A "good" VO2max for your age, like 60th-80th percentile, gives you all the "longevity" benefits the metric will provide. There is no lifespan advantage to being Olympic-level fit.

New feature in the Feb/Mar issue of @UltraRunningMag 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏔️

The daily use of AI, in everything from smartphones to stoplights, can be traced back to a simple game of checkers—played by Aurhur Samuel in 1959. ➡️https://gwern.net/doc/reinforcement-learning/model-free/1959-samuel.pdf

Bad science, lies, and possible fraud: The homeopathy paper that duped a mainstream journal. New column today in @SkeptInquirer #health #pseudoscience Read it ⬇️⬇️: h/t @theliverdoc

FIVE PERCENT of Americans regularly consult psychic services, with ONE-THIRD (30%) using them occasionally. Though high, it's actually lower than many other high-income developed countries.

#quotes via @nbtiller.bsky.social

A quick lesson in research conflicts of interest: This 2024 paper in the Journal of Dietary Supplements showed that an oxygen "nanobubble beverage" improved power output in a 16-km cycling TT by ~4%, and in repeated Wingates by ~7%. 🧵1/7

Political polarization. Negative numbers (blue) reflect less polarization and more friendly political interactions. Positive numbers (red) reflect more division and hostile interactions. Myanmar=3.72, US=1.79, Britain=-0.24, Norway=-2.1.

Don't criticize Attia to promote your own brand. That's fake and disingenuous: criticize him for being a dirtbag. And remember, he's far from the only wellness influencer contributing to the industry's ethical rot.

More acupuncture nonsense. L.I.4 (Hegu, the joining valley) is said to "treat" an astonishing array of conditions, including mumps and "pain in the arm." This is medically impossible—out of step with everything we've learned about anatomy and physiology since Hippocrates.

New study in JAMA shows acupuncture is SUPERIOR to sham for headaches. Three reasons it’s probably wrong: 🧵1/6

Chiropractic may be the biggest evidence-to-marketing mismatch I’ve seen in wellness. Numbers in the UK are growing every year, but the serious risks aren't justified by the imaginary benefits. #chiropractic #pseudoscience

June 2026.

Another death related to whole-body cryotherapy, this time in Paris. *Preventable death, since the benefits are highly contested, with small and inconsistent effects, and the risks simply aren't justified. #wellness #pseudoscience www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Mouth taping: 2 recent reviews (19 studies): weak/limited evidence of benefit, unsupported influencer claims, and potential risks (esp. nasal obstruction or sleep apnea). If you snore or mouth-breathe, get assessed—don’t DIY a fix. #wellness #pseudoscience

"Blanket denialism is obvious. Like a sports team using the same formation match after match or relying too heavily on a star player, it's predictable and easy to counter. Strategic denialism is different. And much more dangerous." This month's column: skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/ma...

Hear Monday's interview with Phil Clark on ABC's Nightlife (@RadioNational) as we wade through the Wild West of wellness bullsh*t. 🔗https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/nightlife/106001452 #wellness #misinformation

Why does sport have an obsession with pickle juice? Does it really prevent cramp? Probably not. But the issue goes much deeper. This month's column: Cramping Cure or Congruence Bias? skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/pi... @SkeptInquirer

Semaglatide -> weight loss with "preserved" lean mass: •106 participants (70% women). •Body weight declined 10-15% at one year. •Fat mass ⬇ 19% with a 3 kg loss of lean mass (DXA). 🔗https://dom-pubs.pericles-prod.literatumonline.com/doi/10.1111/dom.70141 #weightloss #GLP1

With the rapid expansion of AI and large language models now incorporated into every sector, it seems sensible to ask some basic questions. In Skeptical Inquirer this month, I do just that. 🔗https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/can-you-trust-ai-to-give-health-advice/ #science #AI

IS RHABDO a RED ALERT or a BADGE OF HONOR? My article in Ultra-Running Magazine (July 2025) explores the all-too-common phenomenon of rhabdomyolysis. Causes and solutions. "Don't normalize the abnormal." #running #health subscriber.ultrarunning.com/archive/issu... @ultrarunningmag.bsky.social

If you value your kidneys, NSAIDs are a bad idea during exercise. Find out why in my short piece for @mysportscience — @Jeukendrup 🔗https://www.mysportscience.com/post/nsaids-in-sport ⬇️⬇️

Research “output.” A term that reduces a painstaking, often gruelling, years-long endeavour to a commodity, undermining the profound intellectual effort behind each publication.

