Public Health & Epidemiology
The links between viruses and Alzheimer’s were dismissed for years – but evidence is building
An independent researcher looks into why there's such strong opposition to her research.
How meth and fentanyl homogenized the illegal drug supply
The larger truth on the streets is that no one uses just one drug anymore.
COVID origin case reopened: A lab leak is a legitimate question
Three years after the pandemic began, we still don't know the origin of COVID. A strange lack of curiosity has stifled the debate.
Red meat is not a health risk. New study slams years of shoddy research
Years of shoddy research have overstated the risk.
Oxytocin improves memory in mice with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms
The "love hormone" might be an unexplored treatment for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
Humans are 8% virus. Here’s why that matters.
About 8% of our genome is made of leftover viruses from our ancestors' infections.
Science destroys its credibility by embracing critical theory
The acceptance of fashionable nonsense is a threat to Enlightenment values and public health.
How the brain’s vagus nerve tastes sugar in the gut
The key to curbing sugar intake may lie in the gut rather than our tastebuds.
Are “green” cleaners really less toxic than traditional products?
Based on product labeling claims, scientists hypothesized that green cleaners were less toxic. They were wrong.
How horseshoe crab blood became one of the most valuable liquids in medicine
The crabs' blue blood contains an ancient immune defense mechanism that has helped save countless human lives.
Acne is a “disease of Western civilization.” Is overwashing to blame?
People living in non-industrialized societies don't get pimples.
Why are some people mosquito magnets and others unbothered?
A medical entomologist points to metabolism, body odor, and mindset.
ARPA-H: High-risk, high-reward health research is the mandate of new US agency
The new agency wants to push the boundaries of science and technology.
What’s causing the alarming rise in cancer for adults under 50?
Certain cancers are striking earlier than they used to.
Defying science, American parents are turning away from male circumcision
"Our risk-benefit analysis showed that benefits exceeded procedural risks... by up to 200 to 1."
A surprisingly strong link between altitude and suicide in the U.S.
Living at a higher elevation is a double-edged sword.
Too much salt, too little water: Surprising reasons behind the obesity epidemic
Salt causes a dehydration-like state that encourages the conversion of the starch in the french fry to fructose.
5 drugs that changed the world (and what went wrong)
Before anesthetics, some patients would die of the pain on the operating table.
How scientists can root out flimsy research and fake data
Is it deliberate fraud or just bad research?
Researchers may have created a universal coronavirus vaccine
The antibodies elicited by the "S2 vaccine" not only neutralize COVID's multiple strains but also coronaviruses that cause the common cold.
Man unable to “see” numbers after suffering rare brain disease
He couldn't identify the numbers 2 through 9. But strangely, he could still see ones and zeros.
Want white teeth? Ditch your toothbrush
When scientists tested this hydrogel on mice, they had cleaner teeth than most humans.
Oxford scientists develop a cheap nasal spray that cuts COVID risk by 62%
It’s simple to make, easy to use, and should work against any variant.
Misinformation abounds because “trusted” sources promote untrustworthy information
Scientific journals, which are supposed to be the sacred scriptures of academia, are often full of shoddy research and misinformation.
A coming tidal wave: The opioid epidemic is about to get a whole lot worse
"This fourth wave will be worse than it’s ever been before."
Researchers discover how to improve eyesight naturally
The world is aging, and with age comes vision decline. New research may have found how to improve eyesight in an accessible way.
He lost his baby daughter. Then he turned his grief into a tool for NICU parents.
NicoBoard is an app that helps parents make sense of a frightening time.
Some viruses make people smell delicious to mosquitoes
The good news is that it can be countered with acne medication.
Why do so many American men die by suicide?
Most American men who die by suicide do not have any known history of mental health problems. So, what is to blame?