ACSH Science Dispatch
By ACSH
ACSH Science DispatchNov 14, 2022
Skin Cancer, Sunburns And Sunscreen—Just The Facts
Which is more dangerous, sunscreen or the sun itself? Should we just wear sun-protective clothing instead? As summer approaches, let's examine the latest research and separate sun facts from myths before heading to the beach.
Pesticides, Parkinson's And The Messy Influence Of Genetics
Tort lawyers regularly bring litigation against pesticide companies alleging that their products cause devastating diseases. Of course, our genetic makeup profoundly influences our risk for certain medical conditions, including those allegedly caused by pesticide exposure. Yet this reality rarely gets the attention it deserves in court. Let's take a closer look at the science the lawyers would rather ignore.
Deadly Microplastics In Your Arteries? Not So Fast
Microplastics are everywhere, including in your arteries, and they heighten your heart attack risk! So declared a slew of recent headlines reporting on a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Let's examine all the science reporters ignored in their rush to get hyperbolic stories out the door.
Skipping Meals Restores Your Youth? The Science Behind Fasting
A recent study found that controlled periods of fasting could hold the key to unlocking a longer, healthier life. Do we finally have evidence that skipping meals reverses aging, or is the situation more complicated than that?
AI In Medicine—Who's To Blame When Things Go Wrong?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an increasingly prominent role in modern life, medicine included. While the technology promises to improve health care in many ways, it also carries potentially serious risks. That raises a critical question: when AI harms patients, who's responsible?
Join Cameron English and Dr. Barbara Billauer on Episode 70 of the Science Dispatch podcast as they discuss AI in medicine with Stanford Law professor Michelle Mello:
Could This FDA-Approved Treatment Silence Tinnitus?
Tinnitus–a vexing ringing in one or both of your ears not caused by external sound–impacts some 740 million adults globally. A recently FDA-approved treatment appears poised to help many of these patients reduce the severity of their symptoms and thereby boost their quality of life. Let's take a closer look at this therapy to find out how it works.
Prohibition Absurdity—Drug Warriors Take Opioids From Terminal Cancer Patients
The standard argument for restricting patient access to pain medications is that these drugs frequently lead to addiction. A large body of research contradicts that claim, though it's doubly absurd when directed at people afflicted by terminal (and often very painful) illnesses. They sometimes have only weeks or months to live, yet they're denied pain medicine in the name of fighting opioid dependence. Such absurdity has to stop.
Dr. Paul Offit: Lessons Learned From COVID-19
Unlike other public health emergencies, the COVID-19 pandemic had unmistakably partisan overtones. Politics exerted an unhealthy influence on how governments, scientists, reporters and ordinary Americans responded as SARS-CoV-2 swept across the world and upended our lives for the better part of four years. What went wrong and what can we learn from it? Dr. Paul Offit joins us to answer those critical questions.
Fraudulent Research Threatens Scientific Progress
The Bible of science–the body of peer-reviewed literature–is increasingly filled with dubious and even fraudulent research. Most academics openly recognize the threat this poses to scientific progress, though viable solutions to academic fraud are sorely lacking. How do we address this critical problem?
Join Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein on Episode 66 of the Science Dispatch podcast as they examine the growing problem of scientific fraud:
Far too many scientific papers are being retracted from prestigious scientific journals because scientists fabricated or falsified data. Although no one defends scientific fraud, few recognize its long-lasting impacts on governmental policy and society.
Listen Up! The Surprising Link Between Zinc and Hearing Loss
Loud noises and...trace minerals? Let's break down a new study examining an important contributor to age-related hearing loss. Spoiler alert: stocking up on zinc supplements is not the solution.
Join Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein on Episode 65 of the Science Dispatch podcast as they examine the science of preserving hearing:
Hearing loss, frequently due to exposure to loud noises, is a significant health problem. Its biological underpinning may well be due to what we consider a trace mineral: zinc.
