mRNA technology gave us COVID-19 vaccines. Could it also yield more effective flu vaccines? Yes—maybe as soon as next year. You've probably heard that chocolate is bad for dogs. Let's examine the science behind why you shouldn't give your pup a candy bar. Runner's high, the euphoric feeling that often follows intense exercise, is real, but what actually causes this physiological response and what purpose does it serve?

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 159 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Next generation flu shots could be mRNA technology-based

It's no secret that seasonal flu vaccines aren't especially effective, offering anywhere from 10-60 percent protection against infection. As a result, lots of us get really sick even if we get vaccinated every fall. Fortunately, the same mRNA technology that gave us COVID-19 shots could soon yield new flu vaccines that are much more effective. This is because scientists can more accurately select the flu strains that circulate during any given season and quickly develop a shot that blunts their ability to infect us.

* Can chocolate really kill dogs?

It's true—chocolate can be very toxic to dogs, even deadly depending on how much they eat and how much they weigh. The problem is magnified because dogs enjoy sweet foods, just like we do. The trouble-making compound naturally produced by cocoa plants is called theobromine. Why is this chemical so dangerous to our puppies?

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* Understanding the ‘runner’s high’: How exercising creates a natural marijuana-like euphoria

Farmers in India are growing illegal GE eggplant in hopes of overturning the country's ban on the insect-resistant crop. Anti-aging research has made very limited progress in recent years, but that hasn't stopped some companies from marketing products they say can increase "longevity." How does brainwashing actually work? And can the content we consume on social media brainwash us?

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 159 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Viewpoint: ‘I live in India and I am launching a civil disobedience movement against the moratorium on GMO insect resistant eggplant.’ Here’s why

Not only do many farmers in developing countries want to grow biotech crops, they're willing to break the law in order to gain access to the enhanced seeds. In India, grower and political activist Anil Ghanwat is leading a protest movement aimed at forcing the government to overturn its existing moratorium on new genetically engineered crops. Ghanwat and his colleagues have announced plans to plant insect-resistant Bt brinjal (eggplant), which is currently illegal, though it's widely grown across the border in Bangladesh. The protestors say the ban, sustained by lobbying from Greenpeace and other activist groups, makes no scientific sense.

* Science vs. sales: The antiaging field is booming–with both promise and charlatans

Can we slow the aging process? Preliminary research suggests that it might one day be possible. Unfortunately, some companies and scientists in the booming anti-aging industry have exaggerated the significance of these early data to sell extreme dieting programs, supplements and even stem cell therapies to customer hoping to boost their longevity. What does the science really tell us? And what explains the unethical behavior in this industry?

* Viewpoint: From forced confessions to believing that vaccines cause autism, brainwashing has a harsh history

The shocking history of brainwashing is a case study of just how far governments, cult leaders and other influencers will go to manipulate people's perceptions. With social media becoming such a powerful force in our culture, researchers are beginning to investigate how platforms like Twitter and Facebook may be used to brainwash the public. Can these widely used websites really exert that much influence over how we think, and if so, what can be done about it?

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow ACSH on Twitter

A genetically engineered "GloFish" is swimming freely in Brazil's streams. Should we be worried? Despite a popular conspiracy circulating on TikTok, there is no plot to make black people infertile with "GMOs." A nutritious diet will keep you healthy, but there's no evidence as of now that it will stave off dementia.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 158 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Transgenic GloFish escaped into the wild in Brazil

Illegally sold as pets in South America, glowing, genetically engineered fish have been found in the wild in Brazil. News reports called the GloFish's appearance an "invasion" and speculated about potentially serious ecological consequences. Are experts really worried about this accidental release?

* TikTok conspiracy claim debunked: No, food cannot be genetically engineered to cause infertility in Black people

A science-challenged video proliferating across TikTok alleges that food can be engineered to cause infertility in black people. Don't believe the hype. Aside from the obvious gaps in the story (who would do this, and why?), geneticists say there's a dozen insurmountable technical hurdles that would prevent such a scheme from getting off the ground. Genetically engineered food ingredients are safe to consume, no matter the color of your skin.

