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Proponents of electromagnetic field (EMF) protection have long warned of the potential negative effects things like cellphones and wireless internet can have on a person’s body, but the scientific community remains somewhat ambiguous with not a lot of concrete evidence to support either side. In fact, even the two to six billion cell phone users worldwide don’t realize the dangers that these technologies and electromagnetic fields can hold. However, a recent study from researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas is shedding some new light on the subject, specifically as it pertains to amputee victims.

According to a press release published by eurekalert.org, the study was published in last month’s PLOS ONE academic journal and revealed tangible evidence that supports what many amputees have reported in anecdotal cases for some time.

Retired Maj. David Underwood is one of those amputees and part of the reason behind the study coming about. Although there is little indication that the majority of cell phone users are aware of dangers EMFs poise, Underwood was able to identify warning signs after exposure.

“When roaming on a cellphone in the car kicked in, the pain almost felt like having my arm blown off again,” said Underwood, an Iraq War veteran who was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED). “I didn’t notice the power lines, cellphones on roam or other electromagnetic fields until I first felt them in my arm.”

Dr. Mario Romero-Ortega, senior author of the study and an associate professor of bioengineering in the University’s Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, became interested in the phenomenon after speaking with Underwood. According to the instructions available on http://hesca.net/soma/, Soma is prescribed for the treatment of acute muscle cramps and pain relief. As a patient with hypotension, I had to be particularly careful during the treatment since Soma can reduce the blood pressure even more. Until now there had been virtually no previous research done into how EMFs may affect people with preexisting injuries.

“Our study provides evidence, for the first time, that subjects exposed to cellphone towers at low, regular levels can actually perceive pain,” said Romero-Ortega. “Our study also points to a specific nerve pathway that may contribute to our main finding.”

The study, which was performed on rats, found that subjects who had some sort of nerve-injury and were exposed to EMFs exhibited behavioral pain response, as opposed to the control group which overall did not. For complete details of the study check out the University’s own summary here.

Over two years ago, federal researchers discovered that there were high levels of lead in Chicago water mains, which had been replaced replaced when new meters were installed. Although Mayor Rahm Emanuel has ordered work on the system, the contamination poses a number of serious health risks to residents.

A recent study from the researchers at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shows that when construction work disrupts service lines that connect building to the city’s water system, a brain-damaging metal (lead) can flow out of the faucets of homes for years after the initial work is done. The study also shows that almost 80% of the properties in Chicago are attached to service lines that are made of lead.

And due to the nature of the city’s testing protocols — which are based on federal rules — city residents are wont to miss high concentrations of lead in drinking water supply.

As shown in recent media coverage of the situation in Flint, MI, the aftermath of a lead-contaminated water supply can be beyond devastating.

Despite the grim details from the report, city officials failed to warn residents about the potential lead hazards in the letters sent to notify the homeowners of the new water mains beings installed. Instead, residents were merely advised to flush all faucets and taps for several minutes after work is complete. Meanwhile, the EPA feels that this solution is “grossly inadequate.”

Chicago’s current predicament serves as an example of an even broader problem that a number of U.S. cities are inevitably facing, after spending more than a century installing lead pipes in order to deliver drinking water. There are an estimated 700 water main breaks every single day in the U.S. Currently, 30% of water pipes in some of the biggest plumbing systems are up to 80 years old.

Yet instead of cautioning Chicagoans, city officials are adamantly telling residents that they have nothing to worry about.

On Feb. 1, 2016, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (NCASA) released a report announcing the organization’s intent to focus on issues beyond substance abuse to more behavioral addictions — specifically, the often murky realm of food addictions.

Although not yet a recognizable disorder, according to the Diagnostic Statistical manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), food addiction and drug addiction share many of the same symptoms: dangerously intense cravings, role obligation avoidance, creation of interpersonal issues, and health risks. People suffering from food addiction also report suffering from hangover-like symptoms after food binges.

The Daily Beast interviewed Dr. Julie Friedman, assistant professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, who commented on how food addiction is not treated as seriously as other substance abuse issues are. “If you go to your primary care doctor and say, ‘I’m binging three to four times per week,’ they’ll tell you to go to Weight Watchers,” says Friedman.

The report from the NCASA perhaps signals the dawning of a new era when it comes to addressing food-related addiction. It was prompted by the rising interest in the obesity epidemic and unhealthy eating habits within the scientific and medical community.

