Category Archives: Favorite Stories

Los Angeles Times: The New Mammography Guidelines, a Year Later

The change in mammogram guidelines After a federal panel pulled back its recommendations for screenings, a debate continues to rage about the wisdom or risk of it. The Los Angeles Times, March 7, 2011 Here, I write about the US … Continue reading

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High Country News: Why science can’t settle endangered species disputes

Is It or Isn’t It (Just Another Mouse)? Why science alone will not settle the West’s endangered species dilemmas High Country News, August 7, 2006 2007 recipient of an honorable mention for print journalism from the
American Institute of Biological Sciences.

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Reader’s Digest: Vitamin Truths and Lies

Vitamin Truths and Lies Why most vitamin supplements won’t make you healthier and might even hurt you. Reader’s Digest, April 2010

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Runner’s World: the Power of Pain

Christie Aschwanden’s Painful Truth at Runner’s World. A runner finds a physical outlet for emotional suffering. Runner’s World, December 2009

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NPR: Why Cyclists Still Dope

To Dope or Not to Dope? Will the incentives to compete clean ever exceed the payoff of taking drugs? NPR, July 13, 2009

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High Country News: From Corn to Cabernet

From Corn to Cabernet A burgeoning wine industry takes Colorado agriculture uptown. High Country News, August 19, 2009

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New Scientist: Gene Dopers

Gene Cheats Drug scandals in sport would be nothing compared to the potential for genetic engineering to create “super-athletes”. Christie Aschwanden investigates New Scientist, January 15, 2000. This appears to be the first media report about gene doping — genetic … Continue reading

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Bicycling: Do you believe? When our sporting heroes are accused of cheating, how do we choose sides?

Do You Believe? When it comes to Tyler Hamilton, the most contentious–and, perhaps, most important–question isn’t if he’s guilty or innocent of doping, but why each of us has chosen a side. Bicycling, November 2007 *It wasn’t a finalist, but … Continue reading

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New York Times: Agent Orange Lingers in Vietnam

Through the Forest, a Clearer View of the Needs of a People Vietnamese botanist Phung Tuu Boi is working to help forests and native peoples recover from Agent Orange. Filmmaker George Lerner produced a video of Christie’s travels with Mr. … Continue reading

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High Country News: Why science alone will not settle the West’s endangered species dilemmas

Is It or Isn’t It (Just Another Mouse)? Why science alone will not settle the West’s endangered species dilemmas High Country News, August 7, 2006 2007 recipient of an honorable mention for print journalism from the
American Institute of Biological Sciences. … Continue reading

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Health Magazine: Biking Across Kansas with My Dad

One Daughter, One Dad, Two Bikes 

A test of endurance becomes a journey of discovery Health *Winner of the 2007 Outstanding Essay Award from the American Society
of Journalists and Authors. How a bike ride across Kansas began a new chapter … Continue reading

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Ecstasy for Agony?

Ecstasy for Agony? A new study may prove that the party drug is effective in therapy. But will ecstasy make the leap from club to couch? By Christie Aschwanden Health Magazine July/August 2002 In the street, rave-goers have labeled it … Continue reading

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