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Blood Doesn’t Lie: How DNA and Serology Are Transforming the Legal Systems Worldwide

Anam Ilyas
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Blood Doesn’t Lie: How DNA and Serology Are Transforming the Legal Systems Worldwide

In 1989, a young man, Gary Dotson, left prison after being unjustly convicted and spending six years in jail because someone convicted him of a crime he never committed. Not through a clever lawyer, not a law secreted witness, but his innocence was proved by blood, rather than a drop of blood. The appeal of the rape conviction of Dotson was based on circumstantial evidence relying on a testimony that was later changed, and at the same time lacked any feasible defense. However, the revolutionary application of DNA testing, which at that point was a young technology, was later used to prove that he was innocent.

This case scene of forensic science and justice is turned upside down. It was one of the first practical pieces of evidence in the world of blood, a silent and dead object that could speak more eloquently than any criminal court could [1].

In the modern world, DNA and serology are transforming criminal justice systems of the world, offering a combination of clarity and confusion in equal portions [2]. This article is about to discuss how such powerful tools are changing the way investigations are being carried out, righting historical wrongs, and drawing new issues of ethical concern, a bridge between the forensic science world, which can be daunting to the lay person, and the masses.

DNA
The appeal of the rape conviction of Dotson was based on circumstantial evidence relying on a testimony that was later changed, and at the same time lacked any feasible defense. Photo, WBUR

Bloodstains to Breakthroughs: A History of DNA and Serology Sciences

Evidence tells a story at the part of every crime scene. It is sometimes the hair left behind, sometimes the saliva on the tongue, or more usually, blood. In that, blood is the code to define us, DNA.

About every cell in our bodies has an outstanding DNA genetic blueprint. The DNA profile of two individuals (except identical twins, even though they have small genetic differences and don’t have the same DNA) is never the same. This is what makes it an extremely powerful tool of identification.

DNA is isolated from biological substances that are present, such as the use of blood, semen, saliva, and even skin cells, and this is what is compared with the DNA-sample of a suspect with Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis. STRs are small, repeated items of DNA that have large differences among individuals, and they code like a genetic barcode.

Serology was the gold standard before the entry of DNA into the forensic spotlight in the late 1980s. Serology denotes the examination of body fluids (blood type, such as A, B, AB, O) and screenings of protein and enzymes, and the material of such fluids as semen or saliva. Serology is not the ultimate answer like DNA, but it can provide context, e.g., it can distinguish whether blood was human or it can identify body fluids at a scene.

These two components, DNA and serology, create a powerful duo. One determines the who; the other usually describes the how and what [3].

How has DNA Evidence Transformed the Landscape of the Law

Before the popularity of DNA testing, criminal investigations would usually attempt to build a case using circumstantial evidence, eyewitness accounts, or confessions, many of which were fabricated, unreliable, or inaccurate. The courts lacked a foolproof method of proving the innocence or guilt of a person. This led to thousands of innocent people being sent to prison and, in other unfortunate instances, to the hangman.

This was revolutionized by DNA profiling. Closely preceding was Colin Pitchfork of the UK in 1987, who was the first convicted murderer using DNA evidence and the first to have the evidence overturned during the investigation. His conviction put an end to a series of unexplained killings, and the floodgates of forensics breakthroughs were opened.

In the U.S., the Innocence Project has succeeded in clearing more than 300 individuals through DNA tests, some of them being on death row. Those are not mere figures; those are lives that DNA saved [4].

The testing of DNA has changed the balance in courtrooms. It not only works with arguments that are persuasive, but also works with data, probabilities, and profiles. DNA match is even more powerful than an eyewitness or even a confession. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and the law system still had to change, and there it was ensured that the DNA evidence was harvested, stored, and interpreted to the best of its knowledge.

What about the Drop of Blood that goes into the Court?

Although forensic science might appear to be a complicated field of study, it is conducted in a very systematic way. Let us take a step through the way one drop of blood at a crime scene can turn out to be powerful evidence in the court of law. Every step is important, since the integrity of the evidence lies in it.

Step 1: Taking control of the Crime Scene

The initial step of testing should be securing the crime scene before any tests are done. A perimeter is set up by the police and the forensic investigating teams to make sure no one tampered with or contaminated evidence; this is referred to as preservation of the scene. They cover themselves in gloves, masks, and even suits at times to make sure they do not leave their carrier’s DNA and disturb any remaining evidence. Photos, drawings, and notes are collected in order to fix everything as it was discovered.

Step 2: Locating and Gathering Blood Evidence

Forensic specialists search visible blood pools, smears, or droplets. However, not every blood is evident. It is sometimes cleaned up or covered up. Special tools are where it comes in. They could use what is known as luminol, which is a chemical that reacts with hemoglobin in blood and produces a dark-glowing reaction. Samples are then identified and carefully collected by using clean, sterile swabs, cloth, or scalpel blades on dry stains.

The sample is put into a clean, labeled container, usually a paper envelope (not in a plastic container, which collects moisture, leading to mold). Labels contain the date, time, place, and the person identifying them (initials). This is the origination point of the chain of custody, a document with all details of who performed discovery of the evidence at each point.

Step 3: Sample Preservation and Transportation

Blood evidence is sensitive. It is to be dried in full before being packed in order to avoid degradation. Wet specimens are kept at low temperatures and rushed to a forensic laboratory. Delivery is not something that can be done by simply placing biological evidence in the bag; the couriers have specific regulations, and they observe temperature and even security. This ensures the integrity of the evidence; therefore, it stands up in court.

Step 4: Initial Serology Analysis

After arriving at the lab, the initial tests are usually serological. These tell us whether the substance is even blood (it may be paint, dust, or another substance). In case that it is established to be blood, there are other subsequent tests that scientists can perform to ascertain that the blood is human or animal blood, and in addition, it may have other bodily fluids in it, i.e., saliva or semen.

Blood type (A, B, AB, or O), or Rh positive or negative, can be read serologically, as well. Although not as distinctive as DNA, blood typing withers assists in the identification of the suspects, particularly where DNA is too deteriorated to be examined.

Step 5: Extracting and amplifying DNA

When the DNA test is possible, scientists start by extracting DNA from the cells of the blood. This is based on breaking open the cells as well as isolating the DNA. However, there is only a small fraction of this most of the time, so what they do is boost it up through the procedure known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

PCR replicates a million copies of the DNA to get sufficient material to research. As little as a trace of blood may give a complete DNA profile, as long as the sample is not severely degraded or contaminated.

Step 6: DNA Profiling and Comparison

Upon amplification, forensic scientists examine certain parts of that DNA called Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) [5]. They are repetitive DNA sequences that differ among individuals each other- some kind of a biological fingerprint.

One ends up with a distinctive profile, a series of numbers that signify the repeats. A comparison is then made with known samples. These could be of a DNA database such as CODIS (in the U.S.) or of the national directories in the other countries, a suspect, or a victim. A match may testify heavily against a person-or eliminate him.

The determination of a DNA test is commonly given with a rate of certainty of the statistical outcome. An example would be when scientists would argue that the possibility of another individual with such DNA type is 1 in 3 billion. This is how powerful the evidence may be.

Step 7: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA)

Other than identification, the story can also be told through blood alone. Bloodstain Pattern Analysts, professionals, examine the droplet shape, movement, and location. Was it a spatter or a smear? Was it a splash of blood that is high impact, or a drip of blood because of a wound?

BPA can indicate whether a victim was standing, sitting, or moving. It may also assist in identifying the chronological order of what happened, i.e,. Who initiated the attack, and where and how the attack commenced, as well as whether the scene is staged.

It is like putting together a crime in the language of physics, where blood is the ink, and where gravity, motion, and force are the grammar [6].

Step 8: Proper presentation of Evidence to the Court

After analysis has finished, the forensic experts compile thorough reports and, in many cases, even draw illustrations, such as graphs of DNA profiles or maps of bloodstain patterns. They are supplied to the legal team and can form some of the evidence provided in court.

The forensic scientist who runs the tests can be issued as an expert witness. It is not their responsibility to demonstrate that someone is guilty or not guilty, but to tell what the evidence demonstrates in terms that are clear and non-technical, which can be understood by a jury.

Questions will be put to them on their methods, the way the evidence was treated, and possible contamination or error. The soundness and the documentation of the forensic procedure validate the whole investigation.

