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Scientists have claimed that the consumption of the fungi psilocybin, also known as 'magic mushrooms,' influenced pre-human hominids' brains six million years ago.They analyzed dozens of studies involving psilocybin and consciousness, finding the fungi increased connectivity between networks in the frontal brain region associated with expressive language, decision-making and memory.These 'significant neurological and psychological effects' may have been the catalase ancient ancestors to interact with each other and the environment - spurring consciousness among our species.The idea that magic mushrooms sparked the pivotal point in humans has been touted by podcaster Joe Rogan, who has referenced the 'Stoned Ape Theory'...

Research on the gut microbiome has triggered a 'revolution' in nutritional science, and in the last few years, dietary fiber has become the "new protein" – added to foods in abundance to feed our gut and boost our health. A recent study on mice, however, suggests not all fiber supplements are equally beneficial. A form that is readily found in oats and barley, called beta-glucan, can control blood sugar and assist in weight loss among mice fed a high-fat diet. Researchers at the University of Arizona (UA) and the University of Vienna say it is the only type of fiber...

Findings from a new mouse study indicate that elenolic acid, a natural compound found in olives, can significantly lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. This research suggests the potential for developing safe, inexpensive natural products for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes. Obese diabetic mice treated with elenolic acid showed improved blood sugar regulation and weight loss comparable to, or better than, current diabetic medications. The study highlights the compound’s ability to induce metabolic hormone release in the gut, promoting satiety and reducing food intake. Researchers are now investigating the compound’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion to ensure...

Mr Giri rushed to the location with his team, while instructing locals over the phone on the dos and don'ts involving the snake. After a quick inspection, the officials quickly got to work, using a rod to carefully bring the snake down from the bush. They then placed the cobra into a rescue bag and released it into the wild in the presence of the locals and forest department officials. ''What a gorgeous cobra. Thank you for saving him.'' Another wrote, ''So professionally done as compared to so many videos online!!'' A third commented, ''it is so satisfying to watch...

NATIONAL CORN FRITTERS DAY National Corn Fritters Day on July 16 encourages us to fry up a batch of these crispy, flavorful bites of corn and batter! Make them with fresh corn and the celebration will be even better! #NationalCornFrittersDay These bright crispy morsels make great additions to summer barbecues and backyard gatherings. The main ingredients include corn, meal, egg, milk, and butter. While they may have originated in the south, corn fritters can easily be changed up with peppers, onions, or herbs to give them regional and seasonal flair. When paired with other vegetables and a pan-fried fish filet,...

I've never had this problem before, been growing all sorts of veggies for many years, but this year has been a problem. For one I had very little success growing beans of all things, usually one of the easiest. So I planted a whole packet of seeds (Blue Lake pole) and I have about 6 plants. I tried another pack and soaked them overnight, which I've only done a few times before. Not only hardly any sprouted, but the ones that did are not pole beans, they are bush beans. Both packages were miss labeled. Also, a pack of zucchini...

Don't be so blue, buddy. Image credit: J. Barker / AWC The aptly named magnificent tree frog is typically green with a yellow belly, so you can imagine the surprise when scientists stumbled across a member of the species with blue skin. The shocking blue frog is an incredibly rare discovery, most likely caused by a rare genetic mutation that affects the production of yellow pigments. It was recently photographed by a team from the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) while exploring the Charnley River-Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary along the Kimberley coast of north-western Australia. “It was after dark when we...

P. maluti. (Cullen Clark) Planet Earth is home to possibly hundreds of species of magic mushroom that contain the hallucinogen, psilocybin. Systematic fieldwork surveys of the genus, Psilocybe, however, are "entirely lacking" for many regions of the world. Now, a new paper describes two species of magic mushroom in southern Africa that are wholly new to science. That brings the total number of reported Psilocybe mushrooms on the continent from just four to six. One of the species, called Psilocybe maluti, is the first scientifically documented magic mushroom with traditional, spiritual uses in Africa. P. maluti was originally photographed in...

July 10 (UPI) -- Transit officials in California said a stretch of highway was closed for several hours when a truck overturned and spilled its load of tomatoes into the roadway. The California Highway Patrol said the truck overturned onto its side on Interstate 5 in Patterson about 8:05 a.m. Tuesday and lost its load of tomatoes onto the roadway and shoulder. Caltrans District 10 said crews cleared the tomatoes from the center divide to give northbound traffic a chance to ketchup. The cause of the crash was unclear, and the road was fully reopened by 12:30 p.m.

