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ScienceNews article avoids personal opinions on the predictive ability of polygenic scores

4/9/2020

Reviewed by: Catherine Choueiri and Adrianna Rizzuto

Average score: 5 / 5

In Summary: Parents are able to pick an embryo based on a polygenic score, but these scores are not as predictive as once thought according to a Cell article. Other factors, such as the environment and the education of the child, has a larger impact on their intelligence than their genes. Michael Le Page, the author of the ScienceNews article, sticks to the facts when describing the conclusions of the scientific article without including any personal opinions.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Katherine Jiang

The Science Advisory Board reports on new study that investigates the brain's responses to lesions and injury

4/7/2020

Reviewed by: Victoria Spadacini and Matt Fairfax

Average score: 5 / 5

In Summary: A study exploring immune responses was effectively summarized by The Science Advisory Board’s author Samantha Black using a structure that makes the information easily digestible. Black defines all important components of the study without exaggerating or simplifying their implications. The language used, while neutral, contained a large amount of scientific jargon. The news story was criticized also in its lack of multiple sources.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Jermiah Joseph

Overexaggerated claims about the effect of e-cigarettes on heart health made by Time

4/6/2020

Reviewed by: Adrianna Rizzuto and John Samuelian Jr.

Average score: 3 / 5

In Summary: Time’s writer Markham Heid inappropriately uses a study conducted by the Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre to compare the effects of e-cigarettes versus smoking on heart health. Many errors in scientific reporting can be observed in addition to issues with research article accessibility. This news story should be treated as a cautionary warning about the dangers of smoking and the use of e-cigarettes, rather than an informative piece about their effects.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Katherine Jiang

New findings about psychedelics as a method of reducing alcohol consumption reviewed by Psypost

4/3/2020

Reviewed by: Victoria Han and Ryan Yee

Average score: 5 / 5

In Summary: A recent study looking to determine the effectiveness of psychedelics on reducing alcohol consumption is presented in a well-written manner by Psypost. Although the author only uses the one source, it is made clear that further investigations are to be done before any definitive conclusions are made. The news story is void of confusing scientific jargon that may make it difficult for a lay audience to understand. Dolan makes this new branch of investigation an interesting read for a multitude of audiences.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Jermiah Joseph

ScienceDaily article sums up the benefits of 'parantese' on a child's vocabulary

4/2/2020

Reviewed by: Vicky Chang and Julia Schmid

Average Score: 5 / 5

In Summary: A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that parents who speak parantese (simple grammar and exaggerated vowels) end up with children with a larger vocabulary than children who aren’t spoken to in this manner. The ScienceDaily article accurately summarizes the findings but it doesn’t include the uncertainties that are bound to be present in the study. Despite that, this excellent article is informative and avoids any unnecessary jargon.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Maximillian Soltysiak

MedicalNews reviews a series of studies found to be industry-funded and candidates for biased results

4/1/2020

Reviewed by: Adrianna Rizzuto and Maja Soltysiak

Average score: 5 / 5

In Summary: Maria Cohut of MedicalNewsToday has reviewed a series of research studies promoting indoor tanning with the goal of exploring the biases that have resulted from the funding. Cohut presents multiple implications for consumers due to the influenced studies and remains unbiased in her language as she tries to clarify the information that consumers are receiving. Overall, an interesting read.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Jermiah Joseph

Presentation of research on the role of nudge theory in food preferences written effectively for many audiences by National Post

3/30/2020

Reviewed by: Sean Luke and Kennedy Barkhouse

Average score: 4 / 5

In Summary: A research project investigating the use of nudge theory in shifting student’s food preferences towards healthier choices. Richard Warnica writes for the National Post about this project in a neutral way that adheres well to the scientific method used by the study author. There is room for improvement as Warnica could have benefitted from additional sources independent of the original research article.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Jermiah Joseph

ScienceMag article describes flaw in retracted coronavirus research paper in NEJM

3/27/2020

Reviewed by: Ryan Yee and Kyra Horsthuis

Average Score: 5 / 5

In Summary: Author Kai K. of ScienceMag discusses the flawed findings of research published in the New England Journal of Medicine that suggested that an asymptomatic woman had transmitted COVID-19 in Germany to four people on a business trip meeting. Kai provides numerous opposing but credible, perspectives from individuals both involved and not involved with the original paper. The author effectively maintained a neutral tone and presents readers with an accurate and holistic depiction of the situation without any opinions.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by Jermiah Joseph

Improvements in cancer treatment methods presented effectively and concisely by ScienceDaily

3/25/2020

Reviewed by: Matt Fairfax and Sean Luke

Average score: 5 / 5

In Summary: Recent advancements with the goal of creating safer cancer therapy were discussed thoroughly but efficiently so that readers understand what is already known and what was actually improved. Although there is no confusion between correlation and causation, the author fails to explain some scientific jargon. That, in addition to the lack of sources independent from the original research article, decreases the article’s accessibility. With few errors, ScienceDaily makes this exciting update an enjoyable read.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Jermiah Joseph

Recent successes with combined CRISPR and T-cell therapy highlighted by ScienceMag

3/24/2020

Reviewed by: Maja Soltysiak and Catherine Choueiri

Average score: 5 / 5

In Summary: ScienceMag reports on a recent study that has found success with combining gene-editing CRISPR technology with T-cell therapy in treating cancer. Author Jennifer Couzin-Frankel conveys the excitement pertaining to these advancements while keeping the news story largely void of scientific jargon, personal opinions and emotion, and sensationalizing. There are a few issues with accessibility; however, Couzin-Frankel manages to make the article interesting and adaptable to multiple audiences.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Jermiah Joseph