“I got my [amateur radio] license because I thought ham radio was about building radios…But it’s not.” Although it has become incredibly easy for an amateur radio operator to get their hands on a decent transmitter, homebrewing your own is far from a dead art. Dan Maloney insightful deep-dive into this niche walks would-be homebrewers through the surprisingly easy and cheap process of creating a simple Weak Signal Propagation Mode (WSPR) beacon. 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