A comprehensive study across diverse populations linked specific bacterial strains and bacteriophages within the gut microbiome to type 2 diabetes risk, suggesting potential pathways for intervention. By studying a large and varied cohort, researchers have identified novel microbial species associated with diabetes and highlighted the importance of personalized microbiome profiles in disease prevention and management. Researchers from Brigham, Broad, and Harvard Chan School have discovered that certain species and strains of bacteria are associated with alterations in the gut microbiome’s function and an individual’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The most extensive and diverse study yet on the gut...

Italian pasta, anyone? ================================================================== Some of the more obscure headlines from around the world can be the most informative. Let’s face it—what happens in some other nation may already be happening in our own. So, when the above headline caught my eye, it felt like time to dig a little deeper. Sixteen species of insects, including crickets, locusts and silkworms, have been approved as food in Singapore, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Monday. “With immediate effect, [the] SFA will allow the import of insects and insect products belonging to species that have been assessed to be of low...

Fast forward to page 22 for this article with photos https://citylifestyle.com/austin/issues/2021-06 I watched most episodes of Entourage. It was funny and witty. With many walk in cameos of actors young n old. Old ones not seen in years/ Mark Wahlberg was the prime producer. He had an entourage back in the day.

People also often try to simply change the topic of conversation. Image credit: zeljkodan/Shutterstock.com ================================================================== Eating too much meat is bad for you, bad for the environment, and fatal for the animals involved. Those are straight facts, indisputable and proven through years of study. But counterpoint: have you considered that vegans are annoying? If the comments section under just about any media promoting a vegetarian or vegan diet is anything to go by, the answer to that question is probably “yes”. And, in any case, what about all the poor plants, huh? You okay with murdering them, IFLScience? The blood...

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...

Whether it's freshly diced, sprinkled, or infused in oil, regularly adding some garlic to your diet has been found to keeps both blood sugar and cholesterol in check. A meta-analysis of 22 previous studies that included 29 randomized, controlled trials conducted by researchers from Southeast University and Xizang Minzu University in China confirms the consumption of garlic is linked with lower levels of glucose and some types of fat molecule. Glucose and lipids are key nutrients for the body, providing energy and the basis of a wide variety of building blocks. Modern diets can often lead to too much of...

If you're a small town or rural consumer, you might find this of interest. It's a 13-minute youtube video show how this corporation is taking you dollars to support people and causes you might find personally or morally repugnant, or to stockholders in larger dividends.

The leeches coil themselves back like a spring. Image credit: © Mai Fahmy If your nightmares have been feeling a little bland and repetitive recently, don’t worry, we bring you something that’ll be sure to add a fresh smattering of terror – jumping leeches. The existence of leaping leeches has been a matter of debate since Victorian-era naturalists were kicking about, with some providing field notes of encounters with their acrobatics, whilst others said the parasitic worms had likely dropped down on them from above. That over 100-year-old debate has now been settled by footage that researchers Mai Fahmy and...

Well, now we know how they are going to get us to eat ze bugs – and (they hope) take the drugs. They are going to use the excuse of “containing” the bird flu to kill the birds – chickens – and cattle, too. In this way, they’ll have succeeded in reducing the “emissions” of carbon dioxide emanating from the animals we eat – without having to convince us to stop eating meat. There just won’t be any to eat. Not for us, that is. The “elite” – as the agglutinators of power who like to use it to...

Yoshiharu Watanabe earned a Guinness World Record by growing a 63-leaf clover. Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 20 (UPI) -- A Japanese man borrowed some of the luck of the Irish and broke a Guinness World Record by growing a 63-leaf clover. Yoshiharu Watanabe, 45, started cross-pollinating clovers at his Nasushiobara home in 2012 with an aim toward breaking the world record. "Since the number of leaves has increased year by year, I have been aiming for the Guinness World Records title ever since," he told Guinness World Records. Watanabe said he used a combination of letting...

Researchers at McMaster University have created smart packaging that detects spoilage, potentially reducing global costs by minimizing waste and illness. Despite its benefits, adoption faces hurdles due to cost concerns and regulatory challenges. A team of researchers from McMaster University has invented a suite of tests for food packages that can indicate if the contents are contaminated, aiming to reduce food waste and prevent illnesses. They are now focusing on integrating this smart packaging technology into commercial products by engaging with producers and regulators. Cost Considerations and Industry Adoption Although each test would add only a few cents to the...