“Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.”
- Edgar Allan Poe
Consumers are gullible and advertisers prey on this consumer weakness. You desperately want to believe there are supplements to make you smarter, stronger, or lose weight. Advertisers often make unsubstantiated claims like, “many believe this is a cure for cancer”. They will use celebrities and sports stars to garner your trust. The good news is there are products that offer substantial benefits. Our goal is to bring you the truth about which products work and which ones don’t. We look at the available research on a product to hunt for the real truth. Information is the key for making great decisions.
Cheating on college essays and papers is nothing new. Plagiarizing from articles or books dates back hundreds of years. LLM-generated content eludes plagiarism detectors because the output is not identical to the material it has ingested. With a bit of “prompt engineering”, you can make an endless stream of “new” content on the same subject.
Short answer: Yes, there is a difference. A nursing home provides general custodial care and assistance with daily living, while a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) offers medical care and rehabilitation services delivered by licensed professionals, often after hospitalization.
Short answer: Yes, the Death Master File (DMF) is still available, but access is restricted. The U.S. government limits who can access the full file due to privacy laws, while a public version is available through Vital Records IndexDeath Records.
Short answer: Yes, prompt engineers are a real job. They specialize in crafting effective inputs (prompts) for AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and many other LLMs to optimize outputs, especially in roles involving AI integration, automation, and product development.
Short answer: Yes, software can detect AI-generated written content, but the accuracy varies depending on the tool, writing style, and the sophistication of the AI used. AI detectors are improving but not foolproof.
Short Answer: Given the world’s rapid digitalization, it seems highly likely that some form of cryptocurrency will have a significant role in the future; however, it remains to be seen if Bitcoin, the most established cryptocurrency, will retain its dominant position in the market.
Short Answer: Most research seems to show that cryotherapy sessions are as effective as ice baths at reducing inflammation while taking ⅕ of the time and not nearly as much discomfort. However, the cost of a session is far more expensive than a simple ice bath.
Short Answer: While alkaline water companies suggest there are a host of health benefits to drinking water with a higher pH level, most scientific institutions say there’s little solid evidence of any benefits to drinking alkaline water over neutral pH water.
Short answer: Yes. New York water is softer than other sources of water, which impacts the gluten in the bagel dough; however, the biggest difference comes from the skill of the people making the bagels. Some New Yorker families have been making bagels for decades.
Short answer: Yes. Fish oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which are proven to be healthier than other forms of fat; however, someone who regularly eats fish would likely not experience any benefit to taking a fish oil supplement.
Short answer: In the vast majority of COVID-19 cases, an infected person will develop antibodies that are effective at preventing reinfection or transmission; however, there have been cases where a previously infected person has tested positive months later. Bottom line, even if you have antibodies, take the same precautions you would normally take.
Short answer: If you regularly drink soda, then diet soda is a better option than regular soda; however, adding diet soda to your diet is not beneficial.
Short answer: Kind of. It’s mostly an exciting rebranding of materials science that started in the 1990s, so more funding and research could be done; however, the increased interest and capital in ‘nanotechnology’ has led to innovations and cross-field collaboration.
Short answer: Lipozene is made from fiber, which has been correlated with lower body weight; however, the supplement won’t singlehandedly cause mass weight loss. If taken in conjunction with diet and exercise, it will potentially be beneficial.
Short answer: There is no solid evidence to back the claims behind Prevagen. Like most supplements, there is no need to provide FDA-approved studies in order to make general claims.
Short answer: Yes. While not always completely effective at preventing infection, studies have shown that exposing your immune system to the influenza virus can reduce the severity of the illness.
Short answer: Yes. Stem cell research has enabled scientists to have a better understanding of cell functions, and it has led to breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, heart problems, and the side-effects of chemotherapy.
Short answer: No, Power Balance bracelets do not work. There is no measurable benefit from them, and any anecdotal evidence is a result of the placebo effect.
Short answer: Yes, masks are effective if worn properly and hands are kept properly sanitized. Widespread masking also prevents asymptomatic people from spreading the virus. Masks have the ancillary benefit of showing solidarity, reducing stigma, and showing a willingness to follow health guidelines.
Yes, there is strong evidence that creatine will increase power and strength by 5-15% and sprint performance by 1-5%.
Advertisers too often make extraordinary claims about their product without providing any proof. They may point to “research” from a questionable group. Or, they may have testimonials (anecdotes) from celebrities or sports figures claiming how the product helped them become stronger/more beautiful/smarter. Don’t believe any if. If an advertiser can’t provide evidence of their claims is because their product most likely does not work.