Oh, hell gnaw! As if you need another reason to avoid mice in NYC, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified a fungus in city mice that aggravates food allergies. The study authors note that there’s a high prevalence of human asthma in NYC neighborhoods with an abundance of mouse sightings, suggesting that all that … Read more
Keep it clean! Dr. Jason Singh, a primary care doctor based in Virginia, is revealing the three body parts you’re probably overlooking in the shower — your belly button, feet and ears. “Let’s get real — when’s the last time you gave your belly button some TLC?” Singh asked his 96,300 TikTok followers in a clip last … Read more
Your old hair care routine isn’t cuttin’ it. Dr. Charles Puza, a Harvard-educated, board-certified dermatologist based in NYC, is revealing his holy trinity for healthy hair. In a TikTok last month, he recommended changing up shampoos, blow-drying hair on the cold setting and utilizing hair masks. 1. Stop using the same shampoo every day Puza … Read more
Don’t let summer be a flop because of toenail fungus. Dr. Scott Walter, a board-certified dermatologist near Denver, is sharing two home remedies for the common but mortifying occurrence of mold under toenails. He suggests soaking feet in a blend of equal parts white vinegar, yellow Listerine and water twice a week for 15 minutes and using Vicks … Read more
Don’t be all, like, uncool this summer. Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky, a board-certified dermatologist based in Mississippi, is sharing the four things she would never do when the weather turns warm — walk barefoot by the pool, use citrus in the sun, shave over warts and sleep with wet hair. Zubritsky often shares skincare tips on … Read more
Video game-turned-HBO series “The Last of Us,” of course, is science fiction. Yet the idea is loosely based on a real fungus, cordyceps, that infects and manipulates the behavior of a wide range of insects, including ants. These cordyceps infect an ant, grow inside its body and then force the ant to climb to a … Read more
With the arrival of a new, highly contagious fungal infection in NYC, health experts are sharing what you need to know to keep yourself safe. An unidentified NYC man in his 30s was diagnosed with the first US-reported case of Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (TMVII), a rare, sexually transmitted form of ringworm. Details of his … Read more
Health experts are warning of new and highly contagious fungal strains after an NYC man in his 30s developed a sexually transmitted form of ringworm — the first reported case in the US. “Healthcare providers should be aware that Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII [TMVII] is the latest in a group of severe skin infections to have now … Read more
A 50-year-old woman baffled doctors when she visited emergency rooms seven times over two years showing signs of alcohol intoxication even though she does not drink. “She told doctors her religion does not allow drinking, and her husband verified she did not drink,” Dr. Rahel Zewude, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto, … Read more
Try these five if you want to stay alive — longer. NYC board-certified dermatologist Charles Puza is sharing five “doctor hacks” to “stay healthy for as long as possible.” He advises wearing compression socks, avoiding over-the-counter sleep aids, sprinkling anti-fungal powder in shoes, increasing protein intake, and taking fish oil and vitamin D supplements. Puza, who … Read more
New research is sounding the alarm about the cleanliness of hospital bathrooms. Several strains of drug-resistant bacteria and fungi were discovered on the floors, ceilings, door handles, and toilet surfaces in three major hospitals in Scotland, according to a study presented at a conference this week for clinical microbiology and infectious diseases specialists. Gender-neutral toilets … Read more
There’s no cap to the magic of mushrooms. One recent study found that three fungal strains removed potentially dangerous plastic particles from water. Fungi are also being used to create a novel burger with minimal processing. And “mycotecture” is gaining momentum — using mushrooms and other fungal materials for architectural purposes. In this form of … Read more
These fungus-based innovations are breaking the mold. Scientists are making environmentally-conscious food out of fungi, and, according to a new study, a particular kind of mold can be modified and transformed into a juicy burger patty. The research, published Thursday in the journal Nature Communications, looked at Aspergillus oryzae, or koji mold, which is used … Read more
Mooove over, beef. Swapping meat for mycoprotein — a protein made from fungus, that’s found in Quorn-brand frozen products — could help lower bad cholesterol by 10%, results from a new four-week study show. Researchers compared the decrease to the benefits of switching to a Mediterranean diet, which favors whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, and … Read more
A 29-year-old Michigan chef died last week after battling a rare fungal disease that “ravaged” his lungs. Sometime before Thanksgiving, Ian Pritchard contracted blastomycosis, a fungus-borne illness that targeted and wore out his respiratory system. “They showed us a picture of his lungs, and they literally looked like Swiss cheese,” his father, Ron Pritchard, told … Read more
Bringing him to heel. A furious flier has taken to Reddit to rage at a rude man that they were seated next to on a plane ride after he shamelessly shoved his bare feet into their personal space. “On my flight and in my bubble,” the Redditor wrote beneath a photo of the other passenger’s … Read more
Can’t remember the last time you replaced your makeup sponge? This is your sign to buy a new one. Kaitlyn Son, a lifestyle content creator, revealed that her Beautyblender had quickly become a breeding ground for mold — unbeknownst to her. “Cutting open my new beauty blender to see if there’s mold,” she wrote on … Read more
Let’s be brief — men may be able to get away with changing their underwear every other day instead of every day, experts say. “In situations with minimal activity and no sweating, changing [underwear] every other day may be acceptable,” Dr. Anju Methil, a dermatologist with India-based ClinicSpots, told the Daily Mail this week. “Men’s looser-fitting styles, … Read more
She took it to the Special Slimes Investigations Unit. A homeowner left internet users both horrified and perplexed after sharing photos of a nightmarish black mass lurking beneath her friend’s floorboards in Melbourne, Australia. According to Yahoo News, the woman, named Hannah Sycamore, had learned of the sinister-looking slime from a pal, who had stumbled … Read more
Is the a-crop-alypse upon us? Enjoy your nanners while you can: Scientists warn that the most popular type of banana could be on the brink of extinction due to a disease outbreak that’s ravaging the potassium-filled fruit. “Nobody is even close to solving the problem,” Dan Koeppel, author of the book “Banana: The Fate of … Read more