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Genetically engineered bacteria can not only degrade plastic waste, but they can convert it into valuable industrial chemicals. There are still unknowns -- for example, how to do this at scale and how it will be regulated.

Chris Kresser has multiple books, a website, a supplement line, a health coaching certification program, and he was a co-founder of the California Center for Functional Medicine. He’s been on Joe Rogan, Dr. Oz, and NPR. With his increased media exposure, it’s important to understand more about who he is – and what he’s peddling.

Rice farming, with intricate irrigation systems and tight-knit farming communities, has long been suspected of fostering collectivism. However, proving this theory requires navigating confounding variables. A new study, seizing upon a unique historical moment in China, will allow you to make your own decisions.

Which is more dangerous, sunscreen or the sun itself? Should we just wear sun-protective clothing instead? As summer approaches, let's examine the latest research and separate sun facts from myths before heading to the beach.

Volcanic eruptions cool the earth by "shading" the atmosphere with particles. What if we used giant balloons to similar effect?

The online magazine claims "the meat industry is pumping livestock full of antibiotics." Like many other farm-bashing headlines, this one is greatly exaggerated.

Here's something you won't find on Amazon. Nor is it at the duty-free shops in airports: packaged frozen feces for consumption. Believe it or not, a company called Human Microbes has been buying, packaging, freezing, and reselling the stuff online for people with various gastrointestinal problems. This has the FDA up the company's a$$, which could be #### out of luck before long. Warning: Possibly tasteless!

The data linking soda taxes to beneficial health outcomes is far murkier than media reports suggest.

Roughly 40 years ago, the Supreme Court created what is known as the "Chevron doctrine,” requiring judicial deference to reasonable agency decision-making, where a statute is ambiguous or is invoked in ambiguous situations. But things may be about to change, and the FDA, for one, isn’t happy.

The more the U.S. spends on interest payments, the less it can spend on R&D, biotech, or even basic services like Medicare.

Banning cigarette advertisements outright would violate freedom of speech. But maybe there is a workaround called compelled speech? Can the government compel graphic package warnings with the same (subliminal) effect as an outright ban? Recently, the Fifth Circuit provided the answer.

In the ongoing battle against obesity, whether size matters takes on a new dimension regarding snacks. While discussions often center around nutritional content and dietary habits, the impact of portion and unit size tends to be overlooked. Yet, these seemingly insignificant factors can significantly influence our daily caloric intake.

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.

In a sea of skepticism, while politicians scrape the bottom of global trust rankings, scientists more frequently bask in the warm glow of public confidence. A recent study suggests that not all lab coats are created equal and that a moral compass, rather than knowledge, is critical.

Lars Larson and I discussed on his program the Oscar-winning film about Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb.

Frank Bruni, a maestro with his pen
From cluttered rooms to boxes stacked high, two articles ponder
Bluey, say it isn't so

In the dance of human interaction, being in sync might be more than just a metaphor. Humans, like all biological beings, have inherent rhythms. A new study explores the link between synchronization and social behavior, suggesting that those who can synchronize well may also be perceived as more attractive.

Another norovirus vaccine bites the dust. This time, it's HilleVax's HIL-214, which provided an appalling 5% efficacy in Phase 2B trials in infants. The kids got sick, but perhaps the stockholders got even sicker. Read this and you'll see why.

COVID-19 has been particularly ruthless towards the elderly, even with those early-bird vaccinations. Turns out, it's not just about getting a little creakier or needing extra naps. Their immune systems seemed to be doing a sad little shuffle instead of the usual tango, and these dysfunctional immune responses play a leading role in the COVID-19 drama.

CT screening for lung cancer could save countless lives, but low participation rates have led to some eyebrow-raising proposals. Molecular methods, touted by those with a vested interest, promise to pre-screen for eligibility — because who wouldn't want a test to determine if they qualify for the real test?

The FDA recently banned brominated vegetable oil (BVO), an emulsifier used in citrus-flavored sodas to keep flavor oils evenly distributed. BVO has been replaced by safer alternatives due to potential health risks, which may be valid. A visit from Steve and Irving and The Dreaded Chemistry Lesson From Hell (Yay!) will explain what's going on.

EPA recently added five PFAS to the list of chemicals it suggests U.S. states analyze in locally-caught freshwater fish. A recent EPA news release says these are “science-based” recommendations to protect the public from PFAS exposure. But are these additions really science-based, or simply an ongoing effort to vilify PFAS in every venue?

Nicotine is an addictive substance; it is THE addictive substance in tobacco, although tobacco’s combustion products are responsible for most of its adverse health effects. Nicotine has been in the news a lot between the plan to remove JUUL, a nicotine delivery system from the market, and the FDA proposal to require cigarettes to have lower nicotine levels. I asked myself a simple question for which I did not have a ready answer, what amount of nicotine is necessary to get you addicted – what dose makes the poison?

The popularity of health coaching continues to grow. The appeal is understandable, given the promise of more one-on-one time with a person specifically hired to support your health. Artificial Intelligence has blossomed in the 2020s, and creating calendars, training plans, answering questions, and more have never been easier. The combination of these two is obviously appealing — but it warrants caution.

When it comes to sustainability, we all love a good glass half-full of self-righteousness. But now, your orange juice-sipping habits are a battlefield for eco-consciousness, with glass bottles glowing in their saintly aura. Meanwhile, plastic sits in the corner like a misunderstood villain. But here’s the juicy bit — our wallets seem to have more influence than our planet-saving intentions.