If your sweet tooth is wishing those Valentine’s Day chocolates had lasted just a little bit longer, there is good news for you in this week’s “Science Times” synthesis! This week’s round-up is filled with “sweet” stories—from a dessert triumph to a tale of altruism—so grab some dessert and read on!

Week of February 21, 2012

Despite safety worries, work on deadly flu to be released: Following a World Health Organization meeting with public health and flu experts, research, which some feared could be used to start epidemics by terrorists, will be released.

Dessert at breakfast may help dieters: A recent study found that dieters provided a high-carbohydrate, protein-enriched breakfast with dessert were more likely to lose additional weight and keep it off over a 32-week period.

Sixty lives, 30 kidneys, all linked: A Good Samaritan and technological advances set off a chain of 30 kidney donations in this heartwarming and inspiring piece.  

Microchip implanted to deliver drug shows promise in trial: The first human trial of a microchip drug-delivery system, led by scientists from Harvard, MIT, and Case Western Reserve University, yields positive results.

Week of February 14, 2012

What’s new? Exuberance for novelty has benefits: Long thought to be a negative attribute, new research suggests novelty-seekers may be healthier and happier as they age.

From 9/11, a lesson on whales, noise, and stress: Research that was ongoing during the September 11 attacks suggests that noise from ships increases the level of stress in whales.