Lab Notes

New Scientist says that because of CSI, juries' understanding of forensic science has been contaminated. It seems that a lot of people actually believe that if you find a hair at the scene of a crime, you can stick it in a computer and immediately get the perpetrator's name and current whereabouts, as well as a real time video of the crime occurring. It sounds funny, but I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a false conviction because a a jury gave too much weight to sketchy evidence. CSI isn't all bad, though: it may finally rid pop culture of Britney Spears.