How much do we know about our cousins in the evolutionary tree of life? A tooth belonging to a nine year old Neanderthal child was found in an area much farther from where we thought Neanderthals roamed, and its discovery has also challenged our exclusive claim to a kind of stone age technology. This discovery could mean that modern humans and Neanderthals coexisted — perhaps mingled — with each other more than we thought.
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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
