How does having children or not having them affect a woman's happiness in later life? The surprising answer: women are equally happy with or without children. What matters more is how old they are when they have kids. And most important to a woman's well being is whether, as she ages, she has other people in her life to love.

Podcast: Interview with researcher Amy Pienta (mp3 )

Just one session of exercise can prevent a primary symptom of type 2 diabetes by altering fat metabolism in muscle, says a new U-M study. A session of aerobic exercise increases storage of fat in muscle, which improves insulin sensitivity. The finding suggests that getting regular exercise may matter more than your overall level of fitness. In other words, it's never too late to get in a workout.

A market-based incentive program to reduce global warming emissions from new cars and trucks would cut pollution as much as 33 percent and provide up to $2,500 in lifetime fuel savings for drivers. The Clean Car Discount program creates a schedule of fees and rebates, collectively known as "feebates," based on the amount of global warming pollution different new vehicles produce, and can result in more than a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

A new U-M study shows that aspirin therapy for coronary artery disease is four times more likely to be ineffective in women compared to men with the same medical history. Aspirin therapy is a cornerstone in managing heart disease because it inhibits blood clotting, and while it's been known that it is more effective for men than women, this study is the first to quantify the difference.

A U-M team and its collaborators have identified 10 genetic variants associated with type 2 ("adult onset") diabetes. "Until recently we knew very little about the genetic architecture of type 2 diabetes," says U-M's Michael Boehnke, adding that diabetes has been called "the geneticist's nightmare" because so many behavioral and environmental factors—in addition to genes—are risk factors for the disease.

Are you a night person or a morning person? Either way, your habits are governed by circadian rhythms, the patterns of activity and rest that organize our days and nights. And while our 24/7 society makes it easy to ignore these rhythms, researchers are now discovering just how critical they are to our long term physical and mental health.

A U-M study finds that about 15% of former professional football players suffer from depression. That's equal to the rates of the general population. But more than 50% of players also report high levels of pain, which compounds their emotional distress. Pain may also make it more difficult for former players to exercise, making them more at risk for depression.

U-M researchers have identified a compound in green tea that seems to reduce inflammation and pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis. The compound inhibits production of certain immune-system molecules that contribute to arthritis symptoms. Further testing may reveal ways the compound could be isolated and used in medical treatments.

Tai chi is a great way for anyone to improve balance. But a U-M study finds that a regimen of dynamic stepping and balance training can improve elderly people's ability to avoid falls by 10%. In this podcast, U-M's Neil Alexander, MD, describes his findings and recommends making balance part of a daily exercise routine.

Warfare has changed. "Asymmetric" conflict involving stateless antagonists has become the norm. Journalism professor Mark MacDonald covered the Iraq war, and he says we're seeing a new kind of journalism too. Iraq, for instance, is being covered not just by traditional western news media, but by soldier-bloggers, Al-Jazeera, and other new media. In this interview, MacDonald offers insights into the new world of war and reporting.