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California, which labels everything from coffee to sunshine as dangerous, has finally done something sensible. It has passed a law banning those cryptic “Sell By” dates on food. You know, the ones that make you wonder if you're about to enjoy a perfectly good yogurt or endure a gastrointestinal gladiator match? Apparently, we can handle knowing when our food might go bad.

This week's reading - Michael Jordan's court battle with NASCAR because apparently racing isn't just about speed. Big Nanny tries to ruin ice cream with claims of "ultra-processed" doom, yet it's a scientific miracle. In nature news, flowers use static cling better than your laundry. Finally, drones are being sent to clean up Everest because climbers apparently leave more than footprints.

The “who is me,” “where I’m from,” and “how I will enfold” are largely the provenance of our genetic ingredients, packaged in two 23-chromosome sets bequeathed to us by each of our parental units. Like our underwear, we like to keep that stuff private. But now, some 14 million people might have the secrets of their “me-ness” – their DNA – revealed to the highest bidder. The uses? Unknown.

For elderly patients, a broken hip can be a life-altering event. A new study from the UK suggests that delays in admission for hip fractures dramatically increase the risk of death within 90 days. The chances of survival shrink for every extra hour spent in the emergency department. But the study itself is fatally flawed.

When it comes to reproductive autonomy, the stakes are already high. But what happens when a complex medical condition like sickle cell disease (SCD) enters the equation? STAT’s analysis of reproductive care for SCD patients sparks a troubling conversation. Are higher rates of postpartum sterilization among women with SCD really a matter of choice, or the result of systemic coercion? The data leaves the question unanswered.

The internet is where you can find everything from cat videos to questionable health advice. Today’s conspiracy du jour? Parasites cause Type 1 diabetes. Never mind decades of scientific research or common sense. This theory comes courtesy of some "integrative" nutritionist who clearly skipped biology class in favor of a social media crash course.

From deep philosophical musings on certainty and fallibility to viral internet stars like a baby pygmy hippo stealing our collective hearts and, of course, the sad state of college kids too overwhelmed to finish a single book. This eclectic mix of thoughts has it all—because why focus on one thing when you can feel simultaneously entertained and doomed?

Volunteers were infected with the COVID virus in order to ascertain whether there were cognitive effects of infection. It represented the failure of safeguards against unethical experiments.

The emerging Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement has resurrected the well-worn accusation that food and drug companies dictate U.S. public health policy. How true is this claim? And do the leaders of the MAHA campaign have their own conflicts of interest? They sure do.

Scientific American's endorsement of Kamala Harris for president ignited a ferocious debate in the science community. Is she the best choice for advancing science, as her supporters contend, or is it unwise for researchers and scientific institutions to back political candidates?

Apparently, we're saving America one kale salad at a time, courtesy of Calley Means and RFK Jr., as they fight to treat chronic diseases by bringing new "experts" to the federal Dietary Guidelines. In the latest episode of "Follow the Money," the real game is controlling the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by pretending food is medicine.

AI (in this case, ChatGPT) is an amazing tool for science and medical writers. But it's not perfect. It sometimes makes pretty awful mistakes. It not only apologizes profoundly but also claims that it will make that correction. And the damn thing appears to have a sense of humor and a bit of an attitude.

Four months in, and what started as a sprint to skinny has turned into a leisurely crawl, with weight loss slowing to a trickle that’s as satisfying as watching paint dry. However, I’m becoming more aware of all things gastrointestinal while I wait for my metabolism to remember what it’s supposed to do.

EDP-323, an investigational inhibitor of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), is showing promising results in Phase 2a trials. While other RSV therapies and vaccines are approved for prevention, EDP-323 could become the first antiviral drug specifically designed to treat RSV infections. Here's a look at some promising data.

In a groundbreaking ruling, a judge found that fluoride in drinking water poses an "unreasonable risk" to children's IQs, forcing the EPA to rethink its fluoride regulations. With the ghost of "Chevron Deference" barely cold, the anti-fluoride movement is savoring its triumph in a decades-long battle.

Vaccination remains critically important, a shield not just against the physical ravages of COVID infection but also against the insidious mental health deterioration that can follow in its wake.

MindBodyGreen serves up a buffet of trendy supplements, mystical gurus, and "expert" advice that’s about as scientifically grounded as astrology. With a collective that includes NFL quarterbacks and supermodels dishing out health tips, it’s hard to tell if you're shopping for a lifestyle upgrade or getting swindled by a well-dressed grift. If you're here for evidence-based advice, brace yourself — because the pseudoscience is strong with this one.

Obesity — it's the bad word everyone throws around, but few want to truly understand. The American Academy of Pediatricians thought it had it all figured out with its shiny new treatment guidelines. However, those “evidence-based” recommendations came crashing down faster than a late-night fast food binge. Instead of slapping on BMI labels like outdated fashion trends, we should think about what’s really feeding the obesity epidemic. And no, it’s not just the carbs.

Have you ever wondered why some elements are rarer than others (like gold versus lead)? Maria Goeppert Mayer loved solving puzzles as a child, and she solved that one, too. She also discovered “magic numbers.” These discoveries won her the Nobel Prize in physics in 1963, becoming the first American woman to do so.

While the internet may shout about keto, vegan, and intermittent fasting as the holy grails of weight loss, the real magic lies in finding what actually works for you. And the answer isn’t as simple as Dr. Google would have you believe.

The complications related to poor blood sugar control and diabetes are significant, so identifying its presence and prompt treatment with lifestyle changes – and, if necessary, medications – is key. However, with the changes in metabolism as we age, are the current standardized pre-diabetes labels always accurate for this population?

A standard is needed for all adversarial proceedings against doctors who treat pain, to establish which DEA or State Medical Board witnesses can be considered subject matter experts – and who cannot. The standard must follow the principle of the Supreme Court decision in Ruan vs. United States: Burden of proof must be on the government, not the doctor - who must be presumed innocent until the government proves that the doctor has intentionally engaged in practices that they knew were dangerous to the patient.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) seems to be in an awkward spot. The group fears that children could be exposed to hormone-disrupting pesticides through food. However, it also endorses the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones — drugs that disrupt normal hormone production — in gender-dysphoric youth. Are the AAP's divergent standards justified, or is this just a classic case of hypocrisy?

If you think scientists collecting "unfresh" condoms sounds like my latest contribution to the body of tasteless, juvenile humor, you're only partly right. Admittedly, it’s not exactly dinner conversation nor glamorous-sounding work. But what comes next is serious science with big public health implications for controlling the spread of mpox.

Scientists have learned much about COVID-19 over the last four years. But several aspects of the pandemic remain to be fully explained, including Long COVID: a chronic condition that can cause or contribute to some 200 health effects throughout our bodies. A recent study suggests that fibrin, a key component of blood clots, plays a role in the development on Long COVID, and may lead to effective treatments for the condition. Let's take a closer look at the results.