Health

Psychedelic Drug Could Have Promising Future In Treatment Of Asthma

A potent psychedelic drug, DOI, was recently shown to be effective in treating asthma in a mouse model. Photo Credit: Flickr user KristyFaith. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The psychedelic drug DOI (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine) was invented by chemist Alexander Shulgin in the 1980s. Shulgin’s story itself is worth looking into. Over the course of his lifetime, in addition…

io9 Levi Gadye

The FDA Is Hiding Scientific Fraud, And You Should Be Pissed

When the FDA encounters instances of scientific misconduct, it buries the evidence. A recent investigation sheds light on the extent of the problem. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration – the agency tasked with protecting public health via regulation of everything from food safety to prescription drugs – occasionally encounters serious instances of misconduct in…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

This Contact Lens Is Actually a Tiny Telescope

This little cone of plastic that fits on your eyeball is an extremely thin telescope, and its zoom can be turned on and off with a simple wink of the eye. The contact lens, developed by researchers at Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and funded by DARPA, is a scleral lens, a type…

Health Sarah Zhang

Smoking Is Even Deadlier Than We Thought

Smoking is bad for you. You know this! Now, a long-term study of close to a million people has broadened our understanding of the harmful side-effects of smoking, and the results suggest tobacco is even more dangerous than previously believed. Photo Credit: Ferran Jordà | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 “A substantial portion of the excess mortality…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

How “Clean” Was Sold to America with Fake Science

The average American’s daily hygiene ritual would seem unusual—nay, obsessive—to our forebears a hundred years ago. From mouthwash to deodorant, most of our hygiene products were invented in the past century. To sell them, the advertising industry had to create pseudoscientific maladies like “bad breath” and “body odor.” Americans had to be convinced their breath…

Health Sarah Zhang

Researchers Slam 30-Year-Old Guidelines On Fatty Foods

For nearly three decades we’ve been told to avoid fatty foods, like butter and cheese. But new research suggests the guidelines introduced in the U.S. and U.K. “should not have been introduced” for lack of solid scientific evidence. These guidelines were introduced to the United States and United Kingdom in 1977 and 1983 respectively. Other…

io9 George Dvorsky

How Much [X] Could You Eat Before It Would Kill You?

Toxicologists have a saying that “the dose makes the poison,” meaning that anything and everything can kill you in large enough quantities. So here we take five incredibly common (and usually benign) foods and household items to their illogical conclusion. Ever contemplated eating 480 bananas? Don’t do it. While we’re on that note, this isn’t…

Health Sarah Zhang

Vaccine Advocates: Please Don’t Discriminate Against My Autistic Son

Public opinion has turned, sharply and loudly, in favor of supporting vaccines. Yay! It took an outbreak of measles at Disneyland for it to happen. Boo! (Your grandmother might have survived her measles, but for others it can be fatal.) Top image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images But even though formerly wishy washy types are now joining…

io9 Shannon Des Roches Rosa

Skin From Human Cadavers Helps Wounds Heal Better

Scientists have a promising if slightly grisly treatment for wounds: skin from human cadavers stripped of everything but its cells. Sound weird? Let me explain. Organ transplants are easy to understand; you take the whole organ and put it in a new body. But there are plenty of structures like ligaments, cartilage, the windpipe that…

Health Sarah Zhang

Canada’s Highest Court Affirms The Right To Doctor-Assisted Suicide

In a historic decision, the Canadian Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that adults who are mentally competent and suffering intolerably and permanently have the right to seek a doctor’s help in dying — and it doesn’t matter if that suffering is physical or psychological. For Canadians, this is a decision 22 years in the making.…

io9 George Dvorsky

The Site Where Doctors Share X-Rays of Weird Things in People’s Butts

You and me, we have Wikipedia. Radiologists, they have Radiopaedia. If you can get past the clinical language, you can see it for what it really is: An amazing cache of images that show the human body at its extreme limits. And a place to find (and share!) x-rays of weird stuff people have put…

Health Sarah Zhang

Could Genetically Engineered Bacteria in Your Colon Replace Vitamins?

It’s easy to forget how horrifying the effects of a vitamin deficiency can be. Each year, up to 500,000 children in the developing world go blind from lack of vitamin A, half of whom will then die within 12 months. The molecule that could save their lives is so well-studied and abundant, yet we haven’t…

Health Sarah Zhang

Fitbit Charge HR Review: This Is The One You Want

Fitbit is such a tease. In October, the company announced three new fitness trackers just in time for the holiday gift-giving season—but decided not to ship two of them till 2015. Well, having now spent time with the Charge, Charge HR, and Surge, we believe the Charge HR is the one you want. The $150…

Reviews Brent Rose

I Almost Replaced My Birth Control With an App

I don’t need to tell you there’s no great birth control option right now. Hormonal contraceptives are like a carnival ride for your mood, IUDs are physical sperm-gates that need to be shoved up your vaginal canal, and show me someone who tells you condoms feel good and I will show you a liar. That’s…

Health Kate Knibbs

This Is What It’s Like To Be An Unvaccinated Child

Vaccines save lives and prevent untold amounts of suffering. It’s that simple. And yet, still, many parents refuse to vaccinate their children. But what’s it like to be a child who isn’t vaccinated? Today, some people who missed out on childhood vaccinations tell us exactly. After reading this letter Roald Dahl wrote after the death…

io9 Ria Misra

How We’ll Finally Put An End To Organ Donation Shortages

The waiting list for organ transplants is growing at an alarming rate while the number of potential organ donors has failed to keep pace. Encouragingly, scientists are working several high-tech solutions in the field of regenerative medicine. We spoke to the experts to learn how organ shortages will soon become a thing of the past.…

io9 George Dvorsky

When You Lose Weight, Where Does The Fat Actually Go?

