Checking account fees are going up as more and more banks are adding or raising fees. Whether you’re using an ATM or worried about overdraft charges, nearly all of the fees associated with your checking account are going up.

Last year, many banks were offering free checking accounts, no interest checking accounts and no fee checking accounts. However, these days there are few banks offering these special deals. Now, new checking accounts are loaded with fees.

According to Bankrate.com, less than half of new account offer free checking options.

About 45% of no interest checking accounts have no fees, down nearly 30% from the previous year.

However, many banks are also offering more options to allow people to avoid many of the typical fees by carrying a certain balance minimum and by using direct deposit of your paychecks or other income payments.

You may not see many signs offering free checking anymore, but savvy consumers can still take advantage of the options that allow you to avoid most fees. In fact, consumers who meet all financial requirements will still be able to take advantage of free checking.

Nearly 1/3 of no interest checking accounts now require a certain balance to maintain your no fee account.

A typical average balance for that purpose is nearly $600. That number is more than doubled from last year. People who don’t keep their minimum balance are subject to higher fees.

Monthly fees are also higher, with an average of nearly $5.00. ATM withdrawal fees are also reaching record highs, with an average of nearly $2.50.

In addition to rising fees, fees may also vary widely depending on what state and city you live in. Research has shown that people in San Diego, Denver, Seattle, Houston and New York paid higher ATM withdrawal fees than people in places like Chicago, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Tampa and Cincinatti.

Overdraft fees are also climbing to record highs, up to nearly $31. Overdraft fees were highest for people living in Denver, Houston and Miami.

Japanese rice that is grown near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has tested positive for radiation levels dangerously close to the limits of established safety levels.

On Saturday, officials in Tokyo announced they have ordered additional tests on rice crops that were grown near the plant.

Samples of rice crops grown in the area tested at a level of about 5 hundred becquerels per kilogram of the radioactive element of cesium.

Cesium leaked from the plant after it sustained heavy damage from the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11th 2011, off the coast of northeastern Japan.

A recent analysis of 10 medical research trials from Harvard Medical School indicates that people who incorporate cocoa and dark chocolate into their diets had reduced their overall cholesterol levels and their LDL cholesterol as well. No effect was found on HDL cholesterol levels or triglycerides.

Short term intake of cocoa and dark chocolate lowered cholesterol over 6 mg for each overall dl, and LDL cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol was also lowered an average of nearly 6 mg per dl.

The polyphenols and flavanols in cocoa and dark chocolate are pointed to as the reason for the health benefits for cholesterol levels.

Dark chocolate contains a flavanol called epicatechin, which is believed to be responsible for the benefits for overall health.

The research studies were conducted with dark chocolate and cocoa products that were rich in flavanols. In some studies, some study participants were given over 500 milligrams of cocoa or dark chocolate, while less was given to other participants.

After analysis of the 10 studies, researchers concluded that cocoa and dark chocolate products, specifically those that contained high amounts of flavanols and polyphenols had a significant positive effect on cholesterol levels.

It is thought that compounds in dark chocolate and cocoa help to reduce the absorption of cholesterol.

Researchers say that additional studies are called for, noting that the exact amount of dark chocolate and cocoa that reduced cholesterol is still not confirmed.

In other studies, dark chocolate and cocoa polyphenols showed positive benefits for brain health, skin, circulation and heart health.

No indication was given whether or not any of the studies used dairy products with the cocoa and dark chocolate. In other studies, the protein in milk and dairy products, called casein, binds to antioxidants, causing them to not be absorbed by the digestive system.

It is thought that only the chocolate and cocoa with the highest amount of cocoa is beneficial. Chocolate like milk chocolate or white chocolate contains none or very little of the beneficial compounds that reap health benefits.

A recent study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research has outlined new benefits derived from the natural nutrient resveratrol. The scientists concluded that the nutrient helps boost weight loss in the fight against obesity in aging people and is also involved in the prevention of osteoporosis.

Obesity is blamed for several health conditions including heart diseases, diabetes, cancer and in some extreme cases it can be fatal as well. Scientists have come up with several methods to fight obesity and the battle is still ongoing.

In the study, the scientists found that resveratrol acts alongside other phytochemicals like vitamin D and quercetin to help improve metabolism in the body. The compounds achieve this in the ageing population by reducing the production of fat cells in the body.

The body uses the fat cells to store crucial fat deposits, which are used during activities. However as the body ages and inactivity sets in, the body needs to have a way to reduce the production of the fat cells. Exercise is the commonest way of ensuring that the excess fats are not stored in the fat cells in ageing people.

In addition to fighting obesity in old age, the researchers also documented that the three phytochemicals help fight against osteoporosis. Most of the aged population suffers from osteoporosis and the findings of the researchers have been welcome in the scientific community.

