Theresa MacPhail, PhD (Dr. Theresa MacPhail)
Medical anthropologist and author; explores health systems, pharma culture, and public‑health policy.
AI Writes 90% of English Social Media Posts Today
One of Harper's Weekly "fun facts" is that 90% of all English-language posts on Facebook and LinkedIn last year were partially or fully written by AI. What are we even doing, y'all. Do we even know anymore?
Gates Foundation Funds One Quarter of Global Health
In my lecture this week on NGOs versus government programs in public health, I focused on the Gates Foundation. Why? Because ALONE they fund around 25% of all programs in global health. They have over $80 billion in assets and their operating...
Misinformation Outpaces Truth: Social Media Needs Throttling
Brandolini’s law, also called the Bullshit Asymmetry Principle, argues that it takes an exponentially greater amount of time, effort, and energy to counter just one piece of misinformation. I'm beginning to really and truly think our society isn't going to survive...
Warmer, Nitrogen‑rich Air Fuels Stronger, More Abundant Pollen
The real reasons are: climate change has extended the growing seasons; a lot of plants love the warmer temps; plus they are getting more nitrogen in the soil from air pollution (the lack of which used to limit their growth);...
Fear of Death Fuels Anti‑Aging Craze Amid Global Turmoil
Let me be clear that when I rail against anti-aging and longevity as they are currently being defined and used by Silicon Valley types and marketers, I'm still sympathetic to people's fears around DEATH. That's what all of this is about,...
Chinese Universities Lead Global Rankings as US Funding Slashed
My students had no clue that 8 of the top 10 global research institutions are Chinese universities. And only one is in the USA (Harvard in 2nd place). I'm wondering how many normal Americans know this...or even care? But it's...
Your Rage Fuels the Algorithm—Stop Unwanted Comments
I posted something very silly about LA. After a month's social media sabbatical, the algo wasn't showing anyone my posts anymore. Then I woke up to a lot of people telling me to fuck right off (some in highly amusing ways). Checked...
Most Cancer Treatment Posts Spread Harmful Misinformation Online
Since I'm teaching misinformation today, here are some "fun" facts from a 2021 research article published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. In a review of 200 widely shared cancer treatment articles on social media (Facebook, X, Reddit, etc),...
Few Habitual Sharers Drive Most Online Misinformation
Every time I open a social media app and see the same people posting (and I'm including myself in this), I'm reminded of a small study that showed 15% of habitual sharers were responsible for 30-40% of misinformation. Guess who is...
College Isn’t the “Best Time”—Stop the Ageist Myth
PSA: Please stop telling college students it's the "best time of their lives." 1. That's not necessarily true. What is more true: It's a unique time. It's an important time. It can be life-changing. 2. It's ageist. It implies everything...
Prepare Now: Aging Care Will Soon Be Everyone's Reality
As someone researching aging during a time when everyone is trying to extend lifespan (and not necessarily healthspan), I beg you to read this entire🧵. Unless something changes, this is your future reality. You may already be dealing with this if...
Teaching Your Own Work Feels Like Self‑Scrutiny
I always feel weird assigning things I'm in. It feels like a weird flex, even when it's actually a good teaching resource. Today my global health class is talking about "the fevers", colonialism, and the beginnings of global health. So I...
Clean Air Essential for All Lungs, Despite Expert Opposition
For my book Allergic, I went to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and talked to asthma experts that vehemently argued otherwise...with decades of data behind them. Young (and old) lungs especially need the cleanest air we can manage. This is one of the...