The answer to this question may surprise you. And in fact, according to a recent British Medical Journal article discussing this issue, few health professionals — including doctors, dieticians, and personal trainers — know the correct answer. First, let’s back up for a minute. When you consume calories beyond what your body needs, you will…

io9 Peter Janiszewski — PLOS Blogs

How Obama Will Spend The $215 Million Pledged To Precision Medicine

In an effort to make the current “one-size-fits-all” approach to medicine a thing of the past, the Obama administration has unveiled details about its Precision Medicine Initiative, an exciting and ambitious approach to personalizing the way we treat an assortment of diseases. Obama announced the initiative during his recent State of the Union address, saying…

io9 George Dvorsky

The Onion Lampoons Vaccination Exemption

“Regardless of what anyone else thinks, I fully stand behind my choices as a mom, including my choice not to vaccinate my son, because it is my fundamental right as a parent to decide which eradicated diseases come roaring back.” This would be even funnier, if the whole anti-vaxxer mess weren’t so genuinely awful. http://www.theonion.com/articles/i-dont-vaccinate-my-child-because-its-my-right-to,37839/…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

Hero Teacher, Banned From Demoing Condom-Use, Demos ‘Sock-Use’ Instead

Mississippi boasts some of the highest rates of teen childbirth and young-adult HIV in the United States. It also prohibits “any demonstration of how condoms or other contraceptives are applied.” What’s a responsible sex educator to do? Why, demonstrate how to properly apply a sock, of course! As laudable as this teacher’s workaround is, we…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

Psychedelic Drug Could Have Promising Future In Treatment Of Asthma

The FDA Is Hiding Scientific Fraud, And You Should Be Pissed

This Contact Lens Is Actually a Tiny Telescope

Smoking Is Even Deadlier Than We Thought

How “Clean” Was Sold to America with Fake Science

Researchers Slam 30-Year-Old Guidelines On Fatty Foods

How Much [X] Could You Eat Before It Would Kill You?

Vaccine Advocates: Please Don’t Discriminate Against My Autistic Son

Skin From Human Cadavers Helps Wounds Heal Better

Canada’s Highest Court Affirms The Right To Doctor-Assisted Suicide

The Site Where Doctors Share X-Rays of Weird Things in People’s Butts

Could Genetically Engineered Bacteria in Your Colon Replace Vitamins?

Fitbit Charge HR Review: This Is The One You Want

I Almost Replaced My Birth Control With an App

This Is What It’s Like To Be An Unvaccinated Child

How We’ll Finally Put An End To Organ Donation Shortages

When You Lose Weight, Where Does The Fat Actually Go?

How Obama Will Spend The $215 Million Pledged To Precision Medicine

The Onion Lampoons Vaccination Exemption

Hero Teacher, Banned From Demoing Condom-Use, Demos ‘Sock-Use’ Instead

AirPods Pro 3 Still at Their Lowest Price While Apple Gradually Pulls Back Amazon’s Spring Sale Offers

With Fire TV Stick 4K Max at 42% Off, Amazon’s Streaming Device Deals Build Momentum in the Spring Sale

The ‘Project Hail Mary’ Party Continues With a Manga Adaptation

No More Cheese Grater: The Mac Pro Is Discontinued

Even the ‘Avatar’ Fighting Game Is Disrespecting ‘Legend of Korra’

Bluesky Has a New App, and It’s All About AI

Dammit, Jim, He’s a Doctor And an Action Figure!

Whatever Just Happened with ‘Fruit Love Island,’ Nobody Won

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Let us help find what you are looking for...

Health

Psychedelic Drug Could Have Promising Future In Treatment Of Asthma

The FDA Is Hiding Scientific Fraud, And You Should Be Pissed

This Contact Lens Is Actually a Tiny Telescope

Smoking Is Even Deadlier Than We Thought

How “Clean” Was Sold to America with Fake Science

Researchers Slam 30-Year-Old Guidelines On Fatty Foods

How Much [X] Could You Eat Before It Would Kill You?

Vaccine Advocates: Please Don’t Discriminate Against My Autistic Son

Skin From Human Cadavers Helps Wounds Heal Better

Canada’s Highest Court Affirms The Right To Doctor-Assisted Suicide

The Site Where Doctors Share X-Rays of Weird Things in People’s Butts

Could Genetically Engineered Bacteria in Your Colon Replace Vitamins?

Fitbit Charge HR Review: This Is The One You Want

I Almost Replaced My Birth Control With an App

This Is What It’s Like To Be An Unvaccinated Child

How We’ll Finally Put An End To Organ Donation Shortages

When You Lose Weight, Where Does The Fat Actually Go?

How Obama Will Spend The $215 Million Pledged To Precision Medicine

The Onion Lampoons Vaccination Exemption

Hero Teacher, Banned From Demoing Condom-Use, Demos ‘Sock-Use’ Instead

AirPods Pro 3 Still at Their Lowest Price While Apple Gradually Pulls Back Amazon’s Spring Sale Offers

With Fire TV Stick 4K Max at 42% Off, Amazon’s Streaming Device Deals Build Momentum in the Spring Sale

The ‘Project Hail Mary’ Party Continues With a Manga Adaptation

No More Cheese Grater: The Mac Pro Is Discontinued

Even the ‘Avatar’ Fighting Game Is Disrespecting ‘Legend of Korra’

Bluesky Has a New App, and It’s All About AI

Dammit, Jim, He’s a Doctor *And* an Action Figure!

Whatever Just Happened with ‘Fruit Love Island,’ Nobody Won

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Let us help find what you are looking for...

Dammit, Jim, He’s a Doctor And an Action Figure!