“[A]lthough our loved ones have closed their eyes and are ready to leave us, their brains may be replaying some of the nicest moments they have experienced in their lives.” Doctors discovered that recalling memories is one of the last things a human brain does before we die. They observed brain waves similar to those observed during “dreaming, meditation, memory retrieval, information processing, and conscious perception”, while monitoring the brain waves of a patient who unexpectedly passed from a heart attack. 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
