Fear and stress might be harmful in some cases, but what does that mean for all of the fun that people have being scared? Haunted houses, hide and seek, horror games, and even peek-a-boo ultimately delight people from the cradle to the grave. Mathias Clasen reports that these behaviours fall into the category of “recreational fear,” a pattern of behaviour common among many animals. Essentially, it serves the purpose of preparing the brain to manage real fear and danger in the safety of a low-risk environment. 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
