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Childhood lead exposure remains an unresolved issue across the US, particularly from lead paint in older homes. Should we be worried about our health if we live in a house with lead-based paint?

“There is high‐certainty evidence that ECs [electronic cigarettes] with nicotine increase quit rates compared to NRT [nicotine replacement therapy] and moderate‐certainty evidence that they increase quit rates compared to ECs without nicotine.” That is the initial statement by the Cochrane Group in its current report on electronic cigarettes. Care to know more?

The magic of comfort food lies in its ability to nourish both body and soul. While few argue that it enriches one’s soul, providing solace and comfort, some believe that improvements can be made in bodily nourishment.

Christina Applegate’s recent appearance at the Emmy’s sparked a moment of empathy and recognition for the more than 2.5 million individuals around the world struggling with multiple sclerosis (MS). This autoimmune disease of the brain and spinal cord has genetic and environmental roots. A new study connects the two and reminds us that we, too, are evolving.

This article may sound stupid (and for good reason), but it's actually an interesting lesson in chemistry and enzymology. Will you dismiss it outright as another example of another moronic Bloom offering, or wonder why some simple chemistry can explain why pee is yellow and poop is brown? I suggest the latter. Makes for good bathroom reading.

In December, Federal Rule of Evidence 702, the federal statutory law governing expert witness opinion's admissibility, changed. This change was made to emphasize “[E]ach expert opinion must stay within the bounds of what can be concluded from a reliable application of the expert’s basis and methodology.” This will have profound implications for mass tort cases that rely heavily on scientific evidence and the testimony of expert witnesses.

Plant-based foods
Banning Kools
A dress with a mystery
Dishing the dirt on the discovery of DNA

In 2012, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed that to reduce obesity, the city would prohibit the sale of any sugar-containing beverage in containers greater than 16 ounces. A new study looks at a similar approach to improving public health in the U.K., by reducing the size of a glass of wine. It found that size matters – sort of.

What if improving education, income, and housing could reduce the disparities in healthcare outcomes by half? Identifying needs is proving more difficult than we anticipated.

The Roman politician Cicero once said, “When there is no basis for an argument, abuse the plaintiff.” Some interpret this to mean that the best defense is a good offense. I’ve another interpretation: When you have no explanation – deflect, defer, confound, and confuse the listener with irrelevancies. That about sums up the latest rhetoric of climate change deniers.

This story begins with a simple question: What is the prevalence of substance use disorders in patients surviving cancers? The “substances” in those use disorders can be causes of cancer and, more often, self-treatments for the stress and pain. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to wreck its reputation by taking ideological, unscientific stances on important public health issues. Its latest faux pas: a fatuous report attacking crop biotechnology and pesticides.

In this radio conversation, John Batchelor and I discuss the effectiveness of vaccines and the challenges posed by new variants of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) such as the now-dominant JN.1.

Higher education has strayed from its mission of teaching critical reasoning and open discourse. Many universities now shelter students from uncomfortable ideas, leading to a suppression of individuality and non-conforming thought, and they practice discrimination in admissions, hiring, and promotions. Prospective donors should withhold philanthropy until these trends are reversed.

Ambient air quality standards have been established by testing animals and evaluating adverse health effects in populations. To maintain ambient concentrations within those standards, emissions are controlled based on statistical relationships with ambient exposures known as dose-response functions (DRFs).

Until human fallibility is removed from decision-making, we will continue to make errors. A new JAMA Internal Medicine piece provides an update on, as former New York City Mayor Ed Koch would say, “How am I doing?” Spoiler alert: it depends.

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.

Why do we treat ports gambling differently?
The myopic are coming
Mick Jagger is 80 and has a heart valve. My music and musicians are getting old.
More Smoke and Mirrors from Florida

In this radio discussion with John Batchelor, we delve into the genetic engineering of food using molecular techniques. I share insights into the current discourse surrounding genetic modification techniques and related concepts like "sustainable intensification" and "agroecology."

In this radio discussion, Lars Larson and I discuss the efficacy of over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, specifically those containing phenylephrine. The radio host expresses his concern as someone who relies on his voice for his profession, and who occasionally uses these medications to alleviate congestion.

A new company, Haleon, now sells dozens of products from what was formerly GSK's huge consumer health division, which was spun off in 2022. The company pretends to be highly ethical in its website propaganda, even doing its part to combat climate change by using low-carbon web pages (??). But does it practice what it preaches? Welcome to Voltarengate.

Every January, we cycle through the usual New Year’s resolutions tied to weight loss, exercise, and drugs, especially nicotine and alcohol. This year is no different; everything old is new again. My resolution is to begin a new January tradition of picking my favorite fad detox, cleanse, or diet and debunking it. This year, we’re tackling Dr. Josh Axe’s Detox Your Liver: A 6-Step Liver Cleanse.

The spectrum of information that can be obtained by prenatal testing is wide and rapidly increasing. Many mutations, or "abnormalities," are inconsequential, while others are significant. Genetic counseling combined with noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) can be useful.

Some people hate Tylenol. Although dentists and surgeons love the drug – especially when laced with ibuprofen – studies show acetaminophen, the generic form of Tylenol, can be a liver toxin. But a sound body of data linking the drug with neurological deficits is wanting. Nevertheless, people are blaming this “modern-day menace” for autism and ADHD – and hundreds of cases claim exposure in utero caused the conditions. What does the court say?

Critical Economic Theory is not a new concept. Like critical race theory (which is seen through a more controversial lens), CET seeks to examine and understand how systemic economics is ingrained in various aspects of society, including law, institutions, and social structures.