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As we bask in the anticipation of spring, a familiar cautionary whisper resurfaces – the age-old advice about the perils of too much sun exposure. Should we fear the sun? From its benefits and risks to the complexities of sunscreens and UV-protective clothing, an informed and balanced approach to sun exposure is our best bet.

Psychotropic drugs are all the rage now as a potential treatment of brain diseases. Examples are ketamine and psilocybin for depression and PTSD. More recently, a single dose of LSD was found to have a long-lasting effect on generalized anxiety disorder. Some simple chemistry may explain how LSD can persist in the brain long after it is gone from the blood.

The Bible of science – the body of peer-reviewed literature – is increasingly filled with dubious and even fraudulent research. Most academics openly recognize the threat this poses to scientific progress, though viable solutions to academic fraud are sorely lacking. How do we address this critical problem?

Loud noises and ... trace minerals? Let's break down a new study examining an important contributor to age-related hearing loss. Spoiler alert: stocking up on zinc supplements is not the solution.

Censorship in science, GMOs, opioids and the health effects of porn use. Come listen to my wide-ranging discussion with podcaster Vance Crowe.

Oregon’s Measure 110, which decriminalized drug use and ramped up harm reduction, took effect in 2021 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. After barely giving it a chance to have any effect, lawmakers got cold feet and decided to return to the tried – and failed – approach that has made the war on drugs America’s longest and most disastrous war.

Fatigue, sometimes profound, is one of the most common and debilitating features of long COVID. Its presence predicts far worse clinical outcomes, as evidenced by deaths and hospitalizations, than patients without fatigue.

The film is a reminder of not only the scientific and technological miracle that was made possible by the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bombs that ended World War II, but also of what did not happen – namely, the massive ground invasion of the Japanese home islands that was being planned. Although it all transpired before I was born, I have several connections to it.

Has the use of the term "plant-based" gotten completely out of hand? You have no idea.

The issue of reproductive rights, calls for informed citizenship, urging understanding of pivotal issues, particularly those under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. The approval of Mifepristone involves medical advancements, legal complexities, and the enduring tension between societal norms and legislative restrictions.

In a chilling Lancet study, the haunting reality of homicide rates among American women unfolds, with guns emerging as the weapon of choice, echoing structural inequities in which women are most impacted. In United States v. Rahimi, the Supreme Court grapples with the constitutional clash between gun control and domestic violence restraining orders, challenging us to confront some harsh realities.

In a comprehensive study examining over three million screening mammograms, researchers delve into the intricate tapestry of breast cancer risk factors, identifying disparities across menopausal status and racial and ethnic groups. The study challenges prior assumptions about the impact of being overweight/obese on postmenopausal Black and Hispanic women, emphasizing the need for tailored prevention strategies and the critical role of understanding nuanced risk factors.

Negativity's grip on the news scene
Death by paperwork
JFK's tale through a surgeon's call
In social media's grip

Even satellites grow old, but did we expect dementia?
The Gut - Wellness eludes those in dietary despair
Kitchen Aid, domestic muse
Ant societies -  “Humans should not confuse impact with control.”

Bubonic Plague first invaded American shores in early 1900, launching political and scientific warfare, invoking quarantines and forced vaccines, triggering social upheaval and racial justice concerns, and inflaming competing social agendas, much akin to the COVID controversies. The courts got involved there, but then, government powers were crimped.

The editor-in-chief of a preeminent scientific journal should know what a "scientist" is – and isn't. Holden Thorp, the editor of the journal Science, does not.

In the mood to learn a little about history, the culinary arts, chemistry, biology, and evolution? Yessirree, it's all on the menu as we take a look at the beloved Chinese dish, General Tso's Chicken.

NPR recently lost its nerve over the realization that some men are giving up internet porn, fearing this "masturbation abstinence" trend is a gateway to radical right-wing politics. The media should be more interested in the potentially serious health impacts of porn itself.

The FDA has proposed changing the classification of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. What impacts could this regulatory status change have on public health and drug regulation around the U.S.? Let's listen in.

A new month, a new chemical to fear. Such is the business plan of the Environmental Working Group, an organization that I've been saying unflattering things about for years. Why? Because it usually deserves it. Let's look at a just-released EWG video, which shows the kinds of tricks those guys have been using (and fooling us with) forever.

It's America's most addictive and fastest-growing sport. Pickleball is all kinds of fun, especially for the 60+ crowd who may have given up on sports. Of course, while players have suffered injuries involving the Achilles, hamstring, and quads, eye injuries are the most serious. Yet, most people don't wear protective goggles. Here's why you should. Bonus: A photo of me looking like an Olympic-class imbecile. Enjoy.

In a surprising twist to the urban farming narrative, a study challenges the widely-held belief that urban agriculture (UA) is a beacon of sustainability. Despite its celebrated diversity and perceived lower environmental impact, those charming community gardens and small-scale farms emit six times more carbon dioxide equivalents than their conventional counterparts.

Whenever I encounter a supposed practice or supplement that will save or ruin my brain, my first reaction is to roll my eyes – a modus operandi that I, unfortunately, developed in graduate school.

As the top editor of the journal Science, Thorp's inclusive view of scientists might be well-intentioned. But the crux of the matter lies in the difference between understanding and explaining the world (the scientist's realm) and applying that knowledge in the real world (the domain of application specialists).

Two federal courts have ruled that the Biden Administration unduly influenced social media moderation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some public health and legal experts have argued that these efforts were necessary and did not constitute censorship. They are downplaying the extent of the government's efforts and overlooking their serious consequences.