In contrast to present-day glass, ancient glass was opaque, thanks to the element antimony. Antimony is quite rare, which is why a team of archaeologists are bewildered as to where Ancient Egypt and Near East glassmakers gathered the element from. The antimony in ancient glass has been found to match the antimony found in Georgia, in the Caucasus, leading to the hypothesis that glass trade was an international affair that connected many ancient civilizations. 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
