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Spoiler Alert: If you love fried chicken, and knowing that pigs are intelligent interferes with your love of bacon, do not read this.
“ … Chickens are misperceived as lacking most of the psychological characteristics we recognize in other intelligent animals and are typically thought of as possessing a low level of intelligence compared with other animals.”

The much-anticipated intelligence report, which concluded that Russia tried to influence the recent presidential election, had another startling, yet widely ignored, conclusion: The Russian government promotes anti-fracking propaganda in the United States, via its "news" network, RT.

After being bitten by a mosquito, who among us hasn’t been tormented by the resulting itch? Now, imagine that intensity and urge to scratch spread over your entire body, in a constant and unrelenting fashion – night and day. This condition has a name: chronic generalized pruritus.

A new MIT study projects that innovative, app-based carpooling in New York City could create unimaginable reductions and euphoric efficiencies in taxi traffic. But we need to point out that those brilliant researchers considered everything except for one tiny detail – the psyche of the demanding New York taxi passenger. 

As if there aren't enough nuts out there ranting about crystals or Ouija boards, it's time to welcome The Alternative Daily. The guys writing for this website make Joe Mercola sound smart, which is roughly equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest with a Steinway grand piano on your back. 

Gun violence is not solely about gun regulation or the environment. There are many nuanced contributors, including the social networks.

The Pew Research Center asked scientists and non-scientists their opinions on various scientific topics: GMOs, global warming, pesticide usage, etc. The results are not surprising - there is a big gap between what those two groups think. The question is - why and what can be done to shrink the gap?  

The Cleveland Clinic remains mortified that one of their physicians, Dr. Daniel Neides, wrote blog post full of anti-science quackery. It has issued as strong of a rebuke as possible without firing him on the spot. Here's the full whiplashing by the Cleveland Clinic. 

The Cleveland Clinic employs a crackpot – and physician – named Daniel Neides. He has been given a forum to share his supernaturally inaccurate thoughts with the public. He did just this in a recent opinion piece titled, "Make 2017 the year to avoid toxins (good luck) and master your domain: Words on Wellness."

Don't put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear — good advice that's often ignored. Earwax serves a useful purpose and unless it's causing significant symptoms should be left alone, according to the American Academy of Otolarygologists.

Rational Vaccines claims the next set of clinical trials for its Theravax vaccine candidate might be held in Mexico. 

Of the many lies spread about Monsanto, perhaps none is so malevolent as the claim that the seed giant is to blame for farmer suicides in India. This falsehood, spread by anti-biotechnology activists like Vandana Shiva but debunked years ago, is still parroted by credulous left-wing outlets.

In assessing the health of humans, plants or animals, when advanced age or decay occurs we can observe the physical changes as they happen. This, however, cannot be said when studying trees, because they rot from the inside out. But a new study employing sound waves is adding to our knowledge of how to evaluate tree health.

Things aren’t always what they seem – especially in the medical realm. That's precisely what surgeons in Japan discovered when performing an emergency appendectomy. Brain tissue ... in ovaries?!  

A recent article in The Washington Post warned us that the "Dreaded ‘stomach flu’ wreaks havoc on families — and it’s only going to get worse." Is this true, or were they just trying to sell more newspapers?

The latest exercise fad, aiming to make your workout more interesting and personal, incorporates your DNA sequence as an integral part of your regimen and diet. But unfortunately, making your trainer aware of your DNA isn't going to improve your workout – anymore than it'll tell him your preference of smoothie flavor. 

RNA-based treatments for select genetic diseases have made major headlines in the last few months by receiving FDA approval and giving hope to families of suffering children.

The overdose epidemic sweeping the nation is hitting some demographics harder than others. Heroin overdose deaths began to skyrocket in 2010. New data shows that of all groups, older millennials, those aged 25-34, are the likeliest to die from a heroin overdose.

Vital signs matter. And they matter most when they're collected correctly and they provide accurate data. Dismiss them, or do them incorrectly, and the erroneous information will likely result in harmful medical decisions made on your behalf.

In a new study of elderly Chinese, researchers sought to learn if mid-day napping was beneficial – and if so – when it was best to do, and for how long to achieve optimal results. They concluded that for adults 65 and older, post-lunch, one-hour naps improved mental performance as compared to those who napped longer, shorter or not at all.

Recently an important paper — one which had the potential to revolutionize the treatment of type 1 diabetes — was retracted because its results could not be replicated. Far from being a negative incident, this is the way that science should be done.

The Food and Drug Administration has just cracked the whip on the use of antibiotics in animal feed — something that should have been done long ago. However, many of the antibiotics used for this purpose are not used in humans. Does this matter? You may be surprised.

My work day last spring had been frustrating; the writing had gone slowly (and not too well). In my desire to write an acceptable paper had I forgotten how my neighbors eat today; I was using too many academic studies with their stark numbers and not enough of today’s eating realities. A reality check of the real world was in order. 

Among the claims made by the plaintiff, Center for Science in the Public Interest, is this: “Like the tobacco industry, Coca-Cola needs to replenish the ranks of its customers, and it tries to recruit them young.” But on this issue, what does science have to say?

From the “French baby death linked to vitamin dose” headline, you'd think that the vitamin treatment was responsible.