The preparation makes the poison: How muscarine in mushrooms becomes toxic
Mushrooms exist in a breathtaking variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Especially in autumn, mushroom hunters go into the forests to find the tastiest of them, prepare them in multiple ways and eat them with relish. However, it is well known that the.....»»
A peek into the cooking pot: Burnt food remains document 5,000-year-old food preparation
Researchers from the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1266 at Kiel University (CAU) have been able to prove, in the first archaeobotanical study of burnt food residues on the surface of ceramic vessels, how varied the meals prepared in Eastern Hol.....»»
Bloom and bust: New study details exactly how terrible algae is for Florida"s economy
Algal blooms can mean toxic fumes, green muck, nasty stench, and death for seagrass and marine animals. All of it is bad for Florida's economy, and sometimes human health. But just how bad has been murky—until now......»»
Scientists make non-toxic quantum dots for shortwave infrared image sensors
SWIR sensors ideal for service robotics, automotive, consumer electronics sectors. Enlarge / Vials of quantum dots with gradually stepping emission from violet to deep red. (credit: Antipoff/CC BY-SA 3.0) Shortwave infra.....»»
Invasive ants selectively abandon toxic baits, evading our most effective eradication method
Invasive ants are economically costly and ecologically devastating, and most of our eradication attempts have failed. Now, researchers at the University of Buenos Aires and the University of Regensburg have discovered that these ants can evade the mo.....»»
Researchers develop eco-friendly material from mushrooms, coffee grounds and natural pineapple fibers
Researchers have developed a novel eco-friendly material, dubbed "mycelium-based composites (MBCs)." Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) are renowned for their unique properties, making them an increasingly popular choice in various industries, particul.....»»
Toxic algae blooms: Study assesses potential health hazards to humans
Florida's 156-mile-long Indian River Lagoon (IRL) borders five different counties and has five inlets that connect the lagoon with the Atlantic Ocean. This estuary has recently experienced numerous phytoplankton bloom events due to increased seasonal.....»»
The first assessment of toxic heavy metal pollution in the Southern Hemisphere over the last 2,000 years
Human activity, from burning fossil fuels and fireplaces to the contaminated dust produced by mining, alters Earth's atmosphere in countless ways. Records of these impacts over time are preserved in everlasting polar ice that serves as a sort of time.....»»
Finding a home for the wandering mushrooms—phylogenetic and taxonomic updates of Agaricales
Many edible, medicinal, and poisonous mushrooms that we are familiar with belong to the order Agaricales, which is a group of fungi with important economic and ecological value. Understanding the phylogenetic relationships of Agaricales can help us t.....»»
Psychoactive psilocybin"s evolution in magic mushrooms
Psilocybe fungi, known colloquially as "magic mushrooms," have held deep significance in Indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica for centuries. They captured the wider world's attention as a psychedelic staple in the 60s and 70s. Now, these infamous organ.....»»
China says it will launch its next lunar explorer in the first half of this year
China's space agency said Wednesday that its latest lunar explorer had arrived at the launch site in preparation for a mission to the moon in the first half of this year......»»
Researchers discover molecular "barcode" used by bacteria to secrete toxins
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a molecular "barcode" system used by disease-causing bacteria to distinguish between beneficial and toxic molecules......»»
Rapid AI development is putting security and privacy at risk
It doesn't require much knowledge to poison or misdirect an AI in most phases of its development.....»»
Research team combines two catalysts to make common chemical production safer, more environmentally friendly
The chemical industry has long been shadowed by unwelcome images of billowing smokestacks and pipes discharging toxic effluent. Modern manufacturing practices have done much to mitigate the industry's environmental impact, but there remains room for.....»»
Non-toxic quantum dots pave the way towards CMOS shortwave infrared image sensors for consumer electronics
Invisible to our eyes, shortwave infrared (SWIR) light can enable unprecedented reliability, function and performance in high-volume, computer vision first applications in service robotics, automotive and consumer electronics markets......»»
Targeted household cleaning can reduce toxic chemicals post-wildfire, research shows
After the last embers of a campfire dim, the musky smell of smoke remains. Whiffs of that distinct smokey smell may serve as a pleasant reminder of the evening prior, but in the wake of a wildfire, that smell comes with ongoing health risks......»»
Bison vs. urban growth: Rocky Mountain Arsenal seeks solutions to water runoff
A growing herd of 250 bison, re-introduced at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge to help restore toxic wasteland to the native short-grass prairie, often descends through a floodplain to reach First Creek and cross to the northern ha.....»»
Novel toxic gas sensor improves the limit of nitrogen dioxide detection
Researchers at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science developed a toxic gas sensor with the world's highest sensitivity. This sensor can precisely monitor nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic gas in the atmosphere, at room temperature with.....»»
Protein allows poison dart frogs to accumulate toxins safely, shows study
Scientists have identified the protein that helps poison dart frogs safely accumulate their namesake toxins, according to a study published today in eLife. The findings solve a long-standing scientific mystery and may suggest potential therapeutic st.....»»
Toxic chemicals found in oil spills and wildfire smoke detected in killer whales
Toxic chemicals produced from oil emissions and wildfire smoke have been found in muscle and liver samples from Southern Resident killer whales and Bigg's killer whales......»»
Study suggests boosting beaver populations could have toxic consequences
Beavers are influential animals in ecosystems. These dam-building, tree-chewing rodents change streamflow with their wooden barriers and create rich wetland habitats by diverting water into soils near rivers. They help conserve water and improve biod.....»»