Porn Is Probably Bad For You. Here's The Science
NPR recently lost its nerve over the realization that some men are giving up internet porn, fearing this "masturbation abstinence" trend is a gateway to radical right-wing politics. The media should be more interested in the potentially serious health impacts of porn itself.
Risks and Benefits of Legal Marijuana
The FDA has proposed changing the classification of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. What impacts could this regulatory status change have on public health and drug regulation around the US? Let's take a look.
Corrupt Assault On Opioids Harms Cancer Patients
Do opioids effectively control moderate-to-severe cancer pain? A recent review of the evidence says yes, though the press release for the study says otherwise, its headline declaring that the efficacy of opioids against cancer pain remains "unclear." Both statements can't be true, so which one is false?
Six-Step Liver Cleanse? Debunking "Doctor" Josh Axe's Bad Nutrition Advice
Like all natural health matchstick men, Josh Axe is a supplement hustler and champion of bad nutritional advice. On Episode 61 of the Science Dispatch podcast, hosts Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein sit down with ACSH contributor Katie Suleta to examine one of Axe's latest cons: a six-step "liver cleanse."
Tylenol Plus Advil Equals Exploitation; Phony Pesticide Scares
Pharma companies have taken to combining over-the-counter drugs into the same pill or bottle and charging higher prices. There's little evidence this marketing practice benefits anybody but said pharma companies. There's a new pesticide scare loose in the headlines: the weedkiller paraquat allegedly causes Parkinson's Disease. It's a phony scandal cooked up by activists and trial lawyers.
Awkward Facts About Electric Cars; The Science Of Bidets
Electric vehicles (EV) have been hailed as our gateway out of fossil fuel "addiction." But recent declines in EV sales driven by reliability issues have raised tough questions about the future of this once-celebrated technology.
It's an age-old question: bidet or no bidet? Let's see if science can bring clarity to this contentious debate.
Wegovy, Ozempic—The Unintended Effects. Why Only Some People Wear Masks
The blockbuster weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic have helped many patients rapidly slim down. But these powerful pharmaceuticals could have unintended consequences we may not be ready for. What motivates people to wear masks? Post COVID, researchers are finally beginning to find some answers.
Derek Chauvin's 'Excited Delirium' Defense; Will 10,000 Steps Make You Fit?
Was Derek Chauvin's use of force against George Floyd justified? His attorney said yes, pointing to a controversial syndrome known as "excited delirium" to explain Floyd's frenzied behavior while in custody. Does this defense withstand scientific scrutiny?
10,000 steps: it's a magic threshold often used to pinpoint fitness, but there's little evidence behind this popular idea.
Senators Don't Understand Opioid Use (Or Math). Body Parts For Sale?
If you needed further evidence that politicians don't understand the fentanyl crisis they helped to create, Senator Joe Manchin has you covered. We already sell some body fluids in select circumstances; will the day come when we sell body parts to the highest bidder?
'Health Coaching' is a Scam; the Latest on COVID Boosters
The 'wellness' industry has birthed yet another scam: health coaching. Usually lacking any medical or scientific training, health coaches will charge you a king's ransom for useless and arguably harmful advice. Buyer beware. The CDC says everyone six months and older needs COVID boosters. Here's what the data show.
'Non-GMO' Labels Don't Make Food Safer; Airhead Actress Peddles Useless 'Natural' Tylenol
A teenager died recently after taking the "One Chip Challenge," eating Paqui's uber-spicy tortilla chip and going as long as possible without eating or drinking anything else. The cause of death remains unclear. But there's an interesting lesson here about the uselessness of "non-GMO" food labels. Actress Jessica Biel sells all-natural Tylenol—which is identical to plain ole' Tylenol. Another case of dubious health marketing? Yep.
Trouble With Rapid Drug Tests; Fabricating COVID-19 Health 'Disparities'
Roadside drug tests are unreliable, so why are they so widely used in the US? Researchers who make "health disparities" the focus of their work sometimes misrepresent their results. Here's a textbook example from a study that used pulse oximetry to measure disparities in COVID treatment.
