Scott Alexander examines obscure pregnancy interventions that may improve child outcomes, rating them by evidence quality and potential impact. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews various obscure pregnancy interventions that could potentially improve child outcomes, particularly IQ. He rates them in tiers based on evidence strength and potential impact, with Tier 1 being most strongly supported. Key interventions discussed include embryo selection, choline supplementation, avoiding stress and certain substances, and optimizing birth timing. He emphasizes these are extreme measures not meant to induce guilt, and that standard pregnancy advice is still most important. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the historical link between gout and achievement, ultimately finding the evidence unconvincing despite some intriguing connections. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the historical association between gout and high achievement, discussing a theory that high uric acid levels might contribute to success. He examines the biological basis for this idea, comparing uric acid to caffeine and theacrine. However, after reviewing several studies, Scott concludes that the evidence for this theory is weak and inconsistent. He then discusses more recent research linking uric acid to mood disorders, particularly mania, but suggests that more research is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents the eight entries for the 2019 Adversarial Collaboration Contest, explaining the concept and announcing a future reader vote. Longer summary

Scott Alexander announces the entries for the 2019 Adversarial Collaboration Contest. He explains that adversarial collaboration involves two people with opposing views on a controversial issue working together to present a unified summary of evidence and implications. Eight teams submitted entries on various topics, ranging from infant circumcision to the significance of spiritual experiences. Scott provides links to each entry and mentions that readers will vote for their favorite collaboration at the end of two weeks, with the winners receiving $2500 in prize money. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'The Perfect Health Diet', praising its science-based approach but criticizing its tendency to ignore contrary evidence and present controversial claims as settled science. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'The Perfect Health Diet' book, finding it a mix of good and bad. He praises its science-based approach, evolutionarily informed perspective, and its allowance for 'safe starches' unlike strict paleo diets. However, he criticizes the book's tendency to make strong claims based on limited evidence, often ignoring contrary studies. The review discusses the book's recommendations on various nutrients, its stance on saturated fats, and its overall dietary advice. Scott tried the diet briefly and lost weight, but remains skeptical of some claims. He concludes that while the book offers interesting insights and reasonable dietary advice, it often presents controversial positions as settled science. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander critiques mass-produced medical recommendations, showing how they can oversimplify or misrepresent scientific evidence using vitamin D and niacin as examples. Longer summary

Scott Alexander critiques mass-produced medical recommendations, focusing on vitamin D and niacin supplements. He argues that popular sources like information graphics and websites often oversimplify or misrepresent the scientific evidence. Using vitamin D as an example, he shows how counting only positive studies can lead to misleading conclusions, as many larger studies and meta-analyses have found no benefit for cancer prevention or general health. He then discusses niacin, once thought beneficial but later found to be potentially harmful. Scott emphasizes the importance of considering all available evidence and being cautious about simplified recommendations. Shorter summary