All posts by Steven Novella

Founder and currently Executive Editor of Science-Based Medicine Steven Novella, MD is an academic clinical neurologist at the Yale University School of Medicine. He is also the host and producer of the popular weekly science podcast, The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, and the author of the NeuroLogicaBlog, a daily blog that covers news and issues in neuroscience, but also general science, scientific skepticism, philosophy of science, critical thinking, and the intersection of science with the media and society. Dr. Novella also has produced two courses with The Great Courses, and published a book on critical thinking - also called The Skeptics Guide to the Universe.

Coconut Oil Warning

Coconut oil is promoted as a health food, but a recent warning from the American Heart Association warns that coconut oil is very high in saturated fats and increases your risk for heart disease.

/ June 21, 2017

BMI and the Obesity Epidemic

Obesity is a serious and growing health problem worldwide. Ditching BMI as a measure of obesity is not the solution.

/ June 14, 2017

Minnesota Measles

There is currently an outbreak of measles in the Somali population of Minnesota – an outbreak that can be directly linked to antivaccine propaganda.

/ June 7, 2017

Mast Cell Activation Disorder – Yes, It’s Real

Mast Cell Activation Disorder is real, but there are a large number of fake diagnoses out there. How do you tell the difference?

/ May 31, 2017
Cancer can be cured

The Natural Cancer Cure Narrative

Julie Reason and her husband are producing a documentary about her cancer, and efforts to cure it. Based on their comments, they are drawing upon an established and false narrative about the causes and cures of cancer, one that can be dangerous to her, and all other cancer patients.

/ May 24, 2017

Another ADHD Denier

John Rosemond, a self-help columnist, denies the science of ADHD with the usual invalid and outdated arguments.

/ May 17, 2017

Inoculating – Against Misinformation

A new study confirms what we suspected - you can't just correct misinformation with information, you have to expose the tactics of deception so people can recognize them for themselves.

/ May 10, 2017

The New York Times: Promoting False Hope as Journalism

The New York Times sells a narrative of false hope, and fails to engage in even basic journalism to tell a more complete story.

/ May 3, 2017

Faking Peer-Review

A major cancer journal just retracted 107 papers for faking peer-review, bringing the total for that publisher to 450. How did this happen, and how do we prevent it in the future?

/ April 26, 2017
EBM hierarchy

Responding to SBM Critics

A response to a critic of SBM, and setting the record straight on our actual positions regarding evidence and the practice of medicine.

/ April 19, 2017