“Consciousness is a sense of yourself in the world. It’s suffering. It’s bliss.” Insects have long been thought to not possess consciousness, owing partly to their less-developed brain structure. But experts have argued that consciousness is a more primitive, deeper phenomenon that differs in each species. The experts posited that consciousness is the ability to feel pain and pleasure, and by using this logic, they have concluded that insects are, in fact, conscious beings. 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