Step 9: Constructed Evidence Interpretation

Lastly, one is supposed to keep in mind that DNA or serology does not operate alone. Blood evidence should be considered in the context of other case facts: eyewitness accounts, alibis, motive, opportunity, and material evidence such as fingerprints or weapons.

For example, when the blood of a suspect is detected on the spot, the context is important. Were the residents there? Was there any need for them to be there? Did the blood left at the crime deposited at the crime scene, or before the crime? That is why it is not only lab results, but also expert interpretation used in courts. Forensics helps to rule out some of the probabilities, but it requires good thought to draw a legal inference.

Hence, when the blood is found at a crime scene to its eventual presentation in a courtroom, it has undergone an amazing journey. It transforms a stain on the floor into a biological storyteller of events in that it tells us who or what was present, what took place, and on some occasions, even the cause. Forensic science, as far as the general populace is concerned. It does not consist of magic. It is not a TV soap. It is a cautious, scientific procedure-established on skillfulness, forbearance, on reality.

Since in the justice world, blood does not lie.

Ethical Issues and the Science: Could We Believe the Science

Despite its power, DNA is not all that infallible.

The samples are susceptible to contamination, degradation, or mixing. Multiple touches may deposit or leave behind trace DNA, which can confuse the scene. This happened in 2016, when a sloppy murder investigation in Germany had to be derailed in part by lab technicians who unintentionally smeared evidence with the DNA of an unrelated person [7].

The other problem is overdependence. The so-called “CSI effect” causes juries to anticipate that DNA is in every case or that DNA must therefore be decisive [8]. However, there is never a 100 percent in science; there are probabilities, and contexts are important.

Interpretation is also another issue. An example of this is that in DNA, which is in very small amounts, these can give ambiguous results. What about when there is disagreement amongst the experts, whose analysis is to be believed?

Outside the lab, the ethical considerations come into large proportions. Are all people supposed to have their DNA stored? How do we think about consent, particularly in those colonized communities that are targeted more than others? So, what is the trade-off between privacy and matters of public safety?

Such a powerful tool is DNA, yet with irresponsible hands, it can turn into a weapon.

DNA
DNA testing may be a regular procedure in first-world countries. However, there is a lack of forensic infrastructure in most corners of the world. Photo, Amnesty International

Global Impact, Forensics Crossing Borders

DNA testing may be a regular procedure in first-world countries. However, there is a lack of forensic infrastructure in most corners of the world. Yet there are countries with no accredited forensic laboratories, no national databases, or there is no framework for DNA evidence in the law.

This rift has an influence on justice as well as closure. In Pakistan, the reason is an illustration in that in some high-profile rape and murder cases where victims could not be traced out after years, DNA technology was introduced in the country.

An example was the rape and murder of a 7-year-old called Zainab Ansari in 2018. When public outrage compelled authorities to use DNA and identify and convict the offender, Imran Arshad was identified and convicted; it turned out to be true that science, when used properly, can bring people back on track regarding the system [9].

Another area worldwide where DNA has found a home is in identifying the victims of mass-scale disasters and victims of war crimes-whether the tsunami of 2004 or genocide in Bosnia. In this case, DNA not only answers injustice, but also answers humanity.

Bridging the Gap: Popularizing Forensics to the Common Man

Forensic science is one of the most famous sciences and at the same time one of the most enigmatic sciences, as discussed and covered with jargon, myths, and media misdirection.

Such TV shows as CSI or Bones are already unrealistically simple: they show instant results, dramatic reveals, and scientists solving the cases with a single effort. As a matter of fact, analysis of DNA may require several weeks, and the cases frequently depend on the cooperation of lab technicians, lawyers, investigators, and medical examiners.

This is a gap that can be closed by ensuring that the field of forensic science becomes user-friendly and approachable. That is why such websites like this article are so important, as science communicators in general.

It requires more correct media images, displays of body parts, documentaries in the streets, and lessons in schools. When individuals know the processes of science, they will have more reasons to trust it as well as be more capable of challenging it when they need to.

Since justice does not exist in a vacuum. It exists in the communities, in the courts, and in the communication.

When Blood Speaks, Justice Listens!

Still thinking about Gary Doston?

Okay, let’s go back to the case of Gary Dotson. It was not merely a case of wrongful conviction, but a case of revolution. Moving away from assumptions to evidence.  Rather than word of mouth, the solid science. In a world where there is prejudice, misdirection, and skepticism, forensic science brings the same candid and basic truth.

DNA says the truth, on behalf of the innocent, the forgotten, and the voiceless.

Blood never tells lies. It remembers. It reveals. It redeems.

It is good to allow the evidence to speak and justice to prevail.

References:

  1. https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/il/gary-dotson.html
  2. Lazer, D. (Ed.). (2004). DNA and the criminal justice system: The technology of justice. MIT Press.
  3. Gefrides, L. A., & Welch, K. E. (2006). Serology and DNA. In The Forensic Laboratory Handbook: Procedures and Practice(pp. 1-33). Totowa, NJ: Humana Press.
  4. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-69023473
  5. Gymrek, M. (2017). A genomic view of short tandem repeats. Current opinion in genetics & development, 44, 9-16.
  6. Peschel, O., Kunz, S. N., Rothschild, M. A., & Mützel, E. (2011). Blood stain pattern analysis. Forensic science, medicine, and pathology, 7(3), 257-270.
  7. https://time.com/archive/6946145/germanys-phantom-serial-killer-a-dna-blunder/
  8. Shelton, D. E. (2008). The’CSI Effect’: Does It Exist?. National Institute of Justice Journal, 259.
  9. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45885686

More from this author: When Science Meets Silence: Decoding Post-Mortem Techniques in the Humaira Asghar Investigation

AI in Space: Pioneering the Next Era of Interstellar Exploration

Wijdan Ali
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AI in Space: Pioneering the Next Era of Interstellar Exploration

The rise of Artificial Intelligence has spurred all kinds of ambivalent discussions, from the loss of jobs to the improvement of productivity and the rise in global GDP. But beyond the archetype ChatGPT writing emails or, perhaps, generating your Ghilbi art for the gram, there exists a promising use case that AI entails: accelerating scientific research.

In space exploration, this silent revolution has already been set in motion, and fortunately, we have the primary prerequisite ready for it to bear fruit: petabytes (even more) of observatory data that is, quite literally, lying around, yearning to be explored. Can AI, with its inherent ability to process cumbersome data rapidly and identify complex patterns, be a game changer for space exploration shortly?

The Data Deluge and Dormant Archives

As of 2025, NASA’s science data holdings surpass 100 petabytes of data, about 20 million photos stored on your phone. If that wasn’t enough, the growing fleet of observational instruments, from telescopes to satellites and rovers, is filling up the hard drives at every moment.

A space telescope expected to survey 450 million galaxies, SPHEREx, was launched in March 2025. Recently, the long-awaited Vera C. Rubin Observatory was inaugurated, which is expected to take 1,000 images of the southern hemisphere sky every year.

Data from such ever-growing observatory missions will be gathered on top of enormous, dormant archives — the depth of which we are yet to explore. The Kepler Space Telescope, for example, recorded the brightnesses of over 150,000 stars. Although the mission formally ended in 2018, scientists are still peering through its vast light curve dataset.

Revisiting The Past With AI

What even is taking so long? Well, the challenge certainly isn’t our lack of curiosity; the problem lies in manual inspection, and at large, human comprehension has its limits. Something as simple as analysing an image of Mars to identify a crater could take three-quarters of an hour. However, in 2020, NASA used a machine learning algorithm to discover fresh Martian craters for the first time.

AI
The HiRISE camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took this image of a crater cluster on Mars, the first ever to be discovered by AI. The AI first spotted the craters in images taken by the orbiter’s Context Camera; scientists followed up with this HiRISE image to confirm the craters. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

The AI, like a lightning bolt, unearthed dozens of craters hiding in the previous image data, taking an average of 5 seconds. “The data was there all the time, it’s just that we hadn’t seen it ourselves,” said Kiri Wagstaff, a computer scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and one of the leaders of the research team.

For decades, mapping molecular clouds — even the closest ones in our galaxy — has been a tedious endeavor for astronomers, because they are invisible and can only be detected through faint radio signals.

