Join hosts Dr. Liza Dunn and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 313 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

Activists routinely blame modern agriculture, plant breeding, and pesticide use for reduced nutrient density in fruits and vegetables, but this assertion is oversimplified and exaggerated, ignoring the complexities of food production and consumption. Often overlooked is that modern breeding focuses on sensory appeal and post-harvest durability to increase consumption of nutrient-rich produce and reduce food waste, despite slightly lower nutrient density in some produce.

A growing body of science is fueling debate about the downsides of pornography consumption. Although studying porn use is ethically fraught – we can’t put people in a room and watch them watch it – some research indicates that porn alters brain function, hijacking the reward system and impeding impulse control, potentially leading to compulsive behavior. Still, the evidence is inconclusive, with conflicting research and a lack of consensus on whether these changes are harmful or significant over the long term.

A recent study comparing fraternal and identical twins, over 9,000 individuals in total, found that genetic factors partially influence how much people enjoy music, accounting for distinct and overlapping variations in musical appreciation. The study suggests that while environment and upbringing play a role, inherited traits contribute to a person’s affinity for music. The results could encourage further investigation into the evolutionary roots of music appreciation.

Dr. Liza Dunn is a medical toxicologist and the medical affairs lead at Bayer Crop Science. Follow her on X @DrLizaMD

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish

Reed’s allegations, detailed in a 2023 Free Press article and a sworn affidavit to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, claimed the center harmed vulnerable adolescents, some of whom later regretted their transitions. “During my time at the Center, I personally witnessed Center healthcare providers lie to the public and to parents of patients about the treatment, or lack of treatment, and the effects of treatment provided to children at the Center,” she declared in her affidavit. These cases included shocking examples of children suffering from depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, and even autism receiving puberty blockers rather than the patient-specific care they really needed.

Reed’s actions triggered a series of investigations, ultimately leading Washington University to shutter its pediatric gender clinic. The school and some of its allies have dismissed Reed’s claims as “unsubstantiated,” asserting compliance with standards set by organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). However, AAP’s guidelines on youth gender medicine are based on recommendations from advocacy groups like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which in turn cites guidelines from—the AAP. This circular citation amounts to little more than a Potemkin village, “an apparent consensus on key areas of practice for which evidence remains lacking,” as a 2024 review in the British Medical Journal put it. The guidelines from US-based advocacy groups also flout the growing global consensus of medical professionals who doubt the safety and efficacy of gender-affirming care.

Reed has rebuffed allegations that she has “been brainwashed or paid off—or probably even both—by conservatives.” Striking a more scientific tone, she says her decision to blow the whistle on Wash U came down to one thing: “my realization that I … was wrong.” Before Wash U closed the pediatric gender clinic, it also instituted major policy changes, requiring written parental consent before prescribing gender-affirming drugs and asking for custody agreements prior to a child’s first visit. Reed says these changes were an acknowledgement that her allegations were well-founded.

After leaving Wash U, Reed founded the LGB Courage Coalition, a nonprofit challenging youth gender medicine. She’s currently testifying in state legislatures across the country in an effort to outlaw pediatric gender interventions.

On this episode of Facts and Fallacies, Reed joins Dr. Liza Dunn and Cam English to challenge the questionable science behind the ethically fraught field of youth gender medicine.

Jamie Reed is the executive director of LGB Courage Coalition. Visit the group’s website and follow here on X @JamieWhistle

Dr. Liza Dunn is a medical toxicologist and the medical affairs lead at Bayer Crop Science. Follow her on X @DrLizaMD

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish

Join hosts Dr. Liza Dunn and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 311 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

Sugar is addictive. Girl Scout cookies help fuel deforestation. Chemicals in cosmetics damage your hormones. Each of those claims is false, yet NPR has promoted them all over the years. But now that right-wing activists are making similar claims, the publicly funded news outlet is suddenly pro-science, dismissing allegations about “toxic” Girl Scout cookies as unfounded. Enough of the double standards; it’s time for journalists to provide consistent, evidence-based reporting to counter unscientific claims, regardless of the politics of the people who make those assertions.

