This Week in Science – The Kickass Science Podcast · Dr. Kirsten Sanford Science Media

How to Pronounce Acetaminophen

·2 hr 10 min·4 clips

No purchase necessary. It's what it is like to be led by the scientifically illiterate.

A rigorous investigation into misinformation: a Harvard-led meta-analysis claims to show acetaminophen causes autism based on studying associations rather than causation. The analysis omits contradictory large-scale studies (Sweden's 2.5M person population study found no link). The lead researcher is paid $150K to testify in acetaminophen lawsuits - creating a credibility pipeline where paid experts publish supporting papers to influence policy. This pattern echoes RFK Jr's pharmaceutical litigation strategy. Meanwhile, legitimate health risks (antibiotic-resistant pathogens in raw cat food) receive less policy attention.

As heard by us

Direct science commentary on acetaminophen, supplement labels, and how language can mislead.

This episode starts with a firm rejection of evidence-free claims linking Tylenol to autism, then turns to how supplement-label language can steer public interpretation.

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Why you'd press play

Hear how a pronunciation joke turns into a blunt look at medical claims and label hype.

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