Monthly Archives: July 2021

Mythical food of the Greek gods

In the ancient Greek myths, ambrosia (, Ancient Greek: , "immortality") is the food or drink of the Greek gods,[1] often depicted as conferring longevity or immortality upon whoever consumed it.[2] It was brought to the gods in Olympus by doves and served by either Hebe or Ganymede at the heavenly feast.[3][4]

Ambrosia is sometimes depicted in ancient art as distributed by a nymph labeled with that name and a nurse of Dionysus.[5] In the myth of Lycurgus, the king attacked Ambrosia and Dionysus' entourage, causing the god to drive Lycurgus insane.

Ambrosia is very closely related to the gods' other form of sustenance, nectar. The two terms may not have originally been distinguished;[6] though in Homer's poems nectar is usually the drink and ambrosia the food of the gods; it was with ambrosia Hera "cleansed all defilement from her lovely flesh",[7] and with ambrosia Athena prepared Penelope in her sleep,[8] so that when she appeared for the final time before her suitors, the effects of years had been stripped away, and they were inflamed with passion at the sight of her. On the other hand, in Alcman,[9] nectar is the food, and in Sappho[10] and Anaxandrides, ambrosia is the drink.[11] A character in Aristophanes' Knights says, "I dreamed the goddess poured ambrosia over your headout of a ladle." Both descriptions could be correct, as ambrosia could be a liquid considered a food (such as honey).

The consumption of ambrosia was typically reserved for divine beings. Upon his assumption into immortality on Olympus, Heracles is given ambrosia by Athena, while the hero Tydeus is denied the same thing when the goddess discovers him eating human brains. In one version of the myth of Tantalus, part of Tantalus' crime is that after tasting ambrosia himself, he attempts to steal some to give to other mortals.[12] Those who consume ambrosia typically have ichor, not blood, in their veins.[13]

Both nectar and ambrosia are fragrant, and may be used as perfume: in the Odyssey Menelaus and his men are disguised as seals in untanned seal skins, "...and the deadly smell of the seal skins vexed us sore; but the goddess saved us; she brought ambrosia and put it under our nostrils."[14] Homer speaks of ambrosial raiment, ambrosial locks of hair, even the gods' ambrosial sandals.

Among later writers, ambrosia has been so often used with generic meanings of "delightful liquid" that such late writers as Athenaeus, Paulus and Dioscurides employ it as a technical terms in contexts of cookery,[15] medicine,[16] and botany.[17] Pliny used the term in connection with different plants, as did early herbalists.[18]

Additionally, some modern ethnomycologists, such as Danny Staples, identify ambrosia with the hallucinogenic mushroom Amanita muscaria: "...it was the food of the gods, their ambrosia, and nectar was the pressed sap of its juices", Staples asserts.[19]

W. H. Roscher thinks that both nectar and ambrosia were kinds of honey, in which case their power of conferring immortality would be due to the supposed healing and cleansing powers of honey,[1] and because fermented honey (mead) preceded wine as an entheogen in the Aegean world; on some Minoan seals, goddesses were represented with bee faces (compare Merope and Melissa).

The concept of an immortality drink is attested in at least two ancient Indo-European languages: Greek and Sanskrit. The Greek (ambrosia) is semantically linked to the Sanskrit (amta) as both words denote a drink or food that gods use to achieve immortality. The two words appear to be derived from the same Indo-European form *-m-ts, "un-dying"[20] (n-: negative prefix from which the prefix a- in both Greek and Sanskrit are derived; m: zero grade of *mer-, "to die"; and -to-: adjectival suffix). A semantically similar etymology exists for nectar, the beverage of the gods (Greek: nktar) presumed to be a compound of the PIE roots *nek-, "death", and -*tar, "overcoming".

Lycurgus, king of Thrace, forbade the cult of Dionysus, whom he drove from Thrace, and attacked the gods' entourage when they celebrated the god. Among them was Ambrosia, who turned herself into a grapevine to hide from his wrath. Dionysus, enraged by the king's actions, drove him mad. In his fit of insanity he killed his son, whom he mistook for a stock of ivy, and then himself.

Read the original here:
Ambrosia - Wikipedia

Its one thing to survive in harsh environments, but quite another to hit the reset button when faced with an imminent threat.

Only one animal is known to have this remarkable ability: a species of jellyfish, Turritopsis dohrnii, first discovered in the 1880s in the Mediterranean Sea and highlighted as a uniquely enduring organism in the exhibition Life at the Limits: Stories of Amazing Species.

