Australian magpies are social birds; they live in groups of up to 12 individuals that help each other defend territory and raise each other’s young. A recent pilot study involving small trackers has revealed that they engage in another social behaviour rarely seen in birds called “rescuing”. In birds, rescuing is the act of helping others without expecting a reward; in this case, the magpies helped each other remove the tracking devices the researchers put on them, perhaps perceiving the devices as parasites that needed removing. 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