In 2023, a team led by Dr Shinji Fujita at Osaka Metropolitan University used AI to process vast carbon monoxide datasets from the Nobeyama 45-meter radio telescope. The AI not only identified 140,000 molecular clouds in the Milky Way but also estimated the distance of each of these clouds with 76 percent accuracy. Using these results, the researchers successfully mapped their distribution in the most detailed manner to date.

Besides just looking at data, though, Artificial Intelligence can propose innovative solutions. Over a century ago, Einstein theorized gravitational waves, yet they were directly detected only in 2016, due to a lack of available detectors.

Dr Mario Krenn, head of the research group ‘Artificial Scientist Lab,’ who finally built those detectors, later developed the AI ‘Urania’ to find better designs for such detectors. Urania, by revisiting various prototypes, was able to find many novel designs that outperformed the best-known next-generation detectors. “We discovered dozens of new solutions that seem to be better than experimental blueprints by human scientists. We asked ourselves what humans overlooked in comparison to the machine,” said Krenn.

The Future Of Space Exploration With AI

Such examples are testament to the complementary abilities of AI, and, similarly, in the last few years, various AI use cases have been proposed and implemented. NASA’s 2024 AI inventory consists of solutions ranging from classifying soil to predicting seasonal variations on Mars.

Envisioning a step further, with the power of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in the air, one could expect AI systems to be smarter, doing more than just predictions. Missions might be designed with autonomous decision-making in mind. Deep-space probes may soon use onboard AI to respond to unexpected events without waiting for instructions from Earth. Beyond technical tasks, according to experts at ESA, future systems could understand emotions, interact naturally, and provide psychological support to astronauts during long missions.

Conversely, the wide use of Artificial Intelligence has also revealed various challenges, primarily the accuracy and quality of training data used in the first place. We certainly wouldn’t want our autonomous AI rocket to land on Jupiter instead of Mars, just because of some flaw in the training data.

Another notable challenge lies in the hefty energy requirement to keep AI systems running, which can be unsustainable for deep space missions where every resource is critical. Hence, successful implementation would largely depend on the mitigation of these shortcomings.

Finally, without a doubt, as data volumes continue to swell and our missions grow more complex, it’s becoming clear that human intelligence may not be enough. To reach the next frontier, we certainly will need to bring a different kind of intelligence with us.

References:

https://www.nasa.gov/organizations/ocio/dt/ai/2024-ai-use-cases/
https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/the-power-of-ai-in-space-exploration/
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/spherex
https://rubinobservatory.org/about
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/feature-articles/from-petabytes-insights-tackling-earth-sciences-scaling-problem
https://www.wired.com/story/nasa-is-training-an-ai-to-detect-fresh-craters-on-mars/
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/insight/nasas-insight-finds-marsquakes-from-meteoroids-go-deeper-than-expected/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230301101541.htm
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250415143817.htm

More from this author: Nuclear Fusion: The Urgent Solution to Our Climate Emergency and Clean Energy Needs

The Bizarre Lights Over Islamabad Before the Earthquake – Here’s What Experts Say!

Scientia
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The Bizarre Lights Over Islamabad Before the Earthquake – Here’s What Experts Say!
Blue, green, or violet lights have been observed in the sky before or during seismic events. These phenomena are referred to as earthquake lights (EQL). Earthquake lights are rare natural occurrences that have been documented for centuries. The underlying scientific mechanisms responsible for EQL remain undetermined.
According to the US Geological Survey, phenomena such as sheet lightning, balls of light, streamers, and steady glows have been reported in association with earthquakes. Geophysicists differ on the extent to which they think that individual reports of unusual lighting near the time and epicenter of an earthquake represent EQL.
Some experts doubt that any of the reports constitute solid evidence for EQL, whereas others think that at least some reports plausibly correspond to EQL. Physics-based hypotheses have been proposed to explain specific classes of EQL reports, such as those near the causative fault at the time of major earthquakes. On the other hand, some reports of EQL have turned out to be associated with electricity arcing from the power lines shaking.
EQL may be visible seconds or minutes before, during, or after seismic activity. Observational reports indicate that the blue glow resembles lightning, although its pattern differs from typical lightning phenomena. In some cases, the light appears to emanate from the ground, resembling electrical discharges from power lines.
earthquake
Earthquake lights are frequently observed in areas with major fault lines, such as Italy, Japan, Peru, and California. There are also unverified accounts of similar events in Pakistan. Photo, IFLScience
Some experts suggest that when the Earth’s crust experiences significant stress during earthquakes, rocks containing minerals like pyroxene and olivine can generate an electric charge. This charge may travel upward, creating plasma in the atmosphere that appears as visible light. The phenomenon is linked to the piezoelectric effect and triboluminescence.
Earthquake lights are frequently observed in areas with major fault lines, such as Italy, Japan, Peru, and California. There are also unverified accounts of similar events in Pakistan. During the August 3, 2025, earthquake, many residents of Islamabad and adjacent areas reported seeing these lights.

Scientists believe that if these lights are understood correctly, they can come up as a new angle for predicting earthquakes in the future. But at present, this is just a rare phenomenon that is not always possible to confirm, because not every earthquake sees this light, and not every light is its precursor.

So, if you’ve seen a sudden blue or green light in the sky before a seismic event, you’ve likely witnessed a unique and complex manifestation of nature that science hasn’t yet fully mastered.

Similar Article: Exploring the Overlapping Realities of Climate Change and Infectious Disease Spread with Dr Quaid Saeed

Transforming Pain into Power: Succeeding with PTSD Through a Positive Mindset

Khair ul Bariyah
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Transforming Pain into Power: Succeeding with PTSD Through a Positive Mindset

Mark lost his innocence during four and a half months in a Turkish jail. He felt helpless and horrified, as no one was aware of his condition. He witnessed brutality beyond human perception, so extreme that, by the time he was released, he felt like nothing more than a puppet. Initially, he was unaware that he was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Upon returning to Australia, he experienced anxiety, nightmares, and constant fear.

He lost his job, home, and family, yet he remained unaware of the true nature of his mental struggle. In a society that considered him a coward, he endured the “Prozac era,” during which doctors heavily medicated him with sedatives. It was an equally horrifying experience as his time in the Turkish jail. He is now gradually improving, and Picking Up the Pieces has become an important part of his life. This is an Australian non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting early recognition and support for PTSD.

“You cannot heal what you cannot feel”. ~John Bradshaw

The world is progressing at a rapid pace, and we witness the charisma of science and technology all around us. While many aspects of life have become easier with the aid of science, managing human emotions remains a significant challenge. It is widely accepted that, alongside advancements in living standards, experiences of depressive phases have also increased. The growing emotional distance between individuals, the pressure to meet societal expectations, and various personal stressors have made PTSD a common condition experienced by many.

PTSD is a deeply personal and often invisible struggle. It typically develops after exposure to traumatic events and is marked by a range of symptoms that can severely affect daily functioning and overall quality of life. These symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, emotional numbness, irritability, avoidance behaviours, and persistent, distressing thoughts related to the trauma.

Such experiences can leave lasting psychological and physical scars, ultimately disrupting behavioural patterns. Understanding PTSD is essential for recognizing its impact and ensuring that appropriate support and treatment are provided to those affected.

Young children often exhibit symptoms such as fear, sleep disturbances, and regression. Elementary-age children may mis-sequence memories and hold the false belief that the traumatic event could have been predicted. In adolescents, symptoms closely resemble those of adult PTSD, with impulsivity, aggression, and traumatic reenactment being particularly prominent.

PTSD
We often rely on certain parameters of happiness that are commonly associated with success. However, traditional metrics such as money, fame, or promotions may not align with the true sense of success defined by your inner voice. Begin by asking yourself reflective questions such as: What truly makes me feel content?

According to George Bonanno, Professor of Clinical Psychology, resilience after trauma is common, not a rare phenomenon. He emphasizes adjusting responses according to the situation and highlights the importance of flexible coping strategies. Bonanno also challenges the assumption that everyone needs therapy, asserting that many individuals recover naturally.

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a Dutch psychiatrist, emphasizes the importance of working with both the body and mind to overcome trauma. He advocates not relying solely on talk therapy but incorporating somatic and experiential therapies for a more holistic approach to treatment.

PTSD does not eliminate the possibility of a successful life, especially when strong willpower and the right support systems are in place. Many public figures and everyday heroes have shown that, with effective treatment and coping techniques, life can be rebuilt. Managing symptoms through therapy, self-care, and mindfulness can empower individuals in their careers, build thriving relationships, and enhance their creativity.