Turritopsis dohrnii, the so-called "immortal jellyfish," can hit the reset button and revert to an earlier developmental stage if it is injured or otherwise threatened. Takashi Murai/The New York Times Syndicate/Redux

Like all jellyfish,Turritopsis dohrniibegins life as a larva, called a planula, which develops from a fertilized egg. A planula swims at first, then settles on the sea floor and grows into a cylindrical colony of polyps. These ultimately spawn free-swimming, genetically identical medusaethe animals we recognize as jellyfishwhich grow to adulthood in a matter of weeks.

Fully grown, Turritopsis dohrnii is only about 4.5 mm (0.18 inches) across, smaller than a pinky nail. A bright-red stomach is visible in the middle of its transparent bell, and the edges are lined with up to 90 white tentacles. These tiny, transparent creatures have an extraordinary survival skill, though. In response to physical damage or even starvation, they take a leap back in their development process, transforming back into a polyp. In a process that looks remarkably like immortality, the born-again polyp colony eventually buds and releases medusae that are genetically identical to the injured adult. In fact, since this phenomenon was first observed in the 1990s, the species has come to be called the immortal jellyfish.

The cellular mechanism behind ita rare process known as transdifferentiationis of particular interest to scientists for its potential applications in medicine. By undergoing transdifferentiation, an adult cell, one that is specialized for a particular tissue, can become an entirely different type of specialized cell. Its an efficient way of cell recycling and an important area of study in stem cell research that could help scientists replace cells that have been damaged by disease.

As for Turritopsis dohrnii, this jelly is not only an extraordinary survivor. Its also an increasingly aggressive invader. Marine species have long been known to hitch rides around the world in the ballasts of ships. Researchers have recently identified the immortal jellyfish as an excellent hitchhiker, particularly well-suited to surviving long trips on cargo ships.

In the same study, researchers also documented essentially genetically identical Turritopsis dohrnii individuals distributed across the worlds oceans, raising an intriguing question about the nature of mortalityif all of an organisms cells are replaced, is it still the same individual? The genes are the same, of courseand in biology, that may be enough to declare a winner.

A version of this article originally appeared in our member magazine, Rotunda.

Read the rest here:
The "Immortal" Jellyfish That Resets When Damaged | AMNH

Eleven-year-old Laurent Simons has become the second-youngest college graduate in history after obtaining a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Antwerp.

The gifted Belgian child, who finished high school at the age of eight and has an IQ of 145, completed the three-year course in only a year, topping his class with a pass mark of 85 per cent.

He had originally planned to graduate from Eindhoven University in the Netherlands at the age of nine in 2019, which would have made him the youngest graduate, but he left the course before graduating after college authorities said he could not get his degree before his 10th birthday as he had not taken sufficient exams.

In doing so, he may have lost his chance to become the world's youngest degree holder, but he at least achieved the record for being the youngest college dropout.

The current record for youngest graduate is held by American prodigy Michael Kearney, who enrolled at the University of South Alabama at the age of eight and emerged with a degree in anthropology in 1994, aged 10 years and four months.

Kearney went on to teach at Vanderbilt University while taking his second master's degree, all before he could legally drive, and later used his prodigious memory and intelligence to win over $1m on a TV game show.

Simons has more serious plans for his future.

"This is the first puzzle piece in my goal of replacing body parts with mechanical parts," he told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, seemingly without any idea of the terror such talk can engender when it comes from the mouth of a child. He continued:

Did it just get colder in here?

Besides exercising his prodigious intellect by studying quantum physics, pondering immortality, planning to become some sort of Doctor Octopus cyborg creature, and generally coming across as the sort of frightening prospect who could do with a spell in the X-Men, Simons is also said to enjoy playing Fortnite. Because he's 11 and that's what 11-year-olds are supposed to do.

While studying for his bachelor's degree, he was also working on a master's degree at the same time. He had hoped to complete his master's at an Israeli university studying a combination of biotechnology, medicine, and bioprocess engineering, but the COVID pandemic thwarted his plans.

He is now looking forward to a specially tailored master's programme at the University of Antwerp, in collaboration with other colleges in Israel, the UK, and USA. According to German newspaper Die Welt, this is so he can learn how to create artificial organs. His grandparents, who mainly raised him, have cardiac issues and he reportedly wants to help them.

Youtube Video

We at The Register do not know if this is all supposed to be giving us the fear, but it's certainly coming across a bit like that. Perhaps Simons can assuage our concerns by explaining what he wants to do himself?

