Final answer:
When concerned about mail safety, the USPS and FBI use x-ray systems to irradiate suspicious packages, changing their physical properties but not making them radioactive. Evaluating the reliability of information is crucial, considering the authorship, biases, and whether content is opinion-based or peer-reviewed. The preference for digital communication has impacted the postal service's supply and demand.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you're unsure about the safety of a package or paper mail, there are measures in place to protect against threats like bioterrorism. The United States Postal Service (USPS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may utilize x-ray generators to irradiate suspicious mail. This is a security action taken particularly for mail sent to some governmental facilities. The x-rays are designed to kill most bacteria and some viruses, and while this may alter the mail's appearance, color, and smell by changing the chemical composition of the paper, it does not make the mail radioactive.
For personal evaluation of package safety, and credible sources of information generally, it is important to rely on critical thinking skills. Evaluate the reliability of any information you find online or through other sources by considering whether the author is identified, their level of professionalism in the field, potential biases, and whether the document represents an individual's opinion or peer-reviewed research. Particularly with the spread of digital information, it has become increasingly important to distinguish between reliable sources and misinformation.
Overall, the demand for traditional mail services has changed with a shift in consumer preference towards digital messages. This digital shift affects the supply and demand dynamics for the Postal Service, as consumers' tastes move away from 'snail mail' toward more instantaneous digital communication forms.