A new study found record-high demand for abortion medications in the US following the leaked Supreme Court draft ruling. Searches for abortion medications spiked 162% during the 72-hour period after the leak, with significantly more searches in states with restrictive reproductive rights. The team urges prioritizing accessible informat...
A new study reveals that malicious bots are the primary pathogen of COVID-19 misinformation on social media, amplifying false claims and conspiracies. Bots were found to spread misinformation at a rate far greater than ordinary users, leading to widespread harm to public health.
A new study reveals that millions of people in the US have searched for information on Google regarding police reform, with searches increasing by over 150-fold in the days following George Floyd's death. The study found that specific reform topics such as police union reform and training had high search volumes across all states.
A new study found that 90% of CBD users claimed to use it for medical conditions such as autism, depression, and sleep disorders. In contrast, only 30% cited wellness benefits. The study highlights the need for enhanced regulation of the CBD market to prevent patients from forgoing proven treatments.
A new study found a significant increase in Google searches for 'panic attack' and 'anxiety attack' during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research team analyzed data from January 2004 to May 2020, revealing severe acute anxiety-related searches reached record highs, particularly between March 16-14, 2020.
A study tracked Google searches for buying chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which surged 442% and 1,389% respectively after Trump and Musk's endorsements. The study estimated over 200,000 searches in 14 days, raising concerns about misinformation's dangers.
A recent study found that leading smart device conversational agents, such as Siri and Alexa, are unable to provide meaningful help for quitting substances like opioids, alcohol, and tobacco. However, researchers suggest that updating these devices to promote resources like helplines could prove highly effective in addressing the natio...
A new study found HIV hides in every organ site, including the brain and liver, causing inflammation-related diseases. The study used serial blood samples from terminally ill participants with HIV to identify where HIV hides, shedding light on potential new therapies.
A study found that 58% of Reddit users seeking medical advice for STDs explicitly requested a crowd-diagnosis, with 31% including a picture of symptoms. The majority of diagnoses were received within a day, but many were wildly inaccurate, posing risks to public health.
A new study by UC San Diego health scientists found that 6.4 million Americans search for CBD online every month, surpassing interest in acupuncture, apple cider vinegar, and other health products. The study analyzed Google search queries from 2004 to 2019 and forecasts a 180% increase in searches for 2019.
A new study found that the current 'repeal and replace' debate is already affecting women's health by increasing interest in IUDs as a cost-efficient form of reversible birth control. The study used Google Trends data to track searches for IUDs, showing a significant increase following the 2016 presidential election.