ريتشارد دوكنز's Blog, page 187

The Moon’s mantle unveiled

By Patrick Pinet The Moon is a small planetary body that has separated into a crust, a mantle and a core, but has not been disturbed by plate tectonics. It is therefore of tremendous value for understanding the evolution of planetary interiors. However, the composition of the lunar mantle remains uncertain. In January, the Chinese …

Televangelist Pat Robertson: Alabama’s abortion ban is ‘extreme’ and has ‘gone too far’

By Sarah Pulliam Bailey Longtime televangelist Pat Robertson decried Alabama’s new abortion ban as “extreme,” saying on his show on Wednesday that the state legislature has “gone too far.” Alabama’s law, which has been passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, includes a penalty of up to 99 years in prison for doctors who perform abortions …

‘The Time Is Now’: States Are Rushing to Restrict Abortion, or to Protect It

By Sabrina Tavernise WASHINGTON — In April, Indiana placed a near-total ban on the most common type of second-trimester abortion in the state. Days later, Ohio passed a bill banning abortion in the very early weeks of pregnancy after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Now on Wednesday, Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama signed a bill …

This Bird Evolved into Existence Twice — Thousands of Years Apart

By Yasemin Saplakoglu On a ring-shaped reef in the Indian Ocean, a species of bird evolved to be flightless — twice. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, white-throated rails (Dryolimnas cuvieri) flew from their native home in Madagascar to the Aldabra atoll, a ring-shaped reef among the Seychelle Islands. The reef, free of predators for …

Despite Measles Warnings, Anti-Vaccine Rally Draws Hundreds of Ultra-Orthodox Jews

By Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura MONSEY, N.Y. — An ultra-Orthodox rabbi falsely described the measles outbreak among Jews as part of an elaborate plan concocted by Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York to deflect attention from “more serious” diseases brought by Central American migrants. A pediatrician questioned whether Jews were being intentionally given “bad lots” …

Pat Robertson: God Is “Going To Get Rid” of America if the Equality Act Passes

By Hemant Mehta Pat Robertson is the latest Christian to denounce the Equality Act, which would add explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to federal civil rights law. We’ve already seen Liberty Counsel’s Mat Staver pretend it’ll lead to pedophilia. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said yesterday they also opposed the Act because they wanted “fairness for all.” …

Alabama Lawmakers Vote to Effectively Ban Abortion in the State

By Timothy Williams and Alan Blinder MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Senate approved a measure on Tuesday that would outlaw almost all abortions in the state, setting up a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, the case that recognized a woman’s constitutional right to end a pregnancy. The legislation bans abortions at every stage of pregnancy and …

US environment agency cuts funding for kids’ health studies

By Sara Reardon The Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health has tracked the lives of hundreds of children in New York City since 1998. Scientists have collected samples of blood, urine and even the air in children’s homes, starting when their subjects were in the womb, to tease out the health effects of chemicals and …

Tennessee Pastor Who Repeatedly Raped Daughter, 14, Gets Light Sentence Because Jesus

By Michael Stone Nothing says “good Christian man” like rape and incest: Tennessee Pastor David Richards received a light sentence after being convicted of repeatedly raping his 14-year-old daughter. In a despicable miscarriage of justice, Judge Steven Sword sentenced Pastor Richards to only 12 years in prison for repeatedly raping his 14-year-old daughter over the course of …

These Students Found a Perfect Loophole for South Dakota’s “In God We Trust” Law

By Hemant Mehta South Dakota’s Republican Governor Kristi Noem recently signed into law Senate Bill 55, a bill that requiresall public schools to display “In God We Trust” signs in a prominent place beginning next school year. But the bill itself is fairly vague beyond those rules… and last night, during a meeting of the Rapid City School Board, members of …