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A story that's gone viral (again) claims that McDonald's touchscreen menus are fecally tainted. Is it true? No. The global headlines saying otherwise are total lies. So, on what basis are these folks making that ridiculous claim?

Another day, another chemical scare: this time, baby clothing. According to the NGO Green America, there are 8,000 chemicals used to manufacture clothing and some of those are gonna harm your kid. That's why the group is going after Carter's, the biggest manufacturer of kids' clothing, including OshKosh B’gosh! Classic shakedown? You tell me.

Jimmy Carter is reportedly doing well, recovering from surgery for a broken hip sustained after the 94-year-old former president fell at his home. With falls among the top five leading causes of preventable death, context is paramount.

A recent paper gives us a preview of precision medicine, and the breadth of the undertaking should humble us. Consider it medicine's moonshot.

Years after his TV show, Bill Nye experienced a resurgence in popularity. But instead of the old, nerdy-but-lovable Bill Nye, we got Bill Nye 2.0, a somewhat cantankerous scold who clearly knows less about science than he leads on.

Since the focus of pharmaceutical research has shifted from oral, small molecule medications (pills) to biologics (injectables derived from living sources) the price of new drugs has soared. Biologicals are more difficult to manufacture and purify than traditional medications. Biosimilars are analogous to (but different generic versions of traditional drugs). But the difference creates a unique set of issues. ACSH friend Dr. Robert Popovian and colleagues recently wrote about some of the complexities of biosimilars.

The Trump Administration now requires drug advertising to provide a medication's list price. Manufacturers that were initially resistant have reconsidered and have agreed. The only group losing here are patients, who are no closer to lower drug prices or better information than before.

Everyone is perpetually confused about how often nutrition experts change their minds about the health impact of consuming eggs. In the past several weeks alone, two powerful studies -- of course, contradicting each other -- were published in major medical journals. One states that eggs will prevent heart attacks; the other that they will lead to heart attacks and death. What's the real message? ACSH advisor Dr. David Seres explains.

A 50-year-old man’s rare condition caused by a catastrophic stroke leaves him unable to move, speak or perform basic functions like chewing and swallowing. All the while his mind is intact. The diagnosis is called “locked-in syndrome,” and here's a look at this terrifying condition.

Is it possible to separate the roles of our genetic inheritance from our environment? Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and polygenic scores have tried to look at the genetic component. But it turns out that polygenic scores vary as much with our "not inheritable characteristics" -- like years of schooling -- as they do with our race or ethnicity. 

Promising work just published in the journal Nature Medicine offers hope when antibiotic resistance, in an extremely sick patient, renders limited treatments.

Hannah Arendt felt that authority and responsibility were entwined; physicians are no longer the sole authorities of medical care. So in a rush to be "in charge" who remains accountable?

Dr. Henry Miller, a former FDA deputy commissioner, used to be a big fan of the New York Times' coverage of science and medicine. But no longer. He takes issue with an editorial that accuses the agency of reducing its scrutiny of new drugs. Dr. Miller explains why the Times is off-base: the development of precision medicine.

You don't need to purchase an air purifier for your house. You have a built-in air purifier called the respiratory system.

Ships could be floated to developing countries which often lack the capital for large construction projects. And they could simply plug a ship into their power grid, buying electricity like any consumer.

Recently, we received a very nice note from a reader, who happens to be an organic chemist: "A quick note to thank you for making the world of complex science accessible and easy to understand for the guy in the street. As an organic chemist... I understand, first hand, that it is a gift to be able to convey science and convert it into action for people whose live are made safer with practical knowledge. Awesome job."

Observers claim that a study identified several clauses in old Coca-Cola research contracts, those that “could suppress ‘critical health information’ and indeed may have already done so.” And while “the documents contained no firm examples of Coca-Cola suppressing unfavorable research, … the study's authors say "what is important is that the provision exists."

The mad rush to rid this country of demonic prescription analgesic drugs (mainly Vicodin and Percocet) has put pain patients and their doctors in an unprecedented dilemma. What can they do for pain when real drugs are unavailable? Many have turned (or been forced to turn) to the epilepsy drug Neurontin, which is used off-label for pain. But does it work? Please read this and find out.

Before any misinformation spreads, it's important to unpack the real significance of surpassing a due date for mother and infant.

Successful organ transplantation requires that a logistically complex series of events take place well beyond the scope of an ideally-matched donor and recipient. As the applications keep expanding, delivery-focused technology is a boon for healthcare.

Two studies look at how you can use words to spin non-significant findings into published studies, and how falsified data spreads unchecked from one meta-analysis to another.

Pop quiz: What do The New York Times, Jeffrey "the yogic flying instructor" Smith, and the National Resources Defense Council have in common? Answer: They all shamelessly lie about glyphosate to make money. (And you get extra credit if you answered "They are all bad sources of science information.")

Certain foods, due to their effect on blood sugar levels, precipitate the release of molecules which are associated with inflammation. Excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates, french fries or soda isn't going to trigger that response. While those who eat this way may have significant negative health issues, it won't be due to so-called “inflammatory” foods. To suggest so is junk-science and a lack of common sense.

What do investors think about antibiotics companies? Not much. Paratek, priced at just $5.42, has a 36% short ratio -- or tradable shares being shorted by skeptical investors. Companies with market caps under $200 million do not bold well, either. Anyone who doubts that the antibiotic market is broken needs only ask the investors.

A group of researchers studying drinks seeks a genetic source of our taste. And one important questions emerges: Are some people genetically wired to drink bitter or sweet beverages more often?