Made up of a highly reduced form of phosphorus and iron, schreibersite is a compound that’s important to the formation of life. As regular phosphorus binds quite strongly with oxygen, the highly reduced form in schreibersite was the only way for phosphorus to be freed up for use in other compounds, like those necessary for early life. Once thought to be from meteorites, research shows that schreibersite forms on Earth after the heat of a lightning strike hitting the ground breaks up the phosphorus and oxygen bonds, freeing them up. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
