Curio Cabinet

Fatigue isn’t always a symptom; sometimes, it’s the disease. In the last few decades, more people have been affected by chronic fatigue syndrome. Now, researchers may finally have found out what causes the mysterious illness. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, causes such profound fatigue that no amount of rest is enough to alleviate it. The disease began attracting attention in the medical community in the late 1980s, when it was widely confused for mononucleosis, which can cause similar symptoms. In addition to being easily fatigued, those who suffer from CFS are likely to experience severe dizziness, muscle and joint pain, cognitive issues, and do not feel refreshed after sleeping. In some cases, CFS can also cause tender lymph nodes and sensitivity to various stimuli. The disease is difficult to diagnose, and some patients have reported difficulty in having their condition taken seriously, even by the doctors they turn to for help.
 
That might change now that CFS has been linked to a change in the gut biome as well as certain genetic signals in patients. One study analyzed the gut biome of 153 individuals who have been diagnosed with CFS and compared it to those of 96 healthy individuals. Researchers found that composition of gut biome could reliably predict CFS symptoms. The link between the gut and CFS isn’t too surprising, since the disease often manifests after the patient fights off another infection that might have affected their gut biome. Another study that analyzed the data on over 15,000 CFS patients and compared it to healthy individuals found that eight genetic signals are linked to the immune and nervous systems. While a patient’s gut biome can be used to predict the type of symptoms they will have, it appears that these genetic signals can predict the severity of those symptoms. While there is still no cure for CFS, deeper research could be the key to convincing sufferers’ bodies to finally wake up and smell the coffee.

 
[Image description: A black-and-white illustration of a girl sleeping while sitting up in a chair with sewing in her lap.] Credit & copyright: Sleeping Girl with Needlework in her Lap, Gerard Valck after Michiel van Musscher. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, A. Hyatt Mayor Purchase Fund, Marjorie Phelps Starr Bequest, 1988. Public Domain.

Ever thought of putting on goggles to treat your back pain? Researchers have found that people living with chronic pain might benefit from the use of virtual reality (VR), and while the view is fake, the relief is for real. Researchers have long been aware of the pain-relieving benefits of simply being out in nature. Whether it’s the views or the fresh air (more on that later), it’s one of the simplest ways to manage pain. Dr. Sam Hughes at the University of Exeter in the U.K. explained in a recent statement to the press, “We’ve seen a growing body of evidence show that exposure to nature can help reduce short term, everyday pain, but there has been less research into how this might work for people living with chronic or longer-term pain.”
 
The problem is that many people with chronic pain have a difficult time getting out into nature. Now, there’s some proof that just viewing nature scenes using a VR headset might be enough to induce some pain-relieving benefits. In a new study, Hughes’ team had 29 healthy participants experience painful electric shocks (in the name of science) for 50 minutes during one session to simulate nerve pain. Then, in a follow-up session, they added a 360 degree VR experience of waterfalls in Oregon. In the next, they were shown the same scene but on a 2D screen. After each session, the participants filled out questionnaires to assess their experiences, and researchers found that the session with VR was surprisingly effective in reducing the effect of pain. The researchers aren’t quite sure why it had such a potent pain-fighting effect, but no matter the reason, the findings could lead to some form of therapeutic VR pain management. Maybe it’s mind over matter…or just a matter of perspective.

 
[Image description: A pine forest under a blue sky with mountains in the distance.] Credit & copyright: Kurtkaiser, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

The best way for a hunter to track their prey is by scent, even if that prey is a fungus. A highly-prized ingredient that has been used by countless cultures, truffles, a type of wild-growing fungus, can command outrageous prices. They have been “hunted” for centuries using pigs and dogs trained to seek their distinct scent, and it’s a practice that will likely never be replaced by conventional farming techniques.
 
