Blog Posts by Sarah B. Weir, Yahoo! blogger

J.K. RowlingJ.K. Rowling, author of the blockbuster Harry Potter series, has announced she is going to write an adult novel. It's been nearly five years since the best-selling kid's scribe in history published her last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and it's going to be a tough act to follow. "JK Rowling announcing a new book is almost like god announcing a follow-up to the Bible," tweeted fan Natalie Summers.

The Potter books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide. The first in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was published in 1997. For her new novel, Rowling switched publishers leaving Scholastic for Little, Brown. "The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry's success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life," she said in a

SaffronWhat if there was a safe supplement that would banish hunger and boost metabolism? That's exactly what Dr. Oz touted in a recent episode of his show called Belly Blasting Supplements. America's favorite TV doctor says that Satiereal saffon extract, will "annihilate your urge to overeat."

Saffron is a culinary spice derived from the dried stigmas of crocuses. Each flower contains only three stigmas and they are usually harvested by hand. This makes saffron the most expensive spice in the world by weight. It has been cultivated for over three thousand years.

Satiereal saffron extract is believed to diminish "emotional eating." It may have the effect of increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which improves mood and makes people less likely to snack. Dr. Oz explains, "You crave carbohydrates…when you take carbohydrates and put them up in the mouth you are actually turning on chemicals in the brain... They turn on this pleasure sensation, this craving you have, and they

As many as half of transgendered teens attempt suicideNine-year-old Angel loves "shoes and fashion," playing dress up in princess costumes, and the colors pink and purple. Angel feels like a little girl but has the body of a little boy. "I'm very happy now," Angel says on a video produced by the support and educational outreach organization, Trans Youth Family Allies (TYFA), "because my family loves me for who I am."

Angel is lucky. Many families of transgendered kids don't accept that their child feels like they were born the wrong sex or, worse, berate, abuse, and reject them. According to a study in the most recent issue of the journal Pediatrics, kids whose interests "fall outside of those typically expressed by their biological sex" are more likely to experience physical and emotional abuse and suffer from post traumatic stress disorder nearly twice as often as others in young adulthood. And while school may be hell for these kids, its not playground bullies who are at the heart of the problem: "The abuse we examined was mostly

Oolong tea, delicious and healthySecond only to water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. While coffee culture still rules in the United States, tea is creeping up in popularity partially due to its health benefits. Studies suggest that consuming tea may promote heart health, normalize blood pressure, and help regulate weight. A Japanese study showed that drinkers stay more active and enjoy less cognitive decline as they age. Both black tea and green tea contain antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and have a role in preventing diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer.

Oolong tea

Oolong tea, known as "Black Dragon Tea" in China, is produced by a unique method. Leaves are dried and oxidized in strong sunlight before being twisted or curled and packaged. Different varieties have varying flavors and aromas depending on the length of processing. Some oolong teas have bright, grassy notes and others are toasted and woody.

One benefit of oolong tea is that it contains less caffeine

Is your make-up safe? In light of recent news that the FDA found lead in 400 brands of lipstick, Yahoo! Shine took a look at other products containing potentially hazardous ingredients. Historically, women have risked their health for beauty by using cosmetics laden with poisons. It's reported that Queen Elizabeth's face became so disfigured from lead-contaminated makeup, she had all the mirrors in her palace removed. In 18th century France, courtesans applied vermilion rouge, which contained sulfur and mercury, and suffered damage to their teeth, livers, and nervous systems as a result. While the levels are much lower, according to a 2011 report by Environmental Defense, an Ontario-based research group, dangerous heavy metals still lurk in lip gloss, mascara, foundation, blush, eye shadow, and eyeliner.

Related: Lead In Lipstick, 10 Worst Brands, Better Alternatives

The researchers tested a total of 49 common products selected from the cosmetic bags of six average Canadian women. They found that

25 key vocab building blocksA two-year-old's limited vocabulary may red flag hearing problems, autism, or dyslexia. Researchers from the Child Study Institute at Bryn Mawr College have identified a list of 25 words every toddler should be using by age two. Dr. Leslie Rescorla, the director of the institute, presented her findings at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The Daily News reports that Professor Nan Bernstein Ratner, who moderated the panel, described these words as the "canary in the coal mine."

The average toddler uses 75-225 words and is able to combine them into phrases. Twenty-five is considered the minimum for late talkers. In a previous study, Rescorla demonstrated that children with normal delayed speech tend to catch up by four or five. She adds that when helping late talkers build their language skills, it's a good idea to focus on basic vocabulary.

The 25 common words that should form the building blocks of a toddler's vocabulary:

-all

When I recently conducted interviews with women, ages 13-82, about whether they lie about their weight, a typical response was, "who doesn't?" A 2011 survey shows that at least 68% of women admit the number listed on their license is incorrect. "When I first got my license I weighed 130 pounds," says 41-year-old Meredith. "I kind of left it there, even though at times I have been well over that number." Lying to a friend or lover out of vanity (or shame) is one thing, but lying to the DMV?

The prevalence of fibbing to strangers highlights the fact that many women are so perturbed by the actual number on the scale they choose to fool themselves-or even their physician. I spoke to a many women who said they don't lie about their weight except at the doctor's office. Emily, 34, acknowledges, "I almost always lie at the doctor's if I know I can get away with it." The CDC reports a significant portion of women underestimate their BMI on medical surveys, which has public health policy

Women's reproductive rights vary widely from state to state. According to Naral Pro-Choice America, in 2011, 26 states enacted 69 anti-choice measures including bans on abortions after 20 weeks (without adequate exceptions to protect a woman's health or for when pregnancy was a result of rape or incest) and funding restrictions for lower income women. Many states also have requirements for waiting periods and ultrasounds before obtaining an abortion. Texas and Oklahoma insist a woman seeking an abortion view the ultrasound.

Related: Unborn babies and legal rights: What do Personhood Bills really mean for women?

Even in states with fewer restrictions, obtaining an abortion from a licensed physician can be difficult. The Guttmacher Institute reports that 87% of U.S. counties lack an abortion provider.

Four states, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, and South Dakota, have an complete abortion ban on the books that would automatically go into effect if Roe v. Wade were overturned