Methodology

How we choose, weigh, and report on the science we cover.

What we cover

Peptide and cell-science briefs, one compound or cell signal at a time. Each brief explains what it is, what it does in the body, what the research shows in cells, in animals and in people, and where it stands today. We prioritise studies in humans, replicated findings, and large-sample data, and we say plainly when the research is still early.

Evidence hierarchy

We weigh evidence in roughly this order, strongest first:

1. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomised trials
2. Large randomised controlled trials
3. Smaller RCTs and well-designed observational cohorts
4. Case-control and cross-sectional studies
5. Case reports, animal studies, in-vitro work, mechanistic data
6. Expert opinion, preprints, conference abstracts (labelled as such)

What we flag

• Industry funding and author conflicts of interest
• Pre-registered vs. exploratory analyses
• Effect size in absolute and relative terms when both matter
• Who was studied, and whether the findings apply to our readers
• Surrogate vs. clinical endpoints

Language we avoid

We avoid "miracle," "breakthrough," and "proven" when the evidence does not support them. Headlines reflect what the study actually showed, not what it implied.

Updates

Briefs are updated when new evidence materially changes the conclusion. The "Last updated" line shows the date; substantive changes are noted in the corrections log.