Direct air capture (DAC) is a technological advancement that may be key in achieving a carbon neutral future. It draws carbon dioxide from the air, mixes it with water, and diverts it deep underground, where it will mineralize with basalt, effectively preventing it from becoming a greenhouse gas again. While there aren’t many processing plants using this tech yet, we may be able to see it scale up soon as megaplants in Iceland, the US, and Scotland hope to come online before the end of the decade.
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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
