Martin Fugate and Elizabeth Smith looked like anyone else in the 1820s, but they both carried a recessive gene that causes people to produce excessive amounts of methemoglobin, the blue compound in blood. The result? Many of their children had blue skin, and the limited dating pool and lack of transportation meant that more and more blue-skinned Fugates have been born ever since. 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
