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Tech NewsNewsU.S. Concentration Camp Sent Undocumented Women to Be Sterilized, According to Whistleblower
Why have the terms “Nazi Germany” and “Mengele” become trending topics on Twitter? The words dominated the social media platform on Monday after it was revealed that a whistleblower has alleged “high numbers” of immigrant women at a U.S. concentration camp in Georgia were sent to be given unnecessary hysterectomies. Many of the women reportedly … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech NewsNewsAlabama Disavows Plan to Deny Ventilators to Covid-19 Patients With Disabilities
Alabama no longer plans to deny ventilators to people with cognitive disabilities if hospital equipment becomes scarce, according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Alabama’s plan, originally published in 2010, would have taken away life-saving ventilators from people with intellectual disabilities if there were not enough to treat all covid-19 patients … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech NewsNewsJeffrey Epstein Sure Had Some Extremely Disturbing Thoughts on Science
Jeffrey Epstein—the billionaire investor facing charges of sex trafficking dozens of underage girls and who hobnobbed with the rich and powerful including multiple presidents—sure had a lot of thoughts about science. Specifically, disturbing ones concerning the viability of a plan to “seed the human race with his DNA” by impregnating women at a ranch he … Continued
By Tom McKay -
Tech NewsPioneering Psychologist Hans Asperger Was a Nazi Sympathizer Who Sent Children to Be Killed, New Evidence Suggests
The term “Asperger’s syndrome” will never be heard the same way again, owing to new research showing that Hans Asperger—the Austrian pediatrician for whom the disorder was named—was an active participant in the Nazi eugenics program, recommending that patients deemed “not fit for life” be sent to a notorious children’s “euthanasia” clinic. New research published … Continued
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Tech News
Are Sperm Banks in the Business of Eugenics?
The most prominent sperm bank in the UK is under investigation after turning away donors with dyslexia and other questionable characteristics. This raises an important question: Should sperm banks be in the business of making “better” babies? Britain’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which regulates sperm banks, has launched a review of the London … Continued
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io9Books & ComicsWhy Breeding Pedigree Dogs Is Just Eugenics By Another Name
Eugenics is the now-defunct (and creepy!) practice of breeding supposedly superior humans to achieve genetic improvements while sterilizing undesirables. Sound familiar? It’s the exact same thing we now do to dogs and it’s responsible for a range of health and behavioral issues in them. — Ed. This chapter is excerpted from “A Matter of Breeding: … Continued
Michael Brandow -
io9When Forced Sterilizations Were Performed In The United States
They were carried out, according to the Eugenics Board of North Carolina,”for the best interest of the mental, moral, and physical well-being of the said patient, and/or for the public good.” Longreads is currently hosting a piece by Belle Bogs, originally written for The New New South, that recounts the history of America’s eugenics programs … Continued
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io9
The 9 Most Influential Works of Scientific Racism, Ranked
Former New York Times science writer Nicholas Wade has just published a book about race and genetics that has stirred up debates over scientific racism that go back over 250 years. Where did his ideas come from? Here are nine major works of scientific racism that are still influencing thinkers today. First, a definition. By … Continued
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Tech News
The Fascinating History of Eugenics
The name deriving from the Greek “eugenes,” meaning “well-born,” it should be no surprise that “eugenics” seeks to engineer a better human race by purposefully selecting good traits, and eliminating bad ones, as is common when breeding animals. Over the years, eugenics has had a number of proponents, from some of the greatest and most … Continued
Melissa - TodayIFoundOut.com -
io9
Two ways to look at the Jukes, America’s most “degenerate” family
The Jukes are not a real family. Juke is a made-up surname, assigned to a sprawling, impoverished family by a Victorian scientist. That scientist wanted the family to get a hand up. The next scientist to study the Jukes wanted them eliminated entirely. Max Juke was born in the first half of the 18th century. … Continued
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Tech News
Making Designer Babies Was Supposed to Be Just Like Shopping for Seeds
Fears over “designer babies” were common long before we understood the science of genetics well enough to actually produce them. For many, the idea of predetermining a child’s eye color or trying to influence their intelligence or athletic prowess through genetics is the very definition of dystopia. It probably doesn’t help that we once equated … Continued
By Matt Novak -
io9
How the pseudoscience of Social Darwinism nearly destroyed humanity
Following the publication of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species in 1860, many political theorists and opportunistic politicians applied his findings to human society. In the 20th century, these ideas were put into practice — and it nearly destroyed us. Here’s why Social Darwinism was one of the worst ideas ever. Charles Darwin’s theory of … Continued
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io9
No, China is not conducting a giant eugenics project
One of the stories about China you see cropping up a lot in U.S. media is that the nation is conducting a eugenics project to engineer a generation of hyper-smart kids who can conquer the world with their genius. The truth is a lot more interesting than that. In reality, researchers in China are trying … Continued
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Tech News
Fat-Shaming Eugenicist Will Get His Own Statue in Silicon Valley
Good job internet! Nikola Tesla—a noted promoter of eugenics who hated fat people and once fired one of his secretaries for being overweight—will soon have his very own statue in Silicon Valley! The Tesla statue’s Kickstarter campaign surpassed its goal of $123,000 over the weekend, riding the wave of Tesla boosterism that has helped add … Continued
By Matt Novak -
io9
Is China selectively breeding a new generation of genius babies?
There’s a provocative and somewhat disturbing article over at Vice about China’s recent foray into genetics and the country’s unabashed attempt to boost the collective IQ of its citizens. In it, Aleks Eror interviews NYU evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller, who donated DNA to help a Chinese biotech firm identify the genetic markers for intelligence. According … Continued
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io9
Possibly the strangest men’s rights movement in history
In the late 1920s, a peculiar confluence of fashion and fascism came together in England. The Men’s Dress Reform Party, an outgrowth of the eugenics movement, agitated for men to dress in more beautiful, flowing clothing reminiscent of what they wore during the Elizabethan era. Mostly, this seemed to mean wearing shorts and kilts. When … Continued
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io9
Despite his own mental illness, Nikola Tesla advocated eugenics for the year 2100
Nikola Tesla is often cited as geekdom’s favorite inventor—advocate of alternating current, pursuer of wireless electricity and the death ray—but some of his beliefs about the future of science and culture wouldn’t be quite so popular today. In addition to his predictions about labor-saving robots and his claims that his death ray would put an … Continued
By Lauren Davis -
io9
Why Eugenics Will Always Fail
I don’t think I’m taking a bold stance by saying that any real attempt at eugenics is indefensible. Practically speaking, though, eugenics is just as much of a bust as it is morally. We can’t positively select for “better people,” and we may face dire consequences if we try to weed out genetic problems, too. … Continued
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io9
The Real Problem with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Villain Role in Star Trek 12
It’s more or less official now which villain Benedict Cumberbatch is playing in the Star Trek sequel. It’s been confirmed by multiple off-the-record sources, and Trek Movie seems pretty sure about it. And there’s already a protest movement brewing about it. But nobody’s brought up the real problem with Cumberbatch’s Trek villain yet. Top image: … Continued
