American Council on Science and Health

01/09/2026

The Ethics or Lack Thereof of Hepatitis B Vaccine Trials in Africa

The Tuskegee syphilis study stands as one of the greatest moral failures in American medical history, a reminder of what happens when vulnerable people are treated as expendable in the name of research. The safeguards created in its aftermath were meant to ensure such abuses never happen again—but a new, CDC-funded study in West Africa raises disturbing questions about whether those lessons are being forgotten.

The Tuskegee syphilis study stands as one of the greatest moral failures in American medical history, a reminder of what happens when vulnerable people are treated as expendable in the name of research. The safeguards created in its aftermath were meant to ensure such abuses never happen again—but...

01/09/2026

Judging Junk Science: Identifying Misinformation the “Legal” Way

From 1923 to 1993, a judge could only admit novel claims if the consensus of the relevant scientific community supported it – the Frye standard. This prevented the introduction of cutting-edge science or emerging critiques by younger researchers, muzzling newcomers who criticized existing dogma.

Realizing that Frye chilled the admissibility of cutting-edge science views, in 1970, the Federal Rules of Evidence broadened the standard, allowing all evidence as long as it was based on sound science, and relied on the practice of cross-examination to ferret out uncredible experts. In 1993, the Supreme Court clarified their position in Daubert v. Merrell Dow, now adopted in all federal courts and all but six states. Daubert and subsequent cases refined the standards for distinguishing between sound and junk science even further. (It must be noted that lawyers’ name-calling established science as junk doesn’t necessarily make it so and often serves as a public relations tactic.)

Much has been written advising laypeople to navigate conflicting medical opinions and identify the golden truth amid the pervasive muck and mire. These questions also vex judges when evidence is presented in litigation seeking damages from allegedly related injuries. Although judges do not decide wh...

01/09/2026

We want to hear from you! Tell us in the comments.

Read Dr. Chuck Dinerstein's latest article on the topic here: 🔗https://tinyurl.com/yematdcd

01/09/2026

Joe Schwarcz is spilling the tea on its potential health benefits, after some congestion had him turning to the herbal bevvy for comfort. 🍵

Read his latest: https://tinyurl.com/4pzum8pw

01/09/2026

01/09/2026

How the Order of Infection and Vaccination Shapes Immunity

The immune system’s first encounter with a virus or vaccine establishes a “starting template” that shapes its response to new variants, a phenomenon often called immune imprinting. A new study shows that protection isn’t about being vaccinated or infected—it’s about the sequence of those exposures, and how repeated boosters or infections can reshape the response over time.

The immune system’s first encounter with a virus or vaccine establishes a “starting template” that shapes its response to new variants, a phenomenon often called immune imprinting. A new study shows that protection isn’t about being vaccinated or infected—it’s about the sequence of those...

01/08/2026

Neither Heroes Nor Villains: The Uncomfortable Truth About Artificial Sweeteners

A 2025 analysis of NHANES data identifies what trend regarding artificial sweetener consumption in the U.S.?

A. A steady rise across all age groups
B. A sharp increase among people with chronic disease
C. A decline beginning around 2017
D. No meaningful change over time

Artificial sweeteners have long been cast as either miracle weight-loss allies or metabolic saboteurs — but the science is far less dramatic and far more nuanced. Non-sugar sweeteners have shaped diets worldwide, even as public confidence has begun to wobble. New data suggests they’re largely sa...

01/08/2026

Report: Google’s AI Dispenses Inaccurate Medical Information

For many people, the first source they check for medical information is a doctor who never attended medical school: Dr. Google. In a 2024 article, Brown University Health Urgent Care medical director Olivier M. Gherardi advised people doing so to employ caution. “I can’t stop you from searching for medical information online, but maybe I can help guide you towards better quality information,” Gherardi wrote.

As Google’s online search uses AI more and more, what effect does that have on the information it’s returning to people researching their own symptoms? A recently-concluded investigation at The Guardian has some unnerving answers.

Remember, an algorithm is not a licensed medical professional

01/08/2026

ACSH Dr. Chuck Dinerstein's statement on the new US Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

01/08/2026

It's not too late to get vaccinated against the flu.

01/08/2026

Why did the original Frye standard unintentionally suppress new scientific ideas?

A. It required experiments to be replicated at least five times
B. It only admitted evidence accepted by the majority of scientists
C. It favored industry-funded research
D. It relied entirely on jury interpretation

Much has been written advising laypeople to navigate conflicting medical opinions and identify the golden truth amid the pervasive muck and mire. These questions also vex judges when evidence is presented in litigation seeking damages from allegedly related injuries. Although judges do not decide which of the competing positions is correct, they are, as the evidentiary “gatekeeper,” responsible for determining the soundness of the science presented and barring junk science from the courtroom. Once assessed, all sound evidence from both sides is presented to the jury for deliberation, essentially based on which witness they found most credible. Whether the decision is made by a judge or a jury, specific, albeit different, strategies are used to make these assessments.

Much has been written advising laypeople to navigate conflicting medical opinions and identify the golden truth amid the pervasive muck and mire. These questions also vex judges when evidence is presented in litigation seeking damages from allegedly related injuries. Although judges do not decide wh...

01/08/2026

We finally know how little exercise you need to actually make a real difference

The Lycra-clad fitness fans among us like to dine out on their exercise exploits, whether it’s racking up mileage on running tracks or pumping iron in the gym.

But while the rest of us might prefer to chew our own arms off than spend half an hour on the treadmill (and those of us with kids or hectic jobs might struggle to find half an hour at all), new research suggests there’s more value than you might think in smaller portions of activity spread throughout the day.

Discover how small bursts of activity, tracked by fitness devices, can improve your health and longevity without needing lengthy workouts.