“[H]e was ‘no longer Gage’”. In 1848, Phineas P. Gage suffered an accident that sent an iron rod through his skull, costing him an eye and most of his left frontal lobe. Against all odds, Gage survived; while he miraculously lived, he was a changed person. He became angry and vulgar—a far cry from the respected man that family and friends knew him to be. He is now seen as the first person who showed a definitive link between a head injury and a change in personality. 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
