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Bravo and Andy Cohen have a wonderful opportunity to start an overdue conversation on misuse of medications and the dangers of polypharmacy.

In a new thought piece, researchers explore how deeply ingrained cultural habits — like America’s love of individualism and East Asia’s embrace of collective harmony — shaped the national chaos, triumphs, and outcomes of COVID.

This week, despite the holiday cheer, I have been drawn to true crime – perhaps to avoid navigating the politics of family dinner. Between debates about the systemic costs of bullets, DIY ghost guns that make Ikea furniture look complicated, and the sorry state of crime clearance rates, I’m wondering if crime is the coal in our stockings. For emotional relief, I turn to eating, replacing the concerns about crime with Caputo 00 flour – a pizza offers a slice of optimism in a world that often feels half-baked.

This week we dive into a world where health insurers are more than just insurers, where nutrition labels aren’t simply about informing shoppers, and where “simple truths” are anything but obvious. These readings challenge the neat narratives we often accept at face value. So, strap in for a December 19th reading list that spans big medicine, big questions, and a bit of tongue-in-cheek Disney princess health hazards.

The science community is in an uproar over the probability that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., will head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the second Trump Administration. How worried should we be about his nomination? Is the public health truly in jeopardy? Let's take a closer look.

There have been some mighty strange choices to lead the U.S. healthcare system starting in 2025. Instead of complaining, let's sing about them!

Jay Bhattacharya's recent history is a cautionary tale of how ideology and misinformation can undermine public health. His flawed views led to unnecessary suffering and eroded trust in science, making him a wholly unacceptable choice to head the nation's premier research institution.

Voluntary COVID vaccination mandates for staff in nursing homes during the pandemic were important. There was no evidence that the marginally increased staff turnover at vaccine-mandated facilities compromised patient care while there were positive effects of employer-imposed vaccination mandates. Nursing home residents experienced a significant reduction in both COVID infections and mortality.

Imagine unelected bureaucrats wielding unchecked power to interpret laws with minimal oversight. Now, picture courts reclaiming authority to ensure Congress's intent prevails. Though controversial, the Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision is a vital reaffirmation of constitutional balance between the executive and legislative branches.

Not long ago, people thought computers couldn’t communicate in English! Dr. Grace Hopper put that notion to rest. She also wrote the first computer manual. Trained in mathematics and mathematical physics, she was a computer scientist long before the profession existed, changing the paradigm of programming and setting the stage for large-language AI models. On the way, she became a Rear Admiral, widely recognized for her leadership abilities, wit, and wisdom.

Dive into tales of secretive stargazing, animal factories that save lives, and the immunological sleight-of-hand in pregnancy. Is Joe Rogan “mainstream media?”

Cows don’t typically get the flu. The recent H5N1 flu outbreak in U.S. dairy herds is a wake-up call, not just about the virus but about a federal system failing to protect our food supply.

From the eerie haze that choked London to the deadly fog that gripped Donora, Pennsylvania, these episodes have long been our cautionary tales of urban and industrial excesses. Wildfire smoke and modern pollution studies often come with alarming projections of imminent doom, yet they sidestep the grim specifics uncovered during these infamous historical episodes. Who were the victims? What happened to the survivors? Did the smog sentence them to early graves? Spoiler alert: not everything is as clear — or deadly — as it might seem.

Moral outrage — a timeless emotion that once fueled revolutions, but now powers your aunt’s conspiracy-laden Facebook rants. According to a study dissecting millions of social media posts, outrage doesn’t just thrive online; it turbocharges the spread of misinformation. We’re more likely to share first, fact-check never. Our collective anger isn’t unproductive, but can we avoid that dopamine hit when hitting that "anger" reaction button?

In the complicated world of hospital billing, there’s a fine line between maximizing reimbursement and gaming the system. A new study shows a troubling trend as hospitals increasingly code for “sicker” patients. Hospitals argue that it reflects more accurate patient care, but skeptics see a golden ticket to inflate revenue. As always, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Norovirus vaccines face significant hurdles, with virtually no success from past efforts from HilleVax and Vaxxart. But Moderna's mRNA-1403, now in Phase 3 trials, is based on the company's mRNA technology, which controlled the COVID pandemic. Will it work here? Keep a bucket handy, just in case.

Move over, influencers, there's a new trendsetter in town: the gut microbiome. This paper demonstrates that your social butterfly status isn't just reflected in your follower count. It's also mirrored in your gut, as social connections drive the spread of microbial strains beyond just family and household ties. So, the next time you swap spit with your bestie, remember you're not just sharing gossip. You're also exchanging a microbial souvenir.

This week’s reading is a kaleidoscope of corporate shenanigans, technological detachment, and battles we never thought we’d fight—against weeds and algorithms. From Spirit Airlines’ golden parachute for a CEO amid bankruptcy to Nicholas Carr’s critique of how vertical screens are reframing our lives, the threads connecting them are power, perspective, and survival.

Two cases before the Supreme Court stripped agencies like the FDA, CDC, and NOAA of the leeway to make expert-driven calls on ambiguous laws. The shift, though, is less about legal refinement and more about the politics of control. If you think the cases were just about fish and statutory interpretation, think again; the stakes are as vast as the oceans these regulations seek to protect.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic recently published a study perpetuating the myth that opioid prescriptions launched the ongoing drug overdose epidemic. Two ACSH experts took the clinic to task for sloppy data analysis designed to justify a predetermined conclusion about the risks of painkillers. Let's take a closer look.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to control pain. They are typically quite effective and safe to use as directed. But many people can't rely on them owing to their sometimes serious side effects — including an increased risk of heart attack. In short, NSAIDs are essential drugs with real limitations. Let's take a look at the most popular of these medicines.

Bioidentical hormones are synthetic substances designed to replicate natural human hormones, and are commonly used to address hormonal imbalances. Companies often market them as safer and more effective than conventional therapy, exaggerating their benefits as a "miracle solution."

Fluoridation is the vampire of public health debate that has currently regained new life. It’s been called one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. But toss in a dash of lost autonomy and a sprinkle of possible harm, and once again, we’re arguing over whether it’s a modern miracle or “Big Brother in a Brita filter.”

A recent article in The New York Times described how Mexican cartels were recruiting college students to "cook" fentanyl, to address shortages. But the students were having all sorts of problems synthesizing some of the fentanyl precursor chemicals. This should come as no surprise to a well-trained organic chemist.

The holiday season brings more than just joy — it often comes with an extra helping of guilt as we indulge in festive feasts. But before you raid the supplement aisle in hopes of counteracting those extra calories, consider the science: your body is already equipped with nutrient reserves that make most supplements unnecessary.