We often rely on certain parameters of happiness that are commonly associated with success. However, traditional metrics such as money, fame, or promotions may not align with the true sense of success defined by your inner voice. Begin by asking yourself reflective questions such as: What truly makes me feel content? What brings me lasting happiness? What strengths do I possess that can help me achieve my version of success?

Celebrities with PTSD Journey

Celebrities who rule over the hearts of many often have darker aspects to their lives. Some have shared their journeys through PTSD, and these stories serve as a powerful source of motivation to rise above difficult times.

Lady Gaga, at the age of 19, experienced sexual harassment, which led to multiple hospitalizations to treat the mental and physical anxiety caused by PTSD. Dr Paul Conti treated her through talk therapy and medication. She eventually co-authored a book entitled Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic with Dr Conti, highlighting the multifaceted nature of trauma.

Jason Kander, a former Missouri Senate candidate, exhibited political strength, but deep down, he struggled with horrifying memories from his deployment in Afghanistan. He stepped away from his position to seek Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD treatment. His healing journey was featured in the 2023 award-winning documentary HERE. IS. BETTER.

Dorit Kemsley experienced a haunting turn in her life when she was robbed at gunpoint by multiple intruders in her Encino Hills home. This traumatic incident shook her sense of security and triggered PTSD symptoms. She found relief through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapy aimed at diverting the mind from disturbing memories. She even filmed an EMDR session to showcase the therapy’s transformative power.

PTSD and Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga, at the age of 19, experienced sexual harassment, which led to multiple hospitalizations to treat the mental and physical anxiety caused by PTSD.

Jaime Lowe experienced a similar trauma to Lady Gaga’s, but at the age of 13, and its effects lingered for decades. She turned to Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which helped neutralize her traumatic memories. Moreover, she recorded ten of her therapy sessions for the famous NPR show This American Life, transforming from a person full of voids into an empowered individual.

Ariana Grande, a renowned pop star, suffered from intense fear after the suicide bombing at her concert in Manchester, UK, which took 22 lives. Brain scans revealed the deep impact of PTSD on her mind. Recognizing the need for help, she sought therapy, later claiming that treatment saved her life. This experience inspired her to think beyond herself and launch a $2 million initiative to provide therapy for her fans.

Darrell Hammond, known for his comedy on Saturday Night Live, was diagnosed with complex PTSD stemming from childhood abuse. He underwent Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to transform maladaptive thinking patterns, which he later discussed in the documentary Cracked Up.

Similarly, Prince Harry developed PTSD following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, which he addressed through EMDR therapy. Gabrielle Union, who survived a brutal sexual assault, found healing through talk therapy.

Four Risk Pathways for PTSD

There are four risk pathways for PTSD: pre-trauma risk factors, trauma characteristics, peri-trauma processes, and post-trauma processes.

Pre-trauma risk factors include demographics, prior trauma, psychological history, and personality traits, for instance, being female, having lower educational attainment, a history of childhood adversity, and high levels of neuroticism.

In PTSD, trauma characteristics, such as the type, severity, and context of the trauma, are of prime importance. Examples include interpersonal trauma, a high perceived threat to life, experiences of betrayal, and unpredictability.

Peri-trauma processes encompass psychological and biological responses that occur during or immediately after the traumatic event. These include dissociation, peritraumatic panic, physiological arousal, and the way the trauma is cognitively processed.

Post-traumatic processes refer to factors that sustain or worsen PTSD symptoms after the trauma has occurred. Examples include a lack of social support, negative coping strategies, feelings of guilt or shame, and ongoing stressors.

PTSD- Professional Support

No mental health condition can be conquered in isolation. While willpower plays a vital role, therapy significantly accelerates progress toward well-defined goals. Trauma-focused therapies are superior to non-trauma-focused treatments for PTSD.

Trauma-Informed Therapy: Evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) help reframe negative thoughts; Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a promising technique for trauma recovery; Somatic Experiencing (SE) assists in relieving stress stored in the body; Exposure Therapy supports individuals in confronting fears and reducing avoidance behaviours; and Imagery Rescripting enables individuals to rescript their past experiences to change their response towards them.

Group Therapy: This form of psychotherapy offers individuals a safe space to share their experiences with others who face similar challenges. Guided by a therapist, group sessions complement individual therapy, fostering a shared understanding and healing.

Medication: In some cases, professional intervention is necessary to prescribe medications such as antidepressants (SSRIs), anti-anxiety drugs, or sleep aids. Some medications, like prazosin, may aid in nightmares. Regular medical check-ups are essential to ensure proper dosage and monitor side effects. Combining medication with psychotherapy may benefit complex cases.

Healthy Relationships and Boundaries

Finding understanding, easygoing people is a true blessing when dealing with PTSD, as it helps limit toxic interactions. If you’re surrounded by toxic individuals, it’s best to set firm boundaries or, when possible, walk away. Sometimes, having just one person in your life, someone who respects your pace, understands your trauma journey, encourages your growth, and provides emotional safety, can bring significant positivity to your life.

Empowering Self-Worth

PTSD often leads to heightened people-pleasing tendencies due to the trauma experienced by individuals with the condition. In such cases, personal empowerment becomes essential. This can be achieved by learning to say “no” to unwanted commitments and “yes” to opportunities that promote healing and growth. Setting these boundaries is vital for fostering inner growth and peace.

Small Wins mean Big Progress

Survivors of PTSD can thrive in their lives, even with occasional focus challenges, by setting small, achievable goals. This step-by-step approach helps build confidence. Engaging in meaningful activities, such as writing, journaling, playing music, or volunteering, can add purpose to their lives. Practicing self-compassion by acknowledging and celebrating their progress is also crucial for healing and growth.

Brain fog and energy fluctuations are common challenges faced by individuals with PTSD. In such cases, adhering to a rigid 9-to-5 work schedule may not be effective. Tasks should be time-framed based on available mental energy, breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps. This approach is a wise way to address the concerns linked with PTSD. It’s essential to remember that this strategy may not be effective every day. You are not giving up; you are simply regaining your lost energy.

Spiritual Growth

Spiritual awakening can offer comfort during times of stress and anxiety. Individuals experiencing painful situations often learn to accept pain as a natural part of personal growth. Spiritual development brings benefits such as improved relationships, a deeper sense of purpose, and greater meaning in life. It also strengthens resilience and contributes to overall well-being.

Pain to Purpose Journey

Many individuals who overcome PTSD go on to become artists and healers. Their painful journey often empowers them to serve as advocates and educators, as it fosters deeper insight and empathy. Trauma can awaken heightened intuitive abilities and mental resilience, providing the strength to rise as leaders.

Celebrate Small Successes

Individuals with PTSD should learn to find happiness in small, everyday successes. Simply battling the symptoms each day and preparing for the next is an achievement in itself. Completing daily tasks at home or work, without letting things slip, deserves to be celebrated, even if only within the heart.

References:

  1. https://www.pickingupthepeaces.org.au/ptsd-disorder/ptsd-symptoms/living-with-ptsd/
  2. https://www.nemahealth.com/blog-posts/8-celebrities-with-ptsd
  3. https://seattleanxiety.com/psychology-psychiatry-interview-series/2023/5/19/psychologist-george-bonanno-on-trauma-ptsd-amp-resileince?
  4. Vogt, D. S., D. W. King, and L. A. King. “Risk pathways for PTSD: Making sense of the literature. 293 In: Friedman MJ, Keane TM, Resick PA, eds.” Handbook of PTSD: Science and practice294: 99-115.
  5. Wampold, Bruce E., et al. “Determining what works in the treatment of PTSD.” Clinical psychology review8 (2010): 923-933.
  6. Hamblen, J., and B. Erisn. “PTSD in children and adolescents: National center for PTSD.” Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry49 (2012): 980-988.
  7. Van der Kolk, Bessel A. “Clinical implications of neuroscience research in PTSD.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences1 (2006): 277-293.
  8. Cukor, Judith, et al. “Emerging treatments for PTSD.” Clinical psychology review8 (2009): 715-726.
  9. Kearns, Megan C., et al. “Early interventions for PTSD: a review.” Depression and anxiety 10 (2012): 833-842.
  10. Foa, Edna B., Terence M. Keane, and Matthew J. Friedman. “Guidelines for treatment of PTSD.” Journal of Traumatic Stress (2000).

