Which Teen Life story fits you?

This "Teen Life" issue is jam-packed with articles on topics ranging from stunt-filled cheerleading to chocolate chemistry and denim science. Plus, our A-to-Z quick bites will bring you up-to-date on science news in a flash. With so many exciting stories to read, where do you begin? Take our handy quiz. At the end, you'll be directed to an article that's just right for you. But don't forget to check out the rest of Science World's teen-life articles!

Achy Feet

Flip-flops have become the everyday shoe choice for many teens. But the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) has found that more patients between the ages of 15 and 25 are experiencing heel pain than ever before. The ACFAS says flip-flops' thin soles don't provide enough support for feet.

Basketball

Students at Johns Hopkins University have developed a device that enables blind people to participate in basketball games. The device, which is placed inside a basketball, constantly emits a high-pitched noise. This sound lets blind players use their hearing instead of sight to find the ball on the court.

Condiments

A special seasoning added to your next burger could protect you from disease. Food scientists at Kansas State University found that an extract of the herb rosemary--when added to meats before they are cooked--acts as an antioxidant. This chemical protects cells and helps prevent cancer.

Dazzling!

Do your pearly whites need brightening? Drinking too much soda, coffee, or tea can stain teeth. Teeth-whitening products temporarily bleach lightly discolored tooth enamel. But are the products safe? Most dentists agree: When used in moderation, whiteners are safe for people with healthy teeth.

Ewww! You're not the only one who finds your pillow to be comfy. Allergy researchers at the University of Manchester in England dissected pillows and found as many as 16 different species of fungi. These invaders can aggravate allergies and respiratory problems like asthma. The solution: Researchers recommend breathable, moisture-repellent pillow covers.

Fizzy Fruit

Want a healthy snack that's fun to eat? Researcher Galen Kaufman has filled cans of grapes, apples, oranges, pineapples, and strawberries with carbon dioxide, the same gas that gives soda its bubbles. Inside the can, these bubbles seep into the fruit. The result is Fizzy Fruit. But like soda, once the can is opened you have to eat the fruit before it goes flat.

Glow Headache Help

Having a "healthy glow" isn't just a figure of speech. Using a powerful light detector, Japanese scientists found that human hands, foreheads, and feet emit small, but detectable, amounts of light. Scientists aren't sure why we glow, but they suspect it's because of chemoluminescence, or light-producing chemical reactions similar to those in fireflies.

Itsy Bitsy 

An ancient Chinese remedy might help headache sufferers. Studies suggest that acupuncture, or the insertion of needles into certain points on the body, can reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. How does it work? A Harvard radiologist reported that acupuncture can trigger the release of the body's own pain-relieving chemicals.

Instead of reading the fine print, write it--with the world's thinnest-tipped ballpoint pen. Mitsubishi Pencil Company's Uni-ball Singo Bit has a 0.18 millimeter tip.

That's the width of two human hairs. It uses friction-reducing ink to prevent clogs. Teenage girls in Japan are big fans of the itsy-bitsy pen.

Justice

American Idol judge Paula Abdul recently told California lawmakers about a painful infection she developed after getting a manicure.

Dermatologists, or skin doctors, warn that improperly cleaned manicure instruments can spread bacteria, fungi, and skin viruses. Abdul had hoped for tougher laws for nail salons, but such a bill was vetoed.

Kick!

Studies suggest that exercise improves your health, grades, and self-esteem. And girls are taking the message to heart, or rather to the playing field. High school girls' sports participation has exploded in the last 30 years, rising from approximately 300,000 in 1972 to 2.9 million in 2004. That's girl power.

Linguini

A sealed bowl of ancient boiled noodles was found in Northwestern China. The 4,000-year-old pasta is the oldest prepared food ever to be unearthed. The question of who first cooked noodles, people from Italy or from China, seems to have been answered ... at least for now.

Movies

Teens who frequently watch R-rated movies are more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and try drugs, suggests a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School similarly found that teens who viewed smoking in films were more likely to smoke.

Noggin 

When a cheerleading team witnessed a hit-and-run car accident, they turned the fleeing car's license plate number into a chant. By remembering their "cheer," they helped police nab the suspect. Memory experts say repetition of words, as in chants or song lyrics, helps create long-term memory, increasing the chance of recall later.

Odor Eaters

Scientists have found that bacteria living in the mouth can help get rid of bad breath, Certain bacteria munch on the chemicals that create bad breath. As these bacteria feast, the nasty chemicals vanish and so do the odors. Scientists think that people with bad breath may be low on helpful bacteria.

Pedal Power

In Lyon, France, more than 29,000 people are borrowing bikes from self-service stands around the city. With no charge for the first half hour, 90 percent of the cyclers are riding for free. Sensors monitor the condition of the bike and the identity of the user. The bike rentals make for zero-emission transportation and great exercise.

Quick!

A new study suggests that you think faster while lying down than you do while standing up. That's because your brain releases the chemical noradrenaline when you're standing, but not when lying down. This chemical makes it harder for your brain to solve certain problems.

Ray-Catching Purse

Carrying this purse promotes renewable energy. A thin solar panel covers the "Solarjo Power Purse," and a feather light battery inside stores the electricity generated from the panels. The stored energy can recharge your cell phone or iPod. Don't use a purse? Solar-powered hats and jackets are coming next.

Sandcastle 

What holds sandcastles together? New studies show that water's surface tension, or an attractive force between molecules in liquids, helps

form a tight droplet between grains of sand, says physicist Arshad Kudrolli. As the droplets form, they pull the nearby grains they're touching closer together. The result: A sturdy sandcastle.

Tanning

Exposure to ultraviolet light, or invisible energy waves, from tanning beds and the sun increases the risk of developing skin cancer. A survey by the American Academy of Dermatology found that even though most people between ages 12 and 17 know about the risk, 66 percent still think people look better with a tan.

Uniform

Want to win that next sporting event? Wear red. In a study of four sports at the 2004 Olympic Games, red-uniformed athletes usually won. Researchers say red, the color of aggressive behavior in animals, implies vigor and danger. One hitch: The trend held only for male, not female, teams.

Vote

Imagine casting your vote using your cell phone. The Malaysian government is asking the public to do just that. The outcome will determine the country's first astronaut to lift off aboard a 2007 Russian-led mission into space, The charge for the text-message votes will help pay for the country's space program.

Wash Up

Public bathrooms are loaded with unhealthy germs. But washing your hands can get rid of nearly all the microbes with which you come in contact, says Judy Daley from the American Society of Microbiology (ASM). Still, ASM researchers found that only 90 percent of women and 75 percent of men washed their hands after visiting the restroom.

X-Out!

Hate stepping on sticky globs of chewing gum? Great Britain is trying to stop gum spitters--who cost local authorities thousands of dollars in clean-up costs each year. The environmental awareness program seeks to get gum chewers to dispose of their wads in trashcans. Violators caught leaving wads on the street will be fined.

Yodeling 

Forget "om." Breathe in deeply and belt out a "yodel-ay-ee-hoo" if you want to try out the newest health trend. Young professionals in Switzerland are flocking to yodeling classes to reduce stress and increase energy. Like yoga, yodeling focuses on controlled breathing. Yodelers say the result is a relaxing, and musical, experience.

Zinc

Foods such as meat, fish, and oat meal are rich in zinc, a mineral substance the body needs in small amounts to grow and stay healthy. Zinc could also improve your grades in school. In a recent study, seventh-graders were given an extra 20 milligrams of zinc each day. Result: Their memory and ability to pay attention improved.