Forensic scientists are discovering that DNA and "genetic markers" can predict who will–or will–turn to a life of crime. If this is true, it portends a frightening future where we give infants DNA swabs, then decide whether to watch them (or even incarcerate them) for the rest of their lives. Since more black men are jailed in the US than men of any other race, this is especially troubling for African-Americans.
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The latest neuroscience research is shows evidence that the brains of certain kinds of criminals are different from those of the rest of us. This raises the main moral question of our future: If we discover someone with a "criminal brain," should we incarcerate them BEFORE they commit a crime, in order to protect society?
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Scotland Yard is fighting the release of 123-year-old secret files which experts believe could finally provide the identity of Jack the Ripper. These four thick notebooks, containing 36,000 entries compiled by Special Branch officers over 100 years ago, have been kept under lock and key since the "Jack the Ripper" murders in 1888. If they know the identity of the "Ripper" (who wandered the streets of London at night, randomly murdering prostitutes), why do they still want to keep it secret? Was he (as has long been rumored) a Royal?
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Scientists have moved from promoting concrete, provable facts to researching instincts–and they think we should always pay attention to them. Instances this happen all the time: A woman walking down a street sees a stranger and feels an instant aversion to him. The next day, she discovers he’s been charged with rape. Scientists who wanted to know if we can instinctively spot a criminal just by looking at his face found out that we CAN.
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