"Two things are important in such a study: acquiring knowledge and applying that knowledge," he told De Telegraaf. "To achieve the second, I want to work with the best professors in the world, look inside their brains and find out how they think."

He wants to look inside their brains. That did not help, Laurent. That did not help at all.

Michael Kearney is now reportedly an improv comedian, so there is hope for us all yet.

The rest is here:
11-year-old graduate announces plans to achieve immortality by 'replacing body parts with mechanical parts' - The Register

No matter what ails you, chances are theres an herbal remedy for it. However, what if one herb could treat nearly every condition?

Giloy might be one to consider. Its a climbing shrub and an essential herb in Ayurvedic medicine. People take it to support general wellness and treat a wide range of conditions, including fever, infections, and diabetes.

Heres a look at the research behind this herbal supplement and our recommendations about whether its worth taking.

Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) is a climbing shrub that grows on other trees, from the botanical family Menispermaceae. The plant is native to India but also found in China and tropical areas of Australia and Africa (1, 2, 3).

Its considered an essential herbal plant in Ayurvedic and folk medicine, where people use it as a treatment for a wide range of health conditions (1, 2).

All parts of the plant are used in Ayurvedic medicine. However, the stem is thought to have the most beneficial compounds. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India has approved the plants stem for use in medicine (1).

Giloy is also called giloe, guduchi, and amrita, among other names. The word giloe is a Hindu mythological term. It refers to a mythical heavenly elixir that keeps celestial beings eternally young (1).

In Sanskrit, guduchi means something that protects the whole body, and amrita means immortality (1).

Traditionally, giloy is used to treat (1, 3):

Giloy (T. cordifolia) is a climbing shrub and an essential herb in Ayurvedic medicine. All parts of this plant are thought to have health benefits. People have long used it to treat a wide range of issues, including fever, infections, diarrhea, and diabetes.

The wide range of uses and potential health benefits from giloy come from numerous beneficial plant compounds found throughout the plant.

Researchers have identified four major classes of compounds in giloy (3):

Terpenoids are one of the largest classes of active compounds found in plants. They often contribute to plants fragrance, taste, and color. Lab tests on terpenoid compounds show they have antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties (4).

Alkaloids are compounds that give some plants their bitter taste. Plant alkaloids are used as a model to make many types of prescription medicines.

Theyre known to have therapeutic benefits for (5):

At the right doses, alkaloids are powerful chemicals. Interestingly, since ancient times, people have used plant alkaloids as remedies for illnesses and as poisons (5).

Lignans are compounds found mostly in fibrous plants. Theyre known to prevent the growth of viruses, fungi, and other microbes (6).

Research also suggests they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which means they might protect cells from oxidative damage (6).

Lignans are especially interesting because research has found they can slow the growth of or even kill some types of cancer cells in lab tests (6).

Steroid compounds in plants may also have potential benefits for (7):

Some have a similar chemical structure to cholesterol. As such, they may compete with cholesterol for absorption in your intestine. This may help reduce cholesterol levels in your blood (8).

Giloy is a source of many important plant compounds, namely terpenoids, alkaloids, lignans, and steroids. Lab studies suggest these compounds have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties, among other benefits.

Research on giloy suggests that it might have health benefits. However, its important to note that most research measured the effects of giloy in rats or cells in a lab. There are few human studies, so its not clear whether the benefits would apply to people (3).

Giloy might be helpful for those with diabetes or who are at risk of heart disease.

Several studies done on animals and on cells in the lab show that giloy reduces blood sugar by making cells less insulin resistant. It also may reduce cholesterol levels in lab animals (3, 9, 10, 11, 12).

However, its important to note that the animal study used a multi-herb formula that included seven other herbs in addition to giloy. Because of this, its unclear whether the potential benefits came from giloy or another herb.

One of the alkaloid compounds in giloy is berberine. Its a traditional herbal remedy that human studies have shown reduces blood sugar. Berberine works in a similar way to the diabetes medication metformin (13, 14).

Berberine may be as effective as some medications at helping reduce not only blood sugar but also LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood pressure (13).

Berberine and other alkaloids in giloy might account for some of the results seen in lab tests.

Lab studies on giloy show that it has antioxidant effects, which means that it can help protect cells from oxidative damage (11, 15).

When tested on breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer cells in the lab, certain compounds from giloy show anticancer potential (15).

