story

Alien worlds, once hidden from knowledge, are now being discovered in droves, stunning astronomers with their unique features and sheer numbers. The discoveries are so common that more and more don’t even get reported outside scientific circles. Take the announcement at the end of May of a massive planet, dubbed …

Once the decision to start or expand a family is made, parents-to-be face a sequence of additional decisions. Expectant mothers may be confused by the many options available. And frequently, they don’t fully consider what their wishes are for the birth. But they should. Women today can choose to personalize …

Parents beware: the pedophiles will be out in full force on Wednesday, while your kids are out trick-or-treating in their Halloween costumes. And little do you know that you might be helping child predators live out their fantasies by allowing your kids to wear inappropriate costumes? In a simple Web …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Show Me the Money? Some House Democrats have a new plan to force an end to the Iraq war: raising taxes. Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, Pennsylvania’s John Murtha and Massachusetts’ Jim McGovern have unveiled a surtax — or extra charge — …

WASHINGTON – Embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, this time to meet with Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor, who recently called for the attorney general’s resignation, accusing Gonzales of lying to the senator and his constituency in Arkansas. Pryor was referring to a meeting he …

The severe and often life-threatening reaction some children have to certain foods is no secret. In one prominent case, a Canadian teenager with a severe peanut allergy died after kissing her boyfriend who ate a peanut butter sandwich a few hours earlier. A recent episode of the television show “Boston …

Shiny, gray space boulders floating in the outskirts of the solar system are the remnants of an ancient fiery collision involving two massive objects, the larger of which was nearly the size of Pluto, scientists say. This rocky goliath could one day cross the orbit of Neptune and become one …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Marching Orders A career diplomat working in Iraq is firing back at State Department colleagues who raised a furor last week at the prospect of being ordered to serve in the war zone. John Matel leads a provincial reconstruction team in Anbar …

Now for your GRRRs: Brett S. writes: Mike … my response to today’s GRRR column is pretty simple … I thank God every day I have three boys. Paul F. writes: Talk about a Grrr. Part two of Season Six of the Sopranos was released a few days ago on …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Talk Isn’t Cheap Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards — who made his fortune as a trial lawyer before getting into politics — was paid $55,000 to speak to students at the University of California at Davis last year. The topic — “Poverty …