This is daily life in the world’s coldest city 🥶Did you know? 🎓
This is daily life in the world’s coldest city 🥶Did you know? 🎓
Scientists have engineered tobacco plants to function as living factories for multiple psychedelic compounds.Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel successfully modified Nicotiana benthamiana, a close relative of tobacco widely used in plant biotechnology, to produce five powerful tryptamine psychedelics. These compounds are naturally found in “magic mushrooms,” certain plants, and the secretions of a toad species.The breakthrough could pave the way for more sustainable and scalable production of psychedelic medicines, which are currently under intense investigation for treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.To achieve this, the team introduced nine genes from different organisms (fungi, plants, and animals) into the tobacco plants using a transient expression technique called agroinfiltration. This method temporarily delivers the genes without permanently altering the plant’s genome, allowing the plants to produce the compounds for a limited time.The modified plants synthesized psilocybin and its active form psilocin (from mushrooms), as well as DMT, bufotenin, and 5-MeO-DMT (the potent psychedelic from the Colorado River toad). Some plants were even engineered to produce all five compounds simultaneously.This plant-based approach offers a promising alternative to harvesting psychedelics from wild or cultivated natural sources, many of which face increasing pressure from habitat loss, overharvesting, and rising research demand. Using common agricultural plants as biological production systems could reduce costs and environmental impact.While the yields in this proof-of-concept study were relatively modest, the work demonstrates the feasibility of producing complex psychoactive molecules in greenhouse-grown crops. It builds on decades of research using plants to manufacture pharmaceuticals and opens new possibilities for future psychedelic therapies.[Berman P, et al. Complete biosynthesis of psychedelic tryptamines from three kingdoms in plants. Science Advances. 2026;12(14):eaeb3034. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aeb3034]Science and facts💡
Scientists have engineered tobacco plants to function as living factories for multiple psychedelic compounds.Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel successfully modified Nicotiana benthamiana, a close relative of tobacco widely used in plant biotechnology, to produce five powerful tryptamine psychedelics. These compounds are naturally found in “magic mushrooms,” certain plants,...
Former SBU Anti-Terrorist Center staff chief Dmytro Koziura was sentenced to life in prison for treason.
Former SBU Anti-Terrorist Center staff chief Dmytro Koziura was sentenced to life in prison for treason. Investigators said Russia’s FSB recruited him in Vienna in 2018, then reactivated him in late 2024 to pass classified defense data and missile strike aftermaths.
Satellite images show the damaged workshop of the Voronezh semiconductor plant after at least two cruise missile strikes.
Satellite images show the damaged workshop of the Voronezh semiconductor plant after at least two cruise missile strikes. The facility is linked to Russia’s defense industry, and local authorities declared a day of mourning in Voronezh after the attack.
❗️Another Bingo.
❗️Another Bingo. Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod NORSI refinery, its fourth-largest and second-biggest gasoline producer, halted operations after a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported. The AVT-5 primary processing unit was damaged.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the United States has, for the first time, approved language stating it is no longer a neutral mediator on Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the United States has, for the first time, approved language stating it is no longer a neutral mediator on Ukraine. According to Macron, the text affirms US support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, continued military assistance, energy support and sanctions against Russia.
Russian forces are moving drone teams through forests to positions close to the front in northern Sumy region.
Russian forces are moving drone teams through forests to positions close to the front in northern Sumy region. Ukraine’s 210th Assault Regiment is hunting launch sites to prevent the operators from establishing positions.
CyberBoroshno analysis: Ukraine struck Bashneft-UNPZ and Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim in Ufa on June 25.
CyberBoroshno analysis: Ukraine struck Bashneft-UNPZ and Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim in Ufa on June 25. Fires were confirmed at the ELOU-AVT-6 unit at Bashneft-UNPZ and the AVT-4 unit at Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim, with combined primary refining capacity of 10.5 million tons of oil per year.
❗️Early reports coming in that Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Ufa, Russia.
❗️Early reports coming in that Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Ufa, Russia.
❗️Ukraine’s Navy denied reports of a Russian retreat from Kinburn Spit.
❗️Ukraine’s Navy denied reports of a Russian retreat from Kinburn Spit. Spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said the peninsula remains a combat zone and that Ukrainian forces are continuing a months-long campaign to destroy Russian logistics there. He added that the Ukrainian flag was installed remotely.
Ukraine’s HUR special forces destroyed another Russian APC on the Zaporizhzhia front.
Ukraine’s HUR special forces destroyed another Russian APC on the Zaporizhzhia front. Operators from the Active Operations Department hit the armored vehicle in a rapid strike, continuing their campaign to reduce Russian armored equipment on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces reported strikes on multiple military and energy targets across occupied Crimea.
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces reported strikes on multiple military and energy targets across occupied Crimea. The reported targets included MR-231 and Neva-B coastal radar stations, the Tavriiska thermal power plant, power substations in Sevastopol and Simferopol, an oil depot in Dzhankoi, two gas compressor stations and a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the Poltavskaya oil depot on the Kuban for the second time this month.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the Poltavskaya oil depot on the Kuban for the second time this month. Footage showed a Ukrainian Sichen drone attack by the SBU’s Alpha unit.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the Poltavskaya oil depot in Krasnodar region overnight, triggering a fire at a facility used to support Russian troops in occupied Ukraine. Ukrainian forces also hit three bridges used for troop and ammunition movements, a…
Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck the Poltavskaya oil depot in Krasnodar region overnight, triggering a fire at a facility used to support Russian troops in occupied Ukraine. Ukrainian forces also hit three bridges used for troop and ammunition movements, a…
Ukraine’s HUR said its PRYMARY unit has destroyed or damaged hundreds of Russian targets on occupied Ukrainian territory worth more than $4 billion since 2022.
Ukraine’s HUR said its PRYMARY unit has destroyed or damaged hundreds of Russian targets on occupied Ukrainian territory worth more than $4 billion since 2022. The list includes aircraft, ships, boats, radar stations, EW systems, air defense launchers, fuel tankers and other high-value Russian equipment, including Be-12 amphibious aircraft, an An-26 and a Yenisey radar from the S-500 system.