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Two decades ago Africa seemed like a lost cause. AIDS was unrelentingly decimating the continent and there was little cause for optimism. But life could not be more different now. Thanks to the discovery and distribution of new, powerful drugs, the tide is turning, with Kenya predicted to be AIDS-free by 2030. It's a medical miracle. 

Open displays of bipartisanship are rare these days and, as such, should be applauded. Unfortunately, a recent example of bipartisanship promotes junk science and bogus health claims, using buzz words like "integrative" and "wellness" that are code for "alternative medicine."

What'cha gonna do when they come for you? If "they" are the officials at the Department of Justice – and you are a pharmaceutical or healthcare company or even a physician – you settle.

Given their substantial platform, Hollywood celebrities possess a unique ability to do tremendous good. Unfortunately, with that megaphone comes immense responsibility. Let’s take a look back at Tinseltown in 2017, and see what we've learned. The good, the bad and the indifferent.

A recent study analyzing 40 years of data showed this to be true, so it's not conjecture. But what's not fully known is whether full moons – and the attention they possibly draw away from a motorcyclist's main safety task – are the cause of the higher incidence of fatal accidents. And during so-called "supermoons" researchers found that motorcycle deaths occurred 32 percent more frequently.

ACSH is in the business of promoting evidence-based science and debunking junk science. That rubs some people the wrong way.

This isn't really about fat cats — the real ones or the rich ones. Rather, it's about the results of being overweight or obese. According to the CDC, there are 13 types of cancer linked to obesity. And as one might expect, as the prevalence of obesity increases so does the prevalence of these cancers.

For the general population and its $6-to-8 billion supplement habit, we're learning that Vitamin D and Calcium supplements do not prevent hip fractures.

This year brought about a number of public debates surrounding not only less-mainstream medical conditions, but also others that were emotionally challenging and ethically complex. Check out which ones made this Top-10 list.

Scientists cannot publish the same figure twice. Those are the rules. One group, however, tried to pull a fast one and had the same figure in eight papers. Eight! How did journal editors find out? Easy ... they emailed each other. Now, the papers are getting their due by being retracted. 

As they say, location is everything. Hospital-based outpatient care is far more expensive than the same care provided in a physician's office. It's $2.7 billion more expensive, but why?

If throwing away old toys in one of your New Year's Resolutions, read this first. A new study suggests that kids' play is more creative and focused – with fewer toys around. So go ahead and purge those old toys that no one has touched in years. You may be doing your kids a favor! 

Individual states determine who receives emergency and standard dialysis when dealing with patients without insurance of any kind. Those decisions impact their lives – and our finances

Academic science is beginning to switch back to being more politically mainstream and with that change comes more mature beliefs about the private sector. And scholars are looking to corporations to fill funding gaps.

In April, American scientists will begin testing a new contraceptive gel — for men. A combination of two synthetic hormones, it's been found to be effective in shutting down sperm production in preliminary testing. So perhaps soon men will have another option besides condoms and vasectomies. Guys, welcome to the world of modern contraception!
 

Researchers have once again turned to nature for inspiration: A team of chemists working for the U.S. Air Force used crystals extracted from butterfly wings to detect trace chemical warfare agents.

ACSH's Director of Medicine Dr. Jamie Wells interviewed by legendary anchor Rolland Smith and broadcasting veteran Carl Sabatino about the state of medical practice today.

It's hard to feel a lot of love for Amazon right now. It used to be a great company. But it's a little disturbing that the retail giant is cutting its inventory. You can no longer buy a circumcision practice kit in Britain! What's next?

Automation has decimated mid-level jobs, and much of the current talk is about machine learning replacing professionals, like doctors and attorneys. An opinion piece brings some useful perspective on how machines learn, as well as on their economic impact.

A new research study on the penetration mechanics of the beetle penis – its bending stiffness gradient compounded by its soft tip – could actually hold some promise in the medical-device realm of catheter design to further the understanding in erectile dysfunction. 

We've been hard at work this year informing you of the latest developments in biomedical science, debunking junk science and bogus health claims, and explaining the science behind the headlines. Here are our 10 most popular articles of 2017.

How about companies just telling it like it is – in all its forms? We need to do better than Theranos, and the hubris of 23andMe that warranted FDA intervention and sanctioning of the firm. 

Snake oils are useless nostrums promoted to treat and/or cure virtually any type of ailment. But they don't have to come from snakes. Some, however, do — such as the rattlesnake pills recently dinged by the CDC for being contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. Kind of ironic, because instead of curing, they actually make the user sick.
 

According to the CDC, the percentage of children who have ever had chickenpox has fallen dramatically since a vaccine was licensed for use in the U.S. in 1995. But because fewer kids have chickenpox, there is less virus circulating among the public. It's thought that exposure to the virus helps keep shingles in check, which is normally associated with older folks.

Most dog owners know that chocolate is harmful to dogs. That said, a study shows Christmas is the most dangerous day of the year for them. And more bad news: dog treats may be making your little companion overweight.