Pharyngula - Latest News and Information
Fairfax Cryobank, a leading sperm storage provider, operates a detailed online donor catalog where clients can select vials based on extensive personal profiles. The article critiques these profiles for highlighting non‑heritable traits such as humor and appearance, which may mislead buyers about genetic inheritance. It suggests adding a “Random Choice” feature to mitigate selection bias and promote more realistic expectations. The discussion ties modern reproductive services to broader ethical debates surrounding eugenics.
A federal judge has ordered the University of Pennsylvania to supply records identifying Jewish employees as part of an antisemitism investigation. The court’s directive does not require the university to disclose each employee’s specific group affiliation, but it does demand...
The author argues that empathy is not an innate trait but a teachable skill that should be cultivated like literacy. Drawing on personal experience, the piece refutes the notion that teaching empathy is futile and likens its societal value to...
Bassem Youssef, a prominent satirist, faced a potential lawsuit from attorney Alan Dershowitz after a sketch mocked the lawyer’s representation of wealthy clients. Dershowitz signaled intent to sue not only Youssef but also broader media outlets, raising concerns over legal retaliation...
PZ Myers explains that his cooperative blog, freethoughtblogs, survives on a modest Patreon contribution that covers server costs, leaving the site only slightly in the red and without profit ambitions. He contrasts this lean model with Trump Media & Technology...
Newt Gingrich floated a plan to blast a new shipping channel through the United Arab Emirates and Oman using a dozen thermonuclear detonations, aiming to bypass the Strait of Hormuz bottleneck. Experts estimate a 10‑to‑20‑year timeline, massive radioactive fallout, and...
The article contrasts the $11.3 billion cost of the first six days of the unauthorized Iran strike with the National Science Foundation’s $8.75 billion budget, arguing that the war is illegal and strategically flawed. It condemns executive overreach, calling the generals involved...
