How to turn water into wine, with raisins

Soaked raisins yield a natural fermentation mechanism

Kyoto University

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Sun-dried raisins soaked in water will naturally ferment into wine. 

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Credit: KyotoU

Kyoto, Japan -- It's astonishing to realize how innovative our ancestors were in food and beverage production before modern science and technology. Without understanding or isolating them, ancient peoples made use of yeasts like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the primary species behind the fermentation process that creates alcohol, though there are some non-Saccharomyces yeasts that can also produce alcohol with different characteristics.

While modern wineries typically use cultured S cerevisiae, it is thought that ancient wine production relied on the natural fermentation process of storing crushed grapes in jars. However, research has revealed that S cerevisiae rarely colonizes grape skins, casting doubt on the use of fresh grapes for alcohol fermentation.

This inspired a team of researchers from Kyoto University to investigate the humble raisin's ability to ferment into wine. In a previous study, the team had found that S cerevisiae was abundant on raisins, indicating that in ancient times they could have been used for wine production.

To test their theory, the team collected fresh grapes from an orchard and dried them for 28 days, using an incubator for some raisins, sun-drying for others, and a combination of incubator and sun-drying for the remainder. They then submerged the raisins in water and stored them in bottles at room temperature for two weeks, with three samples for each type of drying process.

The results revealed that soaking sun-dried raisins in water is a successful method of creating wine. While only one incubator-dried sample and two of the combination samples successfully fermented, all three samples of sun-dried raisins in water fermented and yielded significantly higher ethanol concentrations. In the samples that were successful, the scientists also measured an overall decline in species diversity, but a higher abundance of alcohol-fermenting yeasts. These results suggest that, long before Jesus supposedly did so, ancient peoples may have figured out how to turn water into wine using sun-dried raisins.

"By clarifying the natural fermentation mechanism that various microorganisms facilitate at the molecular level, we'd like to connect our study to the creation of unique alcoholic beverages," says first author Mamoru Hio.

Though it is clear the sun-drying process facilitates S cerevisiae colonization of the raisins, how they migrate from the surrounding environment to the raisins remains unknown. Furthermore, this study used a smaller production size and was conducted outside of typical raisin-producing regions. The researchers say that future studies should focus on low-abundance yeasts that could be detected in larger samples, and that conducting a study in a drier climate would better reflect the natural conditions of ancient wine production.

"We aim to uncover the molecular mechanism behind this interaction between microbial flora and microorganisms that reside in various fruits, including grapes," says team leader Wataru Hashimoto. "Through natural fermentation, we also hope to develop new food products and prevent food loss."

Hashimoto also mentions a caveat: "Note that this only works with naturally sun-dried raisins that are untreated. Most store-bought raisins have an oil coating which prevents fermentation from taking place."

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The paper "Spontaneous fermentation of raisin water to form wine" appeared on 25 November 2025 in Scientific Reports, with doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-23715-3

About Kyoto University

Kyoto University is one of Japan and Asia's premier research institutions, founded in 1897 and responsible for producing numerous Nobel laureates and winners of other prestigious international prizes. A broad curriculum across the arts and sciences at undergraduate and graduate levels complements several research centers, facilities, and offices around Japan and the world. For more information, please see: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en

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Journal

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-025-23715-3 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Spontaneous fermentation of raisin water to form wine

Article Publication Date

25-Nov-2025

CTHULHU STUDIES

Vampires in the deep: An ancient link between octopuses and squids

A 'genomic living fossil' reveals how evolution of octopuses and squids diverged more than 300 million years ago

University of Vienna

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The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis sp.) is one of the most enigmatic animals of the deep sea.

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Credit: Steven Haddock_MBARI

In a study now published in iScience, researchers from the University of Vienna (Austria), National Institute of Technology - Wakayama College (NITW; Japan), and Shimane University (Japan) present the largest cephalopod genome sequenced to date. Their analyses show that the vampire squid has retained parts of an ancient, squid-like chromosomal architecture, and thus revealing that modern octopuses evolved from squid-like ancestors.

The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis sp.) is one of the most enigmatic animals of the deep sea. With its dark body, large eyes that can appear red or blue, and cloak-like webbing between its arms, it earned its dramatic name – although it does not suck blood, but feeds peacefully on organic detritus. "Interestingly, in Japanese, the vampire squid is called "kōmori-dako", which means 'bat-octopus'", says one of three lead PIs of this project, Masa-aki Yoshida, Shimane University. Yet its outward appearance hides an even deeper mystery: despite being classified among octopuses, it also shares characteristics with squids and cuttlefish. To understand this paradox, an international team led by Oleg Simakov from the University of Vienna, together with Davin Setiamarga (NITW) and Masa-aki Yoshida (Shimane University), has now decoded the vampire squid genome.

