Know the Science: The Facts About Health News Stories

What’s Missing: Humans!

Media stories sometimes report the results of studies done only on animals without explaining that such basic science may have little immediate significance to people.

For example, a 2010 news story reported that dark chocolate may help guard against brain injury after a stroke.

What was missing from the news story?

Tell me!

Headline: Dark Chocolate May Guard Against Stroke

What was missing: The story did not say that the study was done on mice.