ACSH Science Dispatch

ACSH
  • 5.0 (6)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Health scares seem to lurk around every corner these days. From "toxic" pesticides to "ultra-processed" foods and BPA, the list of things that can supposedly kill us is endless. How do you spot genuine threats amid all the clickbait? Join the American Council on Science and Health each week as we separate science fact from science fiction.

  1. 5D AGO

    Gluten Sensitivity—Health Fad or Medical Condition?

    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.

    13 min

  2. 12/22/2025

    Everything You Know About the 'Opioid Epidemic' Is Wrong

    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.

    30 min

  3. 12/15/2025

    Dumb Luck Might Have Generated a Cancer Breakthrough

    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.

    21 min

  4. 12/11/2025

    'Follow the Science'—a Useless Slogan?

    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?

    24 min

  5. 11/28/2025

    10 Years Cancer-Free: Dr. Dinerstein’s Harrowing Survival Story

    "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.

    18 min

  6. 11/24/2025

    TRT—Masculine Cure-All for Aging Men, Or Another Health Fad?

    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.

    18 min

  7. 11/13/2025

    Apple Cider Vinegar for Acid Reflux? No, It'll Just Cause A Stomach Ache

    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.

    17 min

  8. 11/06/2025

    Future Vision—Fighting Blindness with Retinal Implants

    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?

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Health scares seem to lurk around every corner these days. From "toxic" pesticides to "ultra-processed" foods and BPA, the list of things that can supposedly kill us is endless. How do you spot genuine threats amid all the clickbait? Join the American Council on Science and Health each week as we separate science fact from science fiction.

Information

  • Creator
    ACSH
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    151
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © ACSH
  • Show Website
    ACSH Science Dispatch

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