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The first major global review of bird flu in cats reveals an emerging threat of a potential human pandemic. Spring is here, birds are on the move, and a new threat is spreading alongside them: bird flu (H5N1). This virus is changing fast and could be on the path to becoming a human pandemic. Scientists from the University of Maryland School of Public Health have recently published a major study in Open Forum Infectious Diseases highlighting a surprising new concern. They found that cats are catching bird flu more often, and they’re calling for urgent monitoring to help stop the...

Steve Bannon: “I got a problem. And it’s not with Andy Harris. Here’s what I’ve got a PROBLEM with…JOHNSON should not put the President of the United States in this situation…the President of the United States should not have to come to Capitol Hill…and have to WHIP VOTES…Johnson, in these rooms, tells everyone what they want to hear. That’s why people CAN’T STAND HIM…”

In a nutshell * Dark chocolate, tea, apples, and grapes can significantly lower blood pressure, especially in people with hypertension, with effects comparable in size to standard medications. * These flavan-3-ol-rich foods also improve blood vessel function, offering heart health benefits beyond just blood pressure reduction. * Whole foods work better than supplements, and they come with minimal side effects, making them a safe, affordable addition to a heart-healthy lifestyle. ================================================================ GUILDFORD, England — Instead of buying the next trendy expensive supplement or exotic superfood, a morning cup of tea could do more for your blood pressure than you realize....

The chestnut trees of Europe tell a hidden story charting the fortunes of ancient Rome and the legacy it left in the continent's forests. The ancient Romans left an indelible imprint on the world they enveloped into their empire. The straight, long-distance roads they built can still be followed beneath the asphalt of some modern highways. They spread aqueducts, sewers, public baths and the Latin language across much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. But what's perhaps less well known is the surprising way they transformed Europe's forests. ... Romans had something of a penchant for sweet chestnut...

CNN dismissed President Donald Trump’s claims about falling grocery prices just weeks before government data confirmed the sharpest monthly decline in food-at-home costs in nearly five years. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed the food-at-home index dipping 0.4% in April — the steepest drop since September 2020 — with egg prices alone falling 12.7%, the biggest one-month plunge since 1984. Those numbers landed Tuesday, the same day CNN Business conceded the president’s previous claims about egg prices are “true now.”

NATIONAL APPLE PIE DAY National Apple Pie Day is America’s favorite dessert and is observed annually on May 13. This food holiday is not only delicious, it's one of the oldest traditional foods everyone serves at every holiday! #NationalApplePieDay The first apple pie recipe printed was in England in 1381. The list of ingredients included good apples, good spices, figs, raisins, pears, saffron, and coffyn (a type of pastry crust). While the apple pie existed well before the Pilgrims landed on the eastern shores of what is now The United States, Americans wax poetic about how American apple pie is....

Researchers have found that the source of protein in your diet may dramatically shape your gut microbiome, influencing key metabolic processes and even gut lining health. The results suggest certain proteins, like egg whites, could have surprising and possibly harmful effects on gut function. ================================================================================ New research from NC State reveals that different protein sources in animal diets can dramatically alter the gut microbiome, both in composition and function. A new study from researchers at North Carolina State University has found that the type of protein in an animal’s diet significantly influences both the composition and activity of the gut...

Researchers crack the code behind powerful sugar cravings In a nutshell * Scientists have mapped the exact structure of taste receptors that make us crave sweet foods, revealing how a single receptor recognizes both natural sugars and artificial sweeteners. * The TAS1R2 protein in our taste buds contains a pocket that grabs onto sweet molecules, which could help food scientists design better-tasting artificial sweeteners without calories. * This discovery explains why some animals (like cats) don’t care about sweets and offers potential new solutions to combat sugar-related health problems like obesity and diabetes. ==================================================================================== NEW YORK — That chocolate cake...

A pair of tweezers squeezes water from the spongy material developed by the team. (Credit: Xingying Zhang) In a nutshell This wood-based material can pull water directly from air using only sunlight, working even in arid regions with humidity as low as 30% and in freezing temperatures down to -20°C. The device captured 2.5 milliliters of water per gram overnight in real-world testing, releasing it when exposed to sunlight with 94% efficiency. Made from affordable materials like balsa wood and lithium chloride, this technology could provide clean drinking water in areas lacking infrastructure or during emergencies. **************************************************************************** MELBOURNE — Love...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week gave a U.K.-based biotech company the green light to produce gene-edited pigs for human consumption in the U.S. PIC, formerly the Pig Improvement Company, uses CRISPR gene-editing technology to genetically engineer pigs to be resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), a viral infection that affects pigs produced in industrial factory farms, according to Technology Review. PRRS, which first emerged in the 1980s, is a contagious respiratory virus that causes fever, respiratory issues and reproductive failure in pigs. It can also suppress the immune system, making pigs more vulnerable to...

