[chestnut-tree]

In the UK, the NHS website includes an excellent, regularly updated 'Behind the Headlines' section that scrutinises health stories reported in the press.

In fact the 'Behind the Headlines' site is a model of clear, factual, unfussy reporting - precisely what you won't find in the national UK press.

Sadly, the 'Behind the Headlines' site is probably far less read than the misleading newspaper stories it tries to debunk.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/Pages/NewsIndex.aspx

[sseagull]

The NIH in the US has that also (with the same "behind the headlines" phrase, even!)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/behindtheheadlines/

[BurningFrog]

I think we could use a "Science News Snopes" service that evaluates the science stories that goes viral while they're still being spread.

We just need a few know-it-all scientists who can write, an office and a bit of funding!

[timthorn]

Ben Goldacre?

http://www.badscience.net/about-dr-ben-goldacre/

[BurningFrog]

Looks like good work, but I'm thinking more of a rapid response system that will have something up within hours after "Gluten causes GMO in children" goes viral.

With the hope that the debunking can stop the growth before it's grown to full size.

[nonbel]

It's a good idea. I suspect you will want this to be selectively applied though. Not that I know anything at all about your opinions or positions, but most people have holy cows they do not want questioned. Also, there is A LOT of BS being published these days. Very nearly all biomed papers can be torn apart and dismissed after a day or two because they contain the same statistical and logical errors over and over.

[alex_hitchins]

BBC Radio 4 has a show called "More or Less" I'd recomend to anyone interested in this topic. I remember an episode on the advise on drinking and how it's been a flip-flop sort of answer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qshd

[andrepd]

Wow. I've never heard of that. I read a couple and it's really great: accurate, uncomplicated, and to the point. Definitely gonna share this around!

[hrnnnnnn]

This is brilliant, thanks for sharing!