Contrary to popular belief, Charles Darwin did not have a eureka moment in the Galapagos Islands. Aside from the 25-year gap in between his visit to the archipelago and the publishing of On the Origin of Species, there’s evidence that he didn’t pay much attention during his time there. He’d forgotten to properly label the finches everyone thinks were integral to his theory; he didn’t know which specimens were taken from which islands, and had not even noticed the differences between them until after a zoologist pointed them out. 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
