New FDA draft guidance encourages Bayesian statistics in drug trials, an approach dating back more than 250 years that proponents say could make some studies faster and cheaper for sponsors.

Over a million letters flooded Congress in the 1970s over FDA vitamin regulation, ranking it alongside Watergate as a top issue. In an Undark interview, law professor Lewis Grossman traces the long history of medical libertarianism in America.

A pediatrician with 30 years of experience has never seen a measles case. As cases surpass 3,000 in the U.S. since early 2025, many health care workers say early measles symptoms are nearly identical to a common cold. undark.org/2026/03/03/measles-outbreak-diagnosis-challenge/

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services canceled nearly $500M in messenger RNA (mRNA) research funding in August, scrapping 22 projects on influenza and Covid-19 vaccines. That followed a $766M Moderna contract cancellation in May.

Evidence is not optional. James M. Smoliga argues families deserve better than optimism sold as biomedical progress, especially for products claiming to reduce risk.

AI agents can now publish content, apply social pressure and operate at machine speed across platforms. In an opinion piece, Johns Hopkins bioethicist Adam Schiavi explores why the AI personhood debate may be a distraction from the real issue.

Losing fluoros might change competitive balance: without the “great equalizer,” ski grinds and bigger equipment budgets could matter even more. Originally published by @grist.org 

38 years. 32 years. 21 years. These aren't anomalies. They are the norm at the National Institutes of Health, the world's largest medical research funder. Now, officials are reportedly discussing whether institute directors should face term limits. 

One South Carolina county has reported 900+ measles cases, more than all of Texas in 2025. The U.S. is on track to lose its measles elimination status, held since 2000, before the year's end.

The energy transition needs minerals, but extraction has consequences. At the Salton Sea, lithium plans collide with dust pollution concerns, water limits, and fears of a boom-and-bust cycle.

The school security industry is booming after Parkland, but AI weapons detection still raises hard questions: accuracy, protocols, surveillance harms, and whether the money would be better spent elsewhere.

The MAHA movement's embrace of alternative medicine reflects a recurring pattern in U.S. history, not a new one, says law professor Lewis Grossman in an interview with Undark.

Exposing fraud could become a funded side project for university labs, Moshe Alamaro argues,  investigate, prove wrongdoing, and share in penalties under updated whistleblower statutes.

“Smart camera” gun detection sounds safer than metal detectors, but experts warn expectations outrun reality. Without solid data, schools may be paying for reassurance instead of effective prevention.

Gray market thriving. Hundreds of thousands using BPC-157. This actually prevents rigorous clinical trials, people won't risk placebos. Pharma has no incentive to research it. Result: the market thrives without evidence. Published with @statnews.com 

In places like the U.S., guidelines from groups like American Society for Reproductive Medicine aim to protect surrogates, but enforcement varies. As demand rises, researchers say regulation + better studies are urgent.

Lithium mining near the Salton Sea is being sold as jobs + U.S. supply security, in one of California’s poorest regions. Residents and tribes are asking: accountability, consultation, and what happens to air + water?

Kyle Walsh is the new director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, leaving many researchers surprised by the appointment, having been unfamiliar with his work in environmental health.

Regulators are often understaffed, while modern tech is too complex to audit without expert labs. Moshe Alamaro argues paying universities could boost fraud detection.

Chesapeake Bay nutrients fuel algae blooms and dead zones. Maryland tried nutrient-credit trading (including oyster aquaculture), but ~90% of credits sat unsold. What went wrong, and what’s next?

When every outcome becomes “proof” a product works, that is belief, not evidence. James M. Smoliga says “worth a try” thinking can be costly across health and sports markets.

PFAS from ski wax can move from skis → snow → soil/watersheds. After years of concern, Olympic snow sports will ban fluoros for the first time. Originally published by @grist.org 

The debate over AI in rulemaking highlights broader questions about how government balances innovation, oversight, and accountability. This story was originally published by @propublica.org 

The rise of AI in research raises broader questions about where autonomous systems belong in a scientific enterprise rooted in human judgment, collaboration, and ethics.