More from this author: Equipping Children with Survival Strategies in War Emergencies

When Nature Strikes: The Devastating Human Cost of Pakistan’s Flood Crisis

Zoha Imran
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When Nature Strikes: The Devastating Human Cost of Pakistan’s Flood Crisis

“I went to Chakwal to interview people about how their lives were being affected by climate change. While I was there, the weather suddenly changed, and it rained heavily, 443 mm, which was the highest recorded rainfall. A few days later, it rained in Islamabad, and Saidpur village was badly hit by urban flooding, said to be caused by a cloudburst.

My own area, near the Margalla Hills, was also drowned in rain. It came down so fast that in minutes, water was up to my knees. Roads were blocked, whole areas were cut off, the River Sawan flooded, and the Nullah Lai in Rawalpindi overflowed.

This kind of urban flooding is terrifying for ordinary people because unplanned constructions and housing societies block natural water flow and push the flood into homes and streets. That night, I was stuck outside until 12:30 a.m. and only made it home with the help of friends.

I had interviewed many people about climate change, but this was the first time I experienced it myself. Now I truly know what it feels like,”  recalls Saadeqa Khan, Editor-in-Chief of Scientia Magazine.

Her experience reflects what millions across Pakistan are now facing as climate disasters escalate. The helplessness of people in these moments is beyond words. It is no longer just the rural communities, like those devastated by the 2022 floods, who are at risk. This time, the floodwaters have reached the cities, threatening the very core of Pakistan.

As Anatol Lieven writes in Pakistan: A Hard Country, “In the long run, the greatest threat to Pakistan’s existence is not insurgency, but ecological change.” He was not wrong.

The numbers from 2022 alone reveal the scale of devastation. That year’s floods displaced eight million people, killed more than 1,700, and injured over 13,000. Yet despite disasters of this magnitude repeating year after year, serious measures to prepare for and mitigate such crises remain largely absent. The pattern has not changed but has intensified three years later.

By mid-July 2025, relentless monsoon rains and flash floods had already claimed 163 lives across the country. The Twin Cities and several districts of Punjab, including Chakwal and Babusar Top in KPK, were submerged by sudden cloudbursts, with entire neighborhoods drowning in a matter of hours.

Survivors in remote areas are left with invisible wounds that rarely heal. For families who have lost everything, survival inevitably takes precedence over therapy or counseling.

Pakistan contributes less than one percent to global carbon emissions, yet it ranks as the eighth most vulnerable country in the world to climate-related disasters, according to the Climate Risk Index (UNDP, n.d.). The injustice is stark. Those who contribute the least to the crisis are the ones who pay the heaviest price. Part of the reason lies in Pakistan’s geography. Its vast network of glaciers, which feed the Indus River, is melting at unprecedented rates. These overfilled rivers fuel destructive flash floods, while ever-intensifying heat waves, driven by global greenhouse gas emissions, kill hundreds each year (Energy Tracker Asia, n.d.).

Adding to this, cloudbursts, once rare, are now becoming more frequent in Pakistan. Warmer temperatures caused by climate change increase the amount of moisture the air can hold, and when this moisture is suddenly released, it triggers intense downpours within a short span, overwhelming drainage systems and natural waterways. The result is instant, destructive flooding in both rural and urban landscapes.

flood
Commuters wade through a flooded street amid heavy monsoon rains in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, July 17, 2025. Photo, Farooq Naeem/AFP

We all saw the tragedy in DHA, where a father and daughter were swept away in the floods. They were seen waving and calling for help, yet no one could save them. One video that spread rapidly online showed a family standing on a rock in the middle of a river in Swat, reportedly to take photographs, when a sudden surge of floodwaters swept them away within seconds. It left millions of Pakistanis asking themselves the same haunting question: Are we ever truly safe, even in our own homes?

These “what ifs” echo in the minds of survivors and witnesses alike, planting seeds of fear and lasting mental distress. For rural families, the toll is even heavier. Elderly people and children, already the most vulnerable, face a lifetime of anxiety and grief. They lose not just their homes but also the very sense of security that anchors their lives. Many can only ask themselves in despair: Where do I go now? Everything is gone. My farm, my cattle, and my children are scattered. I no longer even have a home to return to.

The voices of survivors reveal the human cost more than any number ever could. Obaidullah, a survivor of the 2022 floods, recalls the day he was stranded on a rock as floodwaters raged around him. One by one, his friends were swept away before his eyes. Villagers risked their lives to pull him to safety with ropes, but the memory still haunts him. “It was very painful to see that I couldn’t do anything for my friends”, he told Al Jazeera, his voice breaking as he relived the moment.

Another victim, Rustam, an 80-year-old farmer, described the despair he felt during the same floods. “There were extreme rains, and some people informed us about the surprise flooding. We did not know where to go. Our villagers took me with them to a safe place. It was like I had already died, and people were dragging me there, as I am blind. There was around five feet of water in our home at that time. This flood was like doomsday. Our lands, houses, and everything else got destroyed.” (ShelterBox, n.d.).

Asif Shehzad, another victim, spoke about how unrelenting rains destroyed his home and livelihood. “It rained like I had never seen before in my life. Some livestock died when the roof collapsed. We feared the whole house would fall, so we took refuge under trees. Since that day, we have been living under the open sky. The disease has spread. My children have no medicine, no help. I don’t know what I will do if they fall sick.” (Al Jazeera, 2022).

These stories echo the fear and devastation faced by millions. They also underline a haunting reality: as climate change accelerates, those who contribute least to the crisis will continue to suffer the most, left to rebuild their shattered lives with little support and no certainty about what disaster will come next.

But the damage left behind is not just physical. For many survivors, the fear does not end when the floodwaters recede. The trauma lingers in sleepless nights, in the constant fear of another disaster, in the grief of losing loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. This invisible suffering is rarely acknowledged, yet it is as real as the destruction itself.

In Pakistan, mental health is rarely part of disaster relief. Limited resources and a fragile healthcare system mean psychological support, when available, is confined mostly to large cities. Survivors in remote areas are left with invisible wounds that rarely heal. For families who have lost everything, survival inevitably takes precedence over therapy or counseling.

This is even though nearly 78 percent of adults with mental health conditions in Pakistan remain untreated, with rates even higher for children. When outbreaks of waterborne diseases and deadly heat strokes still go under-addressed after such disasters, mental health is left at the very bottom of the list.

Their voices, often drowned out by statistics, remind us that these disasters are no longer rare events but a recurring reality. They also highlight a deeper injustice. Pakistan stands on the frontlines of a crisis it did not create, yet the world offers far too little support, and domestic efforts to prepare for future floods and heatwaves remain slow and insufficient. Without urgent action from both the international community and Pakistan’s leadership, millions will continue to pay the price for a climate crisis they did little to cause.

Climate financing, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and accessible mental health services are not luxuries. They are matters of survival. The waters will rise again. The only question is whether we will be ready, or whether we will once again leave the most vulnerable to face the next deluge alone.

References:

  1. Al Jazeera. (2022, August 30). Non-stop rains leave families homeless and stranded in Pakistan. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/30/non-stop-pakistan-rains-leave-families-homeless-stranded
  2. BBC News. (2022, September 2). Pakistan floods: Climate change made rainfall up to 50% more intense. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-62758811
  3. Energy Tracker Asia. (n.d.). Heat wave in Pakistan: A warning the world can’t ignore. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://energytracker.asia/heat-wave-in-pakistan/
  4. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (n.d.). Climate Promise II: Supporting Pakistan’s climate action. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://www.undp.org/pakistan/projects/climate-promise-ii
  5. (n.d.). Rustam’s story. Retrieved July 24, 2025, from https://shelterbox.org/impact/rustams-story/

More from the author: Failing Science in Pakistani Schools— Punishing Curiosity and Encouraging Rote Learning

A Celestial Discovery: New Images Uncover the Hidden Companion of Betelgeuse

Scientia
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A Celestial Discovery: New Images Uncover the Hidden Companion of Betelgeuse

Cuddled with Betelgeuse, a bright red star in the constellation Orion, astronomers may have finally found the giant star’s long-sought companion. This close-orbiting partner, first postulated over a century ago, matches some predictions and adds another piece to the puzzle of the mysterious supergiant star.

