Month: September 2022

Impressive New Data on the Benefit of Childhood Vaccines

A new study adds compelling evidence that vaccines given to young children prevents disease and saves the lives of people of all ages. It may not be surprising, but it's nice to see. Spread the word.

/ September 30, 2022

How the “Don’t take this medication with grapefruit juice” warning originated

How a chance discovery by one scientist improved the safety of consumers worldwide.

/ September 29, 2022

Using Viruses to Treat Cancer

Engineering viruses to target cancer cells is an emerging and promising avenue for cancer treatment.

/ September 28, 2022

Guest Submissions: Can’t People Read?

Please review our guidelines for submitting a guest article before e-mailing me about one.

/ September 27, 2022
Censored

“Censorship” and “thoughtcrime”? Antivaxxers and COVID-19 contrarians attack California AB 2098

One of the oldest tropes favored by quacks of all stripes, including antivaxxers, is to portray any attempt at regulating their quackery as an assault on freedom of speech. It's therefore not surprising that after its passage by the California legislature prominent spreaders of COVID-19 misinformation are labeling AB2098, which seeks clarify and codify the power of the Medical Board of California...

/ September 26, 2022

Minimizing COVID Via Pseudo-Profound Bullshit

Some COVID-minimizers use "seemingly impressive assertions that are presented as true and meaningful but are actually vacuous" to fool people into thinking they are receiving profound, secret knowledge. It's actually just bullshit.

/ September 23, 2022

Alternative Reproduction?

Are there effective forms of SCAMs for birth control or reproduction? Of course not.

/ September 22, 2022

Study of Multivitamin Use and Memory

Routine multivitamins are likely not the best strategy for cognitive effects.

/ September 21, 2022

The Polypill Comes of Age

The polypill is effective for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. By combining drugs in a single pill, it improves convenience and compliance.

/ September 20, 2022

Dr. Vinay Prasad echoes a common antivax trope that portrays concern about a deadly disease as irrational fear

Before the pandemic, antivaxxers likened concern about childhood diseases to mental illness. In the age of COVID-19, Dr. Vinay Prasad accuses medicine of "legitimizing" irrational anxiety and says we should treat COVID like the flu—with one telling omission. In a recent paid Substack, he doubles down and accuses physicians and scientists of anxiety disorders that "interfere with people's lives".

/ September 19, 2022