Feature Channels: Fall

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This Halloween, the eerie theme of the Addams Family will ring out over a darkened Wellesley College campus. This and other terrifying tunes will emanate from Galen Stone Tower, which stands 182 feet tall, and the students who play the carillon within. The guild is opening the tower to the brave-hearted who can scale the spine-chilling stairs to the carillon, encountering skeletons, spiders, ghosts and cobwebs on the climb, during a Halloween Haunted Tower, Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5-7 pm.

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Monthly health column written by Peter S. Lund, MD, covers wilderness health issues for the fall season.

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These professors just might know who – or what – goes bump in the night.

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To avoid becoming a bat’s tasty treat, a species of tiger moth plays a trick with sound. The moth can make up to 450 ultrasonic clicks in a tenth of a second to jam the hungry bat’s sonar and escape death.

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Adults are nervous enough about H1N1. Imagine how our children might fear "Slime Flu." Here's a different kind of anti-viral: common sense advice to calm our children and calm ourselves.

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From a working member of the H1N1 influenza working group of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) to several experts in antiviral treatment for influenza, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has noted faculty available for swine-flu coverage.

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Do those fall colors seem to show up later and later? Scientists say we can blame the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

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Wash your hands! Sounds simple, but that advice can make all the difference when it comes to avoiding the flu and colds...if you teach children the right way when they are young. LifeBridge Health has produced a public service announcement for children of all ages about hand washing.

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Timely raking and ladder safety tips from AAOS.

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Schools as well as the flu season have officially started, so this is a great time to follow some simple health tips that will help provide protection from not only H1N1 (swine flu), but seasonal influenza as well.

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As summer winds down and women prepare to trade in their beach ware for fall flair, they should be aware of fashion and beauty trends that may be harmful to their health.

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Walking outdoors in the fall, the splendidly colorful leaves adorning the trees are a delight to the eye. In Europe these autumn leaves are mostly yellow, while the United States and East Asia boast red foliage. But why is it that there are such differences in autumnal hues around the world? A new theory proposes taking a step 35 million years back to solve the color mystery.

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Psychologist David Schwebel, Ph.D., director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Youth Safety Lab, offers the following tips for a safe and healthy Halloween.

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The National Wildlife Federation shares some information about creepy critters for Halloween and dispels some myths about creatures of the night.

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Parents should be extra vigilant for possible safety hazards so that children have a fun, healthy and safe Halloween.

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While Halloween can be a fun holiday for children who Trick-or-Treat, the night can indeed be a scary experience for any of the three million youth who suffer from food allergy. Experts estimate that food allergy occurs in six to eight percent of children four years of age or under, and in four percent of adults. In recent years, it was reported that an estimated 29,000 people go to US emergency rooms each year as a result of allergic reactions to food.

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Working on a Halloween-related story? USC experts have studied the aerodynamics of bats, the appeal of vampires and the role of horror in literature and film. Here is a list of experts for stories pegged to scary topics.

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Fires in the home can start in an instant and spread in seconds, leaving families with as little as two minutes to escape from a residential fire. However, with smoke alarms, escape plans and good fire safety practices, two minutes is enough time for families to evacuate unharmed. October serves as national fire prevention month to remind everyone about the importance of fire safety and prevention.

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Christopher Columbus was awed by America's natural beauty. Families can connect with that natural beauty too Oct 11-13 during the Make Tracks! Family Trail Weekend.Sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation this event encourages everyone to trade some screen time for green time and get outside.

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Women with bunions enter a painful time of year every autumn, as they transition from open-toed shoes and sandals to winter footwear. Many foot and ankle surgeons notice an increase in bunion patients every fall.

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Tips on how to trick or treat safely this Halloween, from Mary Muscari, associate professor at Binghamton University, State University of New York, and author of Not My Kid 2: Protecting Your Children from the 21 Threats of the 21st Century.

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Health officials call for more kids to get vaccinated against the flu, and not just those with compromised health.

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One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. 27,000 men will die from prostate cancer this year alone. Prostate cancer is a serious health issue and Americans are taking note. On August 25, 2008, President George W. Bush proclaimed that September is Prostate Health Month. There is no better time to raise awareness about prostate health than during the month of September.

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Temple University pediatric dentist says it's not the amount of candy kids eat, but the frequency, that raises cavity risk.

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Outdoor clean-up will be on the minds of many this autumn season. Orthopaedic surgeons offer safety tips while raking, lawn mowing and gutter cleaning.