A glimpse into deep-sea evolution

By sequencing the genome of Vampyroteuthis sp., the researchers have reconstructed a key chapter in cephalopod evolution. "Modern" cephalopods (coleoids) – including squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish – split more than 300 million years ago into two major lineages: the ten-armed Decapodiformes (squids and cuttlefish) and the eight-armed Octopodiformes (octopuses and the vampire squid). Despite its name, the vampire squid has eight arms like an octopus but shares key genomic features with squids and cuttlefish. It occupies an intermediate position between these two lineages – a connection that its genome reveals for the first time at the chromosomal level. Although it belongs to the octopus lineage, it retains elements of a more ancestral, squid-like chromosomal organization, providing new insight into early cephalopod evolution.

An enormous genome with ancient architecture

At over 11 billion base pairs, the genome of the vampire squid is roughly four times larger than the human genome – the largest cephalopod genome ever analyzed. Despite this size, its chromosomes show a surprisingly conserved structure. Because of this, Vampyroteuthis is considered a "genomic living fossil" – a modern representative of an ancient lineage that preserves key features of its evolutionary past. The team found that it has preserved parts of a decapodiform-like karyotype while modern octopuses underwent extensive chromosomal fusions and rearrangements during evolution. This conserved genomic architecture provides new clues to how cephalopod lineages diverged. "The vampire squid sits right at the interface between octopuses and squids," says the senior author Oleg Simakov from the Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology at the University of Vienna. "Its genome reveals deep evolutionary secrets on how two strikingly different lineages could emerge from a shared ancestor."

Octopus genomes formed their own evolutionary highway

By comparing the vampire squid with other sequenced species, including the pelagic octopus Argonauta hians, the researchers were able to trace the direction of chromosomal changes over evolutionary time. The genome sequence of Argonauta hians ("paper nautilus"), a "weird" pelagic octopus whose females secondarily obtained a shell-like calcified structure, was also presented for the first time in this study. The analysis suggests that early coleoids had a squid-like chromosomal organization, which later fused and compacted into the modern octopus genome – a process known as fusion-with-mixing. These irreversible rearrangements likely drove key morphological innovations such as the specialization of arms and the loss of external shells. "Although it is classified as an octopus, the vampire squid retains a genetic heritage that predates both lineages," adds second author Emese Tóth, University of Vienna. "It gives us a direct look into the earliest stages of cephalopod evolution."

Revisiting cephalopod evolution

The study provides the clearest genetic evidence yet that the common ancestor of octopuses and squids was more squid-like than previously thought. It highlights that large-scale chromosomal reorganization, rather than the emergence of new genes, was the main driver behind the remarkable diversity of modern cephalopods. 

About the University of Vienna: 

For over 650 years the University of Vienna has stood for education, research and innovation. Today, it is ranked among the top 100 and thus the top four per cent of all universities worldwide and is globally connected. With degree programmes covering over 180 disciplines, and more than 10,000 employees we are one of the largest academic institutions in Europe. Here, people from a broad spectrum of disciplines come together to carry out research at the highest level and develop solutions for current and future challenges. Its students and graduates develop reflected and sustainable solutions to complex challenges using innovative spirit and curiosity.

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Journal

iScience

DOI

10.1016/j.isci.2025.113832 

Article Title

Giant genome of the vampire squid reveals the derived state of modern octopod karyotypes

Article Publication Date

21-Nov-2025

 

What do prisoners in Finland think about sustainable development? New study uncovers both barriers and opportunities

University of Eastern Finland

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A new study from the University of Eastern Finland gives prisoners in Finland a voice in the current sustainability transformation debate, showing that their perceptions of sustainable development vary greatly, ranging from individual everyday actions to global environmental issues. In general, prisoners express a willingness to act responsibly, with prison structures, however, posing some challenges. The study was conducted in three Finnish prisons in 2024–2025, involving thematic interviews with a total of eight prisoners.

The study found that prisoners identified climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss as serious problems. Many associated sustainability with practical everyday actions, such as recycling and saving energy. Simple actions, like conserving water and energy, as well as cultural practices such as sauna and family celebrations, were considered important for well-being and sustainability.

Prisoners felt that prison structures create barriers for their participation in sustainability efforts. For instance, prison conditions restrict opportunities for proper waste management or contact with nature. Lack of internet access and limited access to information increase prisoners’ sense of exclusion from social issues, including sustainability efforts. Prisoners were sceptical of political decisions and felt that sustainability efforts sometimes overshadowed things they deemed more important.

“Freedom was seen as an enabler of a more sustainable lifestyle and a better future,” says Postdoctoral Researcher Sirpa Manninen of the University of Eastern Finland, the lead author of the study.

Many prisoners planned to adopt a sustainable lifestyle after their release, including becoming self-sufficient and cutting down on consumption. Sustainability efforts were also seen as a social and moral project where everyone is expected to take responsibility.

