RFK Jr. has a strong anti-vaccine stance, has made false claims about water fluoridation, and supports unproven and potentially dangerous therapies. His views contradict established medical science and could undermine the effectiveness of agencies like the FDA, CDC, and NIH.
As head of HHS, RFK Jr. would oversee the FDA, CDC, NIH, and other health agencies. He would have the power to hire and fire personnel, restructure agencies, and influence policies on vaccines, drug approvals, and public health regulations.
RFK Jr.'s pro-abortion stance could be a significant barrier to his confirmation by a conservative Congress, as it may not align with the views of many Republican senators.
Tobacco use has declined by more than 70 percent in the U.S. since 1965, but disparities remain. American Indian and Alaska Native people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people living in poverty have higher smoking rates and are more exposed to secondhand smoke due to targeted marketing and financial barriers to treatment.
The image shows a star about 2,000 times bigger than the Sun, surrounded by a ring that scientists believe could be ejected material before the star goes supernova. The star has also dimmed over the past decade, suggesting it is nearing the end of its life.
Social contagion in chimpanzees involves the spread of behaviors like grooming and play through social networks. Chimps are more likely to engage in these activities after observing others, which can enhance social cohesion and cooperation within the group.
Adult chimpanzees play regularly, often before activities requiring group cooperation like defending territory or hunting. Play also helps reduce tension during in-group competition and fighting, suggesting it is crucial for maintaining social bonds.
Donald Trump has nominated RFK, Jr., to run the Department of Health and Human Services, a position that includes oversight of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. Senior health and medicine editor Tanya Lewis explains what that would mean for antivaccine policies, food safety and unproven therapies that Kennedy backs. Tobacco use is down across the U.S., but the drop has been uneven across groups. Astronomers have released the first-ever close up image of a star—and scientists are excited over an unexpected ring. Plus, studies of chimpanzees explore the role of social contagion on their behaviors and point to play in adult chimps.
Recommended reading:
RFK, Jr., Is a Bad Prescription for U.S. Public Health | Opinion)
Chimps Share Knowledge like Humans Do, Spurring Innovation)
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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman with guest senior health and medicine editor Tanya Lewis. Our show is edited by Anaissa Ruiz Tejada with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
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