Scientific Chicago

Scientific Chicago: DNA to Treat Cancer

A new form of DNA may help treat cancer, new understandings about ancient civilizations, and the important role of happiness in health. Chicago Tonight's science guy Neil Shubin talks about those stories, and his own upcoming research in the Arctic.

• Are you surpised to learn that happiness leads to a longer life?
• Watch more Scientific Chicago segments
• Northwestern University: A New Form of DNA
• Oriental Institute: Origins of Egyptian Civilization
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Happiness and Health
• University of Chicago and Field Museum: Emerging Pathogens Project
• More on the Emerging Pathogens Project

Business

Cook County Debt Disclosure

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas says the average Chicago household now owes a whopping $63,525 to cover local government debt. Phil Ponce sits down with her to ask how she came up with the staggering $108 billion total amount.

• Pappas Details Impact of Local Government Debt
• Pappas' speech before the Civic Federation
• Taxing Districts' Financial Statements
• PR Newswire article

Politics

Holdout Juror From Blago's First Trial

JoAnn Chiakulas, the lone holdout juror from Rod Blagojevich's first trial, tells us why she voted not guilty and the pressure she felt to change that vote. Elizabeth Brackett has the story.

• Blagojevich Retrial page
• "Breakdown of the Alleged Shakedowns"

Viewer Feedback

Viewer Mail

We hear what you had to say about recent stories when we read some of our viewer mail.

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Science & Nature

Private Rail Car

Geoffrey Baer takes you on a ride aboard Chicago's last surviving private commuter rail car.

• Chicago Tribune article

Arts & Entertainment

Aging Parents

It's a struggle many Americans will soon face -- caring for their aging parents. Jane Gross joins us to discuss her new book on caregiving.

• More on the Story: Read an excerpt from the book
• Are you concerned about taking care of your aging parents?
• Jane Gross' blog
• More on the book
• Chicago History Museum event
• AARP's Guide to Caregiving
• The Chicago Area Agency on Aging
• Family Caregiving 101

Health

Food Allergies

If you think your child doesn't have a food allergy, you might want to think again. A new study reveals that food allergies are on the rise nationwide. Dr. Ruchi Gupta sits down with us to discuss the study.

• CNN Health: Food allergies
• MSNBC Article
• Chicago Sun-Times article
• More on Dr. Gupta

Arts & Entertainment

Assyrian Dictionary

It took 90 years and 88 scholars at the University of Chicago to complete work on what is known as the Assyrian Dictionary. Ash-har Quraishi takes a look at the project and its historical significance.

• More on the Story: Web article & photo gallery
• The Oriental Institute: Assyrian Dictionary project

Chicago Business News

Chicago Business News

With unemployment rising and major companies threatening to leave the state because of high taxes, WBBM Newsradio 780's Kris Kridel joins us to survey the business landscape.

• Washington Post: Sears may move
• Bloomberg Businessweek: Tax breaks ending
• Crain's Chicago Business: Exhibitors squeezed at McCormick Place
• More on Kris Kridel

Politics

Prosecutorial Misconduct

A unanimous appeals court decision upholds that Patrick Fitzgerald's office knew that a key witness in a Gangster Disciples drug ring case lied on the stand. Carol Marin and her panel looks at prosecutorial misconduct.

• Chicago Tribune article
• U.S. Court of Appeals: Freeman opinion