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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Floats Ban On Federal Scientists Publishing In Medical Journals
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Wednesday he's planning to ban government scientists from publishing in established medical journals, which are some of the most important ways doctors spread knowledge and advance patient care. Kennedy made the comments on the Ultimate Human podcast to host Gary Brecka, a fellow vaccine skeptic and anti-fluoride conspiracy theorist. 'We're probably going to stop publishing in The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and those other journals because they're all corrupt,' Kennedy said, listing off some of the biggest medical journals and claiming they're controlled by the pharmaceutical industry. 'Unless these journals change dramatically, we are going to stop [National Institutes of Health] scientists from publishing there, and we're going to create our own journals in house,' he continued, claiming that those will 'become the preeminent journals.' The Lancet, the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA were all established in the 1800s and say they're viewed by tens of millions of people annually. Kennedy also claimed that the 'medical cartel' has 'transformed' the NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services into 'sock puppets' for the pharmaceutical industry. His remarks come a week after the White House released a Kennedy-spearheaded report saying prescribed pharmaceuticals could be to blame for chronic disease in children. Kennedy's podcast appearance also comes a day after he announced the CDC would no longer advise regular COVID-19 boosters for children and pregnant women. RFK Jr. Says COVID Shot Will No Longer Be Advised For Healthy Kids, Pregnant Women RFK Jr.'s MAHA Report Goes After Vaccines, Prescription Meds, Food Supply RFK Jr. Says He's Exploring A Crackdown On This Perfectly Safe Medication
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
US health boss Kennedy calls medical journals corrupt
For years, Mr Robert F. Kennedy Jr has attacked the huge influence of the pharmaceutical industry in the US healthcare system. PHOTO: AFP WASHINGTON - US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has attacked major medical journals, accusing them of collaborating with the pharmaceutical industry and threatening to bar government scientists from publishing in them. Mr Kennedy, who has long promoted misinformation about vaccines and is pushing to overhaul federal public health policy, launched his latest broadside against the scientific community in a podcast on May 27, singling out a number of prestigious medical research journals. 'We're probably going to stop publishing in the Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, Jama and those other journals because they're all corrupt,' Mr Kennedy alleged. 'So unless these journals change dramatically, we are going to stop NIH scientists from publishing there, and we're going to create our own journals,' Mr Kennedy said, referring to the National Institutes of Health, a huge federal research agency. For years, Mr Kennedy has attacked the huge influence of the pharmaceutical industry in the US health care system. He had previously attacked these storied medical journals. Dating back to the 19th century, The Lancet, The New England Journal of Medicine and Jama play a key role in medical and biomedical research. The studies they publish are peer reviewed – examined carefully by experts in the field of study being addressed. But Mr Kennedy argued that these publications are not reliable because, he said, they are controlled by big pharmaceutical companies. 'If you want to publish in a journal, you have to pay US$10,000 (S$12,896) to get the study published. So the pharmaceutical company concocts a study that shows the outcome that they want,' Mr Kennedy said, 'and they'll publish that.' Mr Kennedy highlighted in particular allegations by Dr Marcia Angell, a former senior figure at the New England Journal of Medicine. In the early 2000s, Dr Angell published a book on the pharmaceutical industry that argued that much of the clinical research published these days is not to be believed. Mr Kennedy has also accused several health agencies under his watch of being at the service of pharmaceutical companies. He has undertaken a major overhaul of his department to fight what he calls rampant bureaucracy and restore public trust in health care authorities. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr wants to ban government scientists from publishing in top journals and instead create a MAGA-backed publication
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr wants to ban top government scientists from publishing in 'corrupt' medical journals and force them to present research in MAGA-backed publications instead. During an appearance on the Ultimate Human podcast, Kennedy Jr said: 'We're probably going to stop publishing in the Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and those other journals because they're all corrupt.' He claimed the journals are under the control of pharmaceutical companies, according to The Washington Post. The world-renowned journals publish peer-reviewed research and analyze medical findings across the globe. Some of the journals receive millions of visits to their site annually. More than 1 million people read the New England Journal of Medicine in print each week. In past remarks, Kennedy has accused government agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, of being 'sock puppets' for pharmaceutical giants. The new government journals would immediately receive credibility because they'd be funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said Kennedy. This is despite NIH funding falling more than $3 billion between President Donald Trump's inauguration and March, when compared to the same time last year. 'It is anointing you as a good, legitimate scientist,' he said on the podcast episode, which aired shortly after he bypassed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and announced the department would stop recommending the coronavirus vaccine for healthy pregnant women and children. Last week, the White House released a 'MAHA report,' challenging vaccines. Several sections of the report offered misleading representations of findings in scientific papers, the newspaper reported. The scientific community is becoming increasingly concerned that research efforts are not progressing due to the Trump administration's actions. Since Trump's inauguration, Kennedy's agency has dismissed 20,000 federal workers, impacting almost every department division.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. says he may bar scientists from publishing in top medical journals
