A new study suggests that US businesses pay almost US$6,000 a year more on an employee who smokes compared to one who has never lighted up. Ohio State University researchers reached this estimate by drawing on past research on the costs of absenteeism, lost productivity, smoke breaks and health care costs. Smoke breaks accounted for the highest cost in lost productivity followed by health care expenses that exceeded the insurance costs for non-smokers. The research has been published online in the journal
 

Couples who meet online have happier and longer marriages, according to new research by the University of Chicago. Published in the yesterday, the study is based on a representative sample of more than 19,000 people in the United States on their marriages and satisfaction. About 45 per cent met through an online dating site, and these people were more likely to be older, employed and earning a higher income. People who met online reported an average score of 5.64 on marital satisfaction compared to 5.48 per cent satisfaction among those who met offline. About 6 per cent of online match-ups' marriages broke down, compared to 7.6 per cent in the offline group.