20 years ago, a doctor published a study. It was completely made up, and it made us all sicker.

The entire study was fabricated.

Once upon a time, a scientist named Dr. Andrew Wakefield published in the medical journal The Lancet that he had discovered a link between autism and vaccines.

After years of controversy and making parents mistrust vaccines, along with collecting $674,000 from lawyers who would benefit from suing vaccine makers, it was discovered he had made the whole thing up. The Lancet publicly apologized and reported that further investigation led to the discovery that he had fabricated everything.


In the intervening years, millions have been spent on studying this further to see if there was anything that could connect autism and vaccines. This is what they found.

If you think science is a real thing, you could share this. I’ll owe you one.

People Skills

Study reveals the magic three-word phrase that will make people think you’re more likable and competent

People Skills

Researchers changed one word in a request for feedback. The responses became more useful.

Mental Health

Darkness before 5 p.m. got you down? You might accidentally be doing fall and winter all wrong.

Nature

Ireland seized a ship carrying 32 million cigarettes. Now it’s home to a growing reef.