The images, to appear in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, show the companion only faintly. Astronomers and others in the field agree that the discovery, while exciting, is not definitive.

“At this point, it is quite tough to say whether or not the detection is believable. We’ll have to wait and see if the companion can be confirmed with more instruments,” tells Sarah Blunt to Science News. She is an astronomer at the University of California and was not involved with the study.

If confirmed, the new star would conventionally be named α Orionis B. Previously, it has been informally called the Betelbuddy, and the astronomers behind the new work suggest the name Siwarha, meaning “her bracelet,” about the supergiant’s name, which translates from Arabic as “hand of the giant.”

The companion appears to orbit the supergiant at a distance just four times that between Earth and the sun, putting the companion within Betelgeuse’s expansive outer atmosphere — a perilous spot for a small star.

“The companion will have drag in its orbit,” says study coauthor Steve Howell, an astronomer at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. As a result, the companion faces an astronomically imminent death: Within 10,000 years, it will be sucked into Betelgeuse.

The star has a mass around 1.5 times that of the Sun, and it is a hot blue-white star orbiting Betelgeuse at a distance equivalent to four times the distance between Earth and the Sun, fairly close for binary stars. That means it exists within the extended atmosphere of Betelgeuse. This represents the first time a companion star has been detected so close to a red supergiant.

Beyond this research’s implications for Betelgeuse and its ill-fated companion, it tells scientists more about why red supergiants undergo periodic changes in brightness how periods of many years.

Similar Articles: A New Phenomenon of Origination of Planets & Stars as “Twins”

When Science Meets Silence: Decoding Post-Mortem Techniques in the Humaira Asghar Investigation

Anam Ilyas
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When Science Meets Silence: Decoding Post-Mortem Techniques in the Humaira Asghar Investigation

On 8th July 2025, a court official broke a locked flat in the posh Defence Phase VI area of the city of Karachi and found nothing but bones and shredded pieces of garment, the skeletal remains of an actress, Humaira Asghar, who had disappeared in the eyes of the public a few months before. The house rent was not paid in months, she had left stale groceries in the fridge back in September 2024, and her phone settled into a period of silence in the first week of October.

An early report of the autopsy, published on July 11, 2025, the corpse was found in an advanced state of decomposition, and soft tissues were poorly preserved. The facial muscles were entirely decomposed, and the fingers and nails were rotten so that they were more than just bare bones. The muscle tissue was completely missing in several parts of the body, and the bones were so weak that they started crumbling when they were touched.

There was a full stage of decomposition in the brain by autolysis, and the internal organs had turned into a black colored mass. There was a complete absence of joint cartilage. Regardless of all this decomposition, bone fractures were not identified. The head and the spine were structurally intact, but the spinal cord was absent. There was also a sight of brown colored insects, especially in the hair, but there were no maggots perceived [1].

The timeline confusion was caused by the fact that early police suspicion was calculated as weeks, opponent to phone data analysis, pointing to October 2024. The investigators now tend to believe the latter, which is that the corpse was found after 9 months [2].

Buzz raged in the social media: “A post-mortem is useless! This late?”

Well, remains still provide a story after soft tissue has gone, even though our listening will have to be different. Let’s have a broader view of the role and occupation of modern forensics in linking up to the dead and being able to “hear” the dead much longer, after the secrets of the dead body have been dissolved by time.

post-mortem
The decomposition of the body depends on the dependability of environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and exposure, as well as the enclosure of the body inside a room. Photo, The Nation.

Now few questions may arise in the mind of the reader. Like, what are the responses that one can get as a result of skeletonization? However, can we still have a useful autopsy? And why do we have cases on “cause of death reserved”?

Let’s find answers to your questions:

The decomposition of the body depends on the dependability of environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and exposure, as well as the enclosure of the body inside a room. But this degree of breakdown usually needs some weeks or a few months. Autolysis is the self-digestion of cells with the help of their enzymes of the body. The human brain is soft and rich in enzymes.

Thus, it turns into sludge very rapidly, liquefying in most cases during the initial stages of the decay. Various body parts decompose at varying rates. Protected structures such as the skull and spine, and hard tissues such as bones, take longer, and soft bodies like muscles and organs decompose sooner, both in warm weather as well as wet weather [3].

The missing maggots may indicate that the body had not been outside to the open for a long period, or the actions of the insects occurred earlier, and the larvae had already grown up and departed. It further indicates that the body was covered in a dry environment or a closed area [4].

Blackening of the organs depicts that the organs have lost their form and have turned into a liquid mass in the case of advanced decay. It is black due to the breakdown of tissues, bacterial activity, and the release of gas. The forensic scientists refer to the careful visual inspection, X-rays, or CT scans to search the evidence of trauma. In weakened bones, it is common to find breaks or old fractures still visible [5].

Cartilage is slower to decompose in comparison to soft tissue, but quicker as compared to bone. Its lack indicates the fact that the body has been decomposing already over a significant period of time, most probably months.

When flesh is gone, important clues such as bruises, hemorrhage, and organ pathology vanish. The surgeon reserves judgment until chemical lab tests return. Skeletonization is the last change in the human body during the process of decomposition, when all we are left with are bones (or, in rare cases, tendons or hair). Although not much information can be obtained when soft tissues are not present, a lot of data can still be obtained by forensic investigators.

Among important responses or insights that can be gained by using a skeletonized body are: DNA elements that can be derived from heavy pieces of bones (e.g., femur, teeth) to determine identity or blood kinship. Identity can be proved by matching the structures of the dentition to recognized dental records. It is possible to approximate the appearance of a person using skull characteristic features with the help of forensic artists or with the help of special programs.

The presence of bone fractures may refer to any blunt force or gunshot injuries, and sharp force (e.g., knife cuts). Bones can contain heavy metals, drugs, or poisons.  Hair Analysis provides a time scale of drug and toxicant exposure by week or month. Activity of insects in the surrounding environment may give time-since-death estimations. Color, cracking, and wearing on bones contribute to estimating the period of exposure the body has had.

Although there is no more flesh except the skeleton remains, through the expertise of well-trained forensic scientists, the skeleton can testify. Each of the responses contains a very important piece of the puzzle to know who the individual was, how they lived, and how they died. It is not an impossible autopsy. To attempt to determine the cause of death, experts consider the bones, any injury patterns, toxicology, and DNA evidence, even in the absence of soft tissues [6].

Cause of Death!

Another common notation placed on the cases is the label of “cause of death reserved” in situations where the forensic pathologist cannot ascertain the cause of death immediately after the post-mortem report.  There are cases when the body does not have any distinct external or internal damages.

In this instance, the pathologist would have to await a toxicology result (to drug, poison, etc.), a histology report (samples of tissue), or a microbiology report to make a final decision. Soft tissue evidence is destroyed in cases where the body is lying in a poor condition, stained with skeletal remains, or burnt, due to which it becomes hard to detect things like heart attack, suffocation, or internal bleeding. The cause of death can even be held pending by the experts to search elsewhere, like bone break, toxicology, or DNA.

In cases when there is no serious trauma, pathology, or possible defect during an autopsy, it is difficult to say that the person died because of a particular reason without further examination. Some of the results might demand the study of a forensic toxicologist, neuropathologist, or radiologist.

The pathologists withhold the cause until they get the expert opinion. Withholding the cause will spare the forensic team the need to make conclusions prematurely or inaccurately. A rapid verdict might lead investigators or the families, or a court astray, particularly in delicate or high-profile situations.

Science of Human Decomposition

Once death strikes, the biology of the body then follows a definite course, which is called as sequence of decomposition. Under the fresh stage (02 days), the body cools down, the body stiffens with rigor mortis, and the initial population of insects, most commonly flies, lay eggs. This is then followed by the bloat stage (2-7 days) when the gas produced by the bacteria accumulates to cause the swelling to be noticeable, the skin starts to take a marbled effect as the blood vessels break, and the outer skin can begin to peel off.

Then the active stage of decay (1-3 weeks) occurs, when tissues liquefy and seepages of body fluids and a powerful, unpleasant odor are emitted. At the advanced decay phase (1-6 months), a good portion of the body mass is lost, the inner worrying hollows out, bones are incipient, as soft tissues are being eaten.

