that the candy bar Z-Carb, made by boutique chocolatier HVC Lizard Chocolate, sells as well as regular candy bars at 7-Eleven stores; Cash value of the diet industry, which is catering more to the low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet espoused by Dr. Robert Atkins; Number of dieters who have tried the Atkins diet, which was validated when short-term studies showed a lack of negative health effects; Impact of the Atkins diet on the food and beverage industries. INSET: POPULAR SNACKS VS. LOW-CARB VERSIONS.

Discusses the selling of stock in the biotechnology firm ImClone by Martha Stewart before the price of the stock collapsed. Sam Waksal, the founder of ImClone, who befriended celebrities; Charge that Waksal had tried to sell ImClone shares and tipped family members to sell their stock as well; Harm to the stockholders of ImClone, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, due to the collapse of the price of ImClone stock.

Focuses on the finances of the Catholic Church in light of sexual abuse lawsuits against priests. Revenue of the Catholic Church which will ensure it does not go bankrupt; How the Roman Catholic dioceses in the U.S. organize their affairs separately; Efforts to protect assets from liability; Research by lawyers and victims to determine the wealth of diocese.

Focuses on Internet companies which are offering free goods and services to consumers. Examples of the items and services available, including computers, Internet access and long-distance calls; Reasons for free offers, including the importance of companies to gain consumers' attention; How companies make money by relying on advertisers and marketers; Comments from Joe Krause of Excite@Home and others. INSET: Click and Dagger: Is the Web Spying On You?, by K.T.G et al.

Consider for a moment the medical origins of the expression 'screwing your brains out.' A century ago some scientists believed gray matter was composed of concentrated semen, and every seminal [...]

Examines the Enron scandal and the issue of accountability. Role of accounting firm Arthur Andersen, which destroyed audit material; Criminal investigation by the United States Justice Department; How the U.S. White House received a call from Enron chief executive officer Kenneth L. Lay; Question of whether a crime was committed; Class action lawsuits which were filed against Enron; Proposed plans to protect 401(k)s.

The article reports on U.S. shopping malls and their imposition of restrictions for teenaged shoppers. The author states that many malls are instating curfews that only allow teenagers at the malls in the evenings with a parent. The author reports that the restrictions were prompted when older shoppers were turned away by rowdy teenage behavior and incidents of violence.

This article describes the conflict between students who use plagiarized papers and security programs at universities. Although cheating is endemic on campuses, many students are outraged at the use of Turnitin.com, which feeds papers through a database and checks them for plagiarism. Since Turnitin.com keeps the papers to build its database, intellectual property rights issues have been raised.

This article presents allegations about college and university financial aid offices receiving payoffs and benefits for steering students to their preferred lenders to obtain federally funded loans. The widening investigation details deals and payoffs where a percentage of loans get routed back to the school in a variety of ways. The author describes how student financial aid grew to become a competitive $85 billion dollar industry and what kind of reforms are needed.

The article focuses on the dissatisfaction of college and university presidents with the annual list ranking their institutions compiled by "U.S. News and World Report." The list's metrics are presented and are criticized by several of the presidents. The list's popularity, influence and the difficulties posed by refusal to cooperate with the magazine are presented. Attempts by schools to create their own ranking list are described.

This article discusses the education of disabled children in the United States. Many U.S. public schools are unable to afford proper special education programs, and a large number of disabled children have been moved to expensive boarding schools that cater to disabled children. A debate has ensued over who should pay these boarding school tuitions, and if public schools are negligent in being unable to educate these disabled children properly.

The article presents the criminal case of former soldier Steven Green in raping and killing an Iraqi girl and her family. Initially, the crime was thought to be the work of Iraqi insurgents but it was revealed later that U.S. soldiers were involved with the massacre. Green was discharged with "personality disorder" prior to this discovery. Whether or not this contributed to the crimes committed is not known but questions have now arisen as to why the other soldiers that were present did not prevent such atrocities.

This article reports on what colleges and universities are doing to help mentally fragile students and those who attempt to commit suicide. The author examines the impact of two recently upheld court rulings which would hold college administrators partially responsible for student suicides, which total some 1,100 a year in the U.S.

The article focuses on jurisdiction issues regarding crime in the Cruise industry. The Federal Bureau of Investigations currently investigates cruise line crime, but information is often offered on a voluntary basis. A U.S. congressional committee will discuss whether it should mandate further oversight of the industry in March 2006. Janet Kelly sued a cruise line after, she claims, she was drugged and raped by an employee.

Examines the new Sands casino in Macao, China, which borrows from Las Vegas-style design to reel in a wealthy clientele from mainland China. MGM Mirage, which recently announced plans to build its own casino in Macao; U.S. casino executives, who are trying to sweet talk foreign governments into legalizing gambling.