Soon, your air travel may be powered by cooking oil! Aircraft manufacturers recently conducted a three-hour test flight of an Airbus 380 using a cooking oil (hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids-synthetic paraffinic Kerosene). This is just one example of the range of sustainable fuel sources that airlines worldwide are testing. Although the technology is already reasonably mature, aviation experts aim to get this alternative fuel fully compliant with global safety standards in the next ten years. 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