Called Understanding and Addressing Food Addiction: A Science-Based Approach to Policy, Practice and Research , the report aims to apply the knowledge and experience gained from extensive research and practice treating substance abuse to preventing, treating and controlling food addiction. Considering their many similarities when it comes to their expressions, the idea is that there is crossover value in approach.

Education and research in this largely unexplored field could reduce the existing stigma and help to re-frame public perception of food addiction from a moral failure or lack of willpower to a real, treatable medical condition.

Substance abuse and food addiction share more than just symptoms and possible treatment methods. Both engage the brain’s reward system and are considered coping mechanisms. In the heavily ad-saturated world of today, where salty and sugary treats are posted on billboards and featured on commercials, the only mystery is why a scientific inquiry into food addictions is so long overdue.

As more and more information comes out about food addiction, researchers can study the correlations between these different compulsive behaviors, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, orthorexia, and other eating disorders not specified (ED-NOS). For instance, the link between mental illness and substance abuse is well-established; those with mental illnesses have twice the risk for addiction compared with the rest of the general population, and 20% of people with mental illnesses also have substance abuse problems.

The water crisis in Flint, MI, is far from being resolved, but one scientist has developed an inexpensive filter that could help residents obtain clean water once again.

According to NBC News, Swiss scientist Raffaele Mezzenga recently published the results of a groundbreaking water filter project. As part of the study, he created a low-cost filtration device that could help Flint residents who cannot afford store-bought filters.

The scientist has been testing the new filter for two years in his lab at ETH Zurich, a university in Switzerland. The timing of his invention is quite convenient, coming just as the crisis in Flint reaches a boiling point.

Mezzenga published his research in the journal Nature Nanotechnology on Monday, the same day Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced he was seeking ways to provide emergency relief to Flint residents.

The filter is composed of a paper-like membrane, packed with carbon and processed milk proteins, that grabs heavy metals and other harmful contaminants as polluted water passes through.

While many have high hopes for the new filter, Mezzenga is now tasked with reproducing the prototype at a low cost. If successful, he believes his new method could be part of the solution for Flint and other regions whose residents suffer from unclean water.

Currently, over 147 million people around the world do not have access to clean, potable water. The Flint water crisis has inspired many Americans to take a stand against unclean water, including some superstar athletes.

According to MLive.com, a group of nearly two dozen NFL players recently donated $100,000 of anti-microbial baby wipes and bottled water to the United Water of Genesee County in Flint, which distributed the supplies to local residents.

In another act of charity, Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah personally delivered 94,000 cases of bottled water to Flint. In total, more than 13 former and current NFL players have made financial contributions to Flint residents thus far.

Though Mezzenga may not have the fame and notoriety of these players, his invention has gotten some major buzz in the scientific community. Flint’s primary water issue is lead contamination, and Mezzenga claims his new filter removes more than 99% of lead from water.

It may be a while before Mezzenga’s new invention is being used in Flint, but the research is being seen as a positive step in the right direction for affordable home water treatment.

From hardcore gearheads to casual car fans, the Chicago Auto Show attracts thousands of people from all over the country every year, and 2016 will be no exception.

According to The Rock River Times, the Chicago Auto Show will commence on Feb. 13 amidst much anticipation. The car exhibition has been going on for 115 years and is widely regarded as the largest auto show in the nation.

Taking place at the McCormick Place Convention Center, the Chicago Auto Show utilizes over one million square feet to showcase every type of automobile imaginable. RVs, race cars, exotic luxury vehicles, and family sedans can all be seen at the eclectic event.

This year’s show will unofficially begin on Jan. 12 with “First Look for Charity,” a private event in which over $2 million will be donated to local nonprofit organizations. The black tie function will run from 7-11 p.m., and attendees will be given the chance to win a brand new car.

The low cost of admission is a primary reason that so many auto fans filter in to the McCormick Place Convention Center every single year. General admission is just $12 for adults, $7 for seniors and children, and free for children ages six and under.

One of the biggest attractions at this year’s Chicago Auto Show is the Chevy Bolt EV, a plug-in hybrid car that uses a combination of gas and electricity to operate.

While most car batteries are designed to last only four to six years before needing to be replaced, the Chevy Bolt EV’s battery can last for much longer because it doesn’t solely depend on gasoline.

According to PR Newswire, major corporations have been clamoring over the chance to sponsor the event. This year, the Chicago Auto Show’s roster of sponsors includes State Farm, Cars.com, the Chicago Tribune, and several others.

