In the eyes of Brooke Warner, one way to truly disrupt the notoriously slow-to-change industry of publishing is to tackle the problem of distribution head-on. A novel method that publishers have tried to address this is through the Book Espresso Machine. It could print a variety of titles on demand inside the confines of a bookshop, but it never gained traction since the print quality was insufficient to justify its high price and extensive maintenance requirements. 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
