A decades-long scientific and historical investigation has traced a strand of hair to its origins, potentially resolving a long-standing debate about its true owner. Using DNA analysis, researchers have linked the hair to a prominent figure from early American history, offering new evidence to an enduring question. The findings challenge assumptions and could reshape understanding of a key historical period. The story blends forensic science with deep historical inquiry, revealing how modern technology can illuminate centuries-old mysteries.
A lock of hair, 15 years of sleuthing and a 200-year-old question. In History by a Hair, Smithsonian Institution scholar Richard Kurin follows the DNA trail back to Thomas Jefferson.
