Scientists have merged biology, chemistry, genetics and other sciences to create new, synthetic organisms. The most visible use may be plant-based Impossible Burgers that taste like meat, but researchers believe “synbio” may eventually help address hunger, pollution, and other modern problems. Yet in the wrong hands, synthetic biology could unleash terrible biological weapons. Experts discuss.

Radio Health Journal

Synthetic Biology: Friend or Foe?

Patients have to make medical choices today that they never did before. But do they have enough information to make those choices? Are normal people able to understand the flood of information and the medical terms to make good choices? An expert discusses how patients can work through these issues.

Are Regular People Equipped To Make Complicated Medical Decisions?

Headaches affect far more lives far more severely than most people realize. A sufferer and an expert physician discuss headaches and their treatment.

Headaches: More Than You Think

The CDC has now issued an urgent advisory for pregnant or recently pregnant women to get vaccinated. Research shows not only do the vaccines have no effect on fertility, they also pass immunity to babies who were in the womb when mom was vaccinated. A new study shows the rules restricting how many passengers teenage drivers can carry have been very effective at reducing risky driving, crashes and deaths. A new study says it's not just about how many steps you take per day, it matters how fast you walk. And finally, if the pandemic’s got you down and kept you from exercising, you’re not alone.

Medical Notes: Week of October 17, 2021

Addiction specialists are seeking to change the words we use to describe addictive behaviors, as they’ve learned the wrong language creates stigma and drives people away from treatment. Experts discuss the problem and solutions.

The Language of Addiction: Why Words Matter

An analysis finds vaccinations could have prevented more than 340,000 Covid hospitalizations in the U.S. A new study finds people with weakened immune system still get an immune response from Covid vaccination. And finally, turns out sugar is just as bad as high fructose corn syrup?

Medical Notes: Week of October 10, 2021

Grief is a process virtually everyone will face sometime. It’s unfortunately more common during the Covid-19 pandemic. But many people don’t know what to do when their pain does not follow the road map they expect--the well-known five stages of grief. Two experts on grief discuss what can happen under various scenarios when a loved one dies, and what people can do to make it through their pain.

Getting Through Grief

Music is more than a fun pastime. Studies show that especially in children, studying music rewires the brain in beneficial ways, giving them an advantage in other cognitive skills. The scientist who’s done much of this pioneering work discusses its ramifications and impact.

The Mind of a Musician

Children as young as five may soon be part of the tug of war over vaccine mandates. Then, several important studies on Covid and vaccination are released by CDC. And finally, a study finds that people with a history of trauma get more of a high from morphine than people who’ve been trauma-free.

Medical Notes: Week of October 3, 2021

Loneliness has been increasing across all ages even before the pandemic. It’s especially noteworthy among seniors, and it can dramatically affect health. An expert geriatrician who has studied the effects of loneliness and the leader of an organization that provides friendly visitors to the isolated elderly discuss causes of increasing loneliness, its impact, and the effectiveness of visitor programs.

The Loneliness Epidemic

As much as 16 percent of the population suffers from trypophobia, which makes them uneasy at the sight of holes clustered together, as in a honeycomb. Two experts and a sufferer discuss this phobia, which can be remarkably debilitating.

An Odd But Common Fear: Trypophobia, The Fear of Clustered Holes

A study suggests recovery from concussions might take twice as long as we thought. Then, researchers say they have a solution for "Zoom fatigue." Next, a study finds cannabis use may hurt men's fertility. Plus, new research finds that certain kinds of people are more susceptible to conspiracy theories. And finally, turns out craft beer really is different?

Medical Notes: Week of September 26, 2021

Government reports say more than 265 million healthcare records have been stolen, lost, or improperly disclosed in the last decade. It may create a financial risk, but it could also mean your health conditions and secrets are all over the internet. What are health systems doing to keep data safe? What should you do when you’re victim of a breach? One of the nation’s top health data experts discusses.

Healthcare Data Breaches

With the Delta variant of COVID-19, far more Americans are worried about getting infected. Then, American children and adolescents now get two-thirds of their calories from ultra processed foods. And finally…it’s good to be productive… but if you think leisure is a waste of time, you’re likely to be unhappy overall.

Medical Notes: Week of September 19, 2021

Listen to Radio Health Journal to get the latest scoop on what’s trending in health, science and technology, and the intersection of medicine and public policy. Each week we speak with leading experts to break down the complex medical jargon and report on a timely topic. Did you know ecstasy could help to cure PTSD? What does “Medicare for All” really mean? These subjects and more with two stories weekly, plus Medical Notes – a short recap of the top medical headlines in the news. Hosted by Reed Pence, Nancy Benson and Shel Lustig. New shows posted each Sunday by 5 a.m. EST. Subscribe and listen, and find out more info at radiohealthjournal.net. Also, check out the latest on Instagram at radiohealthjournal and on Twitter at RadioHealthJrnl.