Don’t Jump to Conclusions About So-Called TikTok Tics

A lot of people, even some experts, are making assumptions about so-called "TikTok tics" that might be inaccurate or even harmful for young people with Tourette syndrome.

, / October 29, 2021

The Anti-Vaccine Movement Supports Big Pharma

It's common knowledge that anti-vaxxers are dedicated to filling the coffers of Big Coffin.  Simple math leads to another obvious conclusion: they also work extremely hard to enrich hospitals and Big Pharma. 

/ October 28, 2021

Mini-Brains for Disease Research

New research on organoid "mini-brains" highlights the potential of this new kind of scientific research.

/ October 27, 2021

Guide to the Emergency Department

This book is a handy reference that explains what happens when you visit the Emergency Department and provides tips on how you can handle some problems at home.

/ October 26, 2021
Hacker

How we got here with political and health misinformation: The case of “Hacker X” and Mike Adams

Ars Technica recently published a story about Hacker X, who helped Mike Adams expand his online empire of health fraud into an empire of fake news and political disinformation, thus intertwining health and political misinformation into the deadly combination we see now.

/ October 25, 2021

The Road to Hitler is Paved with… Masks and Vaccines?

The next time a healthcare worker or educator is attacked by a "freedom-loving" anti-vaxxer, it's reasonable to wonder who convinced the assailant that life-saving public health measures are in fact a ruse to pave the way for the next Hitler. Warning: This article contains offensive images about the Holocaust and sexual assault

/ October 22, 2021

Legislative Alchemy: Naturopathic licensing bill now before Wisconsin Senate Committee

Naturopaths are pushing for licensing in Wisconsin with a bill allowing them to practice as primary care doctors, prescribe drugs, and employ quack diagnostic testing and remedies. A powerful regulatory board controlled by naturopaths could expand their scope of practice at will.

/ October 21, 2021

Experts Abused for Talking to the Public

Nature survey finds that most media experts talking about COVID are facing threats and attacks.

/ October 20, 2021

Laser Therapy for Vaginal Rejuvenation

Some doctors are offering laser therapy for "vaginal rejuvenation". It is no more effective than placebo, can cause harm, and is very expensive.

/ October 19, 2021
Lab mice

Even in a pandemic, bait-and-switch acupuncture studies still get published in Nature

Last week, a study claiming to have identified a neurologic mechanism by which acupuncture reduces inflammation was published in Nature. It does no such thing. it's another bait-and-switch mouse study that likely would never have been published in such a high profile journal if it hadn't rebranded electrical stimulation as "electroacupuncture".

/ October 18, 2021