On Episode 6 of the Science Dispatch Podcast, ACSH contributor Susan Goldhaber explains the genetic underpinnings of Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease affecting some 2.5 million Americans—including Jada Pinkett Smith. Now that Will Smith's so-called "slap heard 'round the world" has faded from the headlines, let's discuss the science behind the infamous Oscar meltdown.
We then examine fiber's exaggerated health benefits and the anti-GMO movement's descent into obscurity.
Join ACSH director of bio-sciences Cameron English and Susan Goldhaber as they break down this story:
When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars for making a joke about his wife’s bald head, it brought attention to a disease that is often invisible, misunderstood, or treated as a punchline for jokes: alopecia areata. What is this disease? Why does it create such intense feelings that Will Smith lost all control on stage in front of millions?
Part Two
Dr. Chuck Dinerstein then joins the show to discuss a study challenging the nutritional benefits of fiber and the end of the GMO debate:
We know from many studies that there is an inverse association between our intake of dietary fiber and the development of cardiovascular disease. The mechanism joining fiber to cardiovascular disease is thought to be mediated by INFLAMMATION! A new study strongly suggests that it is time to give that hypothesis a rest – as always, it is more complicated and unclear.
The world isn't scared of biotechnology the way it once was, which prompts an intriguing question: Is the "GMO debate" finally over? The answer may be "yes."
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