Raising Baby Sharks from the Dead

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More than a third of the 1,147 species of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are estimated to be facing extinction, largely due to fishing — both intentional and unintentional. Many sharks, for example, wind up dead in Mediterranean fish markets as by-catch. But there may be hope: females sometimes carry eggs that can still be saved. Though they need rigorous care, scientists from various groups have successfully hatched, raised, and released baby elasmobranchs back into their home environment. Read full article here

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Societal Issues

To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater

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Science

A look inside the lab building mushroom computers

The Unconventional Computing Laboratory at the University of the West of England is pushing the boundaries of computing, working to see if mushrooms can be used to carry out computing and sensing functions. By stimulating the mycelium—the branching, web-like root structure of the fungus—researchers can get it to produce electrical activity and see if it can be used to create complex, multi-dimensional functions that are more precise than traditional computers. This could lead to a whole new world of possibilities, such as using mushrooms to create fault-tolerant, energy-efficient computers and even mapping neural networks. It’s truly a fascinating field of study – and one that could shape the future of computing. Read full article here

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