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Hospitals continue to be penalized for readmissions. But should we look at the size of the penalty, or the rate of improvement? More importantly, do readmission penalties improve care? Let's find out.

Most Americans likely don't give this much thought, usually disposing of unwanted medication by tossing it in the trash or flushing it down the toilet. But there are safer ways to rid yourself of these pills without creating unintended consequences. So before you chuck those vials, consider these alternatives.

A recent Supreme Court case presents the question of whether it's ethical to execute an inmate suffering from dementia, one who can no longer recall the crime.

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a new book by neurologist and science communicator, Dr. Steven Novella. It is both an easy read and a great reference.

Deadly viruses that cause infections like West Nile, Zika and Dengue are passed from mosquitos to humans by bites. But what about HIV? Why isn't it also spread this way? Turns out it's a combination of virology and luck.

It's not a common side effect, but it's yet another addition to a long list of reasons not to see a chiropractor.

It's important to remember that the progress already made in the field is due to long-term support. But, the job isn't finished until people no longer endure this diagnosis along with its compounded suffering.

You may have seen a warning, that when you detect a vinegar smell from your bottle of aspirin it's time to toss it. But is this really a concern? Here are a few facts you may not know.

Depression and anxiety are not always easy to detect. Symptoms can range from worry to chronic indecision. Thus, an easily detectable biomarker for would be preferable, and Chinese scientists believe they have found one using a urine test.

An HBO's newsmagazine reported that potentially-deadly heat stroke, suffered by players as a result of grueling practices, is frequently left unmonitored. The condition is completely preventable if athletic trainers simply identify player distress and immerse him in an ice bath. But that practice is often ignored, and the NCAA has failed to enact any measures.

Some scientific journals are publishing articles by anti-technology activists without disclosing their blatant financial conflicts of interest. Despite all the pleas for transparency, the problem is getting worse.

It's a well-known fact that we spend a lot of money on the healthcare of those who are dying, especially during the last 12 months of life. But is that "wasted" money a bad thing?

People want to do what makes them feel good and – perhaps more importantly – makes them look righteous in the eyes of others. Going organic and avoiding straws accomplishes that moral grandstanding, and companies are happy to oblige in order to make a buck. And, in the process, the companies also look good. It's a win-win for everyone, except Mother Earth.

Just because something is documented in a medical chart doesn't make it more accurate. How it's conveyed, and in what context, greatly matters.

Researchers have found that white, educated women are most likely to receive outpatient dermatologic services. To learn which demographic is on the flip side of this metaphorical magnifying glass ...

Beginning with Prohibition, all U.S. efforts to control drugs of abuse have made matters worse. Here's another. Methamphetamine is back, and it's killing more and more people. This was entirely predictable.

Roundup can only affect the shikimate pathway in plants, so how can it be argued the weedkiller harms bees? By invoking the mystical, ill-defined "microbiome." What's next, their chakras?

Clinical trial registries are supposed to hold researchers accountable for publishing all results. But who is responsible when they ignore the rules?

GMOs. Nuclear power. Self-driving cars. Why all the fearmongering? Because doing so produces an awful lot of money. Telling people that technology is bad generates roughly $30 million every single year. Meanwhile, UCS really ought to consider renaming itself.

Glyphosate, presently the world's most hated chemical, has been blamed for just about every ailment in humans and animals. Now a group in Hawaii is claiming that the herbicide is harming bees by altering their gut biome. Is there anything to it?

Surgeons are frequently the first to prescribe opioids to patients. Of course, surgery usually hurts. After a year of government agencies and legislators practicing "medicine," it's time to hear from the actual physicians. They have practical solutions we can use today.

With some fanfare, The Lancet announced it will hold governments accountable for promises they have made to the World Health Organization about reducing non-communicable diseases. But the reporting makes it seem a bigger crisis than it is. We're afraid that these commitments are, as Mary Poppins said, pie crust promises. Easily made, easily broken.

Gene editing – a brilliant demonstration of how basic research can yield world-revolutionizing technology – is seen as unsafe in Europe. The good news is that some scientists aren't going to sit idly by while Europe attempts to destroy an entire field of scientific research. The scientists are striking back.

Rushing through the seemingly mundane aspects of childhood might not be playing the long game.

The research has been going on for years. The hypothesis is that cannabidiol, derived from the marijuana plants, combined with an anesthetic, can reduce brain inflammation after a concussive event, as well as relieve the pain and headaches associated with brain injuries. Studies with mice may soon lead to human trials.