Michelin-starred chef's lobster bisque and foie gras heading to space
Adenot said the dishes, which also include braised beef, and chocolate cream, will not only "delight our palates" but also help her feel connected to Earth, and her home country."Her (Pic's) cuisine signature is deeply influenced by the terroir. This is important to me because I grew up in the countryside, and it will remind me of my roots," she was quoted as saying in an ESA statement.There are strict rules for food on the ISS - it must be crumb-free, lightweight and keep for at least 24 months, the ESA says. Therefore, most meals are canned, vacuum packed or freeze-dried, with fresh fruit and vegetables a rare luxury that can only be enjoyed when a spacecraft arrives with new supplies.But to keep things interesting, boost morale, and help with crew bonding, every tenth or so meal is one prepared especially for each astronaut, with these "bonus meals" often made in partnership with a chef.Famous for her haute cuisine, Pic, 55, has the most Michelin stars of any female chef in the world - 10.She says this project is "pushing the boundaries" of gastronomy, as she worked with her team to create special food, while keeping within the technical constraints."Cooking for space is an exhilarating challenge," she was quoted as saying by the ESA.Adenot says she will share the haute cuisine with her colleagues on board - it is after all an important moment - French gastronomic culture becoming for the first time... extra-terrestrial.Adenot, a former helicopter test and rescue pilot, has won a string of awards, including a medal honouring her actions in gender equality in the sciences.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Telegraph
Mosquito-borne virus plagues holiday hotspots in the South of France
A mosquito-borne virus that causes debilitating joint pain and fever has begun to spread locally in holiday hotspots in the South of France. Some 712 imported cases of chikungunya were recorded between May 1 and July 1, leading to 14 locally-acquired infections in the same period, according to data from Santé publique France, the French public health agency. While the disease is routinely brought back to France by returning travellers, the number of imported cases reported this year is greater than the previous ten combined, largely because of a major outbreak on the French Indian Ocean territory of Réunion. Chikungunya is primarily spread by the Aedes mosquito (also known as the tiger mosquito) and cannot spread from person to person. But a mosquito can pick up the disease by feeding on an infected individual and then transmit it to new human hosts by biting them. Most of the locally-acquired cases appear to be clustered around Salon-de-Provence and La Crau, two towns on France's Mediterranean coast near Marseille, Toulon and Saint-Tropez. There have also been three locally-acquired cases reported on the island of Corsica and, for the first time, an indigenous case of the virus was reported in the Grand Est region, far to the North East. The high number of imported cases, coupled with the flurry of locally-acquired infections, has raised concerns among public health officials about the potential for the virus to spread more widely in mainland France. 'The occurrence of a first episode of indigenous transmission in the Grand Est region, combined with the precocity and number of episodes already detected, confirms the significant risk of indigenous transmission of chikungunya in mainland France, including in regions that have been free of the disease until now,' Santé publique France said in a statement. 'This is facilitated by the well-adapted nature of the strain of the virus circulating in Réunion and the Indian Ocean to the Aedes albopictus mosquito vector.' Prof Paul Hunter, Professor in Medicine, University of East Anglia, said: 'What is most worrying is that the 14 reported cases of chikungunya are spread over multiple departments, suggesting that local spread is already widespread in southern France.' France's public health agency has launched an investigation into the case in the Grand Est region, and has begun implementing containment measures in the worst-affected areas. 'This kind of thing, we know that it can happen but we never see it coming,' said Florence Brau, the mayor of Prades-le-Lez, a commune on the outskirts of Montpellier where insecticides were being used to suppress the local mosquito population and prevent further spread. 'For reasons of medical confidentiality and to avoid people coming to see how things were going, we were instructed not to say which areas were being treated for mosquitoes. The residents concerned received a letter in their mailboxes,' she told Midi Libre, a local newspaper. While chikungunya very rarely causes death, its symptoms are debilitating. They usually begin within a week of being bitten and can include a sudden high fever, fatigue, nausea, reddening of the eyes, sensitivity to light and a rash. But it owes its name, which comes from a word in the Kimakonde language spoken in southern Tanzania meaning 'to become contorted,' to the crippling joint pain it causes. The virus triggers an immune response that leads to inflammation in the joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness similar to rheumatoid arthritis that can persist for weeks, months and sometimes years after the initial infection. 'A state of exhaustion I've never experienced' Alain, a 73-year-old from Prades-le-Lez, is believed to be the second person to catch chikungunya locally in France this year. The retired civil engineer lived in Africa for 10 years and never caught anything, not even malaria. 