5 Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 12

1. And the Peace Prize Goes To: Three women who exemplify how it's possible to rise above adversity and make the world a more peaceful place. Peace Prizes were awarded Saturday to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia; Leymah Gbowee, Liberian activist; and Yemeni journalist and activist Tawakkol Karman are joint recipients of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, recognized "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work."

2. Bad Rap for Rats? A new University of Chicago study suggests that rats have gotten a bad rap.   When given a choice between a treat or helping a fellow rat escape from a peril, test rats more often chose to liberate a rodent in need. “This is the first evidence of helping behavior triggered by empathy in rats,” said researcher Jean Decety, professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Chicago. So next time someone does you wrong, just don't be calling them a "dirty rat."

3. Christmas Gift Wrap Up: Parents, caregivers, and kids of all ages are invited to drop in to the Nashua Public Library Tuesday with their holiday gifts. Your NPL staff will provide you with everything you need to wrap up the gift-giving season. Event runs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Children's Room.  

4. Cookie Dough Nibblers, Beware: A new study released by the Centers for Disease Control suggests that prepackaged cookie dough should not be eaten raw, due to risks of E.Coli. The authors noted that young women and teenage girls were most likely to eat raw prepackaged cookie dough, often buying it with no intention of actually making cookies. Raise your hand if you've been there, done that.

5. Born Today: You share a birthday with Frank Sinatra (96); Dionne Warwick (71); and Sheila E. (54). (Make sure to check out our video tribute to today's birthday trio.)