Bipedalism — walking on two legs rather than four — may have led humans towards getting bigger brains, but not in the way most people would think. As researchers discover that bipedalism was common in our early ape ancestors, they’re speculating that bipedalism was not the sole reason for bigger hominid brains. Instead, it’s hypothesized that bipedalism allowed us to expand our home range (and therefore, our foraging grounds), which in turn allows us source more energy that could be used to sustain larger brains. 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