'Two-and-a-half weeks ago, I came home from playing pétanque, had a shower, then started itching my knee,' he told Midi Libre. 'I looked and my leg had gone completely red. I told myself that I must've been bitten by a spider. And the following morning, I woke up in a state of exhaustion that I've never experienced.' Then the pain in his joints began to set in, and within days became so severe that he was unable to use his hands to open doors. 'I couldn't manage, for example, to bend my wrist to open doors. I had to use my elbow,' he said. While there is a vaccine available, there is no specific cure or antiviral treatment for chikungunya. Instead, treatment is focused on managing symptoms with rest, fluids, and painkillers. Alain's pain eventually subsided but he is still recovering from the virus. 'I'm very tired and I get out of breath quickly. This morning, I just walked down my street and I had to take a few pauses.' Residents of villages and towns across southeastern France have been ordered to take precautions to fight the spread of mosquitoes, including covering or emptying containers that could collect water, keeping pets indoors, covering swimming pools and closing windows. The health ministry is also urging locals to report sightings of tiger mosquitoes in their communities using an online tool, and to report suspected infections. While a vaccination campaign is underway on Réunion, there are currently no plans to launch a similar scheme in mainland France, The Telegraph understands. Several countries including France, the UK and the United States paused the use of Valneva's chikungunya vaccine among individuals 65 and older in May following reports of serious adverse events, including two deaths and hospitalisations, among the vaccinated on Réunion. As well as grappling with chikungunya, the French health authorities have also reported spikes in imported cases of dengue and Zika, two other tropical diseases spread by the tiger mosquito which is more commonly found in Asia, Africa and South America. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), climate change has helped create favourable conditions for the tiger mosquito to spread since it was first spotted in Europe in the late 1970s, making outbreaks of the diseases they carry more common. Dengue and chikungunya risk becoming endemic in Europe. In the worst-case climate scenarios, the spread of the two viruses could increase to five times the current rate by 2060, according to a recent ECDC study, with countries like Italy, France and Spain to be among those hit hardest. 'The last three years have seen a fairly rapid increase year on year of locally acquired dengue in France, Italy and Spain,' said Prof Hunter. 'We can expect to see increasing reports of both chikungunya and dengue fever from the Mediterranean area over the coming years.' Travellers to France are currently being advised to take the usual precautions to prevent bites from mosquitoes. 'It is essential to take precautions against mosquito-borne infections such as chikungunya while travelling abroad,' Dr Hilary Kirkbride, the Head of Travel Health at the UK Health Security Agency, told The Telegraph. 'Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering exposed skin, and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets, can effectively reduce the risk of mosquito-borne infections.'
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Which dog do YOU think is the cutest? Vets say our preference for breeds is changing - take the test to see if you agree
From tiny Corgis to chunky Rottweilers, man's best friend comes in all different shapes and sizes. But vets now say that Brits' preferences for pooches are shifting. New research from the Royal Veterinary College shows that people favour dogs with more pronounced muzzles, less bulging eyes, and longer tails. The researchers say this shows a growing movement away from the flat faces and short limbs that were once popular for fashionable breeds. Dr Rowena Packer, senior author of the paper, told MailOnline: 'For some time, preference has appeared to be for more extreme body shapes, which have been popularised and normalised in the media. 'However, this is the first evidence that the tide may be turning and the public now prefers less extreme body shapes.' Across all breeds, participants said that the less extreme body shapes were more attractive, healthier, and made them feel happier. So, which of the dogs do you think is the cutest? Take a look at the test below to see if you agree with the results. A new study suggests that taste in dogs is shifting away from more 'extreme' body shapes and towards healthier characteristics among flat-faced dogs such as pugs The study examined how people rated three different flat-faced, or brachycephalic, dog breeds: Pugs, English Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs. Almost 500 participants were shown AI-generated images depicting less extreme, super extreme, or typical versions of the three breeds. Participants were then asked to rate the dogs in five categories - perceived attractiveness, perceived health, the happiness induced by their appearance, the ethics of breeding, and the desire for ownership. The results revealed that the least extreme versions of the breeds were rated highest across all categories. Likewise, typical versions of the breeds were rated higher in all categories than the more extreme versions. Almost all participants in the study owned dogs of varying breeds, with just over a quarter owning flat-faced breeds. Owners of flat-faced breeds were consistently more positive about all the dogs, no matter how extreme. The researchers say