The World Health Organization declared on July 14, 2023, that the widely used synthetic sweetener aspartame could be a “possible” carcinogen, or cancer-causing agent, on the basis of “limited evidence…
Category: Anthropology
Blame capitalism? Why hundreds of decades-old yet vital drugs are nearly impossible to find
Past public ire over high drug prices has recently taken a back seat to a more insidious problem – no drugs at any price. Patients and their providers increasingly face…
As heat records fall, how hot is too hot for the human body?
Extreme heat has been breaking records across Europe, Asia and North America, with millions of people sweltering in heat and humidity well above “normal” for days on end. Death Valley…
How does the new over-the-counter birth control pill, Opill, work to prevent pregnancy? 5 questions answered
The Food and Drug Administration’s July 13, 2023, approval of the first over-the-counter birth control pill, called Opill, broadens the options for people seeking to prevent pregnancy. When Opill becomes…
Global diabetes cases on pace to soar to 1.3 billion people in the next 3 decades, new study finds
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea The number of people living with diabetes worldwide is on pace to more than double in…
Curing America’s loneliness epidemic would make us healthier, fitter and less likely to abuse drugs
A national health advisory issued by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on May 3, 2023, sheds light on the urgent public health issues of loneliness and isolation. The report reflects…
FDA approves first daily over-the-counter birth control pill, Opill – a pharmacist and public health expert explain this new era in contraception
On July 13, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a drugmaker’s application for the first daily over-the-counter birth control pill for people seeking to prevent pregnancy. The pill,…
Weather forecast accuracy is crucial in a heat wave – 1 degree can mean the difference between life and death
Weather forecasts have gotten quite good over the years, but their temperatures aren’t always spot on – and the result when they underplay extremes can be lethal. Even a 1-degree…
