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The Salt
9:56 am
Fri December 28, 2012

An Evolutionary Whodunit: How Did Humans Develop Lactose Tolerance?

Credit iStockphoto.com
Thousands of years ago, a mutation in the human genome allowed many adults to digest lactose and drink milk.

Originally published on Fri December 28, 2012 12:41 pm

Got milk? Ancient European farmers who made cheese thousands of years ago certainly had it. But at that time, they lacked a genetic mutation that would have allowed them to digest raw milk's dominant sugar, lactose, after childhood.

Today, however, 35 percent of the global population — mostly people with European ancestry — can digest lactose in adulthood without a hitch.

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The Two-Way
9:34 am
Fri December 28, 2012

Little Hope, Low Expectations, Lots Of Gloom: 'Fiscal Cliff' Talk Is Dreary

Credit Michael Reynolds / EPA /LANDOV
Leaders will meet at the White House this afternoon.

Originally published on Fri December 28, 2012 12:10 pm

  • David Welna on 'Morning Edition'

Yes, President Obama and congressional leaders are scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. ET to discuss how to avoid going over the so-called fiscal cliff of automatic tax increases and spending cuts.

But, no, that isn't inspiring much talk this morning of a breakthrough before the midnight New Year's Eve deadline:

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The Two-Way
8:51 am
Fri December 28, 2012

Top Stories: 'Fiscal Cliff' Talks Resume; Russia Bans U.S. Adoptions

Credit Matthew Cavanaugh / Getty Images
Eric Waite and his 8-year-old daughter Emerson went sliding Thursday in Greenfield, Mass.
The Two-Way
8:33 am
Fri December 28, 2012

Remembering Gen. Schwarzkopf, 'Military Hero Of His Generation'

Credit Kevin Larkin / AFP/Getty Images
Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf in 1990.

Originally published on Fri December 28, 2012 9:37 am

The death Thursday of retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf — "Stormin' Norman" — has prompted many looks at the legacy of the American commander who led coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, which pushed Saddam Hussein's Iraqi Army out of Kuwait.

Schwarzkopf was 78. He:

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The Two-Way
7:56 am
Fri December 28, 2012

Secretary Clinton Due Back At Work Next Week, 'Foreign Policy' Reports

Credit Kevin Lamarque / AFP/Getty Images
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Dec. 6 in Dublin.

Originally published on Fri December 28, 2012 9:38 am

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will return to the State Department next week after three weeks of recovery from a stomach virus and a related concussion," Foreign Policy's The Cable blog reports.

Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines tells The Cable that:

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