GLP podcast/video: Many Americans still reject evolution; should we worry? Top-10 food myths, debunked; Farmers finally growing Golden Rice

The creation-evolution debate has fallen out of the spotlight in recent years, but many Americans still reject Darwin’s theory. Should we be alarmed by this widespread skepticism of basic biology? You probably believe at least some myths about food and nutrition; let’s debunk the top 10. Farmers in the Philippines are finally starting to grow vitamin-fortified Golden Rice. The results so far are encouraging.

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Join hosts Dr. Liza Dunn and GLP contributor Cameron English on episode 243 of Science Facts and Fallacies as they break down these latest news stories:

• Aligned with views of new House Speaker Mike Johnson, 60% of Americans believe Biblical creation myth or that God guided evolution

A plurality of American adults still reject Darwin’s theory of evolution, or believe the process was guided by God. It’s just one example of a widespread phenomenon today: people of all backgrounds routinely reject established biological facts to protect their religious and cultural beliefs. Why does this science denial persist, and what can we do about it?

• Revising 10 fact-based perspectives on entrenched food myths: Gene editing is good, diet soda is fine, organics is not the answer

Diet soda is harmful; food deserts cause obesity; farm subsidies make junk food cheap. The preceding statements are completely false, yet they’re often taken as established fact in public health debates. Let’s debunk these and a handful of other popular falsehoods about food and nutrition.

• Which is better to fight blindness — Golden Rice or Vitamin A supplement pills?

After more than two decades of research and regulatory review, some farmers in the Philippines are starting to grow Golden Rice (GR), a genetically engineered crop designed to fight vitamin A deficiency (VAD), a devastating condition that afflicts millions of children in southeast Asia. But political opposition to GR persists and it’s still not clear what the future holds. Let’s take a look at the deployment of Golden Rice in the Philippines and see how it’s progressing.

Cameron J. English is the director of bio-sciences at the American Council on Science and Health. Visit his website and follow him on X @camjenglish