Primatologist and ethologist Frans de Waal once said that chimpanzees were not moral beings and that animals don’t care about fairness unless they are experiencing injustice themselves. However, there are several observations that can be considered as evidence against Waal’s claim. Chimpanzees are observed to become agitated when they sense a disparity in rewards even when they are the ones benefitting from the arrangement; they refuse to work when another chimpanzee is getting “mediocre carrots” while they are getting tasty grapes. 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
