The article discusses the economic security of older women and men in the United States, highlighting that 90% of those 65 or older receive Social Security benefits, with older women receiving half of their income on average. It also notes that about a third of women receive pension income, compared to nearly half of all men, and that many older women are unmarried, widowed, divorced, or never married. Additionally, it mentions the gender pay gap, with men earning more than women by a 2:1 margin among those working for pay. The article presents a report from the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research on illicit drug use among American teens. It shows a gradual decline in drug use, particularly among 8th graders, who reported using illicit drugs at least once in the past 12 months from 24% in 1996 to 13% in 2007. The decline was less pronounced among 10th and 12th graders. The report also notes that marijuana remains the most widely used illicit drug, while the use of other drugs has declined over time. MDMA (ecstasy) is the only drug showing increased use due to a generational forgetting of its risks. The article discusses international benchmarks in math and science, highlighting that while most U.S. states perform as well or better than foreign countries in these subjects, the highest-performing states still lag behind the highest-performing countries. It emphasizes the importance of a strong math foundation and depth in science education, suggesting that the U.S. is losing the race to prepare future generations for innovation. The article reviews a report by Trust for America’s Health on public health preparedness, noting that over half of the American public believes the country is not safer than before the 9/11 attacks. The report highlights variations in state readiness to distribute vaccines and assess biohazards, and provides a summary of major public health incidents in 2007. It also outlines 12 major public health emergency threats and makes recommendations for improving preparedness. The article discusses new research on aging, focusing on neuroeconomics, which integrates economics, psychology, and neuroscience to understand decision-making processes. It highlights how emotions dominate many people's working, purchasing, and saving decisions, and how these decisions can be influenced by perceptions of fairness. The research challenges traditional distinctions between rational and irrational behavior in economics. The article provides updates on blogs and websites related to social science, including the launch of a new website by the Miller-McCune Center for Research, Media and Public Policy, and the continued efforts of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) to promote federal support for social and behavioral sciences. It also mentions new blogs and publications, such as "The Immanent Frame" by the Social Science Research Council and "The Economists' Voice" edited by Joseph Stiglitz.The article discusses the economic security of older women and men in the United States, highlighting that 90% of those 65 or older receive Social Security benefits, with older women receiving half of their income on average. It also notes that about a third of women receive pension income, compared to nearly half of all men, and that many older women are unmarried, widowed, divorced, or never married. Additionally, it mentions the gender pay gap, with men earning more than women by a 2:1 margin among those working for pay. The article presents a report from the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research on illicit drug use among American teens. It shows a gradual decline in drug use, particularly among 8th graders, who reported using illicit drugs at least once in the past 12 months from 24% in 1996 to 13% in 2007. The decline was less pronounced among 10th and 12th graders. The report also notes that marijuana remains the most widely used illicit drug, while the use of other drugs has declined over time. MDMA (ecstasy) is the only drug showing increased use due to a generational forgetting of its risks. The article discusses international benchmarks in math and science, highlighting that while most U.S. states perform as well or better than foreign countries in these subjects, the highest-performing states still lag behind the highest-performing countries. It emphasizes the importance of a strong math foundation and depth in science education, suggesting that the U.S. is losing the race to prepare future generations for innovation. The article reviews a report by Trust for America’s Health on public health preparedness, noting that over half of the American public believes the country is not safer than before the 9/11 attacks. The report highlights variations in state readiness to distribute vaccines and assess biohazards, and provides a summary of major public health incidents in 2007. It also outlines 12 major public health emergency threats and makes recommendations for improving preparedness. The article discusses new research on aging, focusing on neuroeconomics, which integrates economics, psychology, and neuroscience to understand decision-making processes. It highlights how emotions dominate many people's working, purchasing, and saving decisions, and how these decisions can be influenced by perceptions of fairness. The research challenges traditional distinctions between rational and irrational behavior in economics. The article provides updates on blogs and websites related to social science, including the launch of a new website by the Miller-McCune Center for Research, Media and Public Policy, and the continued efforts of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) to promote federal support for social and behavioral sciences. It also mentions new blogs and publications, such as "The Immanent Frame" by the Social Science Research Council and "The Economists' Voice" edited by Joseph Stiglitz.