Plain Soap vs. Antibacterial: A researcher out of the University of Michigan School of Public Health conducted a study that found that commercial antibacterial soaps are no more effective than plain ones at preventing infection. Moreover, antibacterial soaps may render bacteria more resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics, such as amoxicillin. (Hospital-grade soaps are made from stronger formulations and may be more effective at preventing illness.)

Philosophic Preschoolers: A study out of the University of California finds that contrary to popular opinion in academic circles, children as young as three are capable of metacognition, or “thinking about thinking”. The researchers used pictures of a confident face and a doubtful face. The children were to indicate which face best represented how they felt about their answer to a particular question. “We’ve shown that even very young children can think about their thinking…The reason we haven’t appreciated it before now is that the studies that have been used to test for it have been too verbally demanding.”

Lead in Bibs - OK or Not? The Center for Environmental Health of Oakland, California, and the New York Times, in independent testing, found vinyl bibs sold at Toys R Us to have three times the lead levels allowed in paint. A Toys R Us spokesperson denies this claim, noting that the company hired a firm to test the bibs last May and found them to be in compliance. The CMPC has said that it would prefer that there be no lead in children’s bibs but that their tests showed that when it has been present in bibs sold in the US, it has been at low enough levels that a child would not be in danger - unless the bibs are cracked or otherwise deteriorating, in which case they should be thrown out. But a director of a Chicago lead prevention program offers, “All lead is bad lead…Why should we allow any lead to be in there?”