At last, the dry or skeletal stage is achieved (months or years), by which bones, hair, and some dried tendons are left. This development may differ depending on the environmental factor, but in most cases, there is a fairly consistent route as reported by forensic materials such as the NCBI.

The coastal climate of Karachi is conducive to a rapid fulfillment of such steps through heat, humidity, and insect (worm) accessibility, but even in literal dry bones, there survive molecules. Drugs may adsorb into hair keratin, DNA may conceal itself in cortical bone, proteins and microbes take part in measured mutation.

postmortem
Post-mortem: Immunohistochemistry and histology depict cell-level damage and disease, but only when tissue is preserved, and so are not well suited to advanced decay. Photo, 1 800 Autopsy

The Post-Mortem Laboratory Toolbox

Many post-mortem techniques can be employed by a forensic scientist to find evidence, even where the soft tissue has been disintegrated. Traditional autopsies are good in detecting fractures, bullet injuries, and diseases of the organs, but they lose their value when there is loss of the soft tissues, bones, and teeth are still important sources of information. Compared to this, radiology methods such as CT or MRI, also known as Virtopsy, are much more effective in testing invisible fractures, metal or air embolisms, not to mention bones and even mummies [5].

Immunohistochemistry and histology depict cell-level damage and disease, but only when tissue is preserved, and so are not well suited to advanced decay. However, the body might have decayed, and yet toxicology could still detect drugs or poisons right down to those sources that are highly persistent, like hair, bone marrow, and adipocere [7].

Attributable to the preservation of dense skulls and teeth, the DNA profiling remains one of the most trusted methods of ascertaining individuality and kinship [8]. The use of forensic entomology and botany allows estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) as well as determining the relocation of a body since insect activations are observed even in the absence of soft tissues [9].

When people find a dead body in a situation of advanced decomposition, it could appear that it is not possible to reveal the truth about the history of the events. The skin, the muscles have disappeared, and essential organs have become sludge. What explanations are there left? However, this is where forensic science starts preaching on behalf of the dead.

Forensic science still speaks even after the flesh decayed long ago, suggested by the presence of bones, hair, insects, and even microbial remains. Whether it is a fragment of evidence full of degradation itself or otherwise, it potentially holds one truth that can satisfy justice, safeguard the health of people, and give closure to grieving families.

Forensic science can still interpret its deeper chapters that are captured inside hair, bones, and insects. It is with such ways that the dead proceed to testify, they do this in silence but it is powerful evidence when it comes to uncovering the truth.

Science can speak, even when the body can no longer speak.

References:

  1. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1327718-post-mortem-confirms-actor-humaira-asghar-died-nearly-10-months-ago
  2. https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2607546/pakistan
  3. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-59745-327-1_14
  4. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4020-9684-6_1
  5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272271218301690
  6. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118384213.ch3
  7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29300918/
  8. https://ejfs.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41935-021-00216-8
  9. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/381

Also read: Cracking the Enigma of Crimes by Nanotechnology with Dr. Shahid Nazir Paracha

The Power of Numbers: How Population Trends Impact Our Future

Yameen Bin Yahya
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The Power of Numbers: How Population Trends Impact Our Future

We live in a world where one part could be experiencing huge population growth, and the other could collapse because of its aging population crisis. For example, Japan, with its aging population, is struggling to find a new workforce; China and India, with their rapidly growing populations, are struggling to develop infrastructure at such a rapid pace. And countries like Pakistan have issues feeding their huge population.

The rapid urbanization stresses infrastructure, while the youth demand education. Declining birth rates necessitate policy shifts. Understanding fertility, migration, and age structures is crucial.

Population projections aid healthcare and education planning. Spatial analysis reveals resource inconsistencies, and statistical models link trends to economic growth.

Understanding the dynamics of fertility, migration, and age structures is no longer an academic exercise. It is essential for planning our future. Population projections shape everything from healthcare systems to educational frameworks, while spatial analysis exposes deep inequities in resource distribution. Statistical models reveal how demographic patterns are intimately linked to economic growth or decline. This is not a distant issue; the population crisis is unfolding now, and if ignored, its consequences will be devastating.

Global Warning Signs: We Can No Longer Ignore!

The global population surpassed 8 billion in 2022 and is projected to exceed 10 billion by 2050. Much of this growth is occurring in regions least equipped to handle it—sub-Saharan Africa will nearly double in population, South Asia will increase by nearly 10 percent, and parts of the Middle East.

In these areas, essential services like clean water, electricity, healthcare, and education are already strained or inaccessible. High fertility rates combined with poverty, weak governance, and limited infrastructure create a cycle of suffering. The bigger the population grows, the harder it becomes to climb out of poverty or provide opportunities.

At the same time, many high-income nations are experiencing a demographic downturn. Japan, Germany, South Korea, and Italy all face shrinking populations due to dramatically low birth rates, with the latter having the lowest birth rates of any country, with 5.62 births per 1000, and longer life expectancies.

An aging population brings major consequences. Fewer working-age individuals mean slower economic growth, social welfare systems become unsustainable, healthcare costs skyrocket, and innovation and labor productivity decline. Without significant immigration or radical policy reform, these countries are headed for economic stagnation and social stress.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, over the past two decades,  the population has grown rapidly from around 140 million in the early 2000s to over 240 million today. This explosive growth has placed immense pressure on the country’s already fragile infrastructure, society, and livelihoods. Major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad are struggling to keep up with the demand for housing, clean water, education, and healthcare. Rural areas face persistent issues of poverty, limited access to services, and high birth rates.

Although the federal government has introduced family planning initiatives and awareness campaigns, progress has been slow due to inconsistent implementation, political neglect, and cultural barriers. With a large portion of the population under 30, the country faces mounting challenges in creating enough jobs, feeding its people, and preventing further social instability. Without serious long-term policy planning and investment in human development, the consequences of this unchecked growth will only deepen.

The Dual Demographic Crisis: Declining Fertility and the Politics of Migration

Over 50 percent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, a figure that’s growing rapidly. But instead of prosperity, urbanization often brings overcrowding, pollution, and infrastructure collapse. Informal settlements grow faster than cities can build roads, homes, or sanitation systems. Housing crises, traffic gridlock, rising inequality, and social unrest are all symptoms of urban systems pushed beyond their limits. In many cities, the pace of population growth has long since outstripped the capacity for planning.

Countries like Spain, Italy, South Korea, and parts of Eastern Europe have fertility rates far below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. This creates a domino effect. Schools and childcare services downsize, housing markets weaken, workforces shrink, and consumer demand drops. Governments introduce incentives like tax breaks and paid parental leave, but so far, these efforts haven’t been enough to reverse the trend.

Migration has always been a tool to balance demographic imbalances—young workers from one region helping support aging populations in another. But today, migration is increasingly viewed through a political lens. Climate refugees, economic migrants, and asylum seekers often face hostile borders and xenophobic rhetoric.

Developed nations resist the very migration flows they need to sustain their economies. Meanwhile, low-income countries lose valuable talent to brain drain. Without coordinated global policy, migration will continue to be a source of division rather than a solution.

population
Kolkata Flower Market. November 2022. Photo, Unsplash

The Data Has Been Clear for Years

Demographers, scientists, and data analysts have been sounding the alarm for decades. The tools exist to predict and prepare for these shifts, but are largely underused or ignored. Census and household surveys provide long-term demographic trends in age, fertility, and household composition. Statistical models help forecast economic, environmental, and health impacts of population shifts.

With the rise of artificial intelligence and big data, it is now possible to track migration patterns, urbanization, and resource use in real time. Spatial analysis can pinpoint which regions are being left behind or overburdened. Longitudinal studies reveal how demographic changes compound over time and affect generational outcomes.

Despite the wealth of data and insight, political will remains weak. Decision-makers often delay action due to short election cycles, misinformation, or public resistance to unpopular reforms. The gap between what we know and what we do continues to grow, with potentially catastrophic consequences.

The Price of Inaction

If current trends continue without significant intervention, the cost will be enormous. Countries with aging populations face rising healthcare costs, pension shortfalls, and slowed economic growth. Such as Finland and Japan, meanwhile, nations with uncontrolled population growth remain locked in cycles of poverty and underdevelopment, unable to scale up services or generate sufficient jobs.

