- Asia, Africa Cause 90% of Plastic Pollution in World's Oceans https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/07/26/asia-africa-cause-90-plastic-pollution-worlds-oceans-13233 13 comments environment
- Data pertaining to deaths due to Covid classified into groups of age and race. https://www.acsh.org/news/2020/06/23/coronavirus-covid-deaths-us-age-race-14863 7 comments science
- A new study reveals that nearly 40% of Europeans want to "live in a world where chemical substances don't exist"; 82% didn't know that table salt is table salt, whether it is extracted from the ocean or made synthetically. https://www.acsh.org/news/2019/12/18/chemophobia-nearly-40-europeans-want-chemical-free-world-14465 154 comments europe
- From 2000 to 2018, global incidence of measles fell by 2/3, and more than 23 million lives were saved by vaccines. This good news, however, is tempered by disturbing regional trends. Over the same time period, measles incidence doubled in Europe and increased by 1100% in the Americas. https://www.acsh.org/news/2019/12/05/measles-cases-1100-americas-2000-down-globally-66-14441 4 comments science
- Scientists believe that starving cancer cells of their favorite foods may be an effective way to inhibit tumor growth. Now, a group has developed a new molecule called Glutor that blocks a cancer cell’s ability to uptake and metabolize glucose. The drug works against 44 different cancers in vitro. https://www.acsh.org/news/2019/10/02/starving-cancer-cutting-its-favorite-foods-glucose-and-glutamine-14314 907 comments science
- Scientists uncover evidence that our free will isn't as free as we think. Using mice, they found that complex behaviors like searching for food are the result of gene expression, which itself varies with age as well as with the various versions of the genes inherited from the parents. https://www.acsh.org/news/2019/08/13/can-we-blame-our-behavior-our-genes-bad-genes-14216 46 comments science
- With the purpose of creating better recyclable plastics, chemists have discovered a way to convert aspirin into plastic and then back to aspirin. https://www.acsh.org/news/2019/07/01/painless-route-recyclable-plastic-aspirin-polymers-14127 3 comments science
- Young Chinese and American children show marked differences in abstract thinking. Though the reason is unknown, researchers hypothesize that Americans' preference for teaching nouns first and the Chinese preference for teaching verbs first may explain the difference. https://www.acsh.org/news/2019/06/25/out-mouths-babes-language-evolutionary-force-14112 55 comments science
- Purposefully mislabeling conventional food as ”organic” is one type of food fraud that can be difficult to detect. Now, using isotope analysis, chemists have shown an ability to discriminate between conventional and organic milk. https://www.acsh.org/news/2019/01/07/chemists-can-determine-if-organic-milk-fraudulent-13711 313 comments science
- New research from Scotland shows that when that country lowered its legal blood alcohol level from 0.08 g/dL to 0.05 g/dL, there was no change in the number of motor vehicle accidents. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/12/13/words-over-deeds-lowering-legal-blood-alcohol-levels-alone-does-not-reduce-accidents-13665 169 comments science
- Using a mathematical model, researchers show how a society can become polarized, even if everybody is acting in good faith to pursue the truth. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/11/28/polarization-society-even-scientists-become-tribal-13628 969 comments science
- 1 in 4 Statisticians Say They Were Asked to Commit Scientific Fraud https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/10/30/1-4-statisticians-say-they-were-asked-commit-scientific-fraud-13554 5 comments science
- 1 in 4 Statisticians Say They Were Asked to Commit Scientific Fraud https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/10/30/1-4-statisticians-say-they-were-asked-commit-scientific-fraud-13554 3 comments nottheonion
- A new "kill and release" antibacterial surface that kills about 95% of bacteria has been engineered. When it is washed with a salt solution, the surface ejects the dead bacteria, after which it can be rinsed with water and used again. These surfaces can help fight the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/07/11/kill-and-release-antibacterial-surface-13182 18 comments science
- Fish that live in caves often adapt by becoming blind. However, relatively few fish species are capable of making this evolutionary transition. Now, researchers have possibly discovered why: Living in permanent darkness triggers spinal deformities in developing fish embryos. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/07/06/darkness-may-cause-spinal-abnormalities-cave-fish-13163 3 comments science