Taking giloy might help boost your immune system against allergies, too. A study including 75 people with hay fever allergies found that giloy helped alleviate their symptoms, including runny and stuffy nose (16).

Notably, 83% of people said they experienced complete relief from sneezing after taking giloy (16).

Certain compounds in giloy can also stimulate your immune system and protect you from bacteria and other pathogens (15, 17, 18).

Its able to prevent the growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Pseudomonas spp., and Proteus spp. (16).

It seems to kill larger pathogens, too. One study compared a T. cordifolia lotion with permethrin, a medication to treat scabies, which is an itchy rash caused by tiny mites that infest your skin. The study found that both treatments worked equally well to kill the scabies and clear the rash (18).

Studies show giloy can be helpful for seasonal allergies and to treat a skin rash called scabies. It might have benefits for diabetes and high cholesterol, but there arent any studies in humans that show if it works, or if so, how well.

There dont seem to be any risks associated with giloy in healthy people, as long as you take it at the dose recommended on the product label or by a health professional. However, it may not be a good choice for certain people.

Because it has the potential to lower blood sugar, you should be cautious with this herb if you take medications to lower your glucose. You might have a low blood sugar (hypoglycemic) reaction.

Giloy could also potentially cause problems if you have an autoimmune disease, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or Crohns disease. This is because of its stimulating effects on the immune system (17).

With autoimmunity, your immune system is already overstimulated. That causes it to attack certain healthy cells instead of harmful pathogens.

Finally, giloy isnt recommended for pregnant or lactating people. This is because not enough is known about how it works in humans. Talk with a healthcare professional if youre considering taking it.

We always recommend being cautious with herbal remedies. Just because theyre natural doesnt always make them safe. Some can interact with certain medications or have unwanted side effects.

Before taking giloy or any other over-the-counter treatment, its best to check with a doctor.

Giloy isnt known to have any safety issues in healthy people, but be aware it might interact with some medications or certain health conditions, like autoimmune diseases. You should avoid giloy if youre pregnant or breastfeeding.

Stores sell giloy as a supplement in pill or capsule form. Because each manufacturers preparation can differ, you should take it according to the directions on the label.

You can also buy dried giloy powder as well as a tincture or juice made from the roots and stems. To use it, mix the recommended amount with water.

If your dermatologist has diagnosed you with a scabies rash and prescribed permethrin cream, you can ask about substituting this with a giloy or Tinospora cordifolia lotion, cream, or ointment.

Keep in mind that, as a supplement, giloy isnt regulated the same way as a medication, so theres no guarantee youre getting the amount of active ingredient you might need.

You can take giloy as a pill, capsule, powder, or tincture. For skin conditions like scabies, look for it in a cream or lotion. Because different brands can vary, take it according to the directions on the container.

People have used giloy for many years in traditional medicine, including Ayurvedic medicine in India. It might be helpful if you want to support your immune system, fight off hay fever symptoms, or maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Unfortunately, there arent many studies to show if or how well it works in people. Some small studies in humans have focused on treating allergy symptoms or an itchy scabies rash.

Its probably safe for most people to take giloy, as long as you follow the directions on the product label.

We dont recommend it for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Be aware that if you take medicine to lower your blood sugar or if you have an autoimmune disease, giloy might cause an unwanted reaction.

Its always a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional before taking any herbal supplements.

See the original post:
What Is Giloy? Nutrients, Benefits, Downsides, and More - Healthline

The Ministry of AYUSH has rejected a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology, a peer-reviewed journal of the Indian National Association for the Study of the Liver. This study mentions that the use of the herb Tinospora Cordifolia (TC), commonly known as Giloy or Guduchi, resulted in liver failure in six patients in Mumbai.Also Read - What Can be Done to Reduce Risk of Female Infertility in India? | Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, Treatment Explained By Dr. Sulbha Arora

The ministry said the authors of the study failed in placing all needful details of the cases in a systematic format. Apart from this, relating Giloy or TC to liver damage would be misleading and disastrous to the traditional medicine system of India as Guduchi or Giloy has been used in Ayurveda. The efficacy of TC in managing various disorders is well established. Also Read - Yoga Asanas to Regain Strength Post COVID

It becomes the responsibility of the authors to ascertain that the herb consumed by the patients is TC and not any other herb. To build upon the soundness, the authors would have taken the opinion of a botanist or would have consulted an Ayurveda expert. Also Read - Real-Life Weight Loss Journey: I Lost 41 Kilos by Eating Rice And Regular Workout

In fact, there are many studies that point out that not identifying the herb correctly could lead to wrong results. A similar looking herb TinosporoCrispa might have a negative effect on the liver. So, before labelling a herb such as Giloy with such toxic nature, the authors should have tried to correctly identify the plants following the standard guidelines, which they did not, the ministry said.