More people mean more consumption of energy, water, land, and food. Overcrowded cities become hotbeds of pollution and disease. Natural resources are depleted faster than they can be replenished, and environmental degradation accelerates. An aging population requires expensive, long-term care. In overpopulated regions, hospitals become overwhelmed and sanitation systems collapse. Public health emergencies become more common and harder to control.

Youth unemployment, climate migration, and social inequality are fertile ground for extremism. When people lose faith in institutions and the future looks bleak, authoritarianism gains appeal. Polarized politics, ethnic tensions, and nationalist ideologies feed off demographic pressures. Social cohesion fractures, and the risk of conflict increases.

What Can Be Done?

There’s still time to respond—if we act wisely and quickly. Developed countries must create legal, efficient pathways for immigration. These policies should attract young, skilled workers and support their integration into society. At the same time, governments must invest in young families. Making parenthood more affordable through housing support, childcare subsidies, and workplace flexibility is crucial to reversing declining birth rates.

Urban planning must become more forward-looking and inclusive. Cities need better public transport, more green space, and sustainable infrastructure to meet the demands of the future. Technological solutions like automation and artificial intelligence can help offset labor shortages, particularly in healthcare, logistics, and aging services. But technology alone is not enough.

International collaboration is essential; Countries must work together to manage migration, share data, support vulnerable regions, and invest in climate resilience. Demographic challenges do not respect borders, and global cooperation is the only way to manage them effectively.

The Clock Is Ticking

The population crisis is already reshaping our world. The data is clear, the impacts are visible, and the stakes are incredibly high. Whether it’s the collapse of an aging society, the strain of overpopulation, or the chaos of unmanaged migration, inaction is no longer an option. We can’t stop demographic change, but we can shape our response to it. With smart policy, global cooperation, and science-led strategies, we still have a chance to turn this crisis into a catalyst for renewal.

The question is not whether change is coming. It’s whether we will be ready when it does!

References: 

More from the author: California Wildfires — A Glimpse into Hell on Earth

Death, Resilience, and Hope: A Review of “As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow”

Khadija Tariq
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Death, Resilience, and Hope: A Review of “As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow”

Most of us take safety for granted, but safety is not a universal reality, especially in our current world. Zoulfa Katouh’s novel “As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow” is a moving portrayal of survival, love, and resistance during the Syrian civil war. It is a deeply human story told through the eyes of Salama, a young pharmacy student who unexpectedly finds herself amid a revolution and is forced to become a surgeon.

The book does not merely recount the horrors of war—it reveals how war lives inside a person and shapes their everyday reality. It highlights the stark contrast between the comfort of peace and the chaos of conflict. It shows what it means to make impossible choices when your country is falling apart and safety is a rare luxury.

Anxiety, hallucinations, and PTSD dominate Salama’s life. Along with external battles—finding food, clean water, shelter, and physical safety—the book presents her internal struggles. Salama hallucinates a figure she names ‘Khawf‘, the Arabic word for fear. Khawf walks her through the worst-case scenarios, acting as a “safety mechanism,” as she speculates in the novel, used by her mind to scare her into choosing flight in a fight-or-flight situation. But how can a seventeen-year-old abandon her entire life—her home, her past, her family’s graves?

War forces decisions no one should ever have to make. Salama faces them every single day, whether at work in the hospital or her personal life.

Katouh says,

“Fear is a cruel thing. The way it distorts thoughts, transforming them from molehills into mountains.”

One day, Salama meets a boy whose sister she is treating at the hospital. A series of events leads to a bond of faith, trust, and emotional dependence between them. This relationship becomes a rare breath of fresh air for readers. Despite the heartbreak around them, their connection represents resilience and hope in a war-torn city.

When we talk about the mental toll of war, we must understand the severity of the decisions involved. Imagine choosing to let an eight-year-old die because your hospital has no neurosurgeon. Imagine deciding which incubator babies to save because you can only carry a few while fleeing a bombed hospital. War destroys not only buildings, it deteriorates the mental and emotional well-being of entire generations.

lemon trees
Salama, the story’s protagonist, is stricken by war and forced to be a surgeon to save lives in a time of need. Illustration credit: Judy Albarazi. As long as the lemon Trees grow

Blood, body parts, mutilated children—these images should be enough for the world to stop and pay attention. But they’re not. The world is mostly indifferent. People avoid politics until war knocks on their door.

The novel makes it painfully clear that there are no “correct” choices in such circumstances. For some, staying is an act of bravery. For others, leaving is an act of survival. Salama’s journey is both devastating and empowering because it captures the full emotional storm behind such choices.

Katouh says, “Survivor’s skin is a remorse we are cursed to wear forever.”

Despite the darkness, the book ends with a sense of hope. The lemon trees in the title are more than a plant—it is a powerful symbol. It reminds us that no matter how hostile the world becomes, life continues. The lemon tree stands for home, memory, and resilience. It tells readers that even in the harshest conditions, people can hold on to love, kindness, and strength.

Zoulfa Katouh doesn’t offer an easy resolution or a small enemy. But she does offer resistance—proof that as long as even a seed of it remains, hope is alive. In her words, the oppressor may be powerful, but they are not all-powerful. The story closes not with a victory, but with a quiet promise: survival itself is a form of defiance.

Also Read: Tracing the Blueprint of Life – A Review of The Gene: An Intimate History

Swat Flood Tragedy: A Wake-Up Call on Climate Change, not a Headline to Forget

Yasir Ahmad
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Swat Flood Tragedy: A Wake-Up Call on Climate Change, not a Headline to Forget

I remember having a cup of tea that day with my colleagues beside a hotel along the road overlooking the Swat River. The water was calm, the scenery was photogenic, and tourist families were enjoying, taking selfies as a light breeze cooled the valley. I observed people having breakfast beside the hotel constructed on the riverbank, snapping pictures and even going into the water despite the unpredictable weather and numerous alerts.

Then, in a matter of moments, the sky darkened, the river turned muddy, the water roared, and the calm river started to transform into a flash flood. Many people still couldn’t restrain themselves from going out until it was too late. We heard about a family of 17 people who became trapped between the rising waters, and soon after, they were swept away by the merciless waves.

Later, social media showed visuals of a family—women, children, and elderly men—caught in the raging waters, crying out desperately for help as the flood surged around them. One by one, they were swept away by the merciless currents. As of now, rescue operations are ongoing: four people have been rescued alive, while 12 bodies have been recovered, and one person is still missing.

A resident informed me that this isn’t an isolated incident; many similar events have occurred in previous years, and this won’t be the last. Officials involved in the mismanagement have been suspended, and an inquiry is underway. However, this response feels more like a swift reaction rather than a genuine effort for reform or a prevention strategy.

Ali Ahmad, a climate change expert, emphasizes that incidents like these serve as a continuous reminder that climate change is a pressing reality and not just a random occurrence in nature. He points out that the Germanwatch Climate Risk Index Report for 2025 reveals that Pakistan ranked Number one on the Climate Risk Index for 2022. Ahmad further explains that our monsoon season has become increasingly unpredictable and extreme as a direct consequence of climate change, evident from the events of 2022 and the current situation in Swat.

Ahmad warns that the “rapid melting of glaciers combined with erratic rainfall contributes to massive flash floods that cannot be effectively managed with just sandbags and rescue operations; instead, they require comprehensive long-term planning”.

He stresses the need to redirect funds towards the construction of diversion channels and small dams. Additionally, he states, “Our efforts must include reforestation, the dissemination of accurate weather information, the establishment of community-level early warning systems, and restrictions on construction along riverbanks.”

Ahmad emphasizes that integrating climate change education and safety measures into the school curriculum is essential for raising awareness in future generations. He insists that the government must prioritize climate change as a top national issue rather than treating it as merely a seasonal concern.

Standing on the riverbank, watching the locals and rescue teams search for missing people, he views this as a natural warning. He added that we are among the most vulnerable yet least prepared for climate change.

“These floods are no longer surprising; rather, it is our inaction that is shocking.” He argues that if the tragedy in Swat doesn’t motivate us to take action, then the next flood undoubtedly will, and it will come at an even greater cost. We should transform the SWAT flood response into a national initiative rather than allowing it to become a forgotten headline. If we fail to act, tragedies like this will continue to impact our communities with even greater intensity.

The floods in Swat should mark the moment we finally take climate change and safety seriously, rather than allowing it to become just another disaster we choose to overlook.

Also Read: Role of Climate Change in Economic Uncertainty in Pakistan

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