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Despite what eugenics proponents thought -- and their population control descendants still think now -- more people actually lead to more innovation. A new study makes the case again that, when stressed, human ingenuity is likely to win out, even in the short term.

Much of what we know about early man comes from Gary Larson, the genius behind The Far Side cartoon. For instance, because of him, we have anthropological insights on everything from caveman fashion to the invention of the wheel. He also depicted how, in his mind, caveman researchers discovered fire. But how and when did early man really discover fire?

Unwanted microorganisms are a fact of life. Bugs grow everywhere we don't want them, from our showers and sinks to our toilets and toothbrushes. The scummy layers they form, called biofilms, are ugly and disgusting but mostly harmless in these settings. However, when they form on medical devices, such as catheters and implants, they can be life-threatening. A clever new material may prevent that.

FDA has issued new warnings about mercury in illegally imported "anti-aging" products.

What happens when a family leads a "plastic-free" life for two months? You may be surprised.

Despite the common notion among Americans that Europe is a progressive, technologically advanced utopia, the reality is that the continent -- when it comes to matters of science -- is rather backward. Now, a very harsh report in the most recent issue of Trends in Biotechnology underscores the infuriating extent of the problem.

When, exactly, was the Age of Stupid? Was it when people practiced human sacrifice to placate the brutal gods they worshiped? Was it when people believed the Earth was flat and everything else in the universe revolved around them? But one thing's for certain: If we behave like sheep we're going to get fleeced.

Lower back pain is the greatest source of global disability, ahead of nearly 300 other conditions, leading to huge levels of healthcare costs and suffering. And the effects go far beyond pain, weakness and stiffness – they also have a huge impact the social and family lives of sufferers.

As antibiotic resistance marches on, the possibility of untreatable gonorrhea is becoming more and more realistic. Recent data show that this is, indeed, happening.

Zithromax was everywhere, then it fell out of favor. A new study shows the case against it was overblown. Which is correct?

Honey bees are at record numbers; wild bees are fine. So why are activists still promoting a Zombie Beepocalypse? ACSH Scientific Advisor Prof. Allen Felsot settles the matter.

Researchers in England say they're the first to "monitor injury risk using the GPS technology used to track players' speed and acceleration" in soccer. The overarching concept is that if a correlation can be made between the amount of sprinting players do, and the related injuries they sustain, then practices can be altered to reduce injurious situations.

Each year, the last day of February marks National Rare Disease Day. It's an international effort to raise awareness among the public and healthcare decision makers about the more than 6,000 diseases, that while obscure, currently exist and the impact hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

I received a letter from the CEO of the exercise group CrossFit, Inc., but since no contact information was listed I'm responding here. As ACSH's president, I addressed his high points and clarified other statements he made, in the hope of clearing up some important issues for those with a sincere interest in evidence-based information.

After nearly a year in space, astronaut Scott Kelly was nearly 1 1/2 inch taller when he returned to Earth. But that's far from the only change that the human body is likely to undergo when it spends time in microgravity.

American Council On Science and Health: How Toxic Is Salt?
With a recent mandate in New York City that restaurant chains label menu items containing more than the recommended daily allowance for salt, the American Council on Science and Health has tackled the issue with a short consumer-level book.
 

The Hollywood actress's business enterprise, called The Honest Company, is anything but. Instead of selling you snake oil detergent, those honorable folks are peddling "sneak oil" detergent. And they've gotten away with it to the tune of $1.7 billion, every dollar of which they've extracted from suckers.

A 7-year old California boy nearly died as a result of complications from hypoglycemia, but is alive thanks to his family’s pet. It's a diabetic alert dog, specially trained to sniff out dangerously high or low fluctuations in blood sugar, which release chemicals in the body with an odor undetectable by humans.

Acetaminophen has become the go-to analgesic for many painful conditions. And when used appropriately, it can be effective for headaches and fever reduction. But it's not useful for inflammatory conditions like arthritis, and it can have a significant downside if used in excess.

Among antibiotics, most of what we use now were discovered by scientists in the mid-20th century, but as the threat of drug resistant infections increases the race is on to find new ones. And as guest writer Matt Hutchings explains, that means looking at new microbes that may help develop future antibiotics.

Jessica Alba and her company came off looking ridiculous after a Wall Street Journal investigative report showed that claims made by "The Honest Company" about the contents of its detergent products were entirely false. The incident also caused harm, as it contributed to further dumbing down of the American public about chemistry.

A purportedly serious publication in a serious forum that was recently published has given rise to a bunch of breathless headlines related to Complementary and Alternative Therapies. I presume that this is what was intended, as the supposed good news story is, in fact, one of the most blatant examples of quackacademic confabulation seen in ages.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals that increased sitting time is an independent predictor of premature mortality, irrespective of moderate to vigorous daily physical activity. By reducing sitting time, increases in life expectancy were observed.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals seems to be trying to cement its place as the worst company in the world. After doing virtually everything wrong over the past year, its officials have taken it to an even lower level — price gouging dying patients who have chosen to end their lives.

Heavy smokers and ex-smokers are at increased risk of lung cancer. Low-dose computed tomography screening can detect tumors at an early stage. But how often should a smoking-compromised person undergo this? A new study suggests that for those who are negative at the first LCDT test, once may be enough.