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Who knows what thoughts lie in the mental recesses of the would-be suicide victim? Sometimes, they leave a note; sometimes not. Sometimes, there are obvious rational reasons – unbearable pain, for one. Sometimes, not. However, sometimes, we can discern the motive or the message from the means. For the sake of protecting public health and safety, and possibly even preventing suicide, we should be paying attention.

The fine art of saying one thing and meaning another is a skill we master before we can even tie our shoes. From toddlers who "technically" cleaned their room by shoving everything under the bed to politicians who insist they never lied but just "misspoke," linguistic loopholes are a universal human pastime. A new study suggests that kids develop this strategic wordplay early, but let's be honest—some never outgrow it.

Plenty of us experience tinnitus – an awareness of a persistent and unpleasant ringing in the ears that can make life miserable. There's a recently approved device that treats it, but it ain't cheap. Nonetheless, I gave it a try. Was it worth it? Hard to say.

In the mood for a ridiculous study? You've come to the right place.

In the stillness of a Japanese observation garden, your eyes slow their darting dance, your heart softens its beat, and your body begins to whisper “I am safe.” A new study finds that this isn't just poetic metaphor; our visual patterns and physiology reveal a deep biological response to designed serenity.

Scientists at USC are developing a “super-bra” equipped with a high-tech lactation pad that can detect acetaminophen (Tylenol) and other drugs in breast milk. The device isn’t on the market yet, but it could eventually give breastfeeding mothers real-time information about drug exposure, without a lab, a needle, or a PhD in analytical chemistry.

I married a tall woman out of love, partly from genetic ambition. I figured we’d gift our kids a vertical advantage. It turns out that Mother Nature and Friar Mendel’s peas don’t translate into predictable parenting. A new study in PNAS just crushed my tall children dreams under the bootheel of chromosomal complexity.

Taurine is a popular ingredient found in many energy drinks, like Monster and Red Bull. It's also abundant in our food: the average adult diet provides between 40mg and 400mg of taurine daily. A new study from the journal Nature claims taurine may fuel the growth of leukemia cells in the body. Is this true? Let's break it down with our experts.

Recently, the American Medical Association warned that a key ingredient in nicotine vaping liquid "may also be used to make antifreeze, paint, solvents and artificial smoke." By falsely implying that vaping exposes users to a harmful industrial chemical, the AMA is effectively encouraging smokers to maintain their deadly habit when a far safer alternative is available.

Did you know that eating just three small apricot kernels, or half of one large apricot kernel, can exceed safe levels? Apricot seeds, or kernels, contain a naturally occurring compound called amygdalin. Amygdalin can release cyanide in your body after consumption. Experts warn apricot kernels should be eaten in moderation, or better yet – not at all.

Last week, I received an email from a law firm asking ACSH to promote its groundless allegations about the dangers of heavy metal tainted baby food. Let's dissect their scaremongering instead.

A new Nature Medicine study made headlines with its claim that brain microplastics jumped 50% from 2016 to 2024. But the data are skewed — 2024 included Alzheimer’s brains, which weren’t in 2016, and they’re loaded with plastic. The real story isn’t the timeline — it’s the strong link between plastic and Alzheimer’s.

What happens when your therapist has no soul — and worse, no sense? From ChatBots that can mimic empathy to psychotic AI “companions” encouraging suicide, Character AI is manifesting a dark side.

The world of online supplements is crazed, but it can also be funny, especially the product names and some of the reviews. Here are a few examples that defy belief but are all real.

Tailoring medicines to an individual’s genetic profile is now possible. One critical aspect is genetic testing that reduces side effects, particularly for patients on psychiatric and cardiovascular drugs.

Kidney stones are excruciatingly miserable, causing intense, unrelenting pain — often described as worse than childbirth. These hard mineral deposits form in the kidneys and can lodge in the urinary tract, causing sharp, stabbing sensations in the back or abdomen. Here's perhaps the worse chemistry lesson you'll ever learn.

We all know creatine’s a powerhouse, backed by science. But the real buzz? Brain boosting benefits! Let’s break down some of the pros and cons of creatine. Bonus: It's Dr. Josh Bloom approved!

Hexanitrogen is a newly synthesized molecule composed entirely of nitrogen atoms, making it the first known neutral polynitrogen species other than N₂. It stores a large amount of energy in its strained bonds and decomposes cleanly into nitrogen gas, offering potential as a high-energy, non-polluting propellant — though its extreme instability at room temperature remains a major limitation. This, plus other explosive trivia!

Before chronic pain research had a name for its nemesis, Dr. Levi-Montalcini discovered the molecule that would revolutionize its treatment: Nerve Growth Factor. Exiled, underestimated, and elegant to the end, this Nobel laureate turned adversity into a global scientific legacy, wearing high heels with her lab coat and defying every expectation.

Not that anyone asked, but uranium enrichment is certainly a newsworthy topic where a little science might be helpful. Here's how it's done. Plus, at no extra charge and for no good reason, a gratuitous attack on the Jardiance commercial.

There’s no such thing as "natural Ozempic." While supplements like psyllium, berberine, and glucomannan are paraded as plant-powered weight-loss miracles, their effects don’t even come close to semaglutide’s clinical punch. Let’s separate science from marketing spin.

Hear what ACSH's Dr. Josh Bloom, Dr. Chuck Dinerstein and Dr. Henry Miller have to say about the falsehoods of thimerosal claims in regards to vaccine safety, and perhaps the unintended consequences of the panel's latest decision to stop recommending flu shots containing the preservative.

Researchers in the UK have devised a very clever method using genetically modified E. coli to convert PET plastic waste into Tylenol (as if we need any more of it). Can this science solve two headaches? Read this and you'll probably get one.

Grapefruit juice is more than a breakfast staple — it’s a potent enzyme inhibitor that can dramatically alter how certain drugs are metabolized. This article explores how a tiny structural difference between oxycodone and hydrocodone leads to big differences in their interaction with grapefruit, focusing on the roles of CYP3A4 and CYP2D6.

Nestled among the overflowing buffet of Tylenol products at your local pharmacy is Tylenol 8 Hour — the extended-release version of the original. The premise? Take a double dose half as often. The promise? Longer relief. The reality? Well ... maybe. Or maybe not.