this is likely due to dog owners showing a preference for dogs that look like their own. What are brachycephalic dogs? The word 'brachycephalic' means short or broad-headed. Examples include Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, and Pekingese. Because of this extreme body shape, flat-faced dogs have a much higher risk of developing numerous painful illnesses and diseases. Health problems associated with brachycephaly include: Anatomical defects of the upper airway causing breathing difficulties often associated with overheating, sleep apnoea, and regurgitation Eye disease Inability to mate or give birth naturally Repeated skin infections Dental problems However, even these committed owners preferred the least extreme body shapes. This is good news for dog welfare campaigners who have been arguing for years that fashionable extreme breeding trends were leading to severe health issues. Dr Packer says: 'Extreme body shapes are created by artificial selection for genetic mutations. 'The consequent body shapes break natural biological limits for dogs and lead to a range of chronic, severe disorders that reduce quality of life and lifespan.' For example, flat faces make it harder for dogs to breathe, while short, curly tails are associated with spinal diseases and paralysis. The fact that the public is now starting to prefer more natural dogs might be a sign that campaigners' messages are starting to have an effect. Dr Paul Manktelow, Director of Veterinary Services at animal charity Blue Cross, says: 'At Blue Cross we see all too often how pets with extreme features suffer from painful conditions that often require costly surgery to treat. 'This study provides hope that it doesn't have to be this way.' Data from the Kennel Club suggests that registrations for pedigree flat-faced puppies have been falling over the last few years. However, a study published by the Royal Veterinary College last year found that French Bulldogs were the most popular breed for new owners, making up 7 per cent of all puppies under one year old in 2019. This reflects how stubborn preferences for these unhealthy breeds can be. Dr Packer's previous research found that health problems faced by flat-faced breeds, such as being unable to exercise due to skeletal issues, were normalised by their owners. One in seven flat-faced owners said 'nothing' could persuade them against getting an unhealthy dog. Likewise, many believed their dogs' 'laziness' was a highly desirable trait, despite this often being caused by breathing or musculoskeletal problems. Dr Packer says: 'Many breeders show resistance to changing the body shape of their breed. 'Given that breeders hold the power to make decisions over which types of dog are bred, and current legislation around extreme breeding is not enforced in the UK, the market is still dominated by extreme dogs, giving the public less choice to express their preferences when acquiring a puppy.' Researchers found that Britons consistently rated less extreme body shapes (dog 1 in the test samples) as more attractive, healthier, and more ethical to breed than more extreme versions In the future, Dr Packer says she would like to see standards changed to encourage less extreme breeds. These could include limits on how extreme a dog's physical traits can be, similar to laws imposed in the Netherlands. By restricting the extremes of dog breeding, the standard may shift back towards the preferences of most people and start to favour healthier shapes. 'Prioritising ethics and welfare in breeding over aesthetics is key for a happy, healthy future for dogs,' says Dr Packer. A genetic analysis of the world's oldest known dog remains revealed that dogs were domesticated in a single event by humans living in Eurasia, around 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. Dr Krishna Veeramah, an assistant professor in evolution at Stony Brook University, told MailOnline: 'The process of dog domestication would have been a very complex process, involving a number of generations where signature dog traits evolved gradually. 'The current hypothesis is that the domestication of dogs likely arose passively, with a population of wolves somewhere in the world living on the outskirts of hunter-gatherer camps feeding off refuse created by the humans. 'Those wolves that were tamer and less aggressive would have been more successful at this, and while the humans did not initially gain any kind of benefit from this process, over time they would have developed some kind of symbiotic [mutually beneficial] relationship with these animals, eventually evolving into the dogs we see today.'
The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
The risks planned C-sections can have for children
A study by Sweden 's Karolinska Institutet indicates that children born via planned Caesarean sections may have an increased risk of developing certain childhood cancers. The research, which analysed nearly 2.5 million children, found a 21 per cent higher risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and a 29 per cent higher risk of B-cell ALL in those born by planned C-section compared to vaginal births. This elevated cancer risk was more pronounced in boys and during a child's early life, with researchers suggesting factors such as the absence of stress or exposure to vaginal bacteria during planned procedures. Despite these findings, the researchers emphasised that the overall risk of developing these cancers remains low, irrespective of the delivery method. The study underscores the importance of medically indicated C-sections but suggests a discussion is warranted for non-medically necessary procedures.
