A good storyteller could argue that the fate of computers and the Internet as we know it is in the hands of one man and his team of time zone maintainers. Paul Eggert oversees the “time zone database” that Linux computers — which constitutes the majority of Internet server systems — pull their time zones from. While it doesn’t seem like much of a big deal, an error in the database would mean Y2K-levels of computing catastrophe as records become muddled overnight. 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
