Latest news with #Hofmann
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
College student discovers psychedelic fungus that eluded LSD inventor
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A university student has discovered an elusive fungus that produces chemicals with similar effects to the psychedelic drug LSD. Corinne Hazel, an environmental microbiology major at West Virginia University in Morgantown, spotted the fungus growing on morning glories. These flowering plants belong to a large family with many species, and Hazel specifically found the fungus in a variety of Mexican morning glory called "Heavenly Blue." The fungus also grows on varieties called "Pearly Gates" and "Flying Saucers," according to a recent study published April 22 in the journal Mycologia. Morning glories were already known to contain a class of chemicals called ergot alkaloids. These chemicals, made exclusively by fungi, are the same class that the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann used to create LSD in the 1930s. Hofmann worked with the fungus Claviceps purpurea, commonly found on rye, to synthesize LSD; he came to suspect that Mexican morning glories must have a similar chemical-producing fungus after learning that the plants were used for their hallucinogenic properties. However, that fungus has remained elusive — until now. Hazel made the discovery while searching for the long-hypothesized fungus with Daniel Panaccione, a plant and soil sciences professor at West Virginia University. She is now investigating the best ways to grow the fungus, which the team thinks may have medicinal value. "I'm lucky to have stumbled into this opportunity," Hazel said in a statement. "People have been looking for this fungus for years, and one day, I look in the right place, and there it is." Related: Scientists show how LSD blows open the doors of perception Indigenous Mesoamerican cultures were the first to recognize that Ipomoea tricolor — commonly called Mexican morning glory or just morning glory — has psychoactive properties. Knowing of I. tricolor's cultural significance, Hofmann identified the chemicals responsible. The chemicals he found were previously only known to come from fungi, but his attempts to observe a fungus on the plant were unsuccessful, according to the study authors. Researchers have since identified two separate fungi that make ergot alkaloids on two other morning glory species, and they've found additional, molecular evidence for the presence of ergot alkaloid-producing fungi on I. tricolor. However, the identity of the fungus itself remained a mystery. Now, with the new study, the elusive I. tricolor-associated fungus has finally been identified. Hazel spotted evidence of the fungus on the plant's seeds. "We had a ton of plants lying around and they had these tiny little seed coats," Hazel said. "We noticed a little bit of fuzz in the seed coat. That was our fungus." Hazel and Panaccione collected a DNA sample from the fungus and sent it away for sequencing. The sequencing revealed that the fungus was related to the fungi previously found on the two other morning glories. Hazel and Panaccione named the new species Periglandula clandestina, with the species name referencing the hidden, or clandestine, nature of the fungus. P. clandestina is very efficient at producing large amounts of ergot alkaloids, the researchers found. The toxic nature of these chemicals likely helps protect the plant from being eaten, so it's thought to be a symbiotic relationship. However, ergot alkaloids are a problem in agriculture, as they contaminate food humans eat and grasses used to nourish livestock, therefore posing a threat to humans and the animals people eat. C. purpurea, the fungi used to invent LSD, would contaminate grain and poison those who consumed it, triggering an illness called "ergotism" that involved gangrene, convulsions, double vision, and of course, hallucinations. RELATED STORIES —LSD alters consciousness by breaking down barriers in the brain —Microdosing with 'shrooms or LSD no better than placebo, study finds —Weed may be bad for your heart, whether you smoke or consume edibles That said, ergot alkaloids can also be used in medicines to treat conditions like migraines. The newly discovered fungus could therefore have a role in medicine and agriculture, the study authors propose. "Many things are toxic," Panaccione said. "But if you administer them in the right dosage or modify them, they can be useful pharmaceuticals. By studying them, we may be able to figure out ways to bypass the side effects. These are big issues for medicine and agriculture." Hofmann was pursuing the medicinal properties of fungus when he first synthesized LSD. He only discovered LSD's powerful psychoactive effects when he accidentally got a drop of it on his skin — and then deliberately ingested more a few days later. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
Rise In Production And Trafficking Of Synthetic Drugs From The Golden Triangle, New Report Shows
Bangkok (Thailand), 28 May 2025 – The illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs from the Golden Triangle have grown exponentially, according to a report released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The explosive growth has led to a record amount of methamphetamine seizures in East and Southeast Asia, totaling 236 tons, marking a 24 per cent increase compared to 2023. 'The 236 tons represent only the amount seized, and just so much methamphetamine is actually reaching the market,' said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC Acting Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. 'While these seizures reflect, in part, successful law enforcement efforts, we are clearly seeing unprecedented levels of methamphetamine production and trafficking from the Golden Triangle, in particular Shan State.' The report, titled Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia: Latest Developments and Challenges, shows that the production and trafficking of methamphetamine in Shan State, Myanmar, have significantly increased since 2021. 'The ongoing crisis in Myanmar is further increasing the need for proceeds from the drug trade, but at the same time there is a degree of stability in certain parts of the country, especially those known for large-scale synthetic drug production,' Hofmann said. 