Throughout the ages, purple was regarded as a colour belonging to royalty and the elite, in part due to its rarity. But why? Before, purple dyes were painstakingly created from two mollusc species, which almost drove them to extinction. Other purples faded quickly in polluted air. However, purple (specifically, “mauve”, which was incredibly resilient) spiked in usage in the late 1800s after William Perkin accidentally invented the dye while trying to synthesise a quinine from coal tar. 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
