Science News Roundup: Critique of risking 'gene-edited' babies' lives, protest over discrediting works of Newton, Einstein and much more

Chinese scientist criticized for risking 'gene-edited' babies' lives

A leading geneticist who ran the conference where a Chinese scientist said he had made the world's first "gene-edited" babies condemned him on Monday for potentially jeopardizing lives and having no biology training. Robin Lovell-Badge, organizer of the November 2018 event where China's He Jiankui made his controversial presentation, described him as a rich man with a "huge ego" who "wanted to do something he thinks will change the world".

Indian scientists protest congress speakers discrediting works of Newton, Einstein

Indian scientists have protested about claims made at a local science conference that rubbish the work of some of the world's greatest physicists and suggest modern breakthroughs such as in-vitro fertilization were in fact invented in ancient India. In a lecture at the Indian Science Congress and posted on YouTube, one speaker, Kannan Jegathala Krishnan said Isaac Newton was wrong about gravity, Albert Einstein made a "big blunder" and questioned Stephen Hawking's achievements.

(With inputs from agencies.)