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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.

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.

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.

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.

Global warming, a topic that’s simultaneously about science and politics. The media loves to spin a nice, tidy solution: stop burning fossil fuels, cut CO2, and voilà — problem solved! Except, there’s a little more to it. From methane to black carbon, volcanic eruptions, and even the occasional El Niño throwing a tantrum, the planet’s warming is more like a complicated web of interconnected threads than a one-size-fits-all catastrophe. The story of global warming isn’t just about switching off your gas stove. It's about figuring out which of these greenhouse villains we should actually be worried about, and which ones deserve a slap on the wrist.

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?

Regulators are supposed to abide by society's “bargain” with them: Civil servants are granted lifetime tenure and protected from political pressure and retaliation, and in return, they are supposed to make decisions based solely on the public interest. Often, they do not.

Join me and Lars Larson as we dive into the real story behind the monkeypox outbreak, WHO’s political maneuvers, and why the media's take on the situation might be leaving out some crucial details.

Litigation over regulations will become chaotic, and because uncertainty is anathema to investment in innovation, it will become harder for entrepreneurs and start-ups to disrupt markets.

The mixture of celebrity and health information is becoming commonplace. Combatting misinformation is more difficult when amplified by large platforms. Adding to that the chaos of irresponsible media coverage, and you have a good formula for isolating experts.

As the EPA rolls out new lead regulations to curb lead exposure in homes and water systems, the question is whether these measures will live up to their promises. Lowering lead levels in dust and replacing service lines within a decade sounds like progress, but will these rules prove realistic and practical on the ground? With staggering cost estimates and concerns about access to affordable housing and safe water, it’s clear this ambitious plan faces both practical and financial hurdles.

During World War II, sugar was scarce and everyone made do with less. Turns out, sugar rationing might have shielded an entire generation from diabetes and hypertension. The latest research suggests that limiting sugar in those crucial early days, from conception to toddlerhood, could be a game-changer in reducing chronic disease risk decades later.

Our drug policies, and the agencies that enforce them, would be laughable if they didn't do so much harm. Perhaps the "methamphetamine follies," a saga of incompetence, will have come full circle thanks to the extraordinarily delayed removal of Sudafed PE from pharmacy shelves. But don't bet on it.

To mitigate climate change, could giant balloons be the answer?

When Hurricane Helene barreled through North Carolina, it left behind a flooded wasteland where water filled with mud and microbes was not drinkable. Nothing says "modern emergency preparedness," like boiling your water for seven weeks straight.

Vladimir Putin's recent threats of nuclear weapon use are deeply concerning. A nuclear war would have catastrophic consequences, both short and long-term, including radiation-induced cancers. However, one type of cancer — thyroid cancer — can be prevented with potassium iodide. Here’s how.

Evidence-based government policymaking should not be politicized but should strive to promote progress and benefit all Americans. Unfortunately, the expertise needed to formulate sound policy and make wise decisions is unlikely to come from many of President-elect Trump's appointees.

Despite significant decreases in cholesterol numbers, cardiovascular disease rates in the U.S. have hit a standstill. Can we restart the decline, or have we reached the limits of our ability to combat this persistent condition?

Congestion pricing
Visually literacy requires us to go slow
A fork in the fertilizer path
African American English

C. diff is a horrible disease that can cause significant morbidity. It can and often does recur and kills around 30,000 Americans every year. We have made progress in prevention and treatment, but clearly there's more to do.

Despite the staggering amounts Americans spend annually, the latest study involving nearly 400,000 participants suggests those colorful multivitamins might be more of a wallet-drainer than a life-saver.

Holden Thorp, editor of the once-prestigious academic journal 'Science,' has made many strange claims in recent years, including the assertion that anybody involved in or adjacent to science (a journalist, policy wonk and perhaps even an activist) is actually a scientist. ACSH's Dr. Henry Miller calls shenanigans.

The "War on Drugs" has never been a carefully planned public health protection initiative. Government officials did not enact current drug prohibition laws and enforcement policies because of any dispassionate, comprehensive review of drug hazards. Rather, hysterical fear-mongering has always been the real basis for the "War on Drugs."

Whenever I have visited a physician over the last decade, the following scenario has been replayed: We discuss my cholesterol levels (total, LDL and HDL). We review dietary guidelines and other medical recommendations. Then I say, "Don't forget to remind me to drink a glass or two of wine daily." Invariably, the doctor demurs: "That hasn't been proven to protect you against atherosclerosis."

Scientists from the American Council on Science and Health today, in an open letter to Mayor Giuliani, questioned the decision of the city to produce, at taxpayer expense, a pamphlet entitled Safeguard Your Home From Harmful Products, which suggests that numerous common household products - such as kitchen cleansers, insecticides, and mothballs - pose a serious health risk and should be discarded in favor of "all-natural" products. The booklet was apparently distributed to all city residents and signed by Giuliani and Health Commissioner Dr.