More and more ecologists are warning that planting one trillion trees may do more harm than good. Aside from the ecological imbalance that will likely occur when introducing foreign trees to new habitats, experts warn that replacing pale grasslands with forests could result in overall hotter temperatures as the darker foliage absorbs more heat instead of reflecting it, offsetting the cooler temperatures caused by less carbon in the atmosphere.
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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
