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Latest Stories

China playing dirty on pollution?

Jul 3, 2007
News that 750,000 people are killed by pollution in China each year is made more disturbing still by allegations that the nation pressured the World Bank to omit that statistic from a recent report. Scott Tong has details.

When laws of physics, markets collide

Jul 3, 2007
Because people are unpredictable and people drive markets, physicists and economists are getting together this week in Lisbon. They're talking econophysics, a field that tries to understand markets through the laws of physics. Geoff Brumfiel explains.

Congress says no to abstinence-only

Jul 2, 2007
Starting this fall, the nation's public schools will have less money to spend on abstinence-only sex ed. The Democrats who now control Congress have different priorities for the $50 million grant that used to fund it. Stuart Cohen reports.

Right time to buy... heating oil?

Jul 2, 2007
Now's the time of year when many people who heat their homes with oil get a chance to lock in prices for next winter. But there's no guarantee prices won't fall. Steve Tripoli looks at whether it's worth the gamble.

Extra-long holiday weekend

Jul 2, 2007
In fact, just make it a week. Lots of folks are taking advantage of the Wednesday holiday and plunking down a couple vacation days to enjoy an extended July 4 break. But will consumer spending stretch along with it? Alisa Roth reports.

Econo-reasoning behind everyday things

Jul 2, 2007
Some of life's little mysteries have simple economic explanations behind them. Econ professor Robert Frank shares a few, and the philosophy behind his book and the assignment that gets everyone thinking about everyday life in cost-benefit terms.

Riding the iPhone publicity wave

Jul 2, 2007
Universal Music is refusing to renew its annual contract with Apple to make its music available on iTunes. The at-will arrangement means Universal could yank its big name artists at a moment's notice. But that seems unlikely, Dan Grech reports.

For public good, not for profit.

Delivery trucks to run on McDiesel

Jul 2, 2007
McDonald's plans to recycle its used cooking oil to run its delivery trucks in the U.K. by year's end. The move may not save the company money, but it says it'll reduce its carbon emissions by 78 percent and it could boost sales along with its green image.

Sustaining the power grid

Jul 2, 2007
New evidence suggests 2007 is on track to become the planet's second warmest year on record and climate experts predict that droughts, floods and heat waves will only get worse. That doesn't bode well for the nation's aging power grid, Sam Eaton reports.

China watching foreign cash flow

Jul 2, 2007
Today China is the No. 1 destination for foreign direct investment among developing nations, but with taxes and labor costs are rising, some are worried about companies leaving for countries like India and Vietnam.