Meanwhile, the MAGA-driven culture war against mRNA vaccines is a true setback for science. Outrageous allegations, e.g. mRNA shots are untested gene therapies, have lowered vaccination rates, threatening public health and gutting support for vaccine development that could help treat serious diseases, including some cancers. Why have so many conservatives become hostile to mRNA technology, and what do we do about it?

Looking ahead, future generations may see AI reshape work, health and culture, with enhanced cognition and virtual realities blurring human boundaries and even changing the direction of evolution. How do we prepare for the unprecedented tech-driven challenges future generations will confront?

Dr. Liza Dunn is a medical toxicologist and the medical affairs lead at Bayer Crop Science. Follow her on X @DrLizaMD

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish

Surveying how the FDA functions helps to confirm that point. The cost in time and money to commercialize a new pharmaceutical is beyond staggering. According to one recent estimate, taking a drug from discovery through FDA approval and getting it into pharmacies carries a price tag north of $1 billion and can take 10 to 15 years. Underscoring how difficult the process is to complete, the FDA approved just 355 therapeutic drugs and biologic agents between 2009 and 2018.

Indeed, only 1 in 1000 compounds that enter laboratory testing actually make it to the FDA review process. The agency’s regulatory framework is far from perfect—with some experts arguing it’s actually far too expensive and cumbersome—and often limits patient access to medicines that could save lives. Nevertheless, these flaws are hardly evidence that FDA rubber-stamps new drug applications or does the bidding of industry.

While there are undeniable cases of Big Pharma malfeasance in drug development and marketing (which should be punished), far less attention is paid to the rampant misdeeds of wellness gurus who market fad diet books, untested supplements and any number of questionable lifestyle products. It’s these activists with enormous financial conflicts of interest who so often drive the narrative of a pharma-dominated FDA, and who have increasing influence over federal health policy.

This prompts an important question: is industry influence over federal regulations universally dangerous, or is it OK when “health coaches” and trial lawyers like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. shape policy? Join Dr. Liza Dunn and Cam English on this episode of Facts and Fallacies as they tackle that messy issue.

Dr. Liza Dunn is a medical toxicologist and the medical affairs lead at Bayer Crop Science. Follow her on X @DrLizaMD

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish

It’s a devastating message that devalues the lives of those who are autistic and alienates them from society, according to Leah Riter, an analytical chemist at Bayer Crop Science and the mother of a daughter with autism. Riter and other parents like her have watched the anti-vaccine movement stigmatize their children by portraying autism as a condition to be feared and avoided. By falsely claiming vaccines cause autism, the activists wrongly imply that autistic individuals are somehow “damaged” or “broken,” rather than individuals worthy of respect and dignity like everybody else. Autistic people often face social exclusion, and the anti-vaccine narrative compounds this phenomenon by wrongly suggesting their existence is a cautionary tale. Parents who buy into this trope may even view their autistic children with regret or shame—straining family relationships and hindering acceptance.

The practical issue is that the anti-vaccine movement diverts attention and resources from genuine support for autistic individuals. The obsession with “preventing” autism through immunization avoidance overshadows efforts to improve education, healthcare and employment opportunities for those on the spectrum. Advocacy groups and researchers waste time debunking myths instead of addressing pressing needs like sensory-friendly environments or mental health services. Autistic self-advocates, who emphasize acceptance over cure, are drowned out by conspiracy-driven campaigns.

On this episode of Facts and Fallacies, Riter joins Liza Dunn and Cam English to discuss the anti-vaccine movement’s harmful influence on the autism community and what we can do to stop it.

Dr. Leah Riter, a Senior Fellow at Bayer Crop Science and a Fellow of the American Chemical Society, is recognized for her expertise in analytical chemistry. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Florida and a doctorate in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University. Connect with her on LinkedIn and visit Autism Speaks to learn more.