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that he may bar government scientists from publishing in the world's leading medical journals, instead proposing the creation of 'in-house' publications by his agency - the latest in the Trump administration's attacks on scientific institutions. 'We're probably going to stop publishing in the Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and those other journals because they're all corrupt,' Kennedy said during an appearance on the 'Ultimate Human' podcast. He also described the journals as being under the control of pharmaceutical companies. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. The three journals he named, all established in the 1800s, publish original, peer-reviewed research and play a central role in disseminating medical findings worldwide. JAMA, published by the American Medical Association, and the Lancet each say they receive more than 30 million annual visits to their sites, while the New England Journal of Medicine says it is read in print and online by more than 1 million people each week. The journals did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kennedy's remarks. Kennedy also accused several of the agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services - including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - of being 'sock puppets' for the pharmaceutical industry. On his plans for the department to create its own journals, Kennedy said they would 'become the preeminent journals, because if you get [NIH] funding, it is anointing you as a good, legitimate scientist.' Adam Gaffney, a public health researcher and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, wrote in an email that 'banning NIH-funded researchers from publishing in leading medical journals and requiring them to publish only in journals that carry the RFK Jr. seal of approval would delegitimize taxpayer-funded research.' He said that drug approvals are based on sound science, and that while steps should be taken to ensure that commercial interests don't impact 'the conduct or reporting of science,' this was unlikely to happen given the Trump administration's cuts to public health and research funding, as well as Kennedy's own anti-vaccine views. The podcast episode was released soon after Kennedy bypassed the CDC and declared that his department would stop recommending the coronavirus vaccine for healthy pregnant women and children. Last week, the administration released what it called a 'MAHA report' that challenged mainstream medical consensus on issues such as vaccines. Medical experts said some of the report's suggestions stretched the limits of science, The Washington Post reported, while several sections of the report offered misleading representations of findings in scientific papers. Kennedy's remarks and the report come amid growing concern in the scientific community over the Trump administration's actions that have stalled or disrupted research efforts. In April, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia sent an unusual letter to the scientific journal Chest that questioned its editorial policies, sparking free-speech concerns. NIH funding fell by more than $3 billion between President Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration and March, compared with grants issued in the same period last year, and top universities have lost out on government funding for research. At HHS, Kennedy has spearheaded a purge of about 20,000 federal workers, impacting virtually every arm of the department. The personnel cuts and funding freezes have prompted U.S. scientists to consider moving abroad as countries such as France, Germany, Spain and China have begun actively recruiting American researchers. Related Content Despite ceasefire, India and Pakistan are locked in a cultural cold war The D.C. plane crash took her mom and sister. She turned to her piano. Johnson again corrals GOP factions to pass Trump's sweeping tax bill
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on the role of trees near a volcano in an eruption, CRISPR and more (Week 112)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Science and Technology to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), consider the following statements: 1. It is an immune system found in microbes such as bacteria which fights invading viruses. 2. When a virus infects a bacterial cell, CRISPR helps to establish a memory in the form of antibodies, like in humans. 3. Base editing is a new version of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — A nine-month-old child born with a rare genetic disease has become the first (known) person to successfully get personalised gene-editing treatment, according to a paper published on May 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine. — To treat him, scientists and doctors from the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia developed a personalised treatment based on 'base editing', a new version of the decade-old CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — Scientists believe this method has the potential to treat thousands of unusual genetic illnesses. However, there are significant obstacles to its widespread acceptance. What is CRISPR? — After being infected with a virus, individuals develop an 'immune memory' in the form of antibodies. When they are infected with the same virus again, these antibodies readily recognise and neutralise the pathogens. — CRISPR, an immunological mechanism found in microbes such as bacteria that fights invading viruses, stands for 'clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats'. When a virus infects a bacterial cell, CRISPR contributes to the establishment of a memory — but one that is genetic rather than in the form of antibodies, as in humans. