Other Science News

Are you familiar with Dunbar’s number? It is the estimate of the number of reasonably meaningful relationships we might have with other individuals at one time.

P-values are the statistical coin of the realm in determining the significance, at least statistically, of a randomized controlled study – our gold standard. But might we apply a different metric to determine whether an impact is found?

The media is constantly reporting on conflicts of interest in medical research. As a result, the only time we hear from academicians involved in this work is when they are “back on the heels,” defending their behavior.

“The Good Science Project’s funding, Buck said, comes almost entirely from Patrick Collison, a tech billionaire best known for founding Stripe, a payment-processing company.

 

In recognition of the upcoming summer, can there possibly be a better way to celebrate than scaring the hell out of any of you who may be on the fence about swimming in the ocean? I think not. 

I have been reading and writing about the upcoming FDA ban on menthol in cigarettes. Then I ran across this from Stat’s DC Diagnosis.

“Mediators explain how an intervention works.”

 

“Health systems and payers eager to trim costs think the answer lies in a small group of patients who account for more spending than anyone else.