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Fox News story on asteroid impact 13,000 years ago expresses certainty not supported by the research article it reports on

12/31/2019

Reviewed by: Caelan Mestinsek and Tommy Davies

Average Score: 3.5 / 5

In Summary: A recent study sheds light on the ecological disruption and extinctions that occurred around 13,000 years ago in a brief ice-age. The consequences on the biological diversity around White Pond, South Carolina are thought to be potentially the result of an extraterrestrial impact. While unconfirmed, a news story by Fox News asserts a level of certainty that is not supported within the original research article and would benefit from additional literature sources to back up its claims.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Maximillian Soltysiak

Story on a study into the effects of stress on pregnancy by CNN appears to pick parts of the original article for a more interesting narrative

12/25/2019

Reviewed by: Jena Ryoo and Rachel Lacroix

Average Score: 4 / 5

In Summary: A recent study on the consequences of stress on pregnancy found that higher stress levels were linked to lower rates of male births. This finding was a relatively minor part of the original research article and was flushed out a little more in detail in the story by CNN. However, while additional sources were brought in to support the argument in the news story, it still appears to have been cherry picked to create a more entertaining narrative.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Katherine Jiang

CNN falls short on unsourced claims in a recent story on a wearable exoskeleton named HAL

12/20/2019

Reviewed by: Julia Schmid and Erik Weise

Average Score: 4 / 5

In Summary: HAL is a wearable exoskeleton, developed for assistance in health care and industry. In the CNN story, while most of the information stated was accurate after looking through the scientific literature, aspects of the news story would benefit with support from credited sources. As there is no "main research paper" this story is based on, aspects of the Index were left unused and sources from the literature are provided in the main text.

Original News Story

Sources Cited Below

Image by: Katherine Jiang

ScienceDaily story on grizzly bear hibernation and gene regulation matches original research

12/15/2019

Reviewed by: Celina Tang and Shauna Morrell

Average Score: 4.5 / 5

In Summary: ScienceDaily, once again, posts a detailed yet still easy to understand story on the genetic regulation during grizzly bear hibernation. Depending on the time of year, these bears switch genes on and off, triggering the increase in fat accumulation as preparation for hibernation. The story delves into potential consequences and implications this may have on humans.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Jermiah Joseph

Stellar article by Duke Today regarding how social status leaves a lasting impact on gene regulation

12/10/2019

Reviewed by: Tommy Davies and Caelan Mestinsek

Average Score: 5 / 5

In Summary: New findings recently uncovered how upregulation in immune system gene networks were found in macaque monkeys of lower social status. Even as these individuals climbed the social ranking, these changes in gene regulation persisted. Duke Today provides an insightful and unbiased account regarding the research and how these findings have implications on the impact social hierarchy on our genomes.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Katherine Jiang

ScienceDaily accurate and factual when reporting the findings of a gum disease treatment on individuals with cirrhosis

12/6/2019

Reviewed by: Celina Tang and Jena Ryoo

Average Score: 4.5 / 5

In Summary: A recent study found that individuals with cirrhosis, when treated for their gum disease periodontitis, had higher levels of bacteria that reduce inflammation and had improved cognitive function. The news story by Science daily discusses these findings in an accurate and straightforward manner, albeit without additional outside sources to back up statements made.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Katherine Jiang

Decently approachable article by CTV News on how brains change how we perceive pain

12/4/2019

Reviewed by: Patrick Grzela and Victoria Han

Average Score: 4.5 / 5

In Summary: A recent study shed light on how the amygdala, a structure in the brain, mediates how we feel pain. While the news article provides an adequate introduction to the topic, the story would benefit from a few sources backing up some of the claims made and a little more depth into the research article itself.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Maximillian Soltysiak

Nearly flawless story on the classification of a platelet-rich plasma treatment as a drug by the CBC

12/1/2019

Reviewed by: Celina Tang and Julia Schmid

Average Score: 5 / 5

In Summary: Health Canada recently clarified their position on a platelet-rich plasma treatment being classified as a drug over a form of cell therapy. The CBC story effectively summarizes the claims made by Health Canada, barring one unsourced statement. Overall, there is an explicit lack of bias in reporting and is an accurate depiction of the statement made by Health Canada.

Original News Story

Research Article

Image by: Katherine Jiang