What The Science Says: Stanford Medicine experts parse the facts

In a world where sussing out credible information on important health and medical issues has become an increasingly murky process, the following collection of Insights stories, which we're calling ‘What the Science Says,’ aims to provide an abundance of clarity.

Here at Stanford Medicine we are extremely fortunate to have some of the world's foremost experts, across a multitude of fields, and the well of individual research and informed opinion runs deep. This ongoing series taps that expertise and applies it to topics many people care about deeply, yet can’t often find the trustworthy information they seek.

Sunscreen fact and fiction: What the science says

By Sarah CP Williams

Somehow, the idea that we need to protect our skin from the sun has blurred in recent years — largely due to online misinformation. We asked dermatologists about the science on sunscreen products.

READ THE STORY HERE

Antidepressants for kids and teens: What the science says

By Rachel Tompa

Stanford Medicine researchers weigh in on SSRIs for the under-18 set; that ominous black box warning; and how talk therapy can be a key component, even if it can be difficult to find.

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The gut-brain connection: What the science says

By Rachel Tompa

Stanford Medicine researchers describe the gut-brain relationship and how it affects conditions from anxiety to long COVID to Parkinson's.

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Microplastics and our health: What the science says

By Katia Savchuk

Whether we know it, or like it, our bodies are polluted by tiny fragments of plastic that fail to break down in our earthly environment. What does that mean for our long-term health, and what can we do about it?

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BMI, aka body mass index: What the science says

By Sarah CP Williams

Some researchers and clinicians are questioning the value of the body mass index, which estimates a person's body composition. But do better alternatives exist?

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Red light therapy: What the science says

By Hanae Armitage

Photobiomodulation, the use of light waves to change human biology, has boomed in recent years for all kinds of purposes, at medical clinics and at home. We wanted to know what the science says - and doesn't say.

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PFAS, aka 'forever chemicals': What the science says

By Sarah CP Williams

The so-called 'forever chemicals' can stick around in the environment - and in our bodies. Scientists agree there is cause for concern. So what should we be doing to mitigate our health risks?

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Send suggestions for future topics to sm_editors@stanford.edu.

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What The Science Says: Stanford Medicine experts parse the facts

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Sunscreen fact and fiction: What the science says

Antidepressants for kids and teens: What the science says

The gut-brain connection: What the science says

Microplastics and our health: What the science says

BMI, aka body mass index: What the science says

Red light therapy: What the science says

PFAS, aka 'forever chemicals': What the science says

Mark Conley