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- Interesting facts about truffles (from “How truffles took root around the world“)
- The truffle’s unique aroma is the result of a set of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by the fungus. Of all fungi, truffles are among those that emit the highest amount of volatile organic compounds. More than 200 of these have been identified so far in various truffle species.
- The aromatic potency of these fungi is part of their evolutionary strategy.
- Since the 15th century, black truffle hunters in Italy and France made use of trained pigs, especially females, which were particularly attracted to the intoxicating smell of the truffle that emanates a compound chemically similar to androstenol, a sex pheromone that is also synthesized in the testicles of wild boars.
- What newer search products have in common is that they’re closer to giving exactly one result. And it’s not just an answer, but an answer-and-transaction, because the question is “what’s the best version of X to buy?” and the natural response to getting an answer is to buy X. Article concludes with a good question – “as search engines become smarter, will it make users dumber”. Yes, there are economic implications around single-result searches. But economics can always be worked around.
- Hybrid circuitry! Scientists have successfully transplanted clusters of human neurons into the brains of newborn rats and planning to use the transplanted neurons to learn about the biology underlying autism, schizophrenia, and other developmental disorders.