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* Dementia and Diet: Avoid These 5 Foods to Stay 'Focused and Sharp'?

Writing at CNBC recently, a Harvard nutritional psychiatrist suggested that avoiding certain foods may help you reduce your risk of developing dementia. It's possible that diet affects our mental acuity as we age, especially since nutrition clearly impacts our well being in so many ways, but there is, for the time being, little data to suggest that avoiding white bread, chicken wings or others foods can keep you "focused and sharp."

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the Americ...

Loneliness could drastically boost your risk of developing dementia. Genetically engineered tomatoes may be our first line of defense against Parkinson's in the coming years. A growing chorus of academics fears that 'fashionable ideologies' have revived Soviet-era censorship in scientific research.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 157 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Loneliness shown to triple risk of dementia

Are you lonely? A recent epidemiological study has found that you may be much more likely to develop dementia than someone not afflicted by loneliness. The causal direction of the association is still unclear, loneliness may just be an early symptom of dementia instead of a risk-factor for the disease. And if lonely people do face a heightened dementia risk, we still don't know why. Nonetheless, there seems to be a clear relationship between the two, and we're much closer to figuring out how it works.

* Let food be thy medicine: How GMO tomatoes could help Parkinson’s patients

Scientists in the UK have engineered GM tomatoes that produce L-Dopa, a dopamine precursor used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD). A gene in beets (Beta vulgaris) is know to catalyze the production of L-DOPA, so scientists isolated this segment of DNA and bred it into tomatoes, which are widely consumed around the world. The hope is that these enhanced fruits will serve as effective, low-cost alternatives to current PD therapies. Will these disease-fighting tomatoes ever make it to commercialization?

* Viewpoint: ‘Sovietizing’ Western science? Conflating STEM research with fashionable ideologies raises Orwellian concerns

The social justice movement has lots its way, a growing coalition of academics fears. Instead of righting past wrongs, advocates of "decolonizing" science have morphed into champions of censorship who will silence anyone who dares to question their agenda—a hallmark of Stalin's Russia, which sacrificed its own technological advancement to preserve its ideological purity. Are Western countries flirting with the same outcome by restraining what their scientists can say and do?

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow ACSH on Twitter @ACSHorg

Can traumatic life experiences leave an imprint on our DNA that we pass down to our children? Get ready, because AI-powered sex robots may be available in the near future. Have we finally found a cure for some cancers? Recent success with a novel gene therapy has some physicians crossing their fingers.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 152 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Epigenetics and trauma: How the Rwanda genocide scarred survivors’ yet-to-be-born children

Do traumatic life experiences trigger epigenetic changes in our DNA that can be passed down to the next generation? Quite possibly. A recent study found that some pregnant women who survived the Rwandan Genocide may have experienced trauma-induced DNA methylation that their children also possess. Pregnant women who were not exposed to the same traumatic experiences and their children did not have the same differentially methylated regions (DMRs).

The researchers were only able to establish an association between trauma and changes in the epigenomes of women in the study; they did not show that the former caused the latter. Future studies with bigger sample sizes will be needed to further explore this epigenetic phenomenon.

* Robosexuals: How close are we to the inevitable era of artificial intelligence-driven sex robots?

The era of AI-powered sex robots—"talking, walking dolls that can carry a conversation, discern what a user wants, and give it to them"—  may be closer than you think. Their rapid develop speaks to our ability to harness technology to fulfill our desires, though it also raises some difficult ethical questions. How will these life-like dolls affect our ability to form romantic relationships? Could they discourage people from getting married and starting families? We may get answers to these questions in real time, as an increasing number of customers enter the market for AI sex robots.

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The recent campaign to "cancel" comedian Joe Rogan for promoting COVID misinformation highlights a troubling trend in science communication. High-functioning psychopaths live among us. What do we know about them, and what have we gotten wrong about psychopathy? Critics continue to attack the Green Revolution, but mounting evidence confirms that Norman Borlaug's work saved the world many trillions of dollars.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 152 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Viewpoint: Neil Young’s GMO and biotechnology rejection preceding his Joe Rogan-Spotify awakening featured alliance with notorious anti-vaxxers

Rock 'n' Roll legend Neil Young triggered a new wave of COVID vaccine controversy earlier this month, threatening to remove his music from Spotify unless the company pulled Joe Rogan's podcast from its platform. Rogan has come under fire for interviewing two contrarian physicians who have made dubious claims about the shots. "I am doing this because Spotify is spreading false information about vaccines — potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them," Young wrote in a now-deleted post on his website.