Truffles are no ordinary fungus. They’ve been sought after for millennia for their complex flavor and aroma, often described as earthy, musky, and even a little pungent. Around the 15th century, truffle hunters in Italy and France started using pigs to track down truffles, a tradition that continues to this day. The practice has been mostly passed down through oral tradition, and in many places it’s considered a cultural institution. In fact, it was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
 
To understand why truffles must be hunted rather than cultivated, it’s important to understand their biology and life cycle. Truffles survive by forming a symbiotic relationship with trees, using their roots to seek nutrients for the trees in exchange for the sugar the trees produce via photosynthesis. These conditions are practically impossible to recreate in a greenhouse or traditional field. Despite their similarities, truffles aren’t mushrooms, but another type of fungus with a fruiting body that grows under the soil. Instead of releasing spores into the air, truffles attract mammals with a unique scent, and when they are consumed, their spores are spread around through the animal’s droppings. So, unlike mushrooms, truffles can’t be spotted with the naked eye, no matter how plentiful they may be in a given area.
 
A successful truffle hunt begins with the hunter’s knowledge of the land. Different hunters (called tartufai in Italy) have varying opinions on whether pigs or dogs are better, and both have their pros and cons. Pigs—female pigs in particular—are naturally inclined to seek out truffles to begin with. That’s because the scent that the truffles produce contains androstenol, a compound similar to the sex pheromones produced by male pigs. Pigs have one major downside, though: they like to eat truffles just as much as people do. Even trained truffle pigs often end up eating the truffles they find, and for that reason, their use has been banned in Italy since 1985. Dogs are the obvious second choice, with their highly developed sense of smell. They’re more biddable and easily trained than pigs, and they don’t have much interest in eating truffles themselves. Regardless of how they’re found, once truffles are located they must be harvested with a delicate hand so as not to disturb soil conditions. That way, the same spot can produce more truffles in the future.
 
Although most edible truffles were found in Europe in the past, truffles are being discovered in more and more places today. People have also found a way to grow truffles, though not in the same way that most crops are grown. The first truffle orchards were created in the 19th century by transplanting oak saplings found near trees with truffles growing around them. Since then, orchards have been developed around the world, but even an orchard doesn’t guarantee that truffles will grow successfully, and the method of locating and harvesting them remains the same. Whether in the wild or in a carefully maintained orchard, truffle pigs or dogs remain the best way to “hunt” this elusive fungus. If you’re hankering for a taste of truffles, let us be the first to wish you happy hunting.

 
[Image description: A small pizza with black truffles and other mushrooms.] Credit & copyright: Andy Li, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

If the heat of late summer is getting you down, it might be time to chill out with some noodles. Naengmyeon, a Korean dish of cold noodles, is a great way to beat the heat without having to eat something sweet, like ice cream. This simple dish has a complex history that spans back centuries.
 
Naengmyeon is made with long buckwheat noodles in a cold beef, chicken, or dongchimi broth. The latter is a clear, tangy, acidic broth made during the process of fermenting a type of white radish. The dish is often topped with sliced vegetables and a boiled egg. Traditionally, naengmyeon’s long noodles were eaten without biting or cutting, as their length signified prosperity and long life. Today, though, the dish is often served with special scissors specifically for cutting the noodles.
 
The first archaeological evidence of naengmyeon dates back to the Joseon era, between 1392 and 1897. However, the dish could be even older. Though several different varieties of naengmyeon exist today, the first ones originated in North Korea, specifically the southern city of Hamhung and the nation’s capital, Pyongyang. Bibim naengmyeon, a variety of naengmyeon that’s still eaten in North Korea today, is topped with a spicy, red chili paste.
 
The 1940s saw major tensions arise in Korea, as the communist North and non-communist South split ideologically. When North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, the Korean war officially broke out, with the Soviet Union supporting North Korea and the U.S. supporting South Korea. During and immediately following the war, in which the Korean Peninsula became permanently divided, thousands of refugees poured into the South, bringing their regional foods with them. This included naengmyeon. Today, the dish is popular throughout all of South Korea, with regional varieties utilizing different broths, vegetables, and meats, including seafood. War might divide, but food always unites.

 
[Image description: A bowl of naengmyeon, noodles with broth, topped with vegetables, in a silver bowl surrounded by utensils and side dishes.] Credit & copyright: Suohros, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.