A drug called synthetic marijuana is now hitting pockets of New York City very hard. Don t let the name fool you. It has little or nothing to do with pot. It is far more dangerous -- and legal.

People who have had chickenpox are at risk for shingles an extremely painful condition that usually appears in older adults. It can be prevented by a vaccine. But now that shot is only recommended for people over the age of 60. Is this a reasonable restriction?

Beginning in 1976, the American Council on Science and Health began clarifying the difference between a health threat and a health scare. A recent write-up reminds the public about this important difference, and pays homage to one of our founders.

A recent survey concludes that teen e-cigarette use leads to nicotine addiction and then cigarette smoking, but the conclusion doesn't necessarily match the data.

Does showering hurt your health? A Cambridge, MA company believes that taking a shower harms your microbiome, so it's developed a new probiotic spray to use in lieu of regular washing. One executive embraces this idea so strongly that he hasn't showered in over a decade.

Is it a smart food choice? Or is it just another fad like many weight loss miracle pills, powders and martini diets?

Ever wonder if mom loves the kids or the dog more? Well the federal government was curious too so they wasted your tax money trying to find out.

HIV drugs have performed in ways that are nothing short of miraculous. Of the 673 HIV-negative gay men in San Francisco who participated in a study of the prophylactic efficacy of Gilead's Truvada, all 673 remained uninfected two years later, despite lower condom use by gay men. Amazing. Gilead also came up with the first cure for hepatitis C. Yet, the company is routinely demonized.

The fight for polio eradication has been making a lot of progress recently but there is unfortunate news this week from the Ukraine: 2 new cases have popped up in the country.

Budtender, can I get another? Marijuana bars are all the rage at young weddings.