To the Chinese Emperor Zhu Di, it seemed as if he’d seen and experienced all that the world had to offer and that life was now boring. But then, the admiral Zheng He returned from the first great expedition of exploration. Of all the treasures and animals Zheng He brought with him, nothing sparked Zhu Di’s sense of wonder like the graceful awkwardness of the giraffe. The giraffe proved to him that he did indeed live in a wondrous and fascinating world, and we should let the giraffe remind us of the same. 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
