To unblind or not to unblind? That is the question about clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines
Antivaccine alternative health tycoon Joe Mercola claims that the unblinding of participants in the clinical trials of Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines was intended to "blow up the trials" and undermine the science, making it impossible ever to identify long term adverse events. What he's really doing is deceptively oversimplifying complex ethical and scientific issues surrounding these trials in the middle of...
Deaths and Excess Deaths in Brazil
By misinterpreting excess mortality statistics, Nobel Laureate Michael Levitt minimizes the significance of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil (and also America).
Catgut Acupuncture
Catgut acupuncture is but one example of how acupuncture's basis in pseudoscience provides an infinitely malleable template for fabricated mechanisms of action and feigned health benefits.
Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy
After being stalled for decades, viral vector gene therapy is poised for a revolution in therapeutics.
Update on Energy Medicine Pain Patches: Jovi and Its Targeted Marketing Strategy
For many women, cramps are a regular feature of their menstrual periods. Jovi is being marketed as a cure. It isn't. It's just more energy medicine pain patch nonsense.
Christian Elliot’s “18 Reasons I Won’t Be Getting a Covid Vaccine”: Viral antivaccine misinformation
Christian Elliot is a self-proclaimed "natural health nerd" and entrepreneur who recently published 18 reasons why he wouldn't take the COVID-19 vaccine. Unfortunately, it's viral disinformation based on conspiracy theories, bad science, pseudoscience, and nonsense.
Adverse Events Linked to Pediatric “Alternative Medicine” in the Netherlands
A study out of the Netherlands documented pediatric adverse events associated with complementary and alternative medicine over three years. Thankfully there weren't a lot of kids harmed, but when there is no potential benefit from an intervention, even one is way too many.
Ivermectin is the new hydroxychloroquine
Ivermectin has been touted as a potential antiviral to treat COVID-19 infections. There is no good evidence it is effective.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine and Blood Clots
Reports of blood clots with the J&J vaccine are very similar to AstraZeneca, with a similar dilemma.
Lose Weight without Diet or Exercise? Where’s the Proof?
Can an obese person lose 52 pounds in 28 days without diet or exercise, by simply taking this pill? Yeah, sure! Pull the other one!