WASHINGTON - A PECULIAR amphibian that was clad in bony armor prowled warm lakes 210 million years ago, catching fish and other tasty snacks with one of the most unusual bites in the history of life on Earth.

The creature called Gerrothorax pulcherrimus, which lived alongside some of the early dinosaurs, opened its mouth not by dropping its lower jaw, as other vertebrate animals do.

SAN ANTONIO - TAKING menopause hormones for five years doubles the risk for breast cancer, according to a new analysis of a big federal study that reveals the most dramatic evidence yet of the dangers of these still-popular pills.

Even women who took estrogen and progestin pills for as little as a couple of years had a greater chance of getting cancer. And when they stopped taking them, their odds quickly improved, returning to a normal risk level roughly two years after quitting.

WITH the Yuletide season here, feasting is in the air. And expect another binge when Chinese New Year comes around.

But for some parents whose children are allergic to foods like milk or nuts, such festive times are not always jolly. They worry about what their children may eat while visiting friends.