But there's more to the story. While Rogan has undoubtedly amplified anti-vaccine claims on his show, Young has a long history of spreading misinformation about crop biotechnology, falsely claiming that GMOs cause "terrible diseases," which is why many countries ban them, he says. The musician is also apparently unaware that the COVID shots are products of genetic engineering.

Spotify recently promised to put a "content advisory" on any future COVID-related episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience and make its platform rules public "in an effort to increase transparency between consumers and creators." The platform has so far refused to remove the podcast, though. Should Spotify cut ties with Rogan, or is there a better way to correct the falsehoods he promotes about vaccines?

* Many high-functioning psychopaths live among us

Our culture seems to be fascinated with Psychopaths. It's not uncommon to see them depicted as serial killers or anti-heroes in popular TV shows and films, for example. But despite our widespread interest in their  (usually exaggerated) stories, most of us have a poor understanding of the disorder that afflicts them.

Psychopathy, it turns out, is relatively common and the chances are good that you've probably met a psychopath without knowing it. That's because many of these individuals do not engage in violent behavior like their on-screen counterparts, and they're often very successful, productive members of society. What else has science revealed about this enigmatic condition?

We all crave sugar on occasion, and geneticists say they've found some of the genes that may have driven this evolutionary adaptation. Nanotechnology is bringing new forms of male birth control closer to reality. A new USDA proposal to lift some existing CRISPR-edited crop regulations may give consumers access to a wide variety of longer lasting fruits and vegetables.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 152 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Sugar high? How and why we genetically crave sweetness

Evidence gathered over many years indicates that our innate desire for sweetness was an evolutionary adaptation that drove our ancestors to seek out energy-dense foods that fueled their hunting and gathering activities. Recent research has bolstered this analysis by identifying two genes, TAS1R2 and TAS1R3, that encode the sugar-detecting receptor protein TAS1R2/3. Many species possess these genes, suggesting that an interest in sweet foods has provided an important survival advantage throughout evolutionary history.

* Nanocontraception: How heated nanoparticles injected in testicles might be a viable method of male birth control

Male birth control doesn't go beyond condoms and vasectomies for now, but that could change in the coming years. Researchers are beginning to explore nanotechnology-based treatments, so-called "nanocontraception," that modulate the temperature of testicles, thereby reducing or turning off sperm production entirely. The experimental approach has only undergone preliminary testing in rodents, and important safety concerns have to be addressed before the technology can be used in humans. Then, of course, there's the ultimate question: will men actually utilize birth control?

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* CRISPR gala apples among numerous gene-edited crops that could be greenlighted

More flavorful and longer lasting apples, alongside many other fruits and vegetables, may be headed to grocery stores if a new USDA proposal to loosen regulations on CRISPR-edited crops takes effect. Since these enhanced plants only contain targeted deletions in their DNA, they're unlikely to pose a risk to human health or the environment, and thus don't warrant the extensive rules that currently govern their development.

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter

Does academic freedom protect professors who spread scientific nonsense online? The UK appears to be backtracking on a pesticide ban that has harmed its sugar beet farmers. Tearless, though perhaps less tasty, non-GMO onions are now available in some stores.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 152 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* ‘Free to fabricate’ or ‘barred from teaching’? Discord over COVID underscores threats to academic freedom — and the public

Academic freedom allows university professors to pursue their research without fear of discipline from their employers. But what happens when an academic promotes utter nonsense during a pandemic? Do scientists have an obligation to use their liberty responsibly? COVID-19 has brought these awkward questions to forefront as everyone tries to digest the onslaught of information related to SARS-CoV-2.

