If you’ve ever looked at an in-flight map, you may have noticed something strange: the names of famous shipwrecks dotted amongst geographical features. Those are courtesy of Collins Aerospace, the company behind the in-flight map software Airshow. Supposedly including these shipwrecks helps stave off boredom, although others have suggested there are some cognitive heuristics at play: “is this a way to reaffirm that flying is safer than crossing the Atlantic by ship?”. 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