Good News About Flu Shots; The Sudafed PE Debacle
Flu shots perform inconsistently because it's hard to anticipate which strains of the virus will be circulating in a given year. So far in 2023, it appears that the latest round of vaccines are working well.
The FDA has determined that Sudafed PE doesn't work. Questions and accusations are flying as a result: why were we sold a useless decongestant in the first place? And more importantly, who's to blame for this public health blunder?
Tylenol, The Useless Analgesic? Suing Doctors For Spreading COVID 'Misinformation'
Evidence suggests that Tylenol isn't an effective pain reliever in many cases, so why do doctors rely on it post-surgery? When it comes to treating and discussing COVID-19, do doctors have the right to speak freely, even when they dissent from accepted medical wisdom?
Charging Doctors With Manslaughter; Science Journalists As Paid Political Hacks
In the wake of hurricane Katrina in 2005, a physician was charged with manslaughter for administering morphine and another drug to patients who couldn't leave the hospital during the disaster. Was she alleviating their pain and anxiety or trying to kill them? Many news outlets are paid to slant their science coverage. How did that happen?
New COVID Surge Coming? Raw Oysters Are Gross—And Possibly Dangerous
Some indicators suggest that we're in for a potentially serious fall COVID surge. How fearful should we be? On a lighter note, are you risking your health every time you eat raw oysters? Maybe not, but at least one scientist thinks this particular seafood is "gross."
Synthetic Embryos coming soon? 'Painkiller': Netflix's Dreadful Opioid Miniseries
Recent breakthroughs in stem-cell research have raised the prospect of one day "breeding" humans and growing organs in a lab. How realistic are these scenarios? Netflix just released an embarrassing miniseries about the opioid epidemic. Let's take a closer look at the show's claims.
IARC's Defective Aspartame-Cancer Study; In Defense of 'Ultra-Processed' Food
The International Agency for Research on Cancer's (IARC) conclusion that the sweetener aspartame "possibly" causes cancer is definitely stupid. You can eat a diet consisting of 91 percent 'ultra-processed' food and be healthy, according to a new study. Let's take a closer look.
BMI Is Racist? No, CDC, Men Can't Breastfeed
The American Medical Association claims the body mass index (BMI) is "white supremacist" medicine, and the CDC says men can breastfeed babies. The public health establishment seems to have lost its grip on reality. How did this happen?
AI's Growing (And Possibly) Harmful Impact On Medicine; Yes, Pop-Tarts Are Food
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role in health care. It could lower costs and streamline patient interactions—but the technology has a dark side, too. Critics of "ultra-processed" food often claim that certain snacks aren't even food. Let's debunk this myth, with a special focus on Pop-Tarts.
Sucralose-Cancer Hysteria, Debunked; Time For Climate Change Reparations?
A new health scare is brewing as reporters speculate about the cancer risk of consuming the sweetener sucralose. Is there any evidence behind the panic? No. A team of scientists recently argued that it's time for developed nations to pay reparations for causing climate change. Let's take a critical look at their claims.
Cannabis Causes Schizophrenia? Not So Fast; Pfizer's Weight Loss Drug v. Ozempic
A recent study linking marijuana use to schizophrenia attracted widespread attention. Now that the excitement has died down, let's take a closer look at the science. How does Pfizer's weight-loss pill compare to Ozempic, the obesity treatment beloved celebrities the world over?
Join host Cameron English as he sits down with Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on Episode 43 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
Within the timeframe of the legalization of recreational cannabis, there's been a rise in cannabis “use disorder” and the diagnosis of schizophrenia. It's become a chicken or egg which-came-first problem. A new study suggests cannabis is the gateway, creating 15% of new cases of schizophrenia annually.
If you're one of the 100% of viewers who want to put a brick through your TV when one of the ceaseless, nauseating Ozempic ads comes on there's hope on the horizon. Pfizer has a pill that seems to work as well as the O-O-O-Ozempic injections. Perhaps this will shut up those wretched ads. A look at Pfizer's clinical trial data.
