A new study finds that an affectionate work environment boosts teamwork and job satisfaction and leads to less burnout and absenteeism. A forthcoming article in the Harvard Business Review looks at the research by Mandy O’Neil (George Mason University). And: A young husband and wife explain how they turned to bicycling to lose weight and gain fitness. Donald and Kelly Sorah (University of Virginia at Wise) have lost nearly 300 pounds together. Plus: With people living longer, more adult children are caring for their aging parents. Sarah Gilbert (Radford University) gives long-term planning tips for this period in our lives.

Later in the show: Horses and humans have long interacted, but now therapeutic horse riding is helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in some life-changing ways. Kim Wendell (Cori Sikich Therapeutic Riding Center) and Sandra Ward (College of William and Mary) were part of a study that found the benefits of riding carried over to more positive behaviors in the classroom. Also featured: Today on an iPhone or iPod there is an app for almost any facet of living. Tony Gentry (Virginia Commonwealth University) modifies apps to help employees with autism work more productively in their jobs. And: Inspired by her young daughter’s battle with a blood disorder, engineer Rasha Morsi (Norfolk State University) developed a game app called Blood Feud that encourages kids in hospitals to understand and fight their illnesses.