From Pizza Topping to Power Source: How Mushrooms Could Revolutionize Clean Energy
Fungi Friday's - June 21st, 2024 - Issue #108
Fungi Fam,
We’re back, which can only mean one thing… it’s Friday! Hope everyone had a wonderful week. It was a rainy one here in Iowa, and this weekend is shaping up to be similar. That’s alright though, rain or shine, it’s still a beautiful and exciting time of year. Summer has officially arrived!
In today’s email:
The best ways to consume mushrooms
How mushrooms may solve the clean energy problem
The fungi condition that makes you feel drunk, no alcohol needed
Iowa Fungi’s Update of the Week
Well fam, no luck. The lack of regularity of our conditions was too much for batch number three to overcome. So we’re back to the drawing board… but that’s alright, the crew will be back together this weekend, as we work to get crop number four into production.
The Absolute Best Mushroom Dishes In America, According To Customers
Forget the plain portobello, America's taste buds are craving creative mushroom cuisine! This article rounds up the top-rated mushroom dishes across the US, based on customer reviews.
The spotlight shines on innovative dishes that go beyond the ordinary. Imagine hummus swirled with beautifully sautéed maitake mushrooms, or king oyster mushrooms getting the "steak" treatment with pesto and a fancy almand aillade.
From wild mushroom risottos with black truffle to smoky mushroom skewers with tangy salsa verde, this article tempts your taste buds and inspires you to explore the exciting world of gourmet mushrooms. So next time you're dining out, ditch the boring and embrace the fungi!
Psychedelic Spotlight
How Psychedelics Rewire The 'Default Mode Network' In Your Brain — For Better Or Worse
Psilocybin reduces depression symptoms, largest study to date suggests
Psychedelic drug induces feelings of "oceanic boundlessness"
There's Another 'Magic' Mushroom Being Sold in Gummies -- But It Can Kill
The quest for clean energy just got a fun and funky boost! Researchers are exploring the potential of mushrooms to solve a major hurdle in renewable energy: storage. While solar and wind power offer clean energy solutions, storing that energy for later use remains a challenge. Traditional battery methods can be expensive and limited.
Enter the world of mushrooms! Scientists have discovered that by treating a specific type of mushroom's root network, called mycelium, they can transform it into a superhero material. This supercharged mycelium becomes highly conductive and energy-dense. Imagine a powerful version of those fuzzy mushroom roots!
This transformed mycelium shows promise as a key component in supercapacitors. Think of supercapacitors as energy power banks for renewable energy sources – they can store and release energy quickly. The big advantage? Growing and processing mycelium is a much greener alternative to traditional battery production. This makes it a highly attractive option for eco-conscious energy solutions.
While this research is still in its early stages, it opens exciting doors for the future. Imagine a world where clean energy can not only be generated by the sun and wind but also efficiently stored using a readily available and sustainable resource – mushrooms! The future of clean energy might just be a little bit funky.
More Mushroom Mentions
Which Functional Mushroom Should You Use For What? Your Adaptogenic Guide To Fungi
U.P. startup lands grant to see if fungi can clean up PFAS pollution
Scientists are Transplanting Soil Fungi to Combat Orchid Decline
This Strange Fungal Condition Makes You Drunk without Drinking
Imagine feeling drunk without ever touching a drop of alcohol. This bizarre reality is the life for people with Auto-Brewery Syndrome (ABS), a rare medical condition. People with ABS experience all the unpleasant symptoms of intoxication, like dizziness, slurred speech, and even hallucinations, despite being completely sober.
The culprit behind this strange condition lies in the gut. An overgrowth of yeast in the intestines ferments carbohydrates from food, just like brewer's yeast ferments sugars to produce alcohol for beer. In people with ABS, this internal fermentation process goes into overdrive, leading to the production of alcohol within their digestive system.
Things like sugary drinks, breads, and pastas can worsen symptoms for people with ABS. These foods provide more fuel for the yeast to ferment and create even more alcohol. Diagnosing ABS can be tricky because the symptoms mimic being drunk. Doctors need to run tests to confirm the presence of excess gut yeast and rule out other potential causes.
There's no magic cure for ABS, but there are ways to manage the condition. Following a low-sugar, low-carb diet can help starve the yeast and reduce its alcohol production. Antifungal medications might also be used to control yeast overgrowth. Remember, ABS is a rare condition, but if you're experiencing symptoms of intoxication, it's important to see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis and rule out other more serious possibilities.
That’s all, folks… but before we let you go, That’s all, folks… but before we let you go, comment below on how we can improve the publication! And if you haven’t yet, smash that SUBSCRIBE button below.
Thanks for reading as always,
BowTiedMushroom