Explainers
Plain-language deep dives for public audiences
Vegan, Gluten-Free, Cruelty-Free: What a Manufacturer’s Declaration Is Worth
A badge on the box, a signed declaration, and an audited third-party certification are three very different things. Here is…
Editor's Top Picks
Can laughter improve health? Researchers launch study to find out
A new research initiative called the Laughter Lab is systematically investigating whether laughter can improve health and wellbeing. The study…
Submit Your Paper →
More form Explainers
Glass vs Plastic: Microplastics and Your Daily Supplement
Microplastics were found in 93% of bottled waters tested. For oil-based supplements the concern is…
Why Supplements Fail Label-Claim Tests — and How to Protect Yourself
Independent laboratories keep finding supplements with less — or more — than the label declares.…
Retinol vs Beta-Carotene: BCO1 Genetics and Why Conversion Is Unreliable
Beta-carotene only becomes vitamin A after an enzymatic conversion — and common gene variants cut…
Why B12 Needs Amber Glass: Cobalamin Photodegradation
Shine light on a methylcobalamin solution and the vitamin starts disassembling itself within minutes. The…
Methylcobalamin vs Cyanocobalamin: The Form Difference Explained
One is the coenzyme your cells actually use; the other is a stable synthetic that…