Category: Bad science

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Antivaccine nonsense Bad science Medicine Skepticism/critical thinking

It’s September. That must mean it’s time for fear mongering about the flu vaccine.

Flu vaccine

September is the time for antivaccine fear mongering about the flu vaccine, this time with a hint of COVID-19 pseudoscience.

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Bad science Computers and social media Medicine Science Skepticism/critical thinking

“Metabolic optimization” probably won’t save you from COVID-19

"Metabolic optimization"

A favorite claim by those favoring “holistic” therapies is that using diet to “optimize metabolism” can prevent or treat COVID-19. These claims are of a piece with similar claims for many other diseases and are just as exaggerated.

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Bad science Bioethics Medicine Politics Pseudoscience Quackery Skepticism/critical thinking

China is forcing people to use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) quackery to treat COVID-19

TCM vs COVID-19

There is no evidence that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is effective against COVID-19. That’s not stopping China from forcing people to use it to treat coronavirus.

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Bad science Medicine Pseudoscience Quackery

The astroturf effort promoting hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 continues apace

HCQ Trial

A week and a half ago, a “study” published on “HCQ Trial” by an anonymous source claiming to be a group of PhD scientists went viral. It claimed that countries that used hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 had a 79% lower fatality rate than those who didn’t. It was horrible science and quickly debunked on Twitter by several epidemiologists. That didn’t stop it from going viral. Disinformation like this during a pandemic is one of the most dangerous challenges we face.

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Antivaccine nonsense Bad science Cancer Computers and social media Medicine Pseudoscience Quackery

Joe Mercola: Celebrating 23 years of promoting quackery and antivaccine misinformation

Dr. Joseph Mercola
"Trust me."

“Dr.” Joe Mercola just celebrated 23 years of his website. It’s actually been 23 years of promoting quackery and antivaccine misinformation, culminating in a lot of COVID-19 disinformation.