A broken-wing display is an elaborate ruse that nearly 300 bird species employ to keep their nests safe from hungry predators. They will act as if they have broken a wing to divert the predator’s attention to themselves, lure the predator away, and then flee. This behaviour is more prevalent in species residing in higher latitudes, especially those that don’t conceal their nests and are hunted by predators on the ground; other closely related species living in trees and those with nocturnal predators don’t exhibit this behaviour. 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
