Via Matti Viikate – Newsvine: ‘Synthetic marijuana, also referred to as ‘replacement cannabis’, ‘K2’, and ‘Spice’, is a lab-produced mind-altering drug that aims to mimic the effects of marijuana, but is known to have unpredictable and sometimes dangerous effects, despite its marketing as a safe, legal alternative to marijuana. New York City’s police commissioner, William Bratton, recently said that the drug, which he referred to as “weaponised marijuana” is of “great and growing concern” to the city’s police force, which has seen a spike in hospitalisations from the drug..’

Via IFLScience: ‘After the heartbreaking tale of the famous lone Grand Canyon wolf, the first one in the area for 70 years, that was shot dead around Christmas last year, it’s time we had some good news. A pack of wolves has managed to establish itself in California…’

Via Antonia Malchick – Aeon: ‘For decades, Americans have been losing their ability, even their right, to walk. There are places in the United States – New York City, for example – where people walk as a matter of habit and lifestyle, commuting in ways familiar to residents of London or Paris. But there are vast blankets and folds of the country where the ability to walk – to open a door and step outside and go somewhere or nowhere without getting behind the wheel of a car – is a struggle, a fight. A risk…’

Via Walter Glannon – Aeon: ‘New brain implants can restore autonomy to damaged minds, but can they settle the question of whether free will exists? …’