Danger of Tylenol In Opioids; J&J Drug Could Undo Liver Damage—Caused By Its Tylenol
Cutting the dose of Tylenol in opioids makes the drugs safer. Why? Pharma company J&J is developing a drug that could reduce liver damage caused by Tylenol—which J&J also sells. Join host Cameron English as he sits down with Dr. Josh Bloom to break down these stories on Episode 42 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
Lost in the discussion of the alleged danger of opioid medications is that most of them also contain acetaminophen (Tylenol). Although acetaminophen is generally seen as benign, it is not. Here is what happened when the FDA cut the maximum acetaminophen dose to 325 mg. You may be surprised.
Johnson & Johnson is working on a drug to repair liver damage caused by Tylenol, which has made the company billions since it was launched in 1955. Isn't this a bit like having a dentist's office in the back of a candy store?
Can COVID Improve Vaccine Development? California's Nonsensical Chemical Bans
Dr. Tony Fauci, former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently acknowledged that the COVID shots didn't perform as well as public health experts hoped they would. What can policymakers learn from this controversial analysis? California is poised to ban five commonly used chemicals under the guise of protecting children. There's no science to justify the legislation.
Join host Cameron English as he sits down with Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on Episode 41 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
Dr. Fauci, speaking on vaccinations: “Past unsuccessful attempts to elicit solid protection against mucosal respiratory viruses [COVID-19] and to control the deadly outbreaks and pandemics they cause," he said, "have been a scientific and public health failure that must be urgently addressed.” That's a lot to unpack.
A bill recently introduced in the California State Assembly would prohibit five chemicals: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, polyparaben, red dye #3, and titanium dioxide – all banned in Europe – from food products in California. Let’s dig past the headline.
America's Troublesome Adderall Shortgage; EPA's Nonsensical PFAS Water Standards
A concerning shortage of Adderall, one of the drugs commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is putting patients at risk. What caused it, and how can we fix it? The EPA has set new guidelines to keep PFAS out of drinking water. There's a problem, however: the agency's standards are absurd.
Join host Cameron English as he sits down with Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on Episode 40 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
The shortage of Adderall, an important medication used to treat ADHD – attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder – is a story of supply, demand, the invisible hand of market forces. It’s also about a bureaucracy focused on regulation rather than outcome. It has all the hallmarks of the opioid crisis. We have learned nothing.
With much fanfare, the EPA announced the proposed drinking water regulations for two “forever chemicals,” PFOA and PFOS. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said, “Communities across the country have suffered far too long from the ever-present threat of PFAS pollution. That is why President Biden launched a whole-of-government approach to aggressively confront these harmful chemicals, and EPA is leading the way forward.”
Masks Prevent COVID? A Friendly Debate; Don't Fall For Misinformation About Misinformation
Does masking reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2? The Cochrane Collaboration tried to analyze the messy evidence around that question and re-ignited an incendiary political debate. What conclusion should we draw from their findings? There's lots of misinformation out there; there's also rampant misinformation about that misinformation. Don't be fooled by either of them.
Join host Cameron English as he sits down with Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on Episode 39 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
The ability of masks, especially high-quality ones, to prevent the transmission of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, is incontrovertible, but some commentators have come unglued on the subject.
The misinformation about the 2016 and 2020 elections and the misinformation about COVID’s origins and treatments are responsible for our disarray. That, at least, is what many of us believe, even though what is “disarrayed” differs quite a bit between MSNBC and FOX. Is misinformation so powerful that it overcomes the truth? Or is there something about human behavior that makes misinformation seem more powerful than truth? A new study suggests the fault lies more within us than “in our stars.”
'Woke' Policies Harm Public Health? FDA's Silly 'Healthy' Food Labels
Social justice advocates continue to demand that professions like medicine become more 'diverse.' Critics contend this development could bring unqualified physicians into the profession and jeopardize public health. Should we be worried? The FDA wants to label certain foods in the grocery store "healthy." It's an awful idea. Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on Episode 38 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
In the name of "social justice, "unqualified candidates are being admitted into professions as diverse and important as medicine and law. This policy may satisfy demands to make the these fields more diverse and equitable, but it also puts public health and our broader society at risk in a variety of ways.