The study points out that sustainability programmes in prisons should not be implemented as top-down initiatives. Inclusive practices are needed to support prisoners’ agency and strengthen their environmental citizenship.

“This way, we can promote ecological goals and social justice, delivering on the promise of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind when it comes to sustainability efforts.”

The study is part of the Sufficiency Solutions for a Resilient, Green and Just Finland project, funded by the Strategic Research Council established at the Research Council of Finland.

 

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Journal

Sustainable Development

DOI

10.1002/sd.70372 

Article Title

Prisoners' Perceptions and Their Agency on Sustainability Transformation in Finland

Article Publication Date

25-Nov-2025

 

Why do Tibetan pigs accumulate fat more easily than Duroc pigs?

Higher Education Press

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Credit: HIGHER EDUCATON PRESS

Adipose tissue is a crucial energy-regulating organ in mammals, responsible not only for storing excess energy but also participating in body temperature maintenance and metabolic balance. Adipocyte development is a complex dynamic process, starting from mesenchymal stem cells with differentiation potential, which gradually proliferate and differentiate into preadipocytes, and ultimately form mature adipocytes capable of storing fat. Significant differences in fat deposition capacity exist among different pig breeds. For example, Tibetan pigs, a characteristic plateau breed in China, are renowned for their thick backfat and high intramuscular fat content, with an average fat percentage of 41% in adult individuals. In contrast, Duroc pigs, a globally widely farmed lean-type breed, have a lean meat percentage of 65% and a backfat thickness of only about 1.5 cm. Behind this difference, what is the regulatory mechanism of adipocyte development? Why can Tibetan pigs accumulate fat more efficiently?

A research team led by Professor Xiaoxiang Hu from the College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, conducted an in-depth exploration of this issue using single-cell RNA sequencing technology. The relevant research has been published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025637).

The research team selected neck subcutaneous adipose tissue from 4-day-old Tibetan pigs and Duroc pigs, isolated stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells containing various cell types, and analyzed cellular heterogeneity using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology. The results showed that both pig breeds contained multiple cell types in their adipose tissue, including mesenchymal stem cells, adipose stem cells, preadipocytes, and mature adipocytes, but the proportion of mature adipocytes in Tibetan pigs was significantly higher. Pseudotime analysis revealed that preadipocytes in Tibetan pigs were more inclined to differentiate into mature adipocytes rapidly, while most preadipocytes in Duroc pigs remained in an undifferentiated state.

Further gene function analysis indicated that the pathways related to fatty acid transport and thermogenesis were significantly enhanced in Tibetan pig adipocytes. For instance, at the stages of mesenchymal stem cells, adipose stem cells, and preadipocytes, the expression levels of fatty acid transport genes in Tibetan pigs were higher, implying their cells had a stronger ability to uptake fatty acids from the external environment. Meanwhile, the expression of the UCP3 gene, which is associated with non-shivering thermogenesis, was upregulated in Tibetan pig adipocytes, potentially helping Tibetan pigs maintain body temperature in the cold plateau environment. In contrast, adipocytes of Duroc pigs exhibited stronger oxidative metabolism capacity, with higher expression levels of mitochondria-related genes, indicating a faster energy consumption rate.

To verify the sequencing results, the research team cultured SVF cells of both pig breeds in vitro. Experiments showed that after 8 days of differentiation, the lipid droplet content in Tibetan pig cells was significantly higher than that in Duroc pig cells, and the expression level of fatty acid transport genes remained consistently high. In contrast, Duroc pig cells had stronger proliferation capacity, with significantly more cells than Tibetan pig cells after 24, 48, and 72 hours of culture. These results were consistent with the sequencing analysis, confirming the advantages of Tibetan pigs in adipocyte differentiation efficiency and fatty acid uptake capacity, as well as the characteristics of Duroc pigs in cell proliferation and energy metabolism.

This study revealed the cellular heterogeneity of porcine adipose tissue and its relationship with fat deposition through single-cell sequencing technology. It clarified that Tibetan pigs already possess stronger adipogenic potential in the early stages of adipocyte development, and the enhanced fatty acid transport activity of mature adipocytes is the key to their efficient fat deposition. Additionally, the lower metabolic activity and oxygen consumption of Tibetan pig adipocytes may be adaptive manifestations to the hypoxic plateau environment. These findings provide a new cellular and molecular mechanism for understanding the differences in fat deposition among pig breeds and offer guidance for improving fat content and stress resistance in pig breeding.

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Journal

Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering

DOI

10.15302/J-FASE-2025637 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Enhanced adipogenesis and fatty acid transport in Tibetan pigs compared to Duroc pigs: insights from cellular heterogeneity by scRNA-seq

Article Publication Date

15-Dec-2025