This Scientific American Science Quickly news podcast episode summarizes recent scientific findings and events. The episode begins with a report on a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services committee's draft report linking even moderate alcohol consumption to increased cancer risks, while also noting some counterintuitive correlations with lower risks of stroke and diabetes in certain groups. Next, it covers the FDA's ban on Red Dye No. 3 due to carcinogenic effects in animal studies, followed by a discussion on the flaws in using BMI to diagnose obesity and the launch of several commercial space missions, including SpaceX's Starship test launch failure. Finally, the podcast concludes with the discovery of a new, exceptionally large and venomous funnel-web spider species in Australia. The episode highlights the importance of critically evaluating health claims related to alcohol and the ongoing evolution of scientific understanding in various fields.
