The Chernobyl nuclear disaster is widely regarded as the worst of its kind in history, with a speculated long and devastating legacy of mutations. However, an analysis of the genomes of the children of the Chernobyl clean-up crew and residents of the nearby town of Pripyat reveals that this legacy will not likely last as long as initially foreseen; while those directly exposed suffer from thyroid cancer, their descendants’ DNA don’t have an increase in genetic mutations.
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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
