Dmanisi is a treasure trove of Early Pleistocene fossils, including those of surprisingly altruistic hunting dogs. Being hypercarnivores — eating exclusively meat, vertebrate flesh in this instance — disabled, injured, or old Eurasian hunting dogs (a now extinct species) were unlikely to survive on their own. So, the unveiling of a member of the species with “numerous congenital disabilities” surviving to adulthood suggests that these hunting dogs cared for the weakest members of their pack, likely allocating food for them despite being incapable of contributing to the hunt.
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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
