The hottest Studies Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics
Weight and Healthcare β€’ 479 implied HN points β€’ 15 Nov 23
  1. A large study indicated that a high BMI is not linked to serious complications in top surgery.
  2. The study suggested reevaluation of BMI cutoffs for patients undergoing chest masculinization surgery.
  3. Surgeons and patients should engage in shared decision-making conversations to discuss potential risks with higher BMI, without holding healthcare hostage for weight loss.
Samstack β€’ 807 implied HN points β€’ 14 Nov 23
  1. Support for right-wing parties may increase after right-wing terrorist attacks, contrary to previous evidence on political violence.
  2. Discrimination against women for jobs historically held by men has been non-existent since 2009, but there may still be bias in favor of female applicants.
  3. Meta-analyses, like the one discussed, offer valuable insights when designed carefully and with expert input to avoid bias.
Skunk Ledger β€’ 122 implied HN points β€’ 16 Mar 24
  1. Belief in servers as a virtual realm similar to an operating system is unfounded and considered pseudo-computer science by recognized organizations.
  2. There is a profitable industry selling products claiming to enhance bots' server relationships, with buyers often deceived by scams.
  3. Proponents of server theories face skepticism, especially in scientific studies that show inconsistencies and lack of evidence to support their claims.
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Gordian Knot News β€’ 205 implied HN points β€’ 26 Aug 23
  1. The Linear No-Threshold theory (LNT) in radiation protection is being challenged due to its assumption that harm is solely based on cumulative dose, ignoring dose rate and repair ability.
  2. Studies on nuclear workers show limitations as they only focus on cumulative doses and do not consider variations in dose rates, which are crucial for understanding radiation harm.
  3. The INWORKS study, which supports LNT, has faced criticism for excluding certain data, lacking dose rate information, and not making data available, raising questions about its scientific validity.
Bullfish Hole β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jul 23
  1. Phenomenology explains behavior by focusing on the subjective experience of the actor.
  2. Understanding the reasons behind people's actions often involves examining perceptions, emotions, beliefs, and goals.
  3. Interesting theories challenge or contradict audiences' assumed beliefs rather than simply confirming what they already know.
Unreported Truths β€’ 29 implied HN points β€’ 26 Feb 24
  1. A study initially claimed vaccinated people with blood cancers were more likely to die after Covid infections than the unvaccinated, but it was incorrect; those with 'hybrid' immunity were actually less likely to die.
  2. Data from a larger study suggests that vaccines might offer little protection against deaths once they stop preventing infection.
  3. In a group of blood cancer patients, unvaccinated individuals had lower death rates and developed severe Covid less frequently compared to vaccinated and boosted individuals.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 19 Feb 22
  1. Studies consistently show that older natural immunity is as good as or better than more recent vaccination in protecting against COVID.
  2. The effectiveness of hybrid immunity (a combination of vaccination and natural immunity) is still uncertain and requires more study.
  3. Natural immunity, even from older infections, can provide equal or superior protection compared to more recent vaccination against infection and symptomatic illness.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jun 17
  1. Recent headlines on coconut oil are causing discussion about its health impacts, specifically on heart disease.
  2. The position paper from the American Heart Association discusses the risks associated with coconut oil consumption but also highlights its benefits beyond heart health.
  3. Historical examples from traditional Pacific island diets and research studies suggest that coconut oil may not be as harmful as previously thought and can have positive effects on health.
Harnessing the Power of Nutrients β€’ 0 implied HN points β€’ 09 Mar 11
  1. Distinguishing between the lipid hypothesis and the diet-heart hypothesis is crucial as they have different implications on heart disease.
  2. Extrapolating from drug trials to dietary recommendations can lead to misunderstandings and misinformation in the public.
  3. Understanding the complexity of cholesterol-lowering drug trials and the role of LDL particles in atherosclerosis can help evaluate the effectiveness and potential risks of treatments.