- A new study shows that 51% of people would undergo a cancer screen, even if told it doesn’t extend life, doesn’t reduce risk of death, and could lead to unnecessary treatment. It provides further evidence of “action bias”: i.e., "doing something,” even if useless, is better than not doing something. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/06/18/americans-want-cancer-screens-even-if-told-screen-worthless-13094 10 comments science
- Mosquitoes transmit a wide variety of diseases, like malaria and dengue, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. This makes vaccine development a challenge. Now, researchers have proposed a vaccine that targets mosquito saliva, which could protect humans from many different kinds of mosquito-borne viruses. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/06/12/could-single-vaccine-prevent-multiple-diseases-spread-mosquitoes-13073 31 comments science
- New research has shown that a urine test can determine if a person has a severe allergy to a specific substance, such as ragweed. Patients would sniff the allergen then provide a urine sample. In the future, this test could serve as a partial replacement for the itchy skin prick test. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/05/18/allergy-skin-prick-test-could-one-day-be-replaced-sniff-and-pee-test-12984 3 comments science
- Scientists have used DNA sequencing to determine the biological sex of a 4,000-year-old decapitated mummy's head. Their results demonstrate that DNA sequencing is possible from even highly damaged specimens, which could be quite useful for forensics. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/04/04/modern-forensics-solved-mystery-4000-year-old-decapitated-mummy-head-12796 19 comments science
- Microbiologists have discovered that E. coli, a common gut bacterium, can launch a coordinated, preemptive assault against other bacteria it deems to be a threat. This collective behavior protects them from competitors, mirroring the evolution of alarm calling among social animals. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/02/06/mortal-kombat-e-coli-edition-12531 6 comments science
- Rotavirus vaccines, which prevent a highly contagious diarrheal disease in children, has had a positive unexpected consequence: It has also reduced hospitalizations due to seizures in children. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/01/18/rotavirus-vaccines-do-more-prevent-diarrhea-12421 9 comments science
- Across natural (non-farm) habitats all over the world, the western honey bee is the most common pollinator, responsible for 13% of flower visits. Researchers also found that 5% of the plant species they studied were exclusively visited by honey bees. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/01/16/honey-bees-1-pollinator-both-crops-and-wild-plants-12426 9 comments science
- When an infectious disease cannot be contained, ants engage in “destructive disinfection.” Researchers exposed ant pupae (developing “babies”) to a fungus. The pupae were groomed to remove any signs of the fungus. Then, they were sprayed with formic acid, leaving behind a heavily damaged corpse. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/01/15/ants-treat-infections-extreme-prejudice-destructive-disinfection-12412 6 comments science
- A common food additive called trehalose (a type of sugar) appears to have worsened the ongoing epidemic of Clostridium difficile, a dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacterium that kills roughly 15,000 to 29,000 Americans each year. https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/01/04/food-additive-may-be-worsening-clostridium-difficile-epidemic-12367 3 comments science
- Researchers are looking for a non-toxic drug that increases melanin (skin pigmentation) as a way to prevent melanoma (a type of skin cancer). To test their drug, they injected it into a green lizards, which turned entirely black within 1 minute and remained that way for 24 hours. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/12/06/what-do-racially-ambivalent-lizards-amy-winehouse-canonical-amino-acids-and-melanoma-have-common-12225 118 comments science
- Medical X-rays are one of the largest sources of radiation that humans receive, which is why doctors are often hesitant to perform them. Now, a new algorithm could reduce radiation from medical X-rays by thousands-fold. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/11/29/algorithm-could-reduce-radiation-medical-x-rays-thousands-fold-12213 492 comments science