"Claims like 'healthy' on food labels can provide information to consumers to help them identify healthier food choices at a glance. Foods must meet specific nutrient-related criteria to use the nutrient content claim 'healthy.'” So begins the FDA’s quest to label what is healthy and what is not. Good luck with that fool’s errand.
Erythritol Probably Doesn't Cause Heart Disease; Dietary Supplements Can Kill
Panicked headlines recently warned that the popular artificial sweetener erythritol could increase heart-disease risk. The study that generated these claims in no way supports that possibility. Dietary supplements are a multi-billion-dollar industry; they've also killed people. Do they need more regulatory oversight?
Join host Cameron English as he sits down with Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on Episode 37 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
“Artificial sweeteners have been widely introduced into the food chain … ” While perhaps helpful in reducing weight, could they unintentionally promote poorer cardiovascular outcomes? A new Cleveland Clinic study suggests yes. But that yes comes with a great deal of uncertainty.
Many herbal dietary supplements are complex, highly variable, impure, and unsafe. They need better oversight.
Tylenol After Surgery Is Useless; CVS Sued For Selling Homeopathic 'Remedies'
Drug store conglomerate CVS displays real pain relievers next to useless homeopathic "remedies." A lawsuit could put an end to that marketing practice. Will Tylenol alleviate severe pain? It will not, yet patients are routinely given the drug after major surgery. Thank your congressman for such insanity.
Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Josh Bloom to break down these stories on episode 36 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
The Center For Inquiry, a non-profit group with a similar mindset to ACSH, has filed lawsuits against Walmart and CVS for putting homeopathic "remedies" on shelves next to actual over-the-counter drugs – as if to suggest that they are of equal effectiveness. They are not. Such a placement is unethical at best and maybe even fraudulent. Here's why.
When government, politicians, and law enforcement take control of the practice of medicine this is what we get: Cruelty and incompetence. The next time you're given Tylenol for a broken leg or post-surgical pain you'll understand.
Peer-Reviewed' Science Ain't So Scientific; Alcohol and Cancer Risk In Context
Peer-review is supposed to keep sloppy and fraudulent research out of academic journals. Sadly, the process fails all too frequently. What can we do to prevent further corruption of our science publications? Consumers often avoid supposedly harmful chemicals to reduce their cancer risk—then they drink alcohol, a well-known carcinogen, without a second thought. Why?
Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on episode 35 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
"Peer review" of scientific articles before publication is often considered the "gold standard" of reliability, but its luster has become tarnished by greed – the desire of the research community to tap into research funds, the pressure on scientists to publish or perish, and publishers of scientific journals seeking to maximize profits.
Thanks largely to the press and some radical environmental groups most people are terrified of chemicals because they can give us cancer. Almost all of these scares are bogus, but one that isn't is a beloved chemical – alcohol. Unlike a diet soda, a glass of alcohol poses a legitimate risk.
Solving America's Drug Shortage; Biden's Bioeconomy Plan—A Bureaucratic Mess
America is facing a critical shortage of many medically important drugs. The good news? There's a simple solution if we're willing to implement it. The Biden Administration is poised to invest billions of dollars in America's "bioeconomy." Will this really boost the US biotech sector, or just waste valuable resources that should be spent elsewhere?
Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Henry Miller to break down these stories on episode 34 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
Shortages of widely prescribed drugs are endemic in the U.S. To address the problem, we need a policy change that would enable overseas manufacturers to sell products in the U.S. that already have received marketing approval from certain foreign governments with standards comparable to ours and vice versa. In other words, there should be reciprocity of drug approvals.
The Biden Administration's attempt to boost the "bioeconomy" is burdened with bureaucratic requirements and busy-work initiatives and projects. It will fail.
What Everyone Got Wrong About Gas Stoves; Smoking Pot Causes Asthma?