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Christopher Columbus noted America's natural beauty. You can too as you participate in the National Wildlife Federation's Make Tracks! Family Trail Weekend over the Columbus Day weekend. Trade screen time for green time with Mother Nature.

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Ghouls and buoys of all ages are invited to spend a safe and "spirited" Halloween with Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Enjoy a night of science gone awry Oct. 24-26 as Birch Aquarium transforms into a haunted aquarium from 6-9 p.m. Encounter creeps from the deep and experiments with wacky, mad scientists.

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These professors just might know who "“ or what "“ goes bump in the night.

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The University of Maryland's Center for Young Children offers some great tips for Trick or Treaters and Parents to make sure this Halloween is safe and sound.

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Environmental education has been shown to boost student motivation, critical thinking skills and interest in science and math as career pathways. The Ecological Society of America has several scientists with expertise in science and environmental education who are available to offer their perspectives on the challenges of education in an increasingly technological society.

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Western Carolina University's fearless fall foliage forecaster Katherine Mathews is predicting a colorful autumn leaf season for the mountains of Western North Carolina.

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Tired of spinach, bored with broccoli? Experts say there's a new generation of superfoods that promise to do double or triple-duty when it comes to preventing illness.

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Soils may dictate the array of fall colors as much as the trees rooted in them, according to a forest survey out of North Carolina.

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It's that time again. Witches, gosts, and maybe even Dora the Explorer, will go out trick-or-treating. Health wise, Halloween in itself is not all that bad. It's a pretty good community event, and even eating your favourite candies is alright. But when Halloween candies last until Christmas, you might want to start asking yourself a few questions. This Halloween, Canadian Institutes of Health Research experts are giving tips and offering advice.

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Loyola physician says now is the best time to get vaccinated before coming of the flu season.

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While Halloween, with all its candy and treats, may be a child's dream come true, it can turn into a nightmare for parents who have been touting the benefits of healthy eating the rest of the year. How do you keep your kids from devouring all that candy in one sitting? It takes a bit of planning, says Connie Diekman, R.D., director of University nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis and president of the American Dietetic Association.

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Need some great Halloween safety tips? Go no further - thanks to the Center for Young Children at the University of Maryland.

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Just in time for Halloween, a new University of Maryland exhibit looks at just how mysterious...and haunted the campus is, as well as the surrounding area. Don't be afraid to take a look at... "Mysterious Maryland."

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At Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Joseph Cifelli, Ed.D., assistant professor of science education, recently surveyed his undergraduate students about their preferences in Halloween treats. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups was the hands down most popular choice, followed by Snickers, Swedish Fish, Twix and Skittles. "It's clear that our students reflect the national consumer trend and candy is still the number one Halloween treat," says Dr. Cifelli.

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Across America, ghost stories help college students learn the rules of life on campus and aid young people in navigating complex relationships. But don't be spooked: The ghosts of campus legends are generally friendly, helpful presences, or spirits who wish to share a cautionary tale of some sort.

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E-mail spam frustrates computer users every day. A nationally renowned cybersleuth and veteran consultant to the FBI warns against the threat of spam.

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Every year, an unknown number of hunters never make it back home because their hearts suffer problems brought on by the strenuous exercise and dramatic bursts of activity that hunting can bring. U-M experts says, hunters can take steps now to protect themselves from heart problems during the hunt.

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Although some people may spend part of the Labor Day weekend complaining about their bosses or about job burnout, most Americans are satisfied with their jobs, a new study shows. The study shows that 86 percent of the people interviewed between 1972 and 2006 said they were satisfied at the jobs. The survey found that job satisfaction increases with age.

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Nationally renowned cyberslueth Gary Warner is available to help your readers and viewers understand Internet risks and how to avoid them.

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With the start of the new school year comes football season and tailgating. Make sure that food-borne illness doesn't spoil the fun by following sound food-safety advice from Virginia Cooperative Extension.

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With a rise in the number of overweight children, parents must be extra vigilant when packing their children's lunches... to maintain good eating habits that will last for life and even improve their attention span and academic performance.

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Some children don't enjoy reading.

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Common eye conditions can affect academic performance, so it is crucial for children to have their eyes checked before they start school, say optometrists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry.

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During the summer, many parents let their kids stay up at night and wake up later in the morning.

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Many people wrongly believe that getting a sexually transmitted disease is only for those who engage in risky behavior.