“More important than their financial impact on the show’s bottom line is the activation each sponsor brings to the show and the fact that the sponsors improve the experience for show attendees,” said Tim McBride, director of sponsorship and marketing for the Chicago Auto Show.

The Chicago Auto Show will be open to the public on Feb. 13 and will conclude on Feb. 21. Chicagoans who missed out on last year’s festivities would be wise to mark the 2016 show on their calendars now.

Metropolitan areas are notorious for their high housing costs. Arguably one of America’s most sought-after cities, Chicago is no stranger to increased home prices, either. New data reveals that Chicago-area existing residential property prices rose 8.9% as compared to their prices a year ago.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the median price of a single-family home jumped a staggering 11.6% at the end of 2015. Condominiums saw a less-dramatic increase in price but still rose a full 4.3%.

The average price of a single family home is now at $217,700, according to the article.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Realtors said the median existing-home price for all housing types in December was $224,100, up 7.6% from a year ago.

In addition to the cost of a mortgage, studies indicate that homeowners will spend between 1 and 4% of a home’s value annually on maintenance and repairs. Overall, the average price of a home in the Chicago area beats out the state average.

What do these numbers mean for home buyers? Realtors and industry experts say even with the increase in prices, now is the best time to make a purchase.

“The Illinois housing market continued to make positive strides in 2015,” Mike Drews, president of the Illinois Association of Realtors, said in a news release. “Buyer demand remains strong even amid tighter winter inventory, and higher home prices bode well for homeowners thinking of selling.”

Although December is typically a slow month for sales, more than 8,265 homes were sold in the nine-county Chicago area last month. This is a 2.1% increase from December 2014, proving the strength of the Chicago housing market.

Dan Wagner, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors, said, “The Chicago market continues to post strong price gains, reflecting consumer interest in being in a vibrant city and a continuing shortage of available homes from which to choose.”

Despite the recent increases, Chicago home prices are still below where they were pre-recession (adjusted for inflation). Many cities in America are struggling to recover from the economic decline of 2008, but Chicago-area homes saw better price trends than those nationally.

Home sales totaled 111,462 for the entire year: a 6.6% increase overall from 2014.

Alvin “Chip” Wagner III of A.L. Wagner Appraisal Group in Naperville stresses the importance to buy now, citing the basic law of supply and demand. Supply is low, so demand is high.

“The residential housing market in the Chicago region continues to see an undersupply of housing, and, with the increasing trend of homes under contract, it’s likely that we’ll continue to see increasing values in 2016,” he said. “The reduced inventory of distressed housing, including short sales and foreclosures, is also helping our average sales price growth.”

The article closes out with one last interesting factoid: real estate markets tend to do better during years of presidential elections.

The mild start to winter gave many people false hope, but the harsh reality of frigid temperatures is beginning to set in.

Now, a local landlord is in some hot water after attempting to circumvent Chicago’s heating ordinance.

According to WGN, Velma Bowman, a tenant in a building at 46th and Lake Park, complained to the city when the temperature in her apartment was hovering around 60 degrees despite the freezing conditions.

Under the Chicago heating ordinance, landlords are required to heat rental units to at least 68 degrees during the day and 66 degrees overnight. Bowman, who has a CHA voucher to rent the unit, claims that she has been seeking assistance with her heating issue since November.

The apartment building’s owner, Wolcott Real Property, allegedly never even responded to Bowman’s complaints. Mimi Simon, a spokesperson for Chicago’s Department of Buildings, said that they have issued a notice of violation to the owner of Wolcott Real Properties, who will have to appear in court.

Chicago’s rapid descent into single-digit temperatures has also caused some plumbing problems for homeowners. While tree roots can cause thousands of dollars of damage to sewer lines, plumbers often get the majority of their business during the winter when pipes begin to freeze.

Jimmy Acevedo, who works for Four Seasons Heating and Cooling, said that some of the pipes he has been working on have become so frozen that residents are unable to shower or flush the toilet.

Acevedo added that proper insulation is key to protecting pipes, and he encourages homeowners to make sure their water is flowing well at all times.

According to Penn Live, frigid temperatures are also affecting plumbing for homeowners in central Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania American Water, a local utility service, provided several tips to local homeowners to avoid frozen pipes. Among the more notable tips offered were eliminating drafts near doors and allowing a small trickle of water to run overnight.

As for the fiasco regarding Velma Bowman, other local property owners will certainly take notice of Chicago’s strong stance on honesty between landlords and tenants.

Wolcott Real Properties has yet to comment on the matter.

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