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The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the...

KEY TAKEAWAYS * Beehive Cheese from Utah earned five bronze awards at the World Cheese Awards. * The event in Bern, Switzerland, featured 5,244 entries judged by 265 experts. * Beehive's award-winning cheeses include Apple Walnut Smoked and Barely Buzzed varieties. ======================================================================= UINTAH, Weber County — The Beehive State is known for many things, but if you asked a Utahn to list them, cheese likely wouldn't be one of the things mentioned. But Britton Welsh and Uintah-based Beehive Cheese Company are looking to change that. Beehive Cheese in November traveled all the way to Bern, Switzerland, to showcase its cheese...

A supplier of Boar’s Head cheese has issued a recall due to the potential presence of Listeria, according to the Food and Drug Administration. “Boar’s Head took immediate action to halt the purchase of these products from The Ambriola Company, notify retail partners, and ensure that the affected products are being removed from distribution nationally,” Boar’s Head said in a statement. The recall is categorized as a Class I, meaning exposure could result in serious health consequences or death. Which Boar’s Head items are being recalled? The recalled items were sold at Kroger stores in Kentucky and Indiana, and include:...

For some scientists, there’s no place more romantic than a cheese cave. When Tufts University biologist Benjamin Wolfe, then a biology postdoc, shepherded his colleague Rachel to a surprise rendezvous with her boyfriend in a Vermont cheese cave, a marriage proposal ensued. And, according to Wolfe and his colleagues’ new paper in Current Biology, so did a discovery about evolution. Some cheese varieties are ripened in caves where they attract microbes—yeast, bacteria, and fungi (molds)—which form a rind on the cheese surface. Molds like Penicillium (the same genus that produces the human antibiotic, but a different species) spur the ripening...

Two Charlotte County men face felony charges after allegedly trespassing onto a DeSoto County farm and shooting a cow in the head while they were on their way to school. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office arrested Matthew Robert Wright and Gavin Hunter McMillan on charges of armed trespass and aggravated animal cruelty, the press release stated. Thomas Butler discovered the men on his family’s cattle farm northwest of Arcadia on Friday. One man stood in the pasture holding the dead heifer’s head, telling Butler “someone shot this cow,” according to Fox 4, which cited an arrest report. When Butler asked...

A historic gold-mining town has turned into a crowded hotspot - with locals warning that the once-peaceful retreat had been transformed by TikTok and Instagram. Julian, a rustic town tucked in the Cuyamaca Mountains about an hour east of San Diego, with a population of roughly 1,500, had long been celebrated for its iconic apple pies and historic streets lined with specialty shops. But, in recent years, the influx of tourists has skyrocketed, leaving residents and visitors grappling with traffic jams, packed restaurants and hours-long waits on weekends. David Lewis, who grew up in Julian and now works at the...

Rivers are shrinking, lakes are disappearing, and entire nations are facing the risk of mass migration due to extreme drought. Iran, Iraq, Syria, Türkiye, Jordan, and Yemen are all struggling with the worst water crisis in modern history. Yet one country stands almost completely immune: Israel. In this video, we explore how Israel turned seawater into its main source of drinking water, how it recycles nearly 94% of wastewater, and how it created one of the most efficient agricultural systems in the world—right in the middle of the desert. Why Israel Never Runs Out of Water? The Desert Nation That...

Queen bee standing on a supersedure cell (peanut-shaped structure, center). Within the supersedure cell is a new queen bee that the workers have reared as a replacement. Credit: Shelley Hoover ============================================================================ New research reveals how viral infections in queen bees disturb colony stability and pinpoints a specific pheromone that may help preserve unity and productivity within hives. It may sound like the plot of a medieval drama: a once-powerful ruler, weakened by illness, is overthrown by her own followers. In honey bee colonies, however, such dramatic power shifts are real—and they happen frequently, carrying both benefits and risks for the...

An Oregon coast creamery has recalled another batch of cheese products that may be contaminated with listeria. Face Rock Creamery — which is headquartered in Bandon, Oregon, and operates a second cafe in Coos Bay — previously pulled two lots of garlic cheddar cheese curds in June. Now, the southwest Oregon creamery has issued a second recall for 16 units of its Vampire Slayer Cheddar Block, according to a notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The 6-ounce block was sold exclusively at Face Rock Creamery’s Oregon flagship, located at 680 Second St. S.E. in Bandon. Affected units...

Walmart is proving to be America’s antidote to the cost of living crisis. A growing number of Americans are heading to Walmart for groceries and clothing as inflation and high prices squeeze their budgets: Walmart’s business in the United States is surging and it’s gaining market share from rivals, the company said Thursday in its quarterly financial report. Walmart has used its massive size and scale to drive down prices and pour billions of dollars into investments such as raising wages, sprucing up stores and building a logistics network for online shopping. These investments are paying off for Walmart at...