'This combination of conflict and stability has created favourable conditions for the expansion of drug production, impacting countries across the region and beyond.' Thailand remained the main transit and destination point for methamphetamine trafficked from Myanmar and recorded the largest quantity of methamphetamine seizures in the region, including one billion tablets of yaba – a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine popular in many parts of Southeast Asia due to its easy availability and low price. At the same time, transnational drug trafficking groups have increasingly exploited emerging trafficking routes to evade law enforcement detection. 'The trafficking route connecting Cambodia with Myanmar, primarily through Lao PDR, has been rapidly expanding,' said Inshik Sim, Lead Analyst at the UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. 'Another increasingly significant corridor involves maritime trafficking routes linking Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with Sabah in Malaysia serving as a key transit hub.' The report highlights the evolving nature of transnational drug trafficking groups operating in East and Southeast Asia. These groups have demonstrated remarkable agility in reacting to law enforcement pressure, as shown by the spread of production sites for ketamine and related precursor chemicals, which has now reached most of the lower Mekong countries. Authorities in Viet Nam dismantled an industrial-scale facility in March 2025. Another example is the rise in the illicit manufacture of pharmaceutical products, especially etomidate and its analogues, designed to evade controls on novel substances. The report also underscores the growing use of technology across the entire chain of drug-related crimes, from planning, coordination, and the execution of trafficking to financial transactions and money laundering linked to the synthetic drug trade. 'With the surge in synthetic drug production and trafficking in the region, most countries report an overall increase in the use of methamphetamine and ketamine,' Hofmann said. 'However, in some countries, we are seeing a decline in the number of younger drug users admitted to treatment facilities, which may be attributable to drug use prevention campaigns targeting youth populations,' he added. 'It will be key for the region to increase investment in both prevention and supply reduction strategies.'
GMA Network
7 days ago
- GMA Network
Meth seizures in East, Southeast Asia at record high — UN
BANGKOK, Thailand - Seizures of methamphetamine in East and Southeast Asia were at record highs last year, a UN agency said Wednesday, with a "combination of conflict and stability" in Myanmar driving illicit drug production. Seizures of methamphetamine across the region totalled 236 tons in 2024, marking an "exponential" increase of 24 percent compared to 2023, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in a statement citing a new report. The number represents "only the amount seized, and just so much methamphetamine is actually reaching the market", Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC acting representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific region, said in the statement. The largest quantities of methamphetamine seized in the region were recorded in Thailand, the biggest destination and transit hub for the synthetic drug. In neighboring Myanmar, a "degree of stability" in areas of the country known for large-scale synthetic drug production combined with an ongoing crisis following a 2021 military coup had driven the "unprecedented" growth, Hofmann said. The spread of ketamine production sites to most of the lower Mekong countries showed the agility of transnational drug trafficking groups in evading law enforcement, UNODC said in the statement. "The trafficking route connecting Cambodia with Myanmar, primarily through Lao PDR, has been rapidly expanding," said Inshik Sim, lead analyst at the UNODC regional office, adding that maritime routes linking Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines had become another significant trafficking corridor. — Agence France-Presse
Chicago Tribune
7 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Jack Reif, ‘the biggest guy in the pool,' secures the biggest prize for Naperville North. He prizes Navy too.
As the final four seconds ticked off the clock, Naperville North senior Jack Reif held onto the ball as a New Trier player tried in vain to pry it from his hands. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Jack Reif's teammates, including senior Mason Hofmann, knew a dream was about to become reality. 'He has great ball control,' Hofmann said. 'He's a super big guy, so when we need someone to keep possession, he's the guy that you go to.' When the horn sounded, the Navy-bound Jack Reif turned and hurled the ball to the ceiling of Stevenson's natatorium as his mother, Naperville North boys water polo coach Kelly Reif, began jumping up and down on the pool deck. That was the beginning of a celebration capping a storybook ending. The Huskies, led by Jack Reif and Hofmann, had just rallied to beat New Trier 7-6 on Saturday night to win the first state championship in program history. 'Their best player shot the ball, and we got the save,' Jack Reif said. 'We were able to spread out, and I knew they'd get the ball to me. I'm the biggest guy in the pool, so I was able to hold him off. 'I was just overwhelmed with emotion.' So was Kelly Reif, the former Waubonsie Valley and Indiana star who began coaching the Huskies in 2021, when Jack Reif was in eighth grade. 'It was just like all the emotions at once,' Kelly Reif said. 'We've worked so hard for this. 'His freshman year, I looked at this group of kids, and I said, 'We're winning state your senior year. Watch us.' And with four seconds left, I just couldn't believe it that we had the ball in the hands of one of our strongest players. I knew we could kill four seconds. I was so excited.' Kelly Reif first introduced Jack Reif to water polo when he was 8 years old. Her husband, Myles Reif, coached the club team that included Jack Reif and Hofmann, who were the two best scorers for Naperville North (31-4) this season. Hofmann, a Johns Hopkins recruit, finished with 171 goals and 91 assists, and Jack Reif had 121 goals and 72 assists. Each scored six goals in the Huskies' 17-10 victory over Young in the semifinals earlier that day. New Trier (31-3), which had won three of the four regular-season meetings with Naperville North, led 6-2 at halftime but didn't score again. The Huskies rallied behind Hofmann, who had three goals and an assist, and Jack Reif, who contributed one goal and one assist. Hofmann assisted junior Caden Tsao's go-ahead goal with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter. Jack Reif led Naperville North's strong defense the rest of the way. 