It turns out that being able to count from zero is not a uniquely human skill. Among all animals, only monkeys, honeybees, and more recently, crows have been found to recognize the number zero ー a concept that very young children have trouble understanding. But how are we so sure? They were observed to confuse an empty set of objects with a set containing only one object more frequently than the a set containing two objects, suggesting that the animals likely think zero as next to one on the number line.
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
