Volcanic eruptions cool the earth by "shading" the atmosphere with particles. What if we used giant balloons to similar effect?
Harm Reduction
In the theoretical “marketplace of ideas,” good ones are adopted, and bad ones wither away. But history has shown us over and over that just isn’t true.
Whether it's primary health care, specialized medical care, or mental health care, Americans are experiencing fewer choices and longer wait times accessing clinicians. Many of these difficulties result from government interventions that limit innovation and restrict new entrants in the health care marketplace. An education policy scholar at a conservative think tank seemed interested in reforming the system, but nativist and protectionist biases got in the way
On April 30, 2024, the EPA banned many uses of methylene chloride, a chemical widely used as a paint stripper and in industrial applications, based on an “unreasonable risk to human health.” This presents a total reversal of their earlier conclusions that methylene chloride did not pose an unreasonable risk. How did EPA use the same data to reach two opposing conclusions?
So-called Lifestyle Medicine may become a new medical specialty. It claims to focus on prevention and lifestyle factors as a treatment for chronic conditions. A review of the tenets of Lifestyle Medicine reveals old ideas repackaged for a new age.
Of late, we’ve seen some astronomical medical malpractice verdicts. In 2023, 57 medical malpractice verdicts reached $10 million or more, the worst year on record. More than half topped $25 million. In August 2023, a jury awarded $183 million to a family in a brain–damaged baby case – the highest med mal verdict in Philadelphia history. 2024 isn’t auguring better news. Is this a blip or a trend?
As social media platforms unleash a torrent of content, the battle against inaccuracies becomes increasingly daunting. Algorithms, touted as gatekeepers, have not worked. Can crowdsourced corrections stem the tide of misinformation?
Despite their diminutive size, tardigrades possess an extraordinary ability to withstand high levels of ionizing radiation, making them subjects of scientific research in exploring their incredible approach to DNA repair.
An alternative healthcare provider with a massive social media following, Will Cole sells wellness and scary-sounding pseudo-diseases. His empire, like other functional medicine hucksters, sells supplements and aligns with celebrities for promotion and legitimacy. Let’s tease apart the hype from the hyperbole.
For woodworkers, the table saw stands as both a revered tool and a potential danger. One saw, SawStop, uses an innovative technology to prevent the saw from cutting more than wood. The feds are now considering mandating this technology, provoking a web of industry interests and regulatory hurdles.
What is it about humans that enables us to enjoy watching harm being inflicted on others? With the football season a few months away, perhaps a greater understanding of neurological harm associated with the game’s repetitive brain trauma is warranted. And maybe we should do something rather than just sit by and watch?
The battle over formaldehyde has shifted. In a recent risk evaluation, the EPA significantly recognized that formaldehyde does not pose an “unreasonable” risk for cancer. But it does pose health risks for effects such as eye irritation, allergies, and asthma.