The researchers wrote in the journal that quercetin, resveratrol and the vitamin from the sun boost the production of osteoblasts. In the body, osteoblasts can be described as the building blocks of the human bone. The presence of osteoblasts helps the bone to repair damages fast and prevent osteoporosis.

The new study adds to the numerous other benefits that are attributed to resveratrol. It is already known that the nutrient helps the body in the prevention of the growth of cancerous cells and tissues. Resveratrol also plays other vital roles in the body, previous studies have noted.

Resveratrol is available as a supplementary drug and health-conscious people are advised to combine it with other phytochemicals to achieve full benefits. The daily dose of resveratrol for an adult to boost his chances of weight-loss is 25 to 50 mg. The dose is also capable of taking care of the bones and improving the metabolism of the body.

In their conclusion, the researchers highlighted the benefits that can be derived from taking resveratrol supplements with other phytochemicals. The scientists added that the three phytochemicals have the potential to be an effective therapy tool.

The world leader in diamonds, DeBeers, says they expect the demand for diamonds, specifically rough diamonds to grow to record highs. The news comes on the heels of high demand for rough diamonds in the emerging markets of India and China.

With the global economy so volatile, some investors are looking at diamonds, as well as other precious metals and gems as a sort of safe-haven for their investments. Unlike some investments, you can hold precious metals and gems in your hand, making it appealing for those worried about their money.

Diamond demand in the United States is also increasing, at a rate of about 9% for the year, exceeding previous expectations.

Experts say that with investors increasingly passing up bonds and other stocks, gold and diamonds are seen as a way to diversify and shore up an investment portfolio.

Since the beginning of the year, diamonds have been a consistent performer as far as pricing is concerned. The steadily rising prices are seen as a result of less new mines being created. Lower cutting center inventories is also seen as a factor, in addition to the increasing demand for supply.

Diamond industry experts are also saying that diamond pricing and demand should continue to increase thanks to demand from buyers in China and India, with many buyers looking at the gems as investments but also as a status symbol of new found wealth. Demand in both China and India is predicted to grow by at least 10% year-to-year, possibly for the next 10 years.

The DeBeers company says they have produced over 35 million carats of diamonds in 2011, with nearly 40 million carats being sold,  both to investors and consumers.

Today’s Dr. Oz episode focused on the little known problem of arsenic in apple juice. The show would seem to be a big boost for companies selling organic apple juice.

The top organic apple juice and apple product makers are Eden Foods and R.W. Knudsen., both of which offer various organic apple juice products, including 100% apple juice that is not from concentrate.

The main arsenic in apple juice problems seem to lay in cheap juice box style apple juice which is given to children as snacks and in school lunches.

As Dr. Oz explained, the main problem stems from apple juice companies getting their apple juice concentrate  from growers in China. China has less regulations on the amount of pesticides and herbicides used on produce due to their not having an Environmental Protection Agency or similar governmental agency.

Water used in China has more arsenic than U.S. water and is used in processing the apples to concentrate. In addition, arsenic is a substance in both the pesticides and herbicides used in China. Lastly, the concentrate that comes from China and then combined with U.S. water, which also has a small amount of arsenic. This means that the apple juice your children drink, if it is imported from China, is exposed to arsenic several times, therefore the levels are much higher than U.S. grown and processed apple juice.

With the problem exposed, consumers may have a hand in changing the industry by buying organic apple juice, forcing non-organic sellers to clean up their arsenic problem.

Gold futures were seen as trading lower today, with some opting to take profits due to the recent all-time highs and strengthening dollar. Overall gold losses were muted today, thanks to the EU debt problems which are taking priority.

Some firms reported that gold weakened because of margin calls in other markets, which caused some to take money out of gold investments.

However, lower gold prices may not last long, with no shortage of people waiting to buy gold at perceived bargain prices.

Some investors expect gold to rocket once again, should the U.S. stock market become bearish.

In London, gold was nearing $1850. While many expect gold to reach above its previous high should the market slow again. In all, gold was down about $12 today in September 12^th market trading.

In European trading, gold futures were also affected by the stronger U.S. dollar, with December delivery rising .47%, making it down over $20, down to just under $1840 an ounce.

December silver futures rose .77%, falling over 60 cents, reaching just above $41 an ounce. October platinum futures fell nearly $30, making platinum just over $1807 an ounce.

The European debt problems also had an effect on crude futures, pushing them down to $86 a barrel for October delivery of sweet and light crude oil.

Two winners of the Nobel Prize have learned of a fundamental formula that would improve features of grapheme-made devices to use as photodetectors in upcoming high-speed visual communications.

Both scientist Kosta Novoselov, University of Manchester profession, and scientist Andre Geim, a University of Cambridge professor, learned that combining metallic nanostructures with graphene, they were able to harvest light 20-fold. This combination sets the path for improvements in high-speed Internet and other kinds of communications.

