Not much is known about the Dead Sea Scrolls — the oldest known manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible — but artificial intelligence revealed that one of them was likely written by two people. A three-line gap, change in material, and different handwriting (detected by the algorithm) point to the possibility of a change in scribe during the writing of the scroll “1QIsaa”. This study is said to reinforce that “the shift to the digital offers a new opening for the study of sacred texts”. 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
