Are e-cigarettes always bad?

Vaping was just dealt another blow Tuesday, this time by the American Medical Association when it called for an immediate ban on... [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 21 November 2019 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair [Support The Conversation during NewsMatch. Donations are doubled.]( [Lynne Anderson] A note from... Lynne Anderson Senior Health + Medicine Editor Vaping was just dealt another blow Tuesday, this time by the American Medical Association when it called for an immediate ban on vaping products unless the devices are FDA-approved to aid in smoking cessation. And none are. As concern grows over vaping, which includes e-cigarettes, [a tobacco cessation expert asks: what about smokers?]( Also today: - [The health dangers of working in nail salons]( - [Tryptophan as a depression remedy? Not so fast]( - [‘Women’s issues’ at the Democratic debate]( Top story Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S., and most smokers say they want to quit. Mel Evans/AP File Photo [Some smokers credit e-cigarettes with saving their lives – does that matter?]( Allison Kurti, University of Vermont Concerns about e-cigarettes are growing, with the AMA calling for a ban. With the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 21, it's worth asking: What do smokers think? Politics + Society - [Democrats debate health care, farmers and minimum wage: 4 essential reads – and a chart]( Bryan Keogh, The Conversation Learn more about the economic issues that were debated by the Democratic presidential candidates in Atlanta on Nov. 20. - [How Democrats in Atlanta discussed economic issues that affect women and children]( Melanie G. Long, The College of Wooster Paid family leave and pay equity came up, but on the whole, the remaining Democratic candidates tend to give 'women's issues' short shrift. - [Why hearsay isn’t a problem for Congress in impeachment hearings]( James Steiner-Dillon, University of Dayton Both political parties are trying to draw analogies between the impeachment process and a criminal trial – for political reasons, not legal ones. Environment + Energy - [Nail salon workers suffer chemical exposures that can be like working at a garage or a refinery]( Lupita D. Montoya, University of Colorado Boulder; Aaron Lamplugh, University of Colorado Boulder The technician who gave you that shiny manicure may be inhaling dangerous levels of toxic chemicals on the job. Ethics + Religion - [Christians have lived in Turkey for two millennia – but their future is uncertain]( Ramazan Kılınç, University of Nebraska Omaha The percentage of Christians in Turkey declined from nearly 25% in 1914 to less than 0.5% today. Their future looks even more uncertain in today's political climate. Arts + Culture - [When de-aging De Niro and Pacino, ‘Irishman’ animators tried to avoid pitfalls of the past]( Moshe Mahler, Carnegie Mellon University For decades, animators have attempted to recreate realistic human faces without entering what's called the 'uncanny valley.' Science + Technology - [Turning to turkey’s tryptophan to boost mood? Not so fast]( Andrew Neff, Rochester University Tryptophan, found in food, is an important ingredient in the neurotransmitter serotonin. But is that enough to support it as a possible mood booster? The research is decidedly mixed. - [What are blood types?]( Christine Helms, University of Richmond Every person's blood is identified by type. Why does this matter? - [Chile protests: President’s speeches early in crisis missed the mark, AI study reveals]( Alexis Javier Apablaza Campos, Universidad de Artes, Ciencias y Comunicación UNIACC As protests raged across Chile last month, President Piñera repeatedly addressed the nation. Researchers fed his speeches into an AI system to assess the emotions behind his words. Education - [How universal childhood trauma screenings could backfire]( David Finkelhor, University of New Hampshire Universal screenings for childhood trauma, like the ones being implemented at California schools, may cause more harm than good, a scholar argues. Most read on site - [Why saying ‘OK boomer’ at work is considered age discrimination – but millennial put-downs aren’t]( Elizabeth C. Tippett, University of Oregon An employment law expert explains why you shouldn't use an age-related insult at work to demean an older colleague. - [Could consciousness all come down to the way things vibrate?]( Tam Hunt, University of California, Santa Barbara A resonance theory of consciousness suggests that the way all matter vibrates, and the tendency for those vibrations to sync up, might be a way to answer the so-called 'hard problem' of consciousness. - [Tons of acorns? It must be a mast year]( Emily Moran, University of California, Merced Masting is what biologists call the pattern of trees for miles around synchronizing to all produce lots of seeds – or very few. Why and how do they get on schedule? Video of the day - [Enable images to see the chart]( [Forward this email to your friends]( Ask them to sign up at [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. 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