Everyone knows that polar bears are dangerous. The liver of a polar bear is surely harmless though, right? Well, not exactly. Polar bear livers are packed with vitamin A – so much so that they can be fatal if consumed. Consumption of vitamin A is required to help regulate many bodily functions, but is deadly in high doses. Because their diet mainly consists of seals (which are also high in vitamin A), polar bears naturally accumulate a high concentration of vitamin A – much to the dismay of early Arctic explorers. 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
