ACSH Science Dispatch

Will taking cocoa or multivitamins slow the onset of dementia? A new study suggests at least one of these interventions may make a difference. COVID lockdowns quickly became a topic for partisan bickering, but did they actually work?  Join our directors of bio-sciences and medicine Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein as they break down these stories on episode 22 of the Science Dispatch...

Artificial intelligence may help physicians identify patients at risk for Parkinson's Disease (PD) before symptoms develop, improving health care and possibly zeroing in on potential causes of PD. Restricting access to technology can generate disastrous consequences. Why, then, are 'green' politicians so eager to ban these useful tools? Join our directors of bio-sciences and medicine Cameron Engli...

China is 'seeding' clouds to increase rainfall and fight a severe drought. Will it work? A large body of research shows that soda taxes are ineffective, so why do public health experts continue to endorse  them? Finally, has climate change increased the number of heart attacks we suffer? No. Join the ACSH directors of bio-sciences, chemistry, and medicine Cameron English, Dr. Josh Bloom, and...

Many Americans are obsessed with nutrition or totally disinterested in it. Why are these extremes so common? ACSH contributor David Lightsey joins us to explain. Public health officials committed many blunders during the pandemic. Part of the problem may have been the incomplete and often inaccurate information they were working with. How can they avoid the same errors next time around? Join our d...

Recent news reports have spurred concern that just touching fentanyl can be dangerous. Let's take a look at the chemistry behind this claim. Comedian Bill Maher recently attacked the fat-acceptance movement as a danger to public health, sparking ferocious criticism on social media. Sadly, few people recognized the most important point about Maher's commentary: he was right. Show notes Join ACSH di...

The FDA has tried to fight opioid addiction by asking patients to mail their excess prescription pain meds to the agency for disposal. It's an absurd proposal. There's lots of anti-pesticide 'facts' floating around the internet; let's debunk the most popular of these claims.  Join ACSH directors of bio-sciences and chemistry Cameron English and Dr. Josh Bloom as they break down these stories...

We've been told for decades that less is more when it comes to salt in the diet. New research has thrown that conclusion into doubt. Can we identify children who may be at risk for SIDS before it suddenly and tragically strikes? Join ACSH directors of bio-sciences and medicine Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein as they break down these stories on episode 16 of the Science Dispatch podcast: A...

Everybody wants to protect our planet, but environmentalism long ago morphed into a radical progressive movement. Where did it go wrong? As the COVID pandemic gradually recedes, what do we know about ivermectin? Join ACSH directors of bio-sciences and chemistry Cameron English and Dr. Josh Bloom as they break down these stories on episode 15 of the Science Dispatch podcast: Earth Day 2022: Doomsda...

"Climate-anxious" college students are pushing to have low-risk  pesticides banned from their campuses. Meanwhile, states that have  legalized recreational marijuana use are concerned that their new policy  may cause more car accidents. We examine the science behind both  stories on episode 14 of the Science Dispatch podcast. One Toke Over the Median: Driving Stoned There is so...

Is widespread use of artificial sweeteners polluting our drinking water? If so, what do we do about it? Join us on the latest episode of the Science Dispatch podcast as we take a critical look at the evidence. 

The activist group GM has attacked gene-edited crops by alleging that they're designed to increase pesticide use. Is there any truth to this allegation? With millions of COVID vaccine doses administered since  December 2020, what have we learned about the risks associated with the  shots? Join ACSH directors of bio-sciences and medicine Cameron English and  Dr. Chuck Dinerstein as t...

Join ACSH directors of bio-sciences and chemistry, Cameron English and Dr. Josh Bloom, as they break down these stories: The 'Obesogen' Myth: Chemicals Don't Cause Weight Gain Environmental Working Group has again claimed that chemicals in food and consumer products are contributing to obesity. They are mistaken, embarrassingly so. Does An Omicron ‘Booster’ Make Sense? The FDA just voted to approv...

The FDA recently attempted to ban JUUL vaping products and announced a proposal to cut nicotine levels in combustible cigarettes. The policies are designed to reduce tobacco use—but will they? We have our doubts.  Stories discussed on this episode Let's talk about nicotine Nicotine has been in the news a lot between the plan to remove JUUL, a nicotine delivery system from the market, and the...

On episode 9 of the Science Dispatch Podcast, we examine data suggesting that type-2 diabetes may be due largely to genetics. We then break down a recent study which found that veganism leads to more weight loss than other common diets.  Join ACSH directors of bio-sciences and medicine, Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein, as they break down these stories: Good Genes, Good Diet ... or Bo...

On episode 8 of the Science Dispatch Podcast, we examine recent claims about the efficacy of Paxlovid. Is the COVID-19 drug as effective as experts thought it'd be? We then debunk an Epoch Times story alleging that the weedkiller glyphosate is lurking around every corner, just waiting to poison you and your children. Stories Discussed on this Episode: Paxlovid Doesn't Prevent You From Catching COV...

On episode 6 of the Science Dispatch Podcast, we review New York University's experiment to offer students free medical school, the goal being to push doctors into under-served communities and understaffed specialties. We then tackle a popular nutrition myth: the dementia-fighting benefits of blueberries. Articles discussed on this episode: The Impact of NYU's Match Blueberries: Miracle Food That...

On Episode 6 of the Science Dispatch Podcast, ACSH contributor Susan Goldhaber explains the genetic underpinnings of Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease affecting some 2.5 million Americans—including Jada Pinkett Smith. Now that Will Smith's so-called "slap heard 'round the world" has faded from the headlines, let's discuss the science behind the infamous Oscar meltdown. We then examine fiber's...

On Episode 5 of the Science Dispatch Podcast, ACSH contributor Dr. Barbara Billauer recounts the tragic story of the "Radium Girls," a cohort of young women who were gradually sickened and killed by occupational radium exposure in the early 20th century. Subsequent research has shown that their employers knew the girls were at risk, but denied culpability and continuously assured them that all was...

On Episode 4 of the ACSH Science Dispatch Podcast, we examine the need for COVID boosters and the increasingly irrelevant concept of herd  immunity. We then dive into an incendiary discussion about the social-justice-inspired effort to deny the risks of obesity, and "cancel culture" in science. Stories discussed: The Concept of Classical Herd Immunity May Not Apply What to Do About the Second...

On Episode 3 of the ACSH Science Dispatch Podcast, we examine how food shortages caused by the Ukraine war have pressured Europe to abandon its long-held GMO phobia. Is this the silver lining of a tragic situation? We then discuss the value of pesticides, using a recent NPR story about giant spiders as a springboard.  Ukraine War Exposes Folly of Anti-GMO Protectionism Beyond needless loss of...

On Episode 2 of the ACSH Science Disptach Podcast, we examine New York City's now-defunct COVID vaccine mandate. Did it work, why or why not? We then dive into recent research showing that, despite popular claims to the contrary, diet soda can help you safely lose weight.  Show notes: New York's Sports Vaccine Mandates Are Just Plain Nuts Diet Soda Wars: Do Sugar Substitutes Promote Obesity?...

How many IQ points have Americans lost due to lead exposure? A recent study put that figure at 824,097,690 million, though its conclusion probably doesn't mean what you think it means. Another recent paper also grabbed headlines by suggesting that consuming even small quantities of alcohol can shrink your brain. It's a shocking conclusion—and probably incorrect. Join the American Council on Scienc...