From #detox diets and the benefits of organic vs. non-organic foods to respiratory muscle #training, hear from TLI Research Associate and accomplished ultra-marathon runner @nbtiller.bsky.social as he explores #health trends and exercise physiology on The Strength Running Podcast: ihr.fm/4jDY4Jd 🫁

Thousands of products, from supplements to saunas, claim to "boost #immunity." But does the claim have a scientific basis? Actually, no. It's not possible to BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. Don't be snagged by marketing hooks. Learn the science and ignore the grifters. #health 🧵1/7

This month's column in @SkeptInquirer explores seed oils—the latest faceless entity being scapegoated by wellness influencers and public health officials. 🔗https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-seed-oil-gambit/ #health #seedoils

In this month's column in Skeptical Inquirer, I look at seed oils—the latest faceless entity being scapegoated by wellness influencers (and public health officials). So, what does science say? skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/th... #health #seedoils

Cellphones & social media have extended their tendrils into every facet of our lives. We're connected 24/7 to more data than we can possibly process. This takes a toll on our attention. How is this affecting our exercise training sessions? 🧵1/7 #health #exercise

My latest column, "The Demise of the American Society for Psychical Research," is now available in audio, read by an AI voice that does a much better job than I would have. @skepticalinquirer.bsky.social @spr1882.bsky.social sites.libsyn.com/510088/the-d...

Ice bathing: Useful recovery tool or misleading wellness trend? A short 🧵 in pictures... 1/7 #wellness #exercise

This month's column in @skepticalinquirer.bsky.social is now available for FREE: Here are the highlights. 🧵1/6 Read the full article ⬇️: skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/fi... #nutrition #health

Keto-friendly, non-GMO, probiotic nut mix. So... nuts!?

I don't think I’ve ever seen one face shill for so many brands. How can a science educator stay objective with conflicts of interest seemingly in every corner of health and cosmetics?

Can mindfulness make you a better thinker? I think so. My latest for @SkeptInquirer (6 min). Don't judge/comment unless you're willing to read my argument in full. Hot takes not welcome. ➡️https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/dont-react-reflect-how-mindfulness-can-make-you-a-better-skeptic/

I'm on ABC Radio Sydney (Nightlife) today/yesterday. I talked with Phil Clark about pseudoscience in health: -Fad diets -Supplements -Ozempic -Ice Baths -Alternative Therapies -Placebo Products -Much, much more www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

I've done martial arts since I was 8 years old and watched #UFC for over two decades. I remained a fan despite a steady decline in the company's values and its promotion of harmful pseudoscience. Now, I'm officially done.

Why is a neuroscientist advising on dietary supplements? Because he sells them, endorses them, and is sponsored by them. 💰💰💰 Do you know who doesn't endorse supplements? Qualified nutritionists and dietitians—because most supplements don't work.

For most people, the best time to start thinking about cardiovascular health was 15 years ago.

Travel back to CSICON 2024 and join me, Rina, and Timothy on a whistlestop tour of #Longevity— the health and wellness world's latest plaything. ➡️https://skepticalinquirer.org/video/longevity-lies-and-the-fountain-of-youth-panel-discussion/ @caulfieldtim.bsky.social #health #wellness

The next time you see #health and #wellness advice online, consider this: Some people can drive cars, and others can build them—who would you rather hire as a mechanic?

#science #research

New meta-analysis (n=31) shows analytical thinking is the strongest predictor of one's ability to discriminate between true & false news. Takeaway: Create space between you and the headline. Don't react. Reflect! #science #thinking ➡️https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2409329121#abstract

Tally just ticked past 1900 signatures. Please keep spreading the word about the letter & asking people to sign. It's important to make the Royal Society aware (at their meeting on 03 March) just how much the scientific community wants them to speak up for their values. forms.gle/SfsDemyS8QhP...

There's nothing magical about grip strength. People who are active and exercise regularly have better overall health metrics, including strength and aerobic fitness. The protective effect comes from activity, not muscular forearms.

Latest feature article for Ultra-Running Mag — Is Your Respiratory Health Running Away from You? -How does training/racing affect the system? -Tips on caring for your airways as an athlete ➡️https://m.ultrarunning.com/article/is-your-respiratory-health-running-away-from-you #endurance #running

I warned about methylene blue supplements three years ago when they started trending. It was dangerous pseudoscience then, and it still is—no matter what #RFKJr says. ➡️https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/when-medicines-go-rogue-methylene-blue/

Thanks to Jim Herlihy for the opportunity to talk about The Telepathy Tapes podcast on his San Francisco Experience podcast. www.thesanfranciscoexperiencepodcast.com/the-telepath...

Do you have a question about the science of distance running that you'd like featured in my column for Ultra-Running Magazine? Post in HERE... or email me. Whatever. #endurance #running

In January's column, I examine three wellness mindsets: the believer, liar, and bullshitter—interconnected cogs in a vast commercial wellness machine. ➡️https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-three-wellness-mindsets-believers-liars-and-bullshitters #science #wellness #RFKJr’s

Featured in our March issue by @nbtiller.bsky.social et al. - What’s (Not) in Your Supplement? 🤔 An Energy and Macronutrient Analysis of Commercially Available Carbohydrate Gels Want to know more? Check out the full paper here! 🔗 doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem…