In the future, we may be able to see woolly mammoths and other resurrected species in their natural habitats. How? Through “genetic scissors” that remove portions of genes to modify them as they repair themselves; the company Colossal hopes to bring back woolly mammoths from extinction by modifying the genes of Asian elephants. Although they’ll be hybrids, they will functionally be the closest we’ll ever get to resurrecting this megafauna species. I’m sure you can guess how excited we are! 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
