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A new computer algorithm may reduce the radiation we receive from medical imaging by a lot. But should we worry about the harmful effects of radiation we receive during medical testing?
 
 
 

As a result of using fertilizer to increase production, cranberry farmers in southeastern Massachusetts ended up with too much phosphorus in water run-off that created potentially-harmful algae growth downstream. Observing this, a researcher from the U.S. Department of Agriculture came up with a sensible and straightforward solution. 

Utilizing speech recognition could allow information to automatically be placed in medical records. That would allow doctors to get back to providing care, instead of performing data entry. 
 

It's quite easily right at the top of the list. In fact, the scientific method is designed precisely to answer it. Rigorously following a procedure involving observation, hypothesis and tightly-controlled experimentation is what separates science from all other disciplines. OK, you ask, so what's the question? Just click here to find out. 

The people at the FDA probably never thought that they would have to officially state that DIY gene editing should not be done. But, they were wrong. People have not only started making HIV gene therapies in their living rooms, but, when they start injecting themselves on FB live, the FDA had to step in.

Earning a living in science has been "uneven" (let's be kind) over the past 15 years. In 2008, in the middle of what would be known as the Great Recession, a chemist with the pseudonym Chemjobber started a blog about finding science jobs. He is now widely followed and we thank him for speaking with us about his experience.  

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health concluded that consumption of peanuts and tree nuts – especially walnuts – is associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. That conclusion isn't surprising since a number of the same authors reached it several years ago.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

If marijuana is now a "recreational drug" then what about its second-hand smoke? Does it get ignored? Is there some science to apply in making an informed decision?

Coin collecting is a nice, peaceful, and generally-safe activity. But not when you swallow them. Throw in a few razor blades and an iron shackle and it gets a bit riskier. But is it as risky as a Chipotle meal? 
 

Here's news of a study that's worth reading. And you might want to pour yourself a hot cup of joe while doing so. Researchers report that moderate coffee drinking provided many health benefits, and that any shortcomings from consumption were greatly outweighed by its positive effects.

We expect bacteria to be almost everywhere. New research shows that even though there are bacteria living in ice cubes, those same bacteria cannot survive in whisky. So, the next time that you want to have a scotch, go ahead and throw in the rocks. 

Tears of the retina are fairly common and they can lead to blindness. Fortunately, there's a quick and nearly-painless repair method that requires a few zaps of a laser. Dr. Chen, an ophthalmological surgeon at Columbia University, explains how a miraculous beam of light can produce incredible changes deep within the eye. 

Concussion research is hampered by only having subjective diagnostic criteria. Without an evidence-based diagnosis, there can be no evidence-based treatment. However, saliva may hold a key objective measure. 
 
 

A United flight (UA-31) bound for Newark (New Jersey) from Munich (Germany) was safely diverted to London Heathrow Airport after multiple passengers complained of feeling lightheaded and unwell. What could cause this?

“I was sick with the flu” is a refrain heard each winter. But many who say it are actually mistaken. The flu is caused by an influenza virus, which is confirmed by specific testing. So if you weren't specifically tested for it and deemed positive, then it's possible you didn't have it.

Hey, here’s a novel approach: Appreciate and value the physicians in actual practice and watch job satisfaction soar. Otherwise, don't be surprised that in the next two years nearly 1 in 50 are expected to leave the field entirely to pursue a different career.

Government policies often have unintended consequences — especially those that affect large swaths of a population. Thus, China's single-child policy, in place from 1980 to 2016, has been linked to increased levels of childhood overweight and obesity, particularly in boys who have no siblings.
 

Everyone knows you get a fever when you have an infection. But why? And while we're on the topic, what causes our temperature to rise?
 
 
 
 

If you're ever in need of an impressive biological story, look no further than the examples of mutualism, when two totally unrelated species not only coexist, but both benefit from the relationship. Check this out.

A pilot study of involving veterans from this war conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs may indicate a decades-long infection with a parasite could be causing cancer of the bile duct.

A traveler who smokes should be able to wait to light up until he, or she, gets home. But if that's not possible, the nicotine craving can be satisfied with a layover in Europe or Asia.

When young athletes are injured playing high school sports, frequently it involves their hands or wrists. One important finding from a new, national study was that nearly 1 in 10 injuries fell into that category, with 45 percent of those resulting in fractures.

Serious science writers don't follow the Huffington Post. But when Dr. Angela Logomasini of Competitive Enterprise Institute posts something, it's worth walking into the belly of the anti-science beast. Here's that, and a few other things we've been up to recently.

What was the co-founder of Rational Vaccines thinking when he injected eight patients with a live herpes virus formulated as a vaccine at the Holiday Inn? What was previously a sordid tale, lurches towards the criminal.  
 

By encouraging her students to do incomplete research on a scientific topic and to lobby politicians for political change, a teacher of 3rd Grade is showing kids how to be environmental activists. What a shame.