Science is oh so fickle
We may be better off relying on old wives' tales than scientific research, according to a report from The Associated Press. A recent review of 45 studies published in highly acclaimed medical journals shows a third of the studies turned out to be false or have exaggerated results over time.
Of the studies--all of which claimed a drug or therapy worked in fighting illness or injury--16 percent were proved to be out-and-out wrong by subsequent research, and further research of another 16 percent showed significantly weaker results for the treatments studied.
The news doesn't bode well for those hoping a newly released drug will be the end-all, be-all cure for whatever ails them. But it does serve as a reminder that it can sometimes take decades before medical research reveals the whole picture of the effects of a new drug or treatment.
But what I want to know is: Does this mean I should stop drinking beer to make myself smarter?
Jennifer Guevin is assistant managing editor of CNET News. She focuses on science and green tech. But she also makes the occasional contribution to CNET's kitchen gadgets blog or writes about the latest Web distraction. Once a week, she takes the mic as host of CNET's Daily News Podcast. E-mail Jennifer. 
