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Research News
1:58 pm
Tue December 13, 2011

No 'God Particle' Yet, But Scientists Say Stay Tuned

Credit CERN
This image, from a sensor at the particle accelerator at CERN, is an example of the data signature a Higgs particle might generate. Researchers will spend into 2012 sifting through data in an attempt to find the Higgs.

Physicists have a grand theory that describes how tiny particles interact to form all the stuff we see in the universe — everything from planets to toasters to human beings.

But there is one particle predicted by this theory that has never been detected in experiments. It's called the Higgs boson. Scientists are dying to know if it really exists — and now researchers are closer to finding out than ever before.

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Shots - Health Blog
1:44 pm
Tue December 13, 2011

Facebook Aims To Prevent Suicides With Online Help

Credit iStockPhoto.com

If you're considering suicide, Facebook now stands ready to get you some help.

The gigantic social-networking site said Tuesday that if any of its 800 million users type a post saying they are contemplating suicide, the site will offer to connect them to a crisis counselor through the site's chat system.

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Newt Gingrich
1:37 pm
Tue December 13, 2011

Analysis: Gingrich's Tax Plan Would Benefit The Rich

Credit Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
Former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, seen here during Saturday's ABC debate, is currently leading in GOP polls. His tax plan would introduce a 15 percent flat income tax.

According to many polls, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is now leading the Republican pack. His plan to rewrite the nation's tax policy hasn't gotten as much attention as some of his other proposals, but, according to a new analysis, it would require sweeping changes to the government.

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The Two-Way
1:25 pm
Tue December 13, 2011

Fed: Economy 'Expanding Moderately,' Policy Unchanged

Signs suggest "that the economy has been expanding moderately" in recent months, "notwithstanding some apparent slowing in global growth," Federal Reserve Policymakers just reported.

And, as expected, they announced no policy changes that would either add or subtract to the amount of help the central bank gives the economy.

In "Fed speak":

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The Two-Way
1:15 pm
Tue December 13, 2011

The Buck Stops: Treasury Suspends Production Of Presidential Dollars

Saying it can save taxpayers $50 million a year, the Treasury Department announced today that it is suspending almost all production of presidential dollar coins.

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