After years of delay, a genetically engineered chestnut tree may finally receive USDA approval. Is it headed for a new home in America's Appalachian forests? There's no evidence that Tylenol causes autism, but that hasn't stopped lawyers from filing lawsuits claiming it does. Did an mRNA COVID shot cause Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest? As of now, there is no evidence to support that speculation.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 200 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Biotech chestnut tree poised to restore lost ecosystems and biodiversity — But it needs your help

After many years of research and regulatory review, a blight-resistant, genetically engineered chestnut tree known as Darling 58 is poised to receive final approval from the USDA. The project was designed to reestablish the American chestnut (Castenea dentata), which dominated Appalachian forests for many years until a deadly fungal infection all but wiped out the tree in the last century. It was a key species that supported significant biological diversity; reviving the chestnut could yield the same environmental benefits today. What hurdles remain in the way of success, and when will scientists actually begin planting these biotech trees?

* Analysis: Acetaminophen linked to autism? Claims about the causes of this behavioral disease get weirder as scientists hone in on genes as driving culprit

We've all taken Tylenol for minor aches and pains without a second thought. It's one of the only pain relievers women can safely consume during pregnancy, and that, sadly, has made acetaminophen, the active ingredient, a target for opportunistic trial lawyers. All it took was a single study suggesting that children exposed to Tylenol during pregnancy were 19% more likely to have autism spectrum disorders compared to non-exposed children and the litigants were off to the races. The story underscores the fact that our legal system is routinely abused, forced to serve as a venue in which bad science gets an unjustified hearing.

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