Email is counterproductive and should be abolished by the workplace, says James Plunkett. But why? Aside from being a clunky form of communication, it seems that it actively sabotages our work ethic. Inboxes prime our minds to think of work as a series of tasks to be completed as quickly as possible instead of allocating time to tasks with the most value — the complete opposite of the mindset one needs to have to be productive. 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