What they showed was this: by shining light onto two close-in-space metallic wires atop of graphene, electric power is generated. Essentially, it’s a simple solar cell. Thus, for applications, graphene-based technologies can be significantly faster (perhaps even 100 times faster) than communication rates in the quickest Internet cables. This is due to graphene’s inimitable nature of electronics, high velocity and high mobility.

There has been a drawback to the practical applications and these promising devices, which is currently their extremely low efficiency. Graphene is the world’s thinnest material and it soaks in just three percent of light without any contribution to electrical power.

However, the researchers dealt with problems of combining graphene and tiny metallic structures, which are placed on top of graphene.

These alleged plasmonic nanostructures have radically boosted the optical electrical field graphene feel and successfully concentrated light inside the one-atom dense carbon layer. The light-harvesting piece of the graphene was increased by 20 times thanks to the plasmonic enhancement. There was no sacrifice in speed. Thus, further improvement is likely to see greater efficiency.

Plasmonics expert Dr. Alexander Grigorenko said graphene seems like a possible companion for plasmonics. He said the researchers expected plasmonic nanostructures would improve the effectiveness of graphene-constructed devices. However, the dramatic improvement was a surprise, he said.

Novoselov said graphene production technology changes every day, which has an instant effect on two things:

- Kind of stimulating physics

- Possible applications’ range and viability

There are many electronics companies who believe graphene is the next step for devices, which boost its chances even more.

Graphene is an innovative two-dimensional material that’s perceived as a monolayer of carbon atoms sorted into a hexagonal lattice. It’s got several distinctive properties and is being used or considered in various new technologies.

UK scientists are hoping to change the way people protect their skin from harmful UV rays from the sun. As of right now, sunscreen is the surefire way to protect the skin. However, a sunscreen pill is being manufactured that could give users weeks of sunscreen protection.

The better sunscreen secret may be found under the world’s oceans and seas. Researchers are looking to rein in the natural defense of coral against the sun and create a pill for humans to use.

According to a recent report by the BBC, a King’s College London research team went to Great Barrier Reef in Australia to examine several samples of the Acropora coral, an endangered species. The researchers’ goal is to amalgamate the protective components of the coral. These components have not only protected the coral but the fish that eat off of it. They’ll first design a lotion version to test on skin. And, in time, develop a tablet form of sunscreen protection.

Human testing, according to the BBC, could start very soon.

There’s a strong possibility that the pill could be designed to also protect your eyes, not just your skin. The UK’s The Guardian reported the pill could be out within five years.

Using the seas to learn about clues for a better sunscreen is not a new notion. Scientists have learned how the natural antioxidant known as astaxanthin, which is seen in red ocean animals and plants, can reduce the damage from the sun. Based on the research, skin cancer patients can particularly benefit from it. There is a supplement form available; however, it’s recommended that persons use sunscreen along with it and limit their time outdoors in the sun.

Recent research reveals that dark chocolate (organic dark chocolate especially) can actually help in the promotion of good health. Until recently, no one knew what those specific benefits were. European Society of Cardiology Congress scientists announced chocolate can protect the body from both strokes and heart disease.

This news is good because, even though billions of dollars has been spent on the creation and production of medication and surgical interventions, the cardiovascular battle rages on and could use all the help it can get. By 2030, the World Health Organization predicts 23.6 million people will die annually from the disease.

Demand for a “no side effect, simple to produce medication that worked on slowing down and reducing the risk for heart disease development would certainly skyrocket, which is something that well-known pharmaceutical companies aim for. After all, the profits would be astronomical and these companies know it. There is no medication like that right now. However, chocolate has properties that pull off what pills can’t do… just yet!

An in-depth investigation into other research on chocolate was carried out by University of Cambridge’s Dr. Oscar Franco and his colleagues. The group looked at more than 100,000 participants both with heart disease and without it. They then looked the effects of chocolate consumption on cardiovascular events such as strokes and heart attacks.

For all seven studies, the team looked at and compared the group with the lowest consumption concentration of chocolate against the group that had the highest consumption concentration of chocolate. They found a 37 percent reduction of cardiovascular disease and nearly 30 percent reduction in strokes with the group with the highest consumption concentration of chocolate compared to the group that consumed the least chocolate.

Each study did not distinguish between milk and dark chocolate. It also included foods and drinks that have unhealthy fats, chemical additives and additional sugars in them. Of course, the research raised a good point about these foods and drinks: would there be even more benefits if these kinds of foods didn’t have all the extra ingredients?

The study’s authors warned people to interpret the findings with caution as chocolate that’s commercially available is packed with calories and consuming too much of it can cause weight gain and be harmful to the body. They did note that given the benefits, it would be worthwhile to look for ways to reduce the present amount of sugar and fat content in every chocolate product.