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct. — When a virus infects a bacterial cell, the bacterium removes a portion of the virus's genome and inserts it into its own genome. CRISPR then creates a new 'guide' RNA using the freshly acquired DNA. — During a subsequent attack by the same virus, the guide RNA immediately detects and attaches to virus DNA. The guide RNA then instructs an enzyme (a type of protein) called Cas9 to serve as 'molecular scissors' to cut and remove the virus DNA. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the Tianwen-2 mission, consider the following statements: 1. This mission will be launched by Japan, being its first mission to survey and sample a near-Earth asteroid. 2. It will investigate an asteroid called 469219 Kamo'oalewa, which orbits the Sun at a distance relatively close to Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — China will launch its first mission to survey and sample a near-Earth asteroid this week. Known as the Tianwen-2 mission, the probe will investigate an asteroid called 469219 Kamo'oalewa, which orbits the Sun at a distance relatively close to Earth. Hence, statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is correct. — If the mission is successful, China will join a small group of countries, including the United States and Japan, that have successfully sampled and returned asteroids to Earth. — Kamo'oalewa was found in 2016 by the Pan-STARRS 1 asteroid survey telescope on Haleakalā, Hawaii. It is one of only seven asteroids classified as quasi-satellites of Earth, which are satellites that circle the Sun but are gravitationally impacted by the planet due to their proximity. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements: Statement 1: When the leaves from trees near a volcano turn greener, it is indicative of the fact that it is active and is about to erupt soon. Statement 2: Greener trees detect early signs of an active volcano by tracing the volcanic carbon dioxide (CO₂). Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1. (b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1. (c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is incorrect. (d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct. Explanation — NASA has created a new method of observing volcano patterns by tracking tree health using satellite photos. In collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution's AVUELO (Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean), space agency experts say they can detect early signals of volcanic eruptions by analysing the changing colours of tree leaves. — The scientists discovered that when the leaves of trees surrounding a volcano turn greener, it indicates that the volcano is active and may erupt soon. Tracing the CO₂ consumption patterns of nearby trees can help detect early indicators of an active volcano. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. — Research indicates that rising magma beneath Earth's surface emits CO₂ and SO₂ into the atmosphere. While detecting sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere is relatively simple, scientists suggest that traces of volcanically produced carbon dioxide are far more difficult to identify. CO₂ can be difficult to identify from other gases in the atmosphere. Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Rocket propulsion relies on: 1. Newton's first law of motion 2. Newton's third law of motion. 3. Archimedes' Principle Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 2 and 3 only Explanation — Ballistic missiles are still used today, but they are far more complex. A ballistic missile is one that is only powered during the initial stages of its flight. After that, it follows a parabolic course, much like a pebble tossed into the air, but quicker and farther. — A typical intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) may reach altitudes of more than 1,000 kilometres and speeds of Mach 20 (20 times the speed of sound). Once launched, they are virtually impossible to intercept. But pure ballistic routes are predictable — which is both their strength and weakness. — Guided missiles are equipped with sensors (such as radar, infrared, or GPS) and control systems (gyroscopes, fins, and internal thrusters) that allow them to direct themselves while in flight. — Rocket propulsion follows Newton's Third Law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The rocket moves ahead as it burns fuel and expels petrol from the back. The major problem isn't only travelling fast; it's also regulating flight at high speeds. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the planet Uranus, consider the following statements: 1. It is pale blue-green in colour because its atmosphere absorbs the red wavelengths of sunlight. 2. As per the study, Uranus' atmosphere is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, along with small amounts of methane. 3. Uranus' axis of rotation is nearly parallel to its orbital plane. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, owes its pale blue-green colour to its atmosphere that absorbs the red wavelengths of sunlight, according to a new study. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — The Hubble photos of Uranus were obtained between 2002 and 2022. According to the study, Uranus' atmosphere is mostly made of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of methane, water, and ammonia. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — Uranus is situated between Saturn and Neptune. Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, is one of the least studied planets in our solar system, which is why the latest research study could be significant. Scientists who wrote the paper also supplied additional information regarding seasonal changes on the planet. Unlike other planets, Uranus' axis of rotation is almost parallel to its orbital plane. Hence, statement 3 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Sorry for the inconvenience caused. All remaining questions and answers are correctly marked. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 112) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 112) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 111) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 111) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 111) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 111) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. 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