ACSH Science Dispatch

Drug prohibition hasn't worked. Illicit opioids continue to kill thousands of Americans each year, and the problem grows worse as the illegal drug supply becomes increasingly toxic. With such a lackluster track record, is it time to consider a more radical solution to the overdose epidemic? ACSH science advisor and addiction medicine specialist Dr. Lynn Webster joins us to discuss safe injection sites—medically supervised facilities where addicts can use drugs—as a tool to reduce overdoses. Is this a sensible public health intervention, or a dangerous policy that enables destructive behavior?

You can be religious or you can be scientific—you certainly can’t be both. That’s the framing many people bring to discussions where faith and evidence intersect. But is it really a fair way to approach the issue? No, say Dr. Chuck Dinerstein and Cam English on this episode of The Science Dispatch. Historically, science and religion were close allies. Letting them collaborate again could offer better insight into some of our most pressing health and scientific questions.

Ketogenic diets can help some obese people lose a significant amount of weight when their health is at risk. But in recent months, social media influencers have also credited these very low-carb diets with a far more remarkable effect: treating, or even curing, schizophrenia. Is there any truth to this claim, or is it just another social media fad racing ahead of the evidence?

Dr. Jess Steier, founder of Unbiased Science, joins Ana and Cam on this episode to break down her most effective misinfo-fighting techniques. In a digital ecosystem where experts are often drowned out by health gurus pushing supplements and e-books, Dr. Steier has built a massive audience of curious consumers seeking science-based answers—attracting more than 350,000 followers on Instagram alone. How do you communicate a nuanced scientific perspective on hot-button issues like COVID or nicotine vaping? And how do scientists balance the willingness to change their minds (a core part of the job) with confidently defending vaccines, GMOs, and other proven innovations? Join us on this episode of the show to find out.

Nuclear power: it's safe, sustainable and affordable. Yet the public knows very little about the technology—save for a flawed memory of a few misunderstood power plant accidents. This ignorance has been used by critics to stifle the technology, limiting the world's access to reliable, low-carbon power. On this episode of Science Dispatch, we're joined by physicist Edward Friedman, who helps us break down some of the most popular myths and misconceptions about nuclear energy.

Science has improved our lives in countless ways. Our food is safer than ever, once-deadly diseases are preventable, and we have sustainable energy like nuclear power. Yet few people appreciate this progress—because our social media feeds are flooded with endless pseudoscience. Here's how one scientist is fighting back.

RFK, Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement hinges on the assumption that our country was once far healthier than it is today. The problem? It never was. By almost every metric, Americans lead longer, healthier lives now than their ancestors ever did. Let's take a closer look at the evidence.

Why do some people get goosebumps from a song while others hear the exact same notes…and feel nothing? New research reveals “musical anhedonia” — a real brain disconnect where music hits your ears but never reaches the reward center. It’s not picky taste, but a fascinating finding from neurology. Let's take a closer look.

On this episode of Science Dispatch, we take a look at the radiation oncology experience from the perspective of a patient (and radiation expert) who endured 28 mornings of this common but misunderstood therapy. What does the science say about efficacy and side effects? Perhaps more importantly, what can other patients expect from this experience?

Recent research suggests that regular omega-3 intake from supplements is linked to a modest reduction in cardiovascular events—but the benefits are smaller than many headlines suggest, and not everyone experiences them. Who actually gains protection? Let's take a look.

On this episode of Science Dispatch, we dive into the latest Kīlauea eruption and the alarming chemistry behind the air people are breathing. The volcano is releasing massive amounts of sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrochloric acid, and other nasty gases—creating vog (volcanic smog) that irritates lungs, eyes, and skin, especially for sensitive groups. Here's what you need to know.

Non-sugar sweeteners are neither miracle cures for obesity nor hidden health threats. Recent evidence shows they can modestly support weight loss, help reduce sugar intake and fit safely into a balanced diet. The "uncomfortable truth" is clear: these sweeteners are context-dependent tools, not standalone solutions. Over-relying on them or ignoring overall eating patterns won't deliver big results. Let's take a closer look.

In a strange turn of events, The Lancet—one of the world's oldest medical journals—has taken a line you might expect to hear from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., declaring "ultra-processed" food a driver of chronic disease. Is there any evidence behind this association, or are we just dealing with academic snobs who can't appreciate the benefits of convenient, abundant food?

With highly potent and (sometimes) legal marijuana widely available across the US, emergency rooms are reporting an increase in cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), an unpleasant condition characterized by screaming and vomiting—"scromiting" in the vernacular. The condition is yet more evidence that marijuana’s reputation as a low-risk drug is undeserved.

What does science tell us about gluten sensitivity? Depending on whom you ask, it's either a heal scare advanced by social media grifters or a legitimate medical condition that afflicts many people. Let's take a closer look to separate fact from myth.

The story everyone knows about the opioid epidemic goes like this: Big, bad Purdue Pharma aggressively marketed its potent painkiller OxyContin, hooking legions of unsuspecting Americans on the pharmaceutical equivalent of heroin. It's a compelling tale—and it's wrong in almost of its particulars. Let's take a closer look.