'As you can see, none of the kids give up ever,' Kelly Reif said. 'To be able to shut them out in the second half is incredible. You saw Jack and Mason just take charge, like 'we're not losing this game,' so it was awesome.' Hofmann had dreamed of winning a state title even before he entered high school. Doing it alongside Jack Reif made it even better. 'I've been playing with Jack for probably 10 years,' Hofmann said. 'Almost every time I've played water polo, he's been there, too, whether it's at a practice in the morning, at a gym, or in the weight room, late-night drives to masters practice. He's been there the whole way. 'It's our last game playing with each other, so it's bittersweet.' Jack Reif never played football, despite his size. Water polo and swimming were his only sports, and playing for his mother was an added bonus. 'I wouldn't have it any other way,' he said. 'Working hard at practice and then going home and talking about the practice and game-prepping with her in late nights, early mornings, I'll never forget that. 'The bond we have is really something special. Not a lot of people get to experience that, especially winning a state championship, so I'm very proud of our team.' Kelly Reif, who has a career record of 110-28, is equally proud. 'I feel very blessed to have this opportunity,' she said. 'Not many people get the opportunity to wear the hat of mom and coach, nonetheless a state championship, so it's just so exciting. 'I love him so much. I love all the kids so much. It's just a really special bond that we have.' Jack Reif also had a bond with his great-grandfather Bob Young, a Navy veteran who served in World War II and later became a high school football coach and then an Illinois High School Association official for football and basketball. Young died at age 99 one week before the Huskies won the state title. 'After our last sectional game, I found out that he had passed away,' Kelly Reif said. 'So this is extra special. I'm sure he's up there looking down and pulled us through for that one.' Young was a role model for Jack Reif. 'He always loved telling stories about the Navy, so I really looked up to him,' Jack Reif said. 'He was a great man.' So Jack Reif jumped at the opportunity to attend the Naval Academy. 'I took it with no regrets, didn't look back at all,' he said. 'I'm really excited to serve my country.' Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, Jack Reif will be required to serve five years on active duty. He's ready to do it for one simple reason. 'I just want to give back to the things that have given me the most,' he said. 'This country has given me so many excellent things. It's a great opportunity for myself to be successful but also to give back.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southeast Asia's illicit methamphetamine trade is at a record high, the UN says
BANGKOK (AP) — The illicit trade in methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs is growing by leaps and bounds in Southeast Asia, with record levels of seizures serving as an indicator of the scale, U.N experts on the drug trade said in a new report Wednesday. Methamphetamine seizures, primarily in Southeast Asia, totaled 236 tons in 2024, a 24% increase over 2023. The increase applied to both crystal methamphetamine and methamphetamine tablets, the latter priced for a mass market, going for as little as U.S. $0.60 apiece in Myanmar. About 1 billion tablets were seized last year in Thailand. 'The sustained flood of methamphetamine to markets in the region has been driven by industrial-scale production and trafficking networks operated by agile, well-resourced transnational organized criminal groups,' says the report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, or UNODC. 'We are clearly seeing unprecedented levels of methamphetamine production and trafficking from the Golden Triangle, in particular Myanmar's Shan State," Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC acting regional representative, said in a statement. The 'Golden Triangle,' where the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet, is famous for the production of opium and heroin, which flourished largely because the remote location and lax law enforcement. In recent decades, methamphetamine has supplanted it because it is easier to make on an industrial scale. Myanmar's civil war fueled trafficking growth What has turbocharged growth of the methamphetamine trade has been the political situation in Myanmar, where the army's February 2021 seizure of power has led to civil war. That has caused the flow of drugs to surge 'across not only East and Southeast Asia, but also increasingly into South Asia, in particular Northeast India,' the new report says. At the same time in Myanmar 'there is a degree of stability in certain parts of the country, especially those known for large-scale synthetic drug production,' Hofmann said, adding that the combination has 'created favorable conditions for the expansion of drug production." The report says traffickers have diversified routes to markets, both within Southeast Asia and beyond. Drugs are increasingly trafficked from Myanmar to Cambodia, mostly through Laos, as well as though maritime routes 'linking Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with Sabah in Malaysia serving as a key transit hub.' Other drugs enter from beyond the region The report says some drugs enter the region from outside, including the 'Golden Crescent,' another major drug production area covering remote mountainous regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan and eastern Iran. Crystal methamphetamine from the Golden Crescent has been found in Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, as well as in Japan and South Korea. North America has been the origin for methamphetamine found in Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea, involving trafficking by Mexican cartels, the report says. Traffickers have 'shown business acumen by leveraging digital tools and emerging technologies to facilitate and profit from the illicit trade in synthetic drugs,' it says, and some trafficking groups infiltrate legitimate businesses or set up front companies. One major development is the growing convergence between trafficking organized crime groups and those offering services such as underground banking, the report says.
