The coffins of British royal family members are very heavy; Princess Diana’s coffin weighed nearly 540 pounds (244 kilograms). The secret is the lead. For four centuries and counting, the British nobility has been buried in lead-lined coffins for preservation purposes. The lead sealed the coffins tightly and kept moisture—the friend of rot and decay—at bay. The practice isn’t unique to royalty, however; other nobles and even revered artists like George Frederic Handel were buried in lead-lined coffins as well. 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
