Tag: "autism"
Doubt and Denialism: Vaccine Myths Persist in the Face of Science
Many people continue to doubt the evidence for climate change, evolution, and vaccine safety, even though the scientific consensus on these issues is rock solid. Among the most troubling evidence-resistant theories is the long-debunked yet persistent myth that vaccines cause autism—a completely unfounded belief–leading to general doubts about vaccine safety, with dangerous public health consequences.
Post on Aug 08, 2012 by Liza Gross from QUEST North Carolina
Desperately Seeking Autism Genes
Autism is incredibly frustrating from a genetic point of view. Every study clearly shows that genetics plays an important role in this disease. But when these studies try to find a cause, they keep coming up short.
Post on Apr 30, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
New Study Suggests Autism More Tightly Linked To Environment Than Genetics
The scientists estimate that environmental factors common to twins explains 55% of susceptibility to autism, whereas genetics accounts for only 37%.
Post on Jul 22, 2011 by Darya Pino from QUEST Northern California
Autism More than Genes
A new twin study suggests that the environment may play a bigger role in autism than scientists previously thought.
Post on Jul 18, 2011 by Dr. Barry Starr from QUEST Northern California
Tonight's Down to a Science Event: "The Panic Virus"
Learn more about the origins of the debate over vaccines and autism and what the current theories are from author of The Panic Virus, Seth Mnookin, at tonight's Down to a Science.
Post on Mar 08, 2011 by Laura Khalil
Health Officials to Consider Tightening Vaccine Exemptions
Concerned by the increase in the number of children who are starting kindergarten without all their vaccines, public health officials in the Bay Area will look into the possibility of tightening the system that allows parents to opt out from mandatory immunizations.
Post on Oct 13, 2010 by Gabriela Quirós
Trust Building
Whooping cough has reached epidemic proportions in the state of California. And it is hard to know who to be the maddest at.
Post on Jul 05, 2010 by Dr. Barry Starr
Quest Topic in the News: The Autism-Vaccine Connection
February was a big month in the debate about the possible role of vaccines in causing autism, a subject we covered in last year's TV story, Autism: Searching for Causes and several blog posts. The claim-–that there might be a link between the immunizations children receive and the onset of autism–-has recently taken some hard hits.
Post on Mar 04, 2009 by Rachel Zurer
Producer's Notes: Autism: Searching for Causes
It's challenging to report on an illness such as autism, which scientists and doctors are only beginning to understand (the disease was described in the 1940s) and over which there is so much debate. There is even disagreement around the question of whether or not there has been a real increase in the number of children being diagnosed with autism in California.
Post on Aug 19, 2008 by Gabriela Quirós
Vaccines: One Small Risk for a Child, One Giant Benefit for Mankind
You're as likely to be struck by lightningas to have a severe reaction to a vaccine. I was reading an article in Time last week about parents not vaccinating their children. The story was about how this phenomenon is becoming more widespread. These kinds of stories are weird to me because vaccines are pretty safe. [...]
Post on Jun 06, 2008 by Dr. Barry Starr
