New Life-Form Discovery

Nate Beeler, Cagle Cartoons, The Washington Examiner Dec 7, 2010 Dig deeper

Are the Death Penalty’s Days Numbered in Texas?

Staff / Truthdig Dec 2, 2010 Texas is one of those states that would appear to be among the least likely to do away with capital punishment anytime soon, but as The Huffington Post's Laura Bassett reports, a district court in the Lone Star State will reconsider the death penalty this Monday. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Romanians Dig for Ceausescu’s DNA

Staff / Truthdig Jul 21, 2010 Who's buried in Nicolae Ceausescu's grave? Some inquiring Romanians, including Valentin Ceausescu, the sole surviving son of the European nation's late dictator, would like to find out with the magic of DNA testing. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Scientists Crack Skin and Lung Cancers’ Genetic Codes

Staff / Truthdig Dec 17, 2009 Scientists are now able to map the complete genetic codes of lung and skin cancer, and now an international effort is in motion to do the same for more varieties, including breast, stomach, liver, brain, mouth and pancreatic cancer. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Not All Swine Flu News Is Bad

Staff / Truthdig May 2, 2009 Of course, nobody knows for sure how the H1N1 swine flu virus might morph in the future, but the word from the science community suggests that the current strain may not be quite as catastrophic as it's been cracked up to be. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

DNA Could Exonerate ‘Satanic Murderers’

Staff / Truthdig Nov 5, 2007 Fifteen years ago, the "West Memphis Three" were convicted of the torture and murder of three Cub Scouts in Arkansas. New DNA evidence has bolstered the argument, laid out in two HBO documentaries and an upcoming movie, that the three teenagers convicted -- one of whom was sentenced to death -- were victims themselves of a community more concerned with their taste in music than evidence. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Dr. Watson Hangs It Up

Staff / Truthdig Oct 26, 2007 Although his contributions to the field of genetics will probably continue to define his scholarly legacy, it seems that the final chapter of DNA pioneer James Watson's career has been irrevocably marred by the reckless and inflammatory remarks he recently made about race and intelligence. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

DNA Scientist Apologizes for Race Remarks

Staff / Truthdig Oct 20, 2007 Nobel-winning scientist James Watson, half of the DNA-pioneering team Watson and Crick, is undergoing a firestorm of criticism for recent comments he made in London's Sunday Times about how he was "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours -- whereas all the testing says not really." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Baby Shark Conceived Without Father

Staff / Truthdig May 25, 2007 In one of the more startling scientific discoveries of late, two teams of researchers have found that a baby hammerhead born in a Nebraska aquarium six years ago was conceived via parthogenesis -- i.e., without the genetic contribution of a male. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

When Justice Is Skin-Deep

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Apr 26, 2007 The falsely accused Duke lacrosse players deserve their indignation, but so does Jerry Miller, who spent 24 years in jail for a rape he did not commit. It turns out there are many innocent men -- too many of them African-American -- who have done time they shouldn't have, and there are probably many, many more. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Jungle Woman of Cambodia

Staff / Truthdig Jan 20, 2007 A woman in Cambodia walked out of the jungle a week ago, making odd grunting noises and walking like a monkey. From a scar on her arm, one family has claimed her as its own, saying she ran away 19 years ago. But skeptics abound, and her inability to speak is no help in solving the mystery. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Fertility Clinics Offer Brave New World

Staff / Truthdig Sep 4, 2006 Doctors on the frontier of in vitro fertilization now offer to test embryos for predisposition to treatable cancers and other ailments using the same technique that detects some serious childhood maladies. As scientists learn more about the code that builds human life, critics warn of an age when the wealthy will be able to buy a healthier brood. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )