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There are so many risks to consider

The FDA’s re-analysis showed essentially what we already knew. There's a huge antibiotic effect in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia. The effect is the greatest when looking at the early response to antibiotic therapy, but is still large even when looking at later cure.

There are at least 24 different concepts of what constitutes a species. Unfortunately, politics plays a substantial role in the process.

Police-involved shootings, the cultural impact upon the "hard" sciences, urban planning gone awry, and stealthy enemies.

One of the great knocks on our healthcare system is that it emphasizes treatment over prevention. Frailty opens a window on alternate views of that distinction, and how we measure up. 

Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, is a patient’s subjective experience. For a long time, we thought that observable measurements, like the degree to which our blood was oxygenated, was consistent with that subjective experience. COVID-19 requires us to rethink those associations.

We have made amazing progress in the treatment of COVID-19. Two therapies – steroids and remdesivir – have already been shown to help. Those who benefit from these treatments owe thanks to patients who volunteered to participate in controlled clinical trials, and the physicians and pharmaceutical companies that lead them.

The world desperately awaits a COVID-19 vaccine, one that will stop the spread of this potentially deadly infection and hopefully allow us all to return to our pre-coronavirus lives. But there's no telling when a vaccine will be found -- if it will at all. With that, ACSH's Dr. Josh Bloom, who has decades of experience in drug discovery, believes that the best way forward for now involves use of antiviral drugs, a position he details as co-author of recent piece in the Baltimore Sun. His Op-Ed leads off our June media roundup, a compendium of news sources where ACSH has appeared over the last month.

The coronavirus has mutated to become more infectious. Does that mean it will become more or less lethal? And what implication does it have for a vaccine and herd immunity?

The Food and Drug Administration recently published an analysis of antibiotic development looking back over the last 40 years. In addition, the paper was accompanied by a compelling editorial. These papers are well worth reading and are highly recommended for everyone, whether they're familiar with antibiotic development or not. And most notably, the hubris of the FDA analysis is astounding.

While it remains popular to attribute the opioid‐​related overdose crisis to doctors prescribing pain relievers to patients, the evidence shows there is no correlation between prescription volume and non‐​medical opioid use or opioid use disorder.

Whatever you might think of our educational system, there can be no doubt that almost a year of remote “learning” will turn out to be disastrous. That's especially true for those already educationally disadvantaged. The science increasingly says that schools, especially elementary schools, are not superspreader sites. Are we willing to follow the science?

Norovirus vaccines face significant hurdles, with virtually no success from past efforts from HilleVax and Vaxxart. But Moderna's mRNA-1403, now in Phase 3 trials, is based on the company's mRNA technology, which controlled the COVID pandemic. Will it work here? Keep a bucket handy, just in case.

Welcome to the digital age, where we’re all curators of content we never read, proudly trading informed discussion for virtual fist bumps over articles we've never opened, while sharing the “unread” like trophies of virtual virtue. "Sharing without Clicking" is the new gold standard, fueling echo chambers, misinformation, and our collective overconfidence.

With the possibility of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. being involved in health policy in the next administration, vaccination – especially mRNA vaccines – will become a hot topic. Is there anything to fear from an mRNA vaccine?

Regulators are supposed to abide by society's “bargain” with them: Civil servants are granted lifetime tenure and protected from political pressure and retaliation, and in return, they are supposed to make decisions based solely on the public interest. Often, they do not.

Yes, there is something called a "salmon sperm facial." It may sound like kinky porn, but there's real science amid the self-indulgent, infantile humor. You can learn about DNA synthesis and how to fight wrinkles ... all in one article!

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) seems to be in an awkward spot. The group fears that children could be exposed to hormone-disrupting pesticides through food. However, it also endorses the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones — drugs that disrupt normal hormone production — in gender-dysphoric youth. Are the AAP's divergent standards justified, or is this just a classic case of hypocrisy?

Here's a great (albeit a bit complex) example of how organic chemistry can improve medical applications. If you dare to read this, you'll see some clever chemistry that was used to improve the properties of Crazy Glue in healing wounds. Cool stuff.

A recent study has helpfully advanced our understanding of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Some journalists exaggerated the paper's results in their rush to publish stories. Fortunately, other reporters helpfully and publicly corrected the errors. This is how the media should always operate.

Retailers have begun to ration infant formula, as the supply is hovering above 50% out-of-stock in several states. Due to supply chain disruptions, recall of products due to pathogen contamination, and inflation, some pharmacies are limiting purchase to three units per customer. This has caused a shockwave among parents of infants.

Given the evident mental impairment and startling ignorance of certain politicians, maybe the nation's law- and policy-making would benefit from politicians undergoing voluntary periodic testing of mental status and intelligence.

Although COVID-19 is giving us a temporary respite, influenza in humans and animals remains a serious threat. Its deadly H5N1 strain is spreading geographically and in more species of mammals, making the emergence of a pandemic strain more likely. We need to prepare.

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?

The CDC recently issued guidance related to breastfeeding for "transgender and nonbinary-gendered individuals." It may be the most absurd set of recommendations the agency has ever released.