Science-Based Medicine

Can Ivermectin and Mebendazole Treat Cancer?

David Weinberg — Tue, 05 May 2026 07:30:00 +0000

A Closer Look at a Viral Claim

The post Can Ivermectin and Mebendazole Treat Cancer? first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

MAHA vs. the FDA: Dredging up old anti-regulation revisionist history

David Gorski — Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Recently, I've noticed articles from outlets aligned with MAHA calling for the elimination of the FDA. It's all recycled "health freedom" revisionist history and ahistorical nonsense.

The post MAHA vs. the FDA: Dredging up old anti-regulation revisionist history first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Scientific Censor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya Doesn’t Realize He’s the Medical Establishment Now & It’s His Job to Generate Evidence for the American People

Jonathan Howard — Fri, 01 May 2026 07:35:00 +0000

I don't understand why public health figures like Jay Bhattacharya who controlled 58 billion dollars of funding uh didn't use that money to study it definitively and with running high quality trials.

The post Scientific Censor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya Doesn’t Realize He’s the Medical Establishment Now & It’s His Job to Generate Evidence for the American People first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

A Tale of Two Books: We Want Them Infected & In COVID’s Wake

Jonathan Howard — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:05:00 +0000

I am not afraid to defend my book by discussing the real-world job performance of the MAHA/MAGA doctors featured in it. What about the authors of In COVID's Wake?

The post A Tale of Two Books: We Want Them Infected & In COVID’s Wake first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

PNAS Publishes Rank Pseudoscience

Steven Novella — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:08:09 +0000

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences recently published an article on acupuncture. It's a highly credulous take that tries to convince the reader that acupuncture is more than just a highly theatrical placebo. Quackademic medicine continues apace.

The post PNAS Publishes Rank Pseudoscience first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Not Mine

Mark Crislip — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:20:00 +0000

Any medicine that is not science-based is not mine, nor is it SBM's

The post Not Mine first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

The myth of the magically powerful placebo returns

David Gorski — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:30:00 +0000

It's been a long time since I've written about the deceptive narratives around placebos promoted by supporters of alternative medicine. Unfortunately, a new article claiming placebos can work as well as "real medicine" is making the rounds on social media. Here we go again.

The post The myth of the magically powerful placebo returns first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

The MAHA Amnesia Project

Jonathan Howard — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:43:00 +0000

The same disinformation agents who are trying to erase the history of the pandemic, are also trying to erase the history of MAHA.

The post The MAHA Amnesia Project first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

The COVID Amnesia Project III: The Plot to Erase Who Ordered Lockdowns in 2020

Jonathan Howard — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:41:55 +0000

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is fully of contempt and vitriol for doctors who worked in hospitals, but he literally “loves” lockdowners.

The post The COVID Amnesia Project III: The Plot to Erase Who Ordered Lockdowns in 2020 first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

New Review Casts Doubt On Alzheimers Drugs But Is Controversial

Steven Novella — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:49:42 +0000

There's a lot less than meets the eye to a recent Cochrane review that casts doubt on the efficacy of drugs for Alzheimer's disease.

The post New Review Casts Doubt On Alzheimers Drugs But Is Controversial first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

SCOTUS conversion therapy decision “opens a dangerous can of worms”

Jann Bellamy — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:30:00 +0000

“We are on a slippery slope now: For the first time, the Supreme Court has interpreted the First Amendment to bless a risk of therapeutic harm to children by limiting the State’s ability to regulate medical providers who treat patients with speech.” Justice Jackson, dissenting

The post SCOTUS conversion therapy decision “opens a dangerous can of worms” first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

KevinMD platforms criticism of MAHA by a “functional medicine” practitioner

David Gorski — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:02:00 +0000

Although some of the criticisms of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA movement are spot on, why did KevinMD platform a practitioner of functional medicine woo to make them?

The post KevinMD platforms criticism of MAHA by a “functional medicine” practitioner first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

An Eponym for Scientific Censorship in America: Bhattacharyaism

Jonathan Howard — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:17:00 +0000

It turns out Jay Bhattacharya's talk, "The End of Free Speech is the End of Science" was really a preview of coming attractions, a mission statement for his leadership.

The post An Eponym for Scientific Censorship in America: Bhattacharyaism first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

An Open Letter to Professor Katy Milkman: Don’t Censor John Ioannidis, Jay Bhattacharya, and Emily Oster. Amplify Their Voices.

Jonathan Howard — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:13:00 +0000

It's vital that your conference attendees know the speakers' past credibility to judge their current credibility. All you have to do is be honest.

The post An Open Letter to Professor Katy Milkman: Don’t Censor John Ioannidis, Jay Bhattacharya, and Emily Oster. Amplify Their Voices. first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

New Study on AI Clinical Decision-Making

Steven Novella — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:28:27 +0000

Large language model artificial intelligence applications (LLM AIs) seem poised to have a significant effect on the practice of medicine, both good and bad, which is why we are giving it as much attention as we are here. LLMs give impressive results when tested on medical knowledge, able to pass multiple-choice exams designed for general medical and specialty certification. In fact it […]

The post New Study on AI Clinical Decision-Making first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

MAHA and science-based public health: Can’t we all just get along?

