Writer Alexa Firmenich brings her readers deep into the powerful network of the earth’s disappearing relationships. Her book series, The Vanishing, describes the fate of endangered species, from plants to bacteria, as well as the very nature of the organisms within the ecosystem. Some plant-bacteria communities are believed to have been interacting with each other for anywhere between 140 and 700 million years, but extinction may be on the horizon for them due to rapid environmental changes. 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
