image of homeopathic medicine on table
Professor's Perspective

New Fad Medicine: Release Active Drug

December 19, 2018

New alternative medicines called “release active drugs” (RAD) are hitting Russian markets. Dr. Steven Novella discusses what RADs are and why medical regulation is important. […]

Close-up photo of soapy hands being rinsed under a silver faucet
Professor's Perspective

Air Dryers vs Paper Towels

October 24, 2018

Which hand drying method is the best, air or paper towel? The answer is more complicated than you might think – but do wash your hands. […]

Professor's Perspective

Essential Oils in the Ambulance

May 24, 2018

Dr. Steven Novella discusses the rise of essential oils. He states, “Aromatherapy with essential oils is pseudoscience, backed only with low-quality studies guaranteed to show a placebo effect. Their growing popularity warns that better science education is needed.” […]

People Buying Fresh Local Vegetable From a Farmers Market
Health And Fitness

Food Science and Nutrition Myths: Is Organic Food Better for Us?

April 20, 2018

One question that comes up is whether organic produce is more nutritious than conventionally farmed produce? An organic label does not say anything directly about the final product, only about the production method. So, does that mean it is inherently healthier for us? […]

Psychology

Strange Psychology: The Dangers of Conspiracy Thinking

December 1, 2017

There is always some minutia about important events that we don’t know, and this opens the door to conspiracy thinking. We fill the gaps in our knowledge with notions that comfort us by offering the illusion of certainty. Like superstitious thinking, we fulfill a basic psychological need with an illusion of control. […]

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