Honest Universe

Misleading claims common among chiropractors

Mark Hanna • Apr 01, 2016

Most New Zealand chiropractors make misleading claims. Through my role as the chair of the Society for Science Based Healthcare, I see a lot of misleading health claims in advertisements. Many of them are pretty clearly bogus; I’ve seen claims that drinking “harmonized water” is as good as sunscreen and that bacteria make your … Read More

Are You an Organ Donor?

Mark Hanna • Mar 08, 2016

Organ donation is important. When a person dies in a way that leaves them brain dead but their other organs still viable, such as an intracranial haemorrhage in an intensive care unit, their organs can be transplanted to save others’ lives in a way nothing else can. Only a few organs, kidneys for example, can be donated by live donors. Read More

Featured image: Fun with Light

Fun with Light

Mark Hanna • Jan 25, 2016

There are lots of cool science activities you can do at home with light. Like I’ve done almost every year of my life, I spent my summer break at my family bach at Oakura. Last summer I wrote a post about a trip to the rocks and what could be found living there. This summer, on the relatively … Read More

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Featured image: Fun with Light

Fun with Light

Mark Hanna • Jan 25, 2016

There are lots of cool science activities you can do at home with light. Like I’ve done almost every year of my life, I spent my summer break at my family bach at Oakura. Last summer I wrote a post about a trip to the rocks and what could be found living there. This summer, on the relatively … Read More

Featured image: Nurofen: Does It Really Target Pain?

Nurofen: Does It Really Target Pain?

Mark Hanna • Dec 14, 2015

Nurofen provides targeted relief from pain. Or does it? For a long time now, the pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser has sold a range of their ibuprofen product Nurofen, which are marketed for four specific types of pain: Back pain Migraine pain Period pain Tension headache Since at least 2008, Nurofen has marketed these specific pain relief products saying they “ … Read More

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Featured image: Nurofen: Does It Really Target Pain?

Nurofen: Does It Really Target Pain?

Mark Hanna • Dec 14, 2015

Nurofen provides targeted relief from pain. Or does it? For a long time now, the pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser has sold a range of their ibuprofen product Nurofen, which are marketed for four specific types of pain: Back pain Migraine pain Period pain Tension headache Since at least 2008, Nurofen has marketed these specific pain relief products saying they “ … Read More

Featured image: It’s Detox Season

It’s Detox Season

Mark Hanna • Dec 11, 2015

Summer is detox season, but beware misleading health advice. Every summer, we are bombarded with advertisements, editorials, and advertorials chastising us for all the toxins we have poisoned ourself with by indulging in fruit mince pies and Christmas ham. But it’s okay, we are told, for there is a solution to this toxic overload. And … Read More

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Featured image: It’s Detox Season

It’s Detox Season

Mark Hanna • Dec 11, 2015

Summer is detox season, but beware misleading health advice. Every summer, we are bombarded with advertisements, editorials, and advertorials chastising us for all the toxins we have poisoned ourself with by indulging in fruit mince pies and Christmas ham. But it’s okay, we are told, for there is a solution to this toxic overload. And that solution is… The detox … Read More

Featured image: What Fake Astrophotography Can Teach Us

What Fake Astrophotography Can Teach Us

Mark Hanna • Nov 12, 2015

You can learn a lot from fake astrophotography. The New Zealand Herald has an article today about a cool and very popular image of the Moon positioned perfectly within a radio satellite, produced by astrophotographer Chris Pegman: Supermoon image goes into media orbit The article talks about how there has been debate online about whether or not this … Read More

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