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

Announcement: “Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services recommends Michigan residents and visitors avoid foam on Michigan waterbodies such as lakes, rivers, and streams.” As a former Michigander, I wondered about the scientific basis for avoiding lake foam in all the lakes across Michigan.    

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 following is neither satire nor fiction. California's insane Proposition 65 list contains a number of so-called carcinogens found in coffee. Yet, multiple epidemiological studies conclude that moderate coffee consumption decreases the chances of developing numerous cancers. Only in California could coffee both promote and reduce cancer.

When Average won't suffice, science, a strong-link problem
The body electric
Is the British Museum a crime scene?
Scientific American has been “woke” for over a century

John Batchelor and I discussed the ongoing developments and challenges in addressing COVID-19. We emphasized the importance of staying up-to-date with vaccines, especially for older adults with pre-existing conditions, as I’ve always advised. We talked about the concept of a universal vaccine, which, though difficult to achieve, is actively being researched.

It all began with a grand experiment involving physicians, published in the hallowed pages of the New England Journal of Medicine: a nearly miraculous halving of heart attacks among those taking a low-dose aspirin. New studies have emerged, exploring the changing tides of benefits and harms.

In an invisible dance, micro- and nanoplastics move about ubiquitously, yet unnoticed. These minuscule particles bob and weave into every corner of our existence. Yet, their impact on our respiratory health is unclear. How do these particles navigate the pathways of our respiratory tree, and what does this mean for our well-being?

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.

Imagine a world where the nuances of religious beliefs intertwine with medical science, shaping the very fabric of healthcare. Welcome to Halalopathy, a concept emerging from a vibrant Islamic culture and pharmaceutical practice.

Vaccine patches should come with the slogan, “No more tears.” Too bad Johnson & Johnson trademarked it for its baby shampoo.

During my recent conversation with John Batchelor, we discussed the ongoing threat of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu, which has been a persistent concern, particularly in Asia, since the early 2000s. Newer variants of the virus have recently posed significant challenges to poultry farmers, especially in Northern California, where millions of birds have been culled to control outbreaks. Of particular concern has been the spread of avian flu to many mammalian species, most recently to dozens of herds of dairy cows in at least 10 states.

We’ve witnessed the opioid addiction crisis suffering through its mismanagement. Now, we face another scourge of addiction – again resulting in untimely deaths of young people while bankrupting and overtaking their emotional lives. This debacle is caused by social media, with recompense and responsibility avoided, and guardrails are yet to be widely implemented.

Metaphors illuminate the complex, yet their light dims with time.
Managers desire control; makers desire time
Historical myths spread far and wide
Peanut butter, a liquid, who would have thought?

The "iron law of prohibition" is alive and well. An animal anesthetic related to – but worse than – xylazine (Tranq) is called medetomidine. It's starting to be detected in samples of illicit fentanyl. Just what we don't need: another adulterant in an already-deadly street drug. And it's all predictable.

The silver tsunami, or America's aging population, continues to flood the roads. For seniors who might be truckin’ with a bit of physical or cognitive impairment, there may be a rising tide of concern about road safety. Only a handful of states bother to make dementia diagnoses reportable. A new study suggests this may lead to fewer, not more, reports.

It's Memorial Day Weekend – the unofficial start of the beach season. Although no one is likely to be swimming in the icy water of Ussuri Bay in Siberia, many will visit it because of "garbage" on the beach. But it's not typical garbage. Ussuri Bay is "littered" with a treasure – a vast amount of sea glass with an astounding variety of colors. Here's a look at this beautiful place and also a little chemistry about how sea glass forms.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) were once hailed as the solution to streamlining healthcare processes, but their implementation has brought forth a host of challenges. From increased work burden and clinician burnout to facilitated medical errors, the journey of EHRs has been tumultuous. With billions of dollars invested and a staggering increase in adoption rates, we find ourselves retrofitting the system. But this isn't just about optimizing technology; it's about preserving the heart of healthcare.

Instead of punishing U.S. oil producers, policymakers should seek scientific, evidence-based solutions to climate change that don't sacrifice U.S. economic growth and prosperity.

Open the medicine cabinet of an oldster, and you will find it cluttered with medications to keep body and soul intact. There’s a growing push to “Marie Kondo” – the famous decluttering guru – those medications by deprescribing. But that requires significant physician involvement. Can AI, healthcare’s latest silver bullet, provide a healthier approach?

If your doctor considers carbon emissions when recommending a treatment, find another doctor.

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

In 2012, there was a bizarre case of "face-chewing" that was attributed to two Florida men allegedly smoking drugs called "bath salts." Twelve years later some drug-addled (Floridian) lunatic took a big chunk out of a deputy's head, at an annual music and art festival held to provide a "captivating journey into a world of electrifying music, immersive art, and spiritual rejuvenation." Read on and you'll find an entertaining chemistry-based article that you really can sink your teeth into.

Stoner meds – from weed to psychedelics
Glaciers melt, gravity tugs; do sea levels rise ?
From Cantonese feasts to Szechuan's fire,
Tax codes weave complexity

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