Now that the political drama around gas stoves has waned, it's time to discuss the science. Here's what all the talking heads got wrong. Does secondhand weed smoke cause asthma? Maybe, though the most recent study cited as evidence isn't all that rigorous. Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on episode 33 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) recently concluded that gas stoves have polluted our indoor spaces. So polluted that “more than 12% of current childhood asthma cases in the US can be attributed to gas stove use.” Could that be true? Only if you believe in Mathmagic.
Asthma is a significant disease; among children, the prevalence is between 7 and 11%. The exacerbation of asthma by second-hand tobacco smoke is well documented, but as smoking tobacco has declined, smoking wacky weed has increased. What effect has this second-hand smoke had on “the children?”
Sweden's COVID Response; Eco-Doomsday Is Cancelled
Sweden garnered both intense criticism and high praise for its conservative pandemic response. How did the country's COVID-19 outcomes compare to those of the US and other countries? From deforestation to climate change and pollution, headline after headline warns that we're rapidly destroying our planet. These scandalous assertions are out of step with the latest evidence.
Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on episode 32 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
Sweden has been the poster child of the live-free-or-die, no-lockdown crowd. The Great Barrington Declaration has its roots in the Swedish response. But beyond those snippets, what actually took place there? It is time for many of us, including myself, to find out.
Dreary, despondent headlines about pollution and climate change are the norm. But they are not painting an accurate picture. Many countries are making serious efforts to protect the environment. Human ingenuity is the ultimate resource.
C. Everett Koop—A Rebel Public Health Official?
Former surgeon general C. Everett Koop was a towering figure in the world of public health. A pediatric surgeon with deeply held religious convictions, Koop was an iconoclast willing to challenge the accepted wisdom of both major political parties when their platforms contradicted the evidence. What could public health officials today learn from Koop's example?
Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Chuck Dinerstein and ACSH contributor Barbara Pfeffer Billauer to break down these stories on episode 31 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
The recipe for good public health policy is like a souffle—simple ingredients combined in a complex manner. Done well, it’s a delight. Heavy-handed, using sour (outdated) ingredients, it’s a mess, even toxic.
Everett Koop was a man of morals. A religious man who read the bible. He was also a man of science. He got his job through politics. Yet he knew how to keep these forces separate. Nowhere was this more apparent than in his pushback against political pressures to oppose abortion on health grounds and to educate the populace about AIDS and tobacco use.
Baby Food Doesn't Cause Autism; Swearing Might Be Good For you
Heavy metals in baby food do not cause autism. Listen in as we discuss the evidence. Dropping an F-bomb now and again might confer an important health benefit, according to recent research. Do we finally have a scientific justification for the use of colorful language?
Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Chuck Dinerstein and ACSH contributor Susan Goldhaber to break down these stories on episode 30 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
Swearing – defined as speaking “specific, negatively charged, and often emotionally loaded terms” – violates our norms of both the sacred and profane. While polite society often reflects on swearing’s negatives, it turns out that there are some health benefits for the sender (but not the receiver).
I almost drove off the road listening to an ad from a law firm urging parents with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to be part of a lawsuit suing baby food manufacturers for causing their child’s condition. According to the ad, the question of what causes ASD has been settled and what remains is for parents to get what is owed them from baby food manufacturers that have been hiding the truth from the public for years.
Marijuana—Worse Than We Thought? The Benefits (And Risks) Of Weight-Loss Drugs
A recent study found that marijuana smoke may cause emphysema. The problem? The study was complete garbage. Celebrities and social-media "influencers" are hyping the weight-loss benefits of repurposed diabetes drugs. Should these medicines really be used to slim down? It's complicated.
Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Chuck Dinerstein to break down these stories on episode 29 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
“In a new analysis of medical records, cannabis smokers had higher rates of a certain type of emphysema than tobacco smokers.” It's another attention-grabbing headline that fails to tell the whole story. Let’s skip the public relations version and consider the study's findings.
Ozempic, a drug indicated for Type 2 diabetes, has become the latest weight-loss darling. Not since ivermectin has a drug gained so much interest from its off-label uses. Let’s take a deeper look at the science and a regulatory conundrum.