In the high-stakes arena of cancer drug development, SU212 was engineered as a safer twist on podophyllotoxin—a toxic killer designed to halt rogue cell division. Yet in a twist worthy of scientific serendipity, it veered off course, bypassing its intended target entirely and stumbling upon a superior mark. SU212 starves aggressive cancers, slashing growth with scant harm to healthy cells. This off-script pivot echoes drug history's happy accidents. Let's talk about how luck can lead to scientific breakthroughs.

Following the emergence of COVID-19, "follow the science" became a stark ideological divide that pitted one American against another. This partisan framing weaponized the scientific method instead of letting it solve a critical public-health crisis. Is it time to abandon this unhelpful slogan and rethink our broken understanding of science?

"You have cancer." It's a life-changing (and sometimes life-ending) development—a horrible piece of news no one is really ever prepared to receive. Are there better and worse ways to react? Can you do anything to improve your prognosis? Dr. Chuck Dinerstein answers these questions while recounting his harrowing experience with prostate cancer.

Social media is awash in testimonials from anonymous men who claim that testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) helped them beat depression, sexual dysfunction, obesity and other maladies that often impact men as they age. Such compelling endorsements no doubt appeal to others who struggle with these critical health issues, but do they stand up to scientific scrutiny? Let's take a closer look.

Experiencing heartburn? Then consuming an acidic product like apple cider vinegar isn't the solution. The logic is simple: if you've got excess stomach acid, more acid won't help. But up is down in the world of alternative medicine, so let's take a closer look at the bad chemistry behind this "natural" treatment for acid reflux.

A groundbreaking retinal implant, PRIMA, is restoring central vision in patients with geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of macular degeneration that blinds roughly 1 million Americans. Unlike drugs that slow progression, this wireless neurostimulation system captures real-world images, projects them onto a subretinal chip, and electrically stimulates surviving retinal cells to mimic natural sight. Are we nearing a paradigm shift in how we treat vision loss?

The trillions of microbes that live in and on the human body—collectively known as the microbiome—appear to have profoundly important effects on our health. This raises a potential concern: some of our most significant public health interventions—vaccines, antibiotics, sanitation—are designed to kill or limit exposure to harmful germs. Have we gone too far in our war against microbial exposure? Let's take a closer look.

How much fiber do you really need to maintain optimal metabolic health? Ferocious partisans on either side of the debate will give you opposing answers, each supported by superficially compelling scientific evidence. But who's actually telling you the truth? It's complicated.

In early October, Brazil faced a nationwide health emergency as adulterated alcohol, primarily white spirits like vodka and cachaça, was laced with toxic methanol—an industrial chemical used to falsely boost alcohol content. Authorities suspect organized crime diluted liquor to evade taxes or increase profits, triggering widespread contamination that sickened hundreds of people—with symptoms like blinding headaches, vomiting, and organ failure—and killed at least 10 people. Are there any public health lessons to learn from this tragic episode?

Yet another junk epidemiological study claims that "ultra-processed" foods are addictive. The research is little more than a conclusion desperately in search of evidence. Let's take a look at its critical flaws.

We should genetically engineer ticks and release them into the environment, so they can infect people with a meat allergy. That's a real—and thoroughly wicked—proposal from two bioethicists at Western Michigan University. Join us as we dissect possibly the dumbest idea the academy has ever produced.

The digital revolution has radically shifted how we consume information. Reading lengthy think pieces and books has given way to limitless hours of doom scrolling and streaming. The widespread access to content enabled by internet access has many upsides, but are we really wired for our new tech-saturated environment? Let's take a closer look.

Last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. launched a new wave of hysteria by announcing that Tylenol could be linked to autism. The result was a predictable partisan squabble with both sides lining up behind their preferred studies and experts. Let's put aside the partisanship and try to make sense of the competing scientific claims.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s supporters are eager to rein in direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ads, claiming they mislead Americans about important health topics. But this anti-pharma coalition faces an awkward dilemma. After pushing regulatory rollbacks at FDA last year, they're now hindered by the very limitations on agency authority they demanded. Do we need to ban pharma ads, and is there a viable way to do it?

Join Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein on Episode 135 of the Science Dispatch podcast as they discuss: Genes and heart health: Is there a specific gene that increases heart-disease risk in black people? More importantly, does that knowledge improve our ability to treat individual patients? Fragmented health care: Why is medicine so compartmentalized—divided into isolated specialties that treat specific body organs and ailments—and does this fragmentation hinder patient care?

In the last four years, 27 US states have enacted bans or severe restrictions on so-called "gender-affirming care" for children—a marked increase from just one state in 2021. Some experts say the rapid shift in the legal landscape is premature because science has yet to provide a definitive answer about the risks and benefits of the drugs and surgeries utilized to transition children. Does this argument stand up to scrutiny? Let's take a closer look.