Denmark’s farmers have recently been reporting that their cows are collapsing and suffering illness after eating feed containing a methane-reducing additive called Bovaer. Use of this feed is now legally required for many farms in Denmark as part of its national climate policy. Some farmers claim their cattle experienced severe symptoms after eating the additive-infused feed, including collapse, lethargy, reduced feed intake, fever, diarrhea, miscarriages, and significant drops in milk production. Based on these complaints, another Scandinavian country poised to implement the same policy is halting the move. In Norway, the government had mandated the use of Bovaer as an...

Lentil plant grown at Fuerteventura. Credit: Fayna Brenes =============================================================== Ancient lentils preserved in volcanic silos link modern Canarian crops to 2,000-year-old North African origins. Lentils cultivated in the Canary Islands today have roots that extend nearly 2,000 years into the past. This finding comes from the first-ever genetic study of archaeological lentils, conducted by researchers at Linköping University and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain. Because these lentils have been adapted for centuries to thrive in hot and arid environments, they may offer valuable genetic traits for future crop breeding in response to ongoing climate change....

You can share an article by clicking on the share icons at the top right of it. The total or partial reproduction of an article, without the prior written authorization of Le Monde, is strictly forbidden. For more information, see our Terms and Conditions. For all authorization requests, contact syndication@lemonde.fr. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/11/14/swiss-gruyere-crowned-the-2025-world-cheese-champion_6747449_4.html The World Cheese Awards first prize winner, a gruyère AOP special over 18 months cheese presented by Swiss cheese maker Hitz Pius, from the Vorderfultigen cheese company, during the 37th edition of the World Cheese Awards, in Bern, Switzerland, November 13, 2025. GABRIEL MONNET / AFP A Swiss gruyère...

NATIONAL PICKLE DAY National Pickle Day recognizes the tart, sometimes sweet, and even spicy pickle. Each year on November 14th, pickle lovers pop open pecks of their preferred preserved pickle. It may be a Dill, Gherkin, Cornichon, Brined, Kosher Dill, Polish, Hungarian, Lime, Bread and Butter, Swedish and Danish, or Kool-Aid Pickle. No matter your choice, eat them all day long. #NationalPickleDay The term pickle comes from the Dutch word pekel, meaning brine. In the United States, the word pickle typically refers to a pickled cucumber. However, just about any fruit or vegetable can be pickled. The process typically starts...

Researchers enriched the product with tomato powder, spices, and a mixture of fat sources made up of sunflower, olive, and linseed oils. Credit: Unicamp ====================================================================== Scientists in Brazil and Germany developed a new plant-based meat using sunflower flour. The product delivers strong nutritional benefits, including protein, healthy fats, and key minerals. Its neutral taste and sustainable, non-GMO origin make it a promising alternative to soy- or pea-based proteins. Sustainable Meat Alternative From Sunflowers Researchers from the Institute of Food Technology (ITAL) and the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), both located in São Paulo, Brazil, worked with scientists from the Fraunhofer IVV...

Scientists have unlocked a surprising clean energy breakthrough using an unlikely source from the poultry industry. In a potential breakthrough for green energy technology, scientists at ETH Zurich and Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU) have developed a membrane for hydrogen fuel cells made from discarded chicken feathers—an abundant waste product in the global poultry industry. The new membranes are made from keratin, a structural protein that makes up the bulk of feathers. Extracted and processed into amyloid fibrils, the keratin forms a thin, proton-conductive layer at the heart of a hydrogen fuel cell. According to the research team, the material...

Researchers found that brain network patterns can predict how individuals with depression respond to traditional Chinese medicine. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe mental health disorder that is projected to become the most widespread and financially burdensome illness across the globe by 2030. While advances in antidepressant treatments have been significant, doctors still lack clear, objective methods for determining which medication will work best for each person. Nearly one-third of patients experience little to no improvement from their first prescribed antidepressant, making personalized treatment an ongoing challenge. A recent study published in General Psychiatry examined whether traditional Chinese medicine...

The MONTHLY Gardening Thread is a gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is a non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the...

Scientists have pinpointed a single genetic alteration that transforms tomato pigmentation, revealing how a minute molecular shift can ripple through complex metabolic pathways. Credit: Shutterstock A single mutation in the YFT3 gene turns tomatoes yellow by disrupting a crucial pigment-producing enzyme. Researchers have discovered that a single genetic change in the YFT3 gene disrupts a vital enzyme involved in producing carotenoids, the pigments responsible for tomato coloration. The gene encodes the isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase enzyme, which maintains the delicate balance between IPP and DMAPP, two essential C5 molecules in isoprenoid synthesis. When one amino acid (Serine) is replaced by another...

The smell wafted through the air in the October sunshine. At least one Harvard scientist has likened it to “rancid butter and vomit,” while Jennifer Iida, a spokesperson for Sacramento’s Department of General Services, called it downright “pungent and unpleasant.” It was the sweet aroma of two 75-year-old ginkgo trees in California State Capitol Park, and it’s gotten so bad, officials have taken matters into their own hands, surrounding the trees with metal barriers affixed with zip-tied and laminated signs to ward the public away. As the Sacramento Bee first reported, the issue isn’t just the odor. It’s the slip...