Rishi Rajpopat, a Ph.D. student from India studying at the University of Cambridge, has achieved an incredible breakthrough in linguistics. He has solved a problem that has perplexed Sanskrit scholars for thousands of years, thereby decoding an algorithm taught by the “father of linguistics”, Pāṇini. Rajpopat’s discovery now makes it possible to use Pāṇini’s “language machine” to accurately derive any Sanskrit word and construct millions of grammatically correct words. His discovery is revolutionary and could lead to computers being taught Pāṇini’s grammar, a major milestone in the history of human interaction with machines. 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
