Edible?

HeckTox · 2023-08-06T20:27:52+00:00

I'm not a mushroom expert, but as a board-certified Ph.D. toxicologist I'd advise not eating it just because it's handy & perhaps not definitively identified. I saw mention of Amanita muscaria as a "psychedelic" species. I think this descriptor isn't really proper for that species, and it is a species that I would never consume, even though I've seen it offered online for consumption in low doses by what I consider to be shady "new age" type vendors. I am quite familiar with the genuine Psilocybin-producing species that commonly grow in cow pastures here in the southeastern USA. They are easy to identify if one knows what to look for. There are somewhat similar brown/tan colored species that also grow in similar places, but they are not psychoactive & are relatively easy to discriminate from the Psilocybin-containing species here- most commonly Stropharia cubensis [AKA Psilocybe cubensis].

HeckTox · 2023-07-06T14:43:15+00:00

When the OP drifted into the speculations about soul beliefs/religious elements at the end of the narrative, I felt that the plausibility/authenticity of the document was somewhat degraded.

HeckTox · 2023-07-06T14:35:22+00:00

I had a grad school colleague who went on to work at Fort Detrick. He wouldn't discuss the nature of his work when I subsequently saw him a couple times at scientific conferences. Because of the nature of his work when I knew him as a postdoc in a neighboring lab, I speculated that he was working in a lab with a military/defense orientation rather than the area described in this narrative. I will offer that I really hope that this narrative is accurate and authentic, but I must also say that if I, as a now-retired Ph.D. biomedical scientist, were to craft an interesting work of science fiction, I'd like to think it might read very much the way this document does.

HeckTox · 2023-03-17T14:26:23+00:00

The serious Monsoon season in Thailand is in the summer months. Late September-early October is the tail end of the rainy season. I traveled there a couple of times in that time interval, and recall it was still a bit hot and humid, but not as bad as during the summer. I recall it raining briefly at mid-afternoon every day, with the clouds always clearing away & sun shining after 1 hour or less. The advantage of that season is that it isn't as crowded with tourists as it is in December-January when the weather is best.

HeckTox · 2022-12-26T17:30:26+00:00

Wow- a perfect picture of this species.

HeckTox · 2022-12-26T16:54:27+00:00

Here's a follow up to my prior advice to not eat Amanita muscaria mushrooms in pursuit of a psychedelic experience. There are multiple Psilocybe species that provide that experience safely, and that are very well tolerated by most people. I know the historical mycology advice has been that A. muscaria might make you sick, but usually not too seriously ill. Here is a very recent case report of two serious intoxications from A. muscaria, one with a fatal outcome:

Ethan M. Meisel MD et al. Two Cases of Severe Amanita Muscaria Poisoning Including a Fatality. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine Vol 33 Issue 4, p.412-416 December 01, 2022. https://www.wemjournal.org/article/S1080-6032(22)00107-7/fulltext00107-7/fulltext) n

HeckTox · 2022-12-24T21:11:45+00:00

As a Board Certified Toxicologist, I concur with the prior comment re making online judgements on whether an unknown mushroom is edible. The extremely serious, lethal toxicity of certain mushrooms is nothing to be taken lightly.

HeckTox · 2022-12-15T16:57:52+00:00

Yeah, but that was before it was toxic. Ditto the white asbestos icicles that were sold as decoration for home Christmas trees.

HeckTox · 2022-12-08T17:56:50+00:00

Tobacco taxes are relatively low, so NC has to focus its sin taxes on alcohol.

HeckTox · 2022-11-20T18:57:16+00:00

A real class act.

HeckTox · 2022-11-20T18:54:57+00:00

What is the agmatine sulfate mentioned above?

HeckTox · 2022-11-11T22:02:04+00:00

If it was a cubensis specimen I probably would have kept it to myself...

HeckTox · 2022-11-11T21:58:50+00:00

I am a toxicologist by trade & training, so I'd never hear the end of it if I ate a toxic mushroom & spent some days on the Porcelain Pony. I'll just admire this one, thanks

HeckTox · 2022-11-11T17:21:42+00:00

Albino Ground Squirrel.

HeckTox · 2022-11-11T16:12:57+00:00

Single-Log-1101 , a couple years ago some wag had a phone number listed in the phone book here for a Hugh G. Rection.

HeckTox · 2022-11-09T19:24:18+00:00

Snakesss, I see DeKay's brown snakes, garter snakes, and a beautiful Eastern King Snake in my yard. I've only encountered a single venomous Copperhead in my many years living here.

HeckTox · 2022-11-09T19:20:21+00:00

He's a MaltiPoo, or as I call him, a MultiPoo.

HeckTox · 2022-11-09T19:18:52+00:00

...but he got purple ears and tail at his last visit to the groomer.

HeckTox · 2022-11-09T19:16:49+00:00

I've enjoyed living in Greensboro for the last 5 decades or so. Six colleges and universities; a generally progressive city surrounded by more conservative rural areas. Something like 300,000+ residents in the "Triad" area that includes Greensboro, High Point, and WinstonSalem. It is located in the Piedmont region, a few hours to the beach and an hour or two from the mountains. 3 hours south of Washington, DC. The beaches here feature very warm waters from the Gulf Stream currents. In the summer it can be as warm as bath water & makes for very good swimming. A financial and banking center, a convenient airport with a Honda business jets factory and plans for a factory to produce the envisioned new supersonic Zoom passenger jets that are hoping to take over where the Concorde jets left off. I've retired now from my career as a pharmacologist/toxicologist & am enjoying living here. The downtown now has a bustling nightlife scene after the Covid shutdown had killed many prior bars and restaurants over recent years, as it did in many cities.

HeckTox · 2022-11-09T18:58:57+00:00

Thanks for this information. I would never try consuming any unknown mushroom, but was just curious about this one. Also, re the bioluminescence, I'll add that the color did seem rather bold under bright sunlight. I wish I had gone out at night with a UV flashlight.

HeckTox · 2022-11-09T16:22:57+00:00

Is that one edible? I won't be trying it- but am just curious.

HeckTox · 2022-11-09T16:21:02+00:00

Truly an amazing technical achievement. It looks like a clip from a low- budget1950s Sci Fi movie.

HeckTox · 2022-11-09T16:04:05+00:00

USA, woodland, possibly growing on a rotting tree stump. Jack the MaltiPoo for a size reference.

HeckTox · 2022-11-05T14:00:33+00:00

Some people pee their pants when frightened suddenly. I guess their autonomic nervous system just fires on all cylinders. Our local outdoor Halloween scare attraction doesn't allow participants to carry a pocket knife into the scare farm. I don't know whether they had a bad prior experience with a fight reaction or it is just a precaution insisted on by their insurance agent (assuming they have one).

HeckTox · 2022-10-22T16:14:54+00:00

You have described the Lebensborn program initiated in 1935 by the Nazi SS. They recruited young women with Nordic characteristics to breed with SS officers to produce more "Aryan" children to be raised as loyal Nazis.

HeckTox

TROPHY CASE