“The stricter the law enforcement, the more dangerous the drug.” That’s how ACSH advisor and Cato Institute senior fellow Dr. Jeffrey Singer describes the iron law of prohibition, which he argues is driving America’s overdose epidemic. How do we reverse this alarming trend? Legalize all drugs. Dr. Singer joins us on a special episode of Science Dispatch to make that case.

You asked, we answered. Join Cam English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein on the latest episode of Science Dispatch as we tackle your questions about health and medicine. This week, we examine the risks and benefits of protein supplements, caffeine pouches and cold plunges.

The use of a newer class of opioids, nitazenes, is growing across the US. Once rarely seen in illicit markets before 2019, the drugs have been found on nearly every continent at this point. Their elevated potency—250 to 900 times stronger than morphine for the most common nitazene—makes them far deadlier than heroin and fentanyl. Can we slow or stop the use of these opioids before they do more damage?

Eating more calories earlier in the day may improve your insulin sensitivity, boosting your metabolic health and aiding weight management. Was "breakfast like a king, dinner like a pauper" right all along? Maybe. Recent genetics research might help validate this age-old nutritional wisdom.

Americans are regularly exposed to low levels of radiation during CT scans, fueling media speculation that this routine medical procedure is driving a cancer epidemic. Is there any truth to the CT scan-cancer association? Let's look at the data.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is once again warning about the supposed dangers posed by mercury-containing vaccines. "I’m proud to finally deliver on a long-overdue promise: protecting our most vulnerable from unnecessary mercury exposure," he tweeted in early August. Kennedy was celebrating the removal of the preservative thimerosal from a small fraction of seasonal flu vaccines. The problem? He bungled basic chemistry in his rush to (once again) badmouth immunization. Let's take a look.

A growing body of research suggests that your gut microbiome can influence your health in a variety of subtle but important ways, and the foods you consume can have an upstream effect on the health of these trillions of microbes residing in your digestive system. An ACSH reader asks whether the widely used sweetener high fructose corn syrup should be avoided for that reason. Let's take a look.

Smoking kills hundreds of thousands of Americans annually. As this death toll mounts, studies continue to show that nicotine vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking and far more effective than FDA-approved cessation therapies like nicotine gum. Why, then, do so many public health experts malign vaping as a threat? Let's take a closer look

America's political debate over gun violence is a perennial food fight about the ethics of restricting access to firearms. While this makes for entertaining news clips on X, it doesn't get to the heart of the problem—namely that gun violence isn't monolithic. Some populations are more likely to commit homicide while others are more inclined to suicide. Stemming the country's violent streak requires a more nuanced approach. What could that look like?

The White House recently disclosed that President Trump experiences chronic venous insufficiency, possibly intended to head off concerns that he suffers from a serious age-related health condition that could impair his ability to govern. This raises an important question: are high-level government officials entitled to medical privacy when their illnesses could affect their decision-making ability?

Will chronic cardio or regular weight-lifting sessions add years to your life? Conventional wisdom says "yes," though emerging research suggests that your exercise habits and your lifespan are more heavily influenced by your genetics than previously thought. Let's untangle the latest knot in the nature vs. nurture debate.

Have we discovered the ideal source of energy? A recent study in Nature describes a newly synthesized chemical called hexanitrogen. Containing no carbon, it produces zero greenhouse emissions and decomposes into pure nitrogen. But...there's a catch. Is this a groundbreaking rocket fuel, or just cool chemistry that will be confined to the laboratory? Let's discuss.

Contrary to popular belief, osteoarthritis may not just be the result of wear and tear accrued over the course of a long life. New evidence points to a deeper evolutionary explanation for why our joints ache in old age. Let's take a look.

A team of unsuspecting lawyers asked us to help promote their litigation targeting baby food makers, falsely alleging their products contain harmful levels of heavy metals. The poor souls running this firm didn't realize what ACSH does. Let's take a close look at their claims about food safety and reassure parents that their kids aren't in harm's way.

Kidney stones are excruciatingly miserable, causing intense, unrelenting pain—often described as worse than childbirth. These hard mineral deposits form in the kidneys and can lodge in the urinary tract, causing sharp, stabbing sensations in the back or abdomen. Here's perhaps the worse chemistry lesson you'll ever learn.

Despite dramatically increasing the national debt, the Trump Administration has made controversial cuts to federal funding for research, including critical areas like vaccine development and disease prevention. Many scientists warn that these reductions threaten public health advancements and technological innovation. Have these cuts crossed a line? Let’s take a look.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are transforming weight loss and diabetes management. But no good deed goes unpunished, and the manufacturers of these medicines now face a wave of lawsuits, with plaintiffs claiming they weren't warned about rare but sometimes serious side effects. Is this litigation driven by solid evidence, or are the tort lawyers out for yet another unearned payday? Let's take a look.

Science thrives on challenge, not conformity. Many scientists would agree with that statement, yet they often equate truth with expert consensus, at least when talking to the public. Since scientific disputes are really settled by evidence and not a show of hands, perhaps it's time for experts to abandon consensus and focus on a more accurate concept—convergence.