- Evolution sometimes forces two species to survive together. Researchers have discovered that a beetle has outsourced a key metabolic function to a bacterium in its gut, while the bacterium has lost most of its genes and evolved one of the world's tiniest known genomes. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/11/27/insect-outsources-key-metabolism-bacterium-tiny-genome-12188 14 comments science
- Interoception is a sort of “sixth sense” that allows us to be aware of the internal workings of our body, such as heartbeat and breathing. New research shows that professional dancers have enhanced interoception, which suggests that this sense can be trained. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/11/07/dancers-sixth-sense-interoception-12100 8 comments science
- The measles vaccine has saved more than 20 million lives globally since 2000. The number of annual measles deaths has fallen by 84%, from about 550,000 in 2000 to just under 90,000 in 2016. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/11/01/measles-vaccine-has-saved-more-20-million-lives-globally-2000-12072 320 comments science
- Even after controlling for height, women find men with slightly longer legs than average to be more attractive. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/10/28/men-slightly-longer-legs-are-more-attractive-women-12044 46 comments science
- Teens Are Sleep-Deprived, And Screens Are Why, Study Suggests - beginning in 2009 when smartphone use became widespread, there was a 17% increase of students reporting sleeping 7 hours or less per night, which sleep experts term as insufficient. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/10/19/teens-are-sleep-deprived-and-screens-are-why-study-suggests-11989 2328 comments science
- Researchers compared 20 veterans who had attempted suicide with 20 similar veterans who had not. Those who attempted suicide exhibited different patterns of gene expression, hinting at the existence of biological markers that could predict which patients may attempt suicide. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/10/20/gene-expression-patterns-linked-suicide-attempts-veterans-11997 53 comments science
- New research shows that dogs in an unfamiliar room synchronize their body movements with their owners. If the owner was standing, the dog stopped moving. If the owner was walking, the dog walked, too. If the owner was looking at the front of the room, so was the dog. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/10/06/dogs-synchronize-body-movements-humans-11933 76 comments science
- Ancient documents decay over time. Now, scientists have hypothesized that a succession of microbes are responsible for the "purple spots" that indicate deterioration. Their analysis was based on a nearly 800-year-old parchment made of goat skin from the Vatican Secret Archives. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/09/19/purple-spots-ancient-documents-indicate-deterioration-microbes-11844 3 comments science
- Like politicians, new research shows that scientists often "spin" their data to make it sound more important or convincing than it actually is. Interestingly, studies funded by industry were no likelier to have spin than studies that were not funded by industry. https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/09/16/politicians-scientists-spin-their-data-make-it-sound-better-11824 25 comments science
- A Lethal Injection For Tumors: "... a team of researchers from Duke University has shown that injecting an ethanol-based gel directly into a specific type of tumor, called squamous cell carcinoma, resulted in a 100% cure rate in a hamster model." https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/09/02/ethanol-lethal-injection-tumors-11779 9 comments worldnews
- Not Blowing Smoke, Vaping Works | American Council on Science and Health https://www.acsh.org/news/2017/08/22/not-blowing-smoke-vaping-works-11726 32 comments science
- A new study shows that white-collar jobs (such as legal, management, finance, and computing) are linked to ALS and Parkinson's. This came as a surprise, since it was thought that these diseases may be linked to environmental pollutants and working in lower socioeconomic occupations. http://www.acsh.org/news/2017/07/24/are-white-collar-jobs-linked-als-parkinsons-11596 6 comments science
- The spice saffron may have an intrinsic ability to fight cancer. New research has shown that a compound in saffron blocks an enzyme that cancer uses to grow. http://www.acsh.org/news/2017/07/20/does-saffron-fight-cancer-plausible-biological-mechanism-11587 1625 comments science
- Hoax Science Paper Says Penis Is a Social Construct that Worsens Climate Change http://www.acsh.org/news/2017/05/19/hoax-science-paper-says-penis-social-construct-worsens-climate-change-11302 20 comments nottheonion