Up in Canada, students have developed an incredible new way to synthesize drugs on plants — and they're using Ozempic as their test case. In a press release, the University of Ottowa revealed that some of its undergraduate students have invented a process that they're calling "Phytogene" turn tobacco cousin Nicotiana benthamiana into a pharmaceutical factory for the popular weight-loss drug. Though it could have lots of use cases in the future, Phytogene's first order of business is synthesizing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists — the class of medications Novo Nordisk's Ozempic belongs to — which mimic the stomach's feeling...

Potatoes, often dismissed as fattening carbs, can actually lower the energy density of meals and, when prepared to boost fiber (e.g., boiled, cooled 24 hrs, skins on), support a 5.6% average weight loss and improved insulin resistance over eight weeks. By swapping 40% of meat or fish in entrées for these fiber-rich potatoes, participants ate satisfying portions without conscious calorie restriction, moderating blood glucose responses in people with obesity and insulin resistance. ************************************************************************ Potatoes can aid weight loss and blood sugar control when prepared properly, offering a satisfying, nutrient-rich addition to a healthy diet. Potatoes are one of the world’s...

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...

One scorpion produces at most just two milligrams of venom at a time. Credit: Tola Kokoza, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 ***************************************************************** The most expensive liquid in the world is venom from a scorpion which has potential medical applications, but its extraction and processing are highly specialized and dangerous. The deathstalker is one of the most dangerous scorpions on the planet, and what makes it so dangerous also happens to be the most expensive liquid in the world. This stuff costs $39 million per gallon. The reason is because the liquid is hard to get. Scorpions are milked by hand,...

NATIONAL BLUEBERRY PIE DAY National Blueberry Pie Day on April 28th each year ushers in blueberry pie-making season. Blueberry harvest begins in April and lasts until September giving us a long season full of blueberry enjoyment. #BlueberryPieDay We've been enjoying blueberries in pies since early American settlers arrived. In 1872, the first documented recipe for blueberry pie appeared in the Appledore Cook Book. Blueberries are abundant in Maine, so it's no surprise that blueberry pie is the state's official dessert! This once wild berry became domesticated during the early 1900s thanks to the observations of Elizabeth Coleman White and the...

In a nutshell * Rice malt could help the brewing industry adapt to climate change, yielding twice as much extract per hectare as barley while requiring 50-67% less land * While rice malt costs 20% more to produce than barley malt, it offers significant advantages for gluten-free brewing and can reduce costs when used as an adjunct * As climate change threatens barley production, rice provides a more resilient alternative that’s already grown abundantly in warmer regions worldwide ****************************************************************** FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Beer prices might soon rise as climate change threatens barley crops, but an unexpected savior is emerging from...

A pioneering trial shows that adults with severe peanut allergies can build up a tolerance through supervised daily exposure, freeing many from lifelong fear. *********************************************************************** Adults living with the fear of severe peanut allergies might finally have hope. A groundbreaking trial has shown that carefully supervised daily peanut exposure can desensitize most adults, allowing them to eat peanuts without a reaction. The GUPI trial, the first to focus solely on adults, revealed that two-thirds of participants could safely consume the equivalent of five peanuts after gradual dose increases. Many reported dramatic improvements in quality of life, shedding years of fear...

ATTENTION: INVASIVE MOSQUITOES DETECTED IN A PART OF SOUTH SAN JOSEUpdate: Invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, first detected in the county in large numbers last year, have been found again this year in a neighborhood where they were detected last year. This reappearance means the mosquito’s eggs successfully survived the winter and are hatching now that the weather is getting warmer.This mosquito is an aggressive daytime biter and can spread diseases like dengue and Zika. These diseases aren’t in the county right now, but finding this mosquito again is a serious health concern because it means the mosquito is successfully surviving...

Berlin (AFP) – German chemicals giant Bayer said Friday it could be forced to pull its Roundup weedkiller from the market if it is not able to limit simmering legal troubles. "We're nearing a point where the litigation industry could force us to even stop selling this vital product," CEO Bill Anderson said at Bayer's annual general meeting. Bayer has been dogged by lawsuits linked to Roundup since it acquired the US manufacturer Monsanto in a blockbuster deal in 2018. Claimants have alleged that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, causes blood cancers but Bayer says scientific studies and regulatory...

NATIONAL PIGS-IN-A-BLANKET DAY On April 24, observe National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day with just a few ingredients. #PigsInABlanketDay Celebrated across the world, the term often refers to a variety of different dishes. In the United States, Pigs-in-a-Blanket is often hot dogs or sausages wrapped in biscuit or croissant dough and baked. Pigs-in-a-Blanket are generally served as an appetizer or as breakfast. However, it can be served at any mealtime! Another popular version of pigs-in-a-blanket includes cabbage rolls stuffed with a beef filling. It's often covered with a tomato or cream sauce. Many recipes use the name "Pigs-in-a-Blanket" to describe just about any...