Have you ever heard of the Transparent Replications project? It’s a project launched by the nonprofit Clearer Thinking which aims to replicate any psychology study published in Science or Nature – as long as it’s not too expensive or technically difficult. Spencer Greenberg, the founder of Clearer Thinking, believes that this project will shift the incentives of scientists towards producing more robust research as opposed to just racking up another publication. With their 8-10 week timeline and four-person team, the project aims to provide an efficient way of testing the accuracy of research published in top journals and ultimately, to improve the reliability of the research being produced. 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