David Gorski — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The answer is: Very likely not, at least not as long as MAHA embraces quackery and antivax pseudoscience—not that that didn't stop STAT News from ignoring the elephant in the room, vaccines, in search of a "kumbaya" moment between MAHA and public health.

The post MAHA and science-based public health: Can’t we all just get along? first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Since They Won’t Remind You, Here’s What Drs. John Ioannidis, Jay Bhattacharya, and Scott Atlas, Actually Said 6 Years Ago

Jonathan Howard — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:52:16 +0000

The next time these doctors claim they were right, let's remind them exactly what they claim to have been right about.

The post Since They Won’t Remind You, Here’s What Drs. John Ioannidis, Jay Bhattacharya, and Scott Atlas, Actually Said 6 Years Ago first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

MAHA Doctors Love Donald Trump

Jonathan Howard — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:10:00 +0000

Every day they show up to work, with sweet declarations of love for Trump pouring from their lips, they are further reaffirming their decision to bind themselves to everything he does.

The post MAHA Doctors Love Donald Trump first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Do our mitochondria need support?

Scott Gavura — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Many products have claims to “support” your mitochondria. For healthy adults, these claims remain largely speculative and unproven.

The post Do our mitochondria need support? first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

More On Raw Milk

Steven Novella — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:26:11 +0000

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has been pushing the narrative that raw unpasteurized milk is both safe and better for your health than pasteurized milk. As usual, he is objectively wrong.

The post More On Raw Milk first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Legislative Alchemy: Licensing reflexologists and other practitioners of pseudoscience

Jann Bellamy — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:30:00 +0000

State legislatures are considering bills that would legitimize pseudoscience like reflexology and reiki by recognizing their practitioners as health care professionals.

The post Legislative Alchemy: Licensing reflexologists and other practitioners of pseudoscience first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Antivax tech bro Steve Kirsch uses AI to rediscover the Jock Doubleday challenge

David Gorski — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Everything old is new again, even when AI is involved, as a very old antivax trope is rediscovered for a new generation.

The post Antivax tech bro Steve Kirsch uses AI to rediscover the Jock Doubleday challenge first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Dr. Vinay Prasad Said He Would Deliver New COVID Vaccine RCTs. He Failed and Should STFU.

Jonathan Howard — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:49:00 +0000

It turns out that Tweeting about RCTs 100+ times is a lot easier than delivering even a single RCT.

The post Dr. Vinay Prasad Said He Would Deliver New COVID Vaccine RCTs. He Failed and Should STFU. first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Who Claims He “Would Have” Perfectly Controlled COVID In 2020, Can’t Even Fix A Few Broken Windows Today

Jonathan Howard — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:04:00 +0000

Trust in MAHA leaders has justifiably collapsed, and the sycophants who previously glorified Dr. Jay Bhattacharya have mysteriously vanished, unwilling to even acknowledge what they helped unleash on us all.

The post Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Who Claims He “Would Have” Perfectly Controlled COVID In 2020, Can’t Even Fix A Few Broken Windows Today first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

The Doctor’s Voice: Why AI Health Chatbots Believe Medical Lies

Henry MIller — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:30:00 +0000

Framing misinformation as coming from "a senior doctor" overrides skepticism

The post The Doctor’s Voice: Why AI Health Chatbots Believe Medical Lies first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Smart Drugs Are Here

Steven Novella — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:32:31 +0000

There is a quiet revolution going on. While so much media attention is being spent on debating the risks vs benefits of raw milk, the latest outrages from the systematic dismantling of quality science at the CDC and other federal agencies, and by the tsunami of terrible medical science being pushed on social media, science-based medicine marches on. Public awareness of recent […]

The post Smart Drugs Are Here first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

RFK Jr. is definitely coming for your vaccines (part 10): An RFK Jr. ally tells us what’s coming next

David Gorski — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

ICAN attorney and antivaxxer Aaron Siri recently petitioned HHS to add 300 "injuries" to the Vaccine Injury Table for the Vaccine Injury Compensation System. It's all part of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s plan to undermine and destroy the system, thus driving vaccine manufacturers out of the market.

The post RFK Jr. is definitely coming for your vaccines (part 10): An RFK Jr. ally tells us what’s coming next first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

The Covid Amnesia Project and the Plot to Erase 2020

Jonathan Howard — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:06:00 +0000

It’s up to those of us who experienced the pandemic in the real-world to make sure that what actually happened in 2020 isn’t deliberately erased by sheltered disinformation agents who experienced it all from their laptops.

The post The Covid Amnesia Project and the Plot to Erase 2020 first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Geopolitics and Drug Shortages

Scott Gavura — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The war in Iran is challenging pharmaceutical supply chains and revealing strains in the system.

The post Geopolitics and Drug Shortages first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.

Zoonotic Spillover Is A Problem

Steven Novella — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:07:33 +0000

Recently I gave the latest update on the origins of SARS-CoV-2 – bottom line, it was very likely a zoonotic spillover event and not a lab leak. Following that, I interviewed a researcher, Dr. Andersen, who is an expert on the origins of epidemics/pandemics and has researched this very question. He reinforced the spillover hypothesis, indicated he had considered the lab leak […]

The post Zoonotic Spillover Is A Problem first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.