As the new director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Kyle Walsh steps into a role where research on chemicals, pesticides, and environmental risks often intersects with national policy debates.

Wax techs may face some of the highest PFAS exposures in any job category. Now the Olympics will go fluoro-free, but athletes say the new waxes bring more unknowns. Originally published by @grist.org 

Joe Rogan, Andrew Huberman are promoting BPC-157 to millions. But there's almost no human safety data. When influencers discuss unapproved drugs with massive audiences, the gap between hype and evidence explodes. Published with @statnews.com 

AI weapons detection is spreading in schools, but researchers say there is little real-world proof it stops shootings. Meanwhile false positives can trigger police responses over harmless items.

Researchers are watching closely as changes to NIH leadership selection could influence research priorities, agency independence, and long-standing governance norms.

The Q-Collar promises brain protection in contact sports, but this op-ed argues fear and buzzwords can sell “peace of mind” without accountability. James M. Smoliga writes about worth-a-try culture.

C. Brandon Ogbunu argues that confronting science’s internal flaws, not just external attacks, is key to rebuilding public trust and strengthening the field’s future.

Evidence is mixed: some reviews suggest surrogate pregnancies can carry higher obstetric risks, while many interviews and long-term family studies report positive emotional outcomes. The biggest gap? Robust, long-term, large-scale research.

Officials envision AI handling large portions of draft language while humans review and refine final text, but critics say this risks undermining rule quality. This story was originally published by @propublica.org

Whistleblower laws reward insiders for exposing fraud, but independent research teams rarely qualify. Moshe Alamaro says university labs should be incentivized to investigate big cases and share in fines.

Melissa de Roos says perceived realism and peer beliefs can reinforce how young people interpret violent sexual content they see online, shaping attitudes about intimacy and behavior.

Market-based solutions sound great, but many nutrient trading programs struggle: low demand, complex rules, and limited financial upside for participants. Maryland’s oyster credits are a case study.

The Salton Sea may hold one of the world’s largest lithium deposits. Companies tout “direct lithium extraction,” but research is mixed and key details are proprietary. Big climate promise, big local questions.

Rising cases tied to lower vaccination uptake and public health gaps are challenging decades of progress. Originally published by @kffhealthnews.org 

Schools are buying AI weapons detection that turn cameras into “smart” gun scanners. Does it prevent shootings? Evidence is thin, and critics warn about false positives, missed weapons, and wasted resources.

Sources say some recent NIH director hires did not involve the traditional scientific search committees, raising questions about how leadership roles are now being filled.

“Worth a try” products feel low risk, but the benefits are often vague and unproven. James M. Smoliga says consumers should demand measurable evidence, not reassurance. 

A single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons/day. Maryland tried paying farmers via nutrient credits for that benefit, but the market fizzled, with almost no oyster-credit trades since 2020.

“Lithium Valley” at the Salton Sea could power EV batteries, but locals fear more harm in a region already dealing with dust, water stress, and inequality. Can a clean-energy boom also be environmental justice?

Experts link long-standing ecological problems, like water shortages and pollution, to broader dissatisfaction now visible in protests across Iran. Originally published by @insideclimatenews.org 

Scientists argue that open collaboration is essential to tackle global food system challenges and that barriers to foreign partnerships could slow discovery. Originally published by @propublica.org 

The Olympics are banning fluorinated ski waxes for the first time, ending decades of “ridiculous” speed boosts tied to PFAS “forever chemicals.” Originally published by @grist.org 

Some DOT staffers warn that AI prototypes can “hallucinate” errors and lack the nuanced judgment needed for safety-critical rules on aviation, pipelines, and other systems. This story was originally published by @propublica.org 

C. Brandon Ogbunu calls for rethinking how research is rewarded, evaluated, and shared to strengthen science from within.

If measles spreads without interruption for a year, the U.S. could lose its measles free designation. Originally published by @kffhealthnews.org 

What does friction have to do with fire, pyramids, and modern machines? A review of Friction: A Biography reveals how this basic force shaped human progress.