“In most everyone’s existence, there comes an experience so profound that it fractures their life into two—the time before and the time after—and at the faultline in between is the moment they decided they would do something”. Tom Turcich and his dog Savannah have been walking for more than 1,500 days, with 39 countries, 19,000 miles, and plenty of rich experiences under their belt. Inspired by other world walkers, he decided to circumnavigate the globe after the death of a close friend stressed the importance of living a “fulfilled life”. 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