Dr. Liza Dunn is a medical toxicologist and the medical affairs lead at Bayer Crop Science. Follow her on X @DrLizaMD

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish

Join hosts Dr. Liza Dunn and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 308 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

Greenpeace USA faces a potential dissolution following a $667 million lawsuit loss tied to its activism against a North Dakota pipeline project. The lawsuit, brought by pipeline company Energy Transfer, accused the organization of orchestrating “unlawful” demonstrations that disrupted operations. The hefty financial penalty threatens Greenpeace USA’s viability, and could set a precedent for stifling activist groups through litigation. Will high-profile NGOs think twice before launching their next advocacy campaign?

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has again falsely claimed that the measles vaccine “causes deaths every year,” a statement debunked as activist propaganda lacking scientific backing. Experts affirm that the measles vaccine saves many lives each year by preventing a highly contagious disease.  Kennedy’s assertion has nonetheless found a receptive audience among many Americans on the left and right. Let’s take a closer look at his allegation.

Under Trump 2.0, the FDA faces uncertainty with Marty Makary as commissioner. Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon, aims for transparency but has a history of controversial COVID-19 stances. The agency, regulating 25% of U.S. consumer spending, could see seismic shifts in drug, device, and food policies. Though Makary supports vaccines, his alignment with RFK, Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda sparks concern among experts about scientific integrity. With ultimate authority resting with Health and Human Services secretary RFK, Jr., the FDA risks becoming a battleground for ideological health reforms, threatening its reputation.

Dr. Liza Dunn is a medical toxicologist and the medical affairs lead at Bayer Crop Science. Follow her on X @DrLizaMD

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish

Johnson watched this devolution occur in real time and ultimately left her practice in 2023 to promote needed reform in the US health care system.  She outlined some of her concerns in a recent article titled A Call to Return to Core Medical Principles. Focusing on alarming changes to the Hippocratic Oath, Johnson warned that medical education is indoctrinating physicians to view patients as members of groups with predetermined needs, rather than individuals who require personalized care based on their unique circumstances.

The focus on demographic categories risks overshadowing the rigorous scientific education that is vital for effective medical practice. Rather than equipping future healthcare providers with the profound understanding of disease mechanisms, prevention, and treatment, we are diverting attention to a discourse that categorizes patients into overly simplistic boxes. This approach not only undermines the complexity of individual health needs, but also has the potential to dilute the mastery of clinical skills required for effective patient care.

The tragic irony? This activism-infused medicine actually harms the very people it’s ostensibly designed to help. On this episode of Facts and Fallacies, Dr. Nikki (as she was known to her patients) joins GLP contributor Cameron English to discuss where medicine went wrong, and why it should return to its bedrock principles—competence, compassion and a patient-first focus.

Nikki Johnson holds a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and has earned certification in both General Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. Visit her website and follow her on X @notaproviderMD

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish

This pitched battle over the soft-spoken academic turned bureaucrat raises some important questions. For one, how did a radical outsider like Bhattacharya get the Trump Administration’s attention? There were many high-profile scientists who challenged the government’s pandemic response, so why did Bhattacharya stand out among them? Perhaps more importantly, can he do the job he’s been tasked with?

Join Cameron English and Dr. Liza Dunn as they break down these issues on episode 306 of the GLP Facts and Fallacies podcast.

Dr. Liza Dunn is a medical toxicologist and the medical affairs lead at Bayer Crop Science. Follow her on X @DrLizaMD

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish

The risk posed by unleashed trial attorneys is greater than many Americans realize—including Kennedy’s supporters on the political left and right: higher food prices, restricted access to medicine and generally lower standards of living that amount to a cost of $443 billion in a single year, or more than or 2 percent of  US GDP.

The ultimate question is, will Kennedy have enough influence in the Trump Administration to further the extremist legal causes he’s best known for? On this episode of Facts and Fallacies, Jon Entine, founder and executive director of the Genetic Literacy Project, joins Cameron English to try to answer that question.

Jon Entine, founder and executive director of the Genetic Literacy Project, is an Emmy-winning investigative TV News producer and author of seven books, including three on genetics. Please follow him on X at @JonEntine

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish