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Chronic pain patients who take opioids under medical supervision are fundamentally different from recreational users who take drugs to get high. In their bid to destigmatize and legalize drugs, some drug policy reformers have attempted to blur this clear distinction. Here’s why they’re wrong to do so.

A new study on veterans highlights how the incidence of Long COVID has shifted through time and different variants, bringing a mix of hope and sighs. And yes, vaccination has played a crucial role in this evolving drama, reducing the burden of Long COVID.

AI, a faith-based tech, we see.
Guiding readers, to books brand new.
America's hot dog, a culinary sensation.
China's need for potatoes.

The Republicans are aggressively seeking Biden’s medical information. They make a compelling case. But after pulling back the onion skin, it’s rather flimsy – perhaps even dangerous and legally problematic. Nevertheless, the exercise raises critical questions: Is there a limit to what we can know? What about what we should know? And who decides?

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?

Dr. Offit, a physician and immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania, provides a readable and informative discussion of many issues surrounding the pandemic – the science, the toll, the disinformation, and what we can expect.

The Summer Olympic Games are now being held in Paris. Perhaps the least appealing event is the open-water swimming event in the Seine River, which is not exactly the most pristine body of water on earth. This parody is dedicated to any who survive. With apologies to Gene Kelly.

Our biological age, often masked by our calendar age, can now be unmasked through the intriguing science of metabolism and body temperature. Does aging, much like beauty, lie in the heat of the beholder?

A study in Nature reveals that our understanding of the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory forces extends beyond immune cells to a surprising player: the vagus nerve. This wandering nerve, connecting our body and brain, influences our immune response in ways previously unknown.

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?

More than 40 years of AIDS research has led to significant advancements in treatment and prevention. Drugs to treat the infection continued to improve, as did patient outcomes. But now there's another major milestone. Gilead's lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable capsid inhibitor, achieved 100% efficacy in preventing HIV infections in women. For anyone who has followed AIDS over the years, this is simply amazing.

So, you thought socioeconomic status (SES) only mattered when buying fancy coffee and organic food? A new study reveals that the health disparities associated with lower SES appear to be transferred, through bone marrow transplants, to the health outcomes of the recipients.

"Jumping genes" are not a new type of leisure wear. They are integral components of the genetic-epigenetic continuum and the “genetic” expression of traits, biological or temperamental. The critical discovery that these chromosomal parts can move – impacting their expression - owes to the mystically inspired work of Nobel Laureate Barbara McClintock.

How the head, the heart, the hands, form the artist’s very soul.

Seek the ones who truly care.

Betty Ossola, canned pasta’s queen.

Why do subsidies remain for tobacco?

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.

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.

Mental health medications are a blessing to many people. But they sometimes come with undesirable side effects, including significant weight gain. A recent study suggests that a high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet could help some patients manage their weight while taking psychiatric drugs. Let's take a closer look at the results.

Our children face a wide range of health and safety risks these days: choking, fentanyl poisoning and school shootings, just to name a few. But put aside such paltry concerns because Consumer Reports (CR) has identified the real threat to your kids: Lunchables. These safe, affordable prepackaged meals may actually expose your children to potentially harmful levels of lead, the activist group claims. As usual, CR is pushing a baseless health scare to raise money.

With Chevron dismembered and deference to agency determinations now dismantled, agency heads are quaking. Allowing judicial intervention in an agency’s medical or scientific decisions is undoubtedly, disconcerting. However, while it's not time to rend our garments, an alert is prudent.

Discussions about eating disorders and dietary supplements have been gaining traction, both on the internet and among policymakers. Last year, a review published in a peer-reviewed journal made the rounds among supplement makers and lobbyists. Since the article is being touted as evidence that supplements don’t contribute to eating disorders, a dive into the article is warranted.

Ready for another magical weight-loss miracle update? Welcome to my world, shedding weight with semaglutide — where every ounce counts and every worry multiplies.

The CMS's End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices model, launched in 2021, aimed to address disparities in transplantation and the use of home dialysis with financial incentives. However, after two years, the expected improvements in home dialysis and transplantation rates have yet to materialize.

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.

Free speech purists were likely surprised and greatly disappointed by last week’s 6-3 Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling in Murthy v. Missouri. Relying on the staunchly conservative court to give them cover, the plaintiffs miscast government advice to social media (SM) platforms about false and dangerous COVID-19 “health” messages as illegitimate interference, coercion, and – horrors! –censorship!  The majority rejected that argument outright.

Plant-based meat alternatives are those mysterious concoctions made from legumes, grains, and fungi, which promise to save the planet and your arteries. Let's cut through the kale and quinoa: Are these trendy meat impostors good for your heart, or is it just another bout of health food hysteria?