Everyone's Wrong About COVID 'Amnesty'; Smart Water—A Beverage For Dummies
A ferocious debate ensued over Emily Oster's recent call in the Atlantic for COVID "amnesty." Everybody in the dispute is wrong. Should you drink Smart Water? Only if you're "dumb," says our resident chemist.
Join host Cameron English as he sits down Dr. Chuck Dinerstein and Dr. Josh Bloom to break down these stories on episode 28 of the Science Dispatch podcast:
Emily Oster, an economist and popular author on the real facts of parenting, suggested that it was time for a COVID amnesty. There was a quick, demonstrative, and at times, angry response from many sources. I have studied acknowledging, correcting, and atoning for medical mistakes, including my own, for decades. Here is what I am thinking.
If you watch TV, ads for Coca-Cola's Smart Water are inescapable. Also inescapable is that the ads suggest that the stuff will make you smart or perhaps offer some other health benefit. But the only thing smart about Smart Water is Coca-Cola's ability to make you shell out money to buy something you could pretty much get from a fire hydrant in Newark.
Remembering The Alar Scare; NYT Should Stop Targeting Scientists
30 years ago, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) launched a PR campaign against a plant-growth regulator called Alar, effectively eliminating use of the chemical in agriculture. What's the legacy of this infamous anti-chemical scare? The New York Times continues to attack good scientists on the say-so of environmental groups. The paper is trashing its credibility.
Join our directors of bio-sciences and medicine, Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein, as they break down these stories on episode 27 of the Science Dispatch podcast.
Meryl Streep, a proud Vassar grad, recently received a Distinguished Alumni Award from her alma mater. But rather than stress her stellar career as an actor, she discussed an earlier moment as a citizen-scientist. “Once you know how to search out and credit the facts around certain problems, you are called on by your conscience to act on them. The Vassar conscience rings a bell in your head; it’s a call to action in your heart.” The problem? Alar.
The New York Times has again attacked an upstanding scientist based on claims made by duplicitous activist groups. This episode illustrates why the public's trust in media is plummeting.
Dr. Dinerstein's Near-Death Experience; Unregulated Medical Devices; Cleveland Clinic's Anti-Vaping Nonsense
"It can disappear in a moment," Dr. Chuck Dinerstein said after his near-fatal battle with a pulmonary embolism. How should our mortality influence our worldviews? Unregulated medical devices may put patients in harm's way. Why is the Cleveland Clinic parroting anti-vaping talking points from the Truth Initiative?
Join ACSH directors of bio-sciences and medicine, Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein, as they break down these stories on episode 26 of the Science Dispatch podcast.
Last week I stopped breathing. If it was not for my wife, who gave me some breaths, and the village of people who subsequently cared for me, we would be speaking through a Ouija Board.
Sepsis is an overwhelming infection: bacterial, viral, or fungal. It requires immediate medical attention and intervention. EPIC, the company with the largest share of the electronic medical records market, developed an algorithm to help physicians timely identify at-risk patients. An independent study shows that it is not helpful. Is this healthcare’s 737Max moment?
The Cleveland Clinic, one of the world's foremost academic medical centers, has jumped on the anti-vaping bandwagon, perpetuating unfiltered nonsense about the health effects of nicotine.
Could Marijuana Send You To The ER?
In the wake of legalization campaigns across the US, medicinal and recreational use of cannabis have gained widespread support, with nearly 60 million Americans reporting use of marijuana in 2020. The drug is thought to pose minimal risk while offering a number of potential medical benefits. Nevertheless, there can be significant health risks associated with cannabis use. Just as we openly discuss the harms associated with alcohol, tobacco, and, opioids, so too should we discuss the downsides of cannabis use, argues Dr. Roneet Lev.
Ronnet Lev is a nationally acclaimed medical expert and speaker who continues to treat patients in the emergency department. She is dually board-certified in emergency and addiction medicine, bringing over 25 years of experience treating frontline cases of addiction.