* England authorizes emergency neonicotinoid use to protect threatened 2022 sugar beet crops

"I told you so," the world's agricultural scientists could say to the UK. Facing a serious drop in sugar beet yield, Britain recently authorized emergency use of banned insecticides called neonicotinoids, which effectively control aphids that infect sugar beets with several deadly viruses. Neonics pose minimal risk to human health and the environment. But activist groups in the UK and EU, over the objections of many experts, convinced regulators to ban them. It's now clear how costly that decision was.

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* ‘Sweet and mild’: Non-GMO ‘tearless’ onion goes on sale in the UK after decades in development

Do your eyes water any time you cut an onion? A new tearless variety may be the solution you need. How was it made, and why were the developers so eager to market it as non-GMO?

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter

People believe a lot of nonsense about food and farming; let's debunk the top-10 worst of these "truisms." The FDA has authorized two anti-virals to treat COVID-19. How do they work, and what's the difference between them? What makes someone a narcissist? Recent research has led to some surprising insights about this mental disorder.

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 152 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

* Viewpoint: 10 stupid agriculture and food truisms that need to die

Don't eat foods with more than five ingredients; if you can't pronounce it, don't eat it; it's banned in Europe so it must be bad. These are just some of the misguided rules of thumb people rely on while choosing what to eat. They usually come from celebrities and food writers but have very little basis in science. So, here's a better idea: find out if something is safe and nutritious, then eat it.

* Molnupiravir vs paxlovid: What’s the difference between the two approved COVID antivirals?

There are now two drugs available that effectively treat COVID-19. Unlike the authorized vaccines, which teach your immune system to recognize SARS-CoV-2's spike protein, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid actually shut down viral replication before the virus can put you in the hospital or the morgue. But exactly how do these drugs work, and, more importantly, are they safe for most people?

* What makes narcissists tick?

Everybody thinks they know what a narcissist looks like—maybe it's the self-absorbed movie star, the athlete who thinks she's above her teammates or the heartless politician with no regard for others. But as it turns out, many narcissists don't fit the standard archetype. People with poor social skills and few achievements to speak of are often diagnosed with narcissism. The difference between the two types of narcissist? The former wants to adored but has no desire to fit in with their peers, while the latter desperately wants to be accepted.

Kevin M. Folta is a professor, keynote speaker and podcast host. Follow Professor Folta on Twitter @kevinfolta

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow ACSH on Twitter @ACSHorg

Researchers have developed a biosensor they say can monitor the activity of CRISPR gene editing in real-time. Synthetic biology is yielding drugs that modify the gut microbiome, offering potential treatments for a variety of diseases. Hoping to revive their campaign against agricultural biotechnology, anti-GMO groups have latched on to the SARS-CoV-2 lab-leak theory. Can scientists prevent their cynical campaign from gaining traction among the general public?

Join geneticist Kevin Folta and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 149 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

*  How can you tell that a plant has been gene edited? Use this CRISPR sensor

Researchers have engineered a biosensor that can be used to verify that CRISPR has properly edited the DNA plants and other organisms. The developers, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratories, compare their new approach to an "alarm system" encoded into an organism’s DNA, allowing researchers to monitor changes to its genome in real-time.

The biosensor works by intercepting CRISPR and redirecting it "to a specific DNA sequence that encodes for a nonfunctioning green fluorescent protein, or GFP," Oak Ride notes. When the gene-editing machinery edits this sequence, it activates the protein— quite literally a glowing confirmation that CRISPR is where it's supposed to be in the cell. The developers say their new tool could have important applications in biosecurity, bioenergy and even agriculture.

* Synthetic biology innovations that rewire human cells poised to tackle complex diseases

A variety of medical conditions are influenced by the microbes that live in the human gut, ranging from minor annoyances like acne to more serious disorders like phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare condition that causes the amino acid phenylalanine to build up in the body. People afflicted by PKU have to follow strict diets that minimize their phenylalanine  intake to avoid a host of harmful symptoms.

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Using synthetic biology, researchers have developed microbiome-modifying drugs that effectively treat these conditions. Preliminary evidence indicates that these treatments could re-code the genomes of certain gut bacteria so they could metabolize phenylalanine,