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Sugar is America’s favorite carb and the sweetheart of federal subsidies. Uncle Sam has been feeding the sugar industry for over two centuries while we foot the bill, shelling out for a market manipulated to prop up sugar prices far above what the rest of the world pays. And that doesn’t consider sugar’s impact on our health. If we, the people, are not benefiting, who is?

Ah, post-election, where the real begins. This week, I’ve read on the hallowed (and heated) grounds of scientific 'neutrality,' checked out Julia Child's vintage gadget arsenal at the Smithsonian, revisiting Tutankhamun's tomb, and got a quiet glimpse into the 9/11 Memorial.

In a recent New York Times essay, a professor of anesthesia and pain management recently protested the Drug Enforcement Administration's opioid manufacturing quotas and micromanagement of doctors treating their patients' pain. At a time when DEA S.W.A.T. teams frequently raid doctors' offices for "inappropriate" prescribing, the professor's essay demonstrated boldness. Unfortunately, the professor's reform proposals were much less bold.

The sleazy world of dietary supplements is hardly confined to the United States. In Japan, more than 100 people were sickened – and at least five died – after consuming a ridiculous product called Benikoji Choleste, aka red rice yeast. How can such a dangerous supplement be sold? The following should sound quite familiar.

The standard argument for restricting patient access to pain medications is that these drugs frequently lead to addiction. A large body of research contradicts that claim, though it's doubly absurd when directed at people afflicted by terminal (and often very painful) illnesses. They sometimes have only weeks or months to live, yet they're denied pain medicine in the name of fighting opioid dependence. Such absurdity has to stop.

Welcome to "What I Am Reading" - a quick mention of intriguing articles, from the safety of decaf coffee to historical echoes of the opioid crisis, an argument for plagiarism, and something data brokers know.

Xolair, an antibody asthma drug, was recently approved for severe food allergic reactions. It is not the first biological drug to treat multiple conditions. But it is the first to treat severe food allergies - a growing problem.

Harm reduction strategies have been used for decades in many developed countries to reduce diseases and overdoses from using drugs obtained on the black market. It's a major reason why those countries have lower drug-related illness and fatality rates than the U.S. In recent years, many state and local jurisdictions have begun adopting these strategies. Idaho, however, recently decided to go in an ill-advised direction.

Picture this: a digital watchdog, prowling through heaps of patient data, poised to raise the alarm at the slightest sign of trouble. Enter a guardian angel, in the guise of algorithms designed to forewarn medical staff of impending crises. But is it truly a beacon of salvation or a mirage in the desert of clinical uncertainty?

As celestial enthusiasts eagerly await the solar eclipse on April 8, Canadian researchers uncovered eye-opening insights into the eclipse's impact on road safety. Let's consider their findings as we gear up to witness this celestial marvel.

In vascular realms where risks abide,
A rule we held, a trusty guide,
For every year with diabetes crowned,
A year to age, our wisdom found.
Yet, a study bold, a truth unfurled,
Challenges the norm.

Discovering the truth about the impact of ultra-processed foods on our brains can be like navigating a maze of conflicting information. In a recent article published by The Wall Street Journal, the spotlight was once again cast on this controversial topic.

The recent cases and legislation addressing the destruction of IVF embryos prompts revisiting past cases involving “child murder” in a medical context. Some cases turn on what is in the best interests of the child, while others pivot on the importance of preserving a child’s life, even if it involves terminating the life of another. Sometimes, religion gets involved. And this presents a conundrum.

Today's lineup promises a delightful array of topics, from ancient smartphones to outrageously priced sweaters. So grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and let's get reading

The national newspaper recently published a guest essay that finally got the opioid story straight – something it previously has been unwilling, or unable, to do. The chilling essay was written by a pain management specialist who was unable to get pain meds for her dying mother-in-law, because of the takeover of medicine by the runaway DEA. The Times may have finally gotten it right (but it's worth noting that here at ACSH, we've been doing so for more than a decade).

One month after the Alabama Supreme Court declared that frozen embryos are legally considered children – and two weeks after the state’s Legislature undid the major impacts of that decision by protecting IVF facilities – the same issue was faced by several state legislatures. They punted. 

Unlike previous public health emergencies, the COVID-19 pandemic had unmistakably partisan overtones. Politics exerted an unhealthy influence on how governments, scientists, reporters and ordinary Americans responded as SARS-CoV-2 swept across the world and upended our lives for the better part of four years. What went wrong and what can we learn from it?

As developers and health systems embrace artificial intelligence-powered software, a pressing question emerges: Who bears the burden when these innovations inadvertently harm patients? And especially when legal precedent offers only faint guidance. Let's take a look.

Doulas acting as patient advocates during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care may be a way to address poor health outcomes and health disparities. The evidence is compelling enough to warrant a closer look.

On February 16, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos destroyed at an IVF facility were children subject to the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, opening the door to civil and criminal liability. The state’s largest fertilization centers immediately “froze” their services. Two weeks later, now aware of the implications of this ruling, the Alabama legislature undid (some of) the court’s damage, providing legal immunity for IVF providers and receivers. But fear remains.

A web of altered neurochemical pathways and physical brain changes result in post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The interplay between cortisol dysregulation, heightened norepinephrine levels, and structural alterations in key brain regions make some individuals more susceptible to PTSD than others.

This ancient warning resonates today as measles, a highly contagious and once nearly eradicated viral illness, experiences a resurgence. Fueled by misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, recent years have seen a troubling increase in cases, threatening the progress of public health efforts.

Researchers examining the city's water system have produced some concerning data. Meanwhile, there's no reason anyone’s drinking water should be contaminated with lead. However, other than raising awareness of the problem, this study does little other than stir the water.

The EPA is moving farther and farther away from producing science-driven outcomes. Its final rule for regulating ethylene oxide emissions from commercial sterilizers demonstrates how EPA is ignoring best scientific practices in its quest to advance the Administration’s dual agenda of “cancer moonshot” and environmental justice. 

In this week’s literary voyage, navigating the treacherous waters of government surveillance, the depths of human behavior, where the Shirky principle holds sway, the tempest of emotional and practical conversations, and confront the storm clouds looming over whether renewables shall be our salvation or the harbingers of a gridlocked fate.,