Publications based on incomplete information will open the door for misinformation and defame the age-old practices of Ayurveda, the ministry said.

It would not be out of context to state here that scientific evidence on medical applications of TC or Giloy as protective to liver, nerves etc. is available, it said.

There are other hundreds of studies on Giloy and its safe use. Giloy is one of the most commonly prescribed medicines in Ayurveda. It has proper pharmacopoeia standards in place for the established safety of hepatoprotective properties. No adverse event is noted in any clinical practice by pharmacovigilance or in any clinical study, it said.

Giloy is an ancient herb that is packed with an array of benefits. Popular for its immunity-boosting properties, giloy helps in actively fighting against various pathogens. It is a part of Indian medicine for a very long time. Giloy literally means Amrita, which means the root of immortality. Its abundant medicinal properties have time and again proved that giloy is one of the most effective natural medicines.

Dr.Smita Naram, Co-Founder of Ayushakti says that Giloy is a very common herb used in regular Ayurveda products and has multiple benefits. It helps in immunity-boosting and is proven to be an immunomodulator which means it balances the immune system naturally. So, if your immunity is low, Giloy enhances it and if you have hyper immunity, it can calm it down. Thus, it can never create a hyperactive immune response. This has also been observed in a few patient case studies by our team.

She added that as per the 3000 plus year-old research, published by the scientific community worldwide, including trials on humans, in vivo (on mice) and scholarly articles it is proven that Guduchi has protected the liver, reversed liver damage even in a dose of 2 gm per kg body weight, which means if there is an intake of 120 gm of Giloy per day, it cannot damage anyones liver or any other organs. My observations over the years have highlighted that thousands of people suffering from auto-immune diseases have consumed herbal formulations containing Guduchi and have recovered.

It is important to note that Guduchi should not be picked from any nearby or unknown place. There are various types of Giloy herbs, which need to be formulated and consumed in different manners. Its important to intake medicines with alkaloids and active constituents making them of the right quality and should not be taken without expert guidance as one may not know if its the real herb, Dr.Smita concluded.

See the rest here:
Can Giloy Cause Liver Damage? Ayurvedic Experts Refutes Claims Linked to This Herb - India.com

Lauren Simmons its a Smart boy 11 years old, he graduated as a physicist in Belgium, and is already planning to get a masters degree. Photo: AFP.

Lauren Simmons its a Smart boy 11 years old, graduated with honors mention as a physicist from the University of Antwerp, a Dutch-speaking school Located in Antwerp, BelgiumHe said he had already submitted his study plan for a masters degree.

With an IQ of 145, the Nino Genio Lauren Simmons Become the youngest university graduate in the world, by Completed a Bachelors degree in Physics; Inventor Nikola Tesla was his inspiration, and he plans to research artificial organs to develop a full-fledged artificial body.

In 2019, . was released Nino Genio Lauren Simmons Explanation of his project:

Im looking to simulate the (human) brain on a chip, but in a larger version. I put in neurons and call to see whats going on and how it reacts, for example, When medicine is added. Im talking about 10,000 brain cells, so I have to stimulate 10,000 wires (to reach your goal).

When hes not in college, he Nino Genio Lauren Simmons Walk your dog, play video games and post pictures on Instagram. keep coming Offers from universities around world, and his parents help him explore options, with the United States likely being his next destination.

His father, Alexander, does not dare to predict the future Nino Genio Lauren Simmons Because he broke all expectations, But he emphasized that there was no hurry. In an interview with the agency Reuters In 2019, the father of the minor clarified the areas that interest his son most:

Education is like a game for him. You dont really have to study. Just play and its no problem for us. Its important to find the balance between being a kid and your passion, even if its He himself did not realize. It is important to protect him, so that he does not say later that he has never had a young man .

On Mondays he came to classes, on Tuesdays he had practices, on Wednesdays he had classes, and on Thursdays he had private lessons with teachers, and I took exams on Fridays. His goal in life is to be able to extend life by using artificial organs, an activity that can lead to eternal life.

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Laurent Simmons, an 11-year-old genius boy is graduating as a physicist in Belgium - Sunday Vision