Scientist Targeted in Anthrax Probe Dies in Apparent Suicide

Staff / Truthdig Aug 1, 2008 The apparent suicide of 62-year-old scientist Bruce E. Ivins on Tuesday shook up his co-workers at the military biodefense labs in Maryland where he'd worked for nearly two decades. But the significance of his death extended beyond personal tragedy when it emerged that Ivins was about to be prosecuted by the Justice Department for alleged involvement in the anthrax attacks of 2001. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Scoping Out Sexual Discrimination in Science

Staff / Truthdig Jul 15, 2008 Debates about gender equality in the sciences are nothing new, but now the stakes may be higher for universities with science funding from the federal government to prove that sexual discrimination isn't present in their departments. Title IX isn't just for sports anymore. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

We May Not Be Alone, Says Vatican

Staff / Truthdig May 14, 2008 The pope's chief astronomer has written an article in the Vatican newspaper that argues that intelligent beings "created by God could exist in outer space." The article, "Aliens Are My Brother," is likely a move by the Vatican to strengthen its scientific credentials, bringing science and religion closer while maintaining papal control over the entire universe. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Study: Scientists Taking Brain-Boosting Drugs

Staff / Truthdig Apr 11, 2008 Call them the steroids of the scientific set: A British journal found that drugs like Ritalin and Provigil are popular among some scientists, mostly under 35, to enhance focus and ward off fatigue. A full 80 percent of the 1,258 respondents in the Nature survey believed "healthy humans" had the right to use performance-boosting drugs to give them an edge in their work. Dig deeper ( 1 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 )

Retired Generals, Admiral Warn Against Attack on Iran

Staff / Truthdig Feb 4, 2007 Three former high-ranking U.S. military men have called on the Bush administration to pursue diplomacy with Iran, saying "an attack on Iran would have disastrous consequences," a concern shared by a group of 22 physicists, including 12 Nobel laureates, which has asked Congress to restrict the president's ability to use nuclear weapons against Tehran. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bad News From Global Warming Experts

Staff / Truthdig Feb 1, 2007 The most authoritative climate change panel, with 2,500 scientists from 130 countries, is expected to project the biggest change in average temperatures in thousands of years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change believes that even if governments manage to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions, oceans will continue to rise for at least 1,000 years. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Maher: Scientists ‘Cut and Run’ on Pluto

Staff / Truthdig Aug 28, 2006 Bill Maher sends up conservatives' war on science, abortion and the United Nations in this planetary riff during the first new episode of his HBO series "Real Time with Bill Maher." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Jon Stewart, Enemy of Democracy?

Staff / Truthdig Jun 23, 2006 Remember when Jon Stewart famously told the "Crossfire" boys that they were "hurting America"? Well, now two political scientists are saying the same thing about Stewart. In a study, students who watched "The Daily Show" developed cynical attitudes about politics, the news media and the electoral system. Actually, more cynicism and skepticism would be helpful in the age of Bush and his Lies. But if, as the study suggests, "The Daily Show" turns young people off from voting, we can't be happy about that. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Global Warming? Better Figure Out How to Live With It

Staff / Truthdig Jun 1, 2006 Many climate scientists now see global warming as inevitable (to a certain extent), and are now focusing on the controversial idea of figuring out how to live with it U News & World Report serves up the surprising details Also, check out U News' Q & A with Al Gore, and U News' story on the insurance industry cashing in on the global warming problem . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Climate Scientist to Think Tank: Stop Misrepresenting My Research

Staff / Truthdig May 21, 2006 A global warming researcher is claiming that a Big Gas-funded think tank has been misrepresenting one of his studies in an effort to throw doubt on the reality of global warming. Earlier: The think tank goes after Al Gore.Keep in mind that, to date, there have been no peer-reviewed studies that cast real doubt on the fact of global warming. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )