GOOD

Divers Find 340-Year-Old Cheese At The Bottom Of The Ocean

Would you give it a try?

 Jesse Hirsch
07.30.16

Yum. (Photo: Lars Einarsson/Kalmar County Museum)

When it comes to cheese, how stinky is too stinky? The aging process brings out certain prized characteristics, but is there a limit in how long cheese should mature? Or, to put it more bluntly, how would a 340-year-old cheese that absolutely reeks suit you?

Swedish scientists were recently re-exploring a shipwreck named the Kronan, which sunk into the Baltic Sea back in 1676. Twenty thousand items had been salvaged since the 1980s, including gold coins, cannons, pharmaceuticals, 400 kilograms of bones and partial skulls of crew members (with brain tissue).

The cheese was found more recently in a black tin on the ocean floor, according to The Local, when divers were searching areas underneath the wreckage. Researchers brought it back to the surface, but the lid came off in transit.

“That’s when the smell hit us,” researcher Lars Einarsson told Kvällsposten. “I certainly don’t recommend tasting it. It’s a mass of bacteria.”

Though somewhat repulsive, the scientists did describe the smell as a cross between (delicious) Roquefort and yeast. It was remarkably well-preserved, and described as “gooey” in consistency, though Einarsson wryly told The Local, “it has been at the bottom of the sea for 340 years—we're not talking Tutankhamun's burial chamber.”

The cheese is now being kept at low temperatures so researchers can learn as much as possible about the dairy artifact while they can. It could provide fascinating insight into 17th century Swedish diets, especially during war (the Kronan was a warship, sunk in battle).

For his part, Einarsson seems to be right on the border of wanting to take a little nibble—but just can’t bring himself there. "I think it smells quite nice, because I like exotic food,” Einarsson told The Local. “But I would not want to taste it."

But if you were to take the plunge, serving up that goo to curiosity seekers at a posh dinner party, one obvious question remains: What beverage pairs best with 340-year-old cheese? Might we suggest this 170-year-old shipwreck beer, with notes of goat and rotting cabbage? Bottoms up.

aging food and drink health living
Food

Domestic abuse shelter in Indiana expands services to include male survivors

October is domestic violence awareness month and when most people think of domestic violence, they imagine mostly female victims. However, abuse of men happens as well – in both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. But some are taking it upon themselves to change all that.

Keep Reading Show less
male domestic abuse domestic abuse abuse shelter
Culture

These 20 companies are personally responsible for the majority of carbon waste hurting our planet

At this point most reasonable people agree that climate change is a serious problem. And while a lot of good people are working on solutions, and we're all chipping in by using fewer plastic bags, it's also helpful to understand where the leading causes of the issue stem from. The list of 20 leading emitters of carbon dioxide by The Guardian newspaper does just that.

Keep Reading Show less
environment
The Planet

5 of the most powerful quotes from Michael Moore’s viral Facebook post about Joker

via International Labour Organization / Flickr and Michael Moore / Facebook

Before the release of "The Joker" there was a glut of stories in the media about the film's potential to incite violence.

The FBI issued a warning, saying the film may inspire violence from a group known as the Clowncels, a subgroup of the involuntarily celibate or Incel community.

Incels an online subculture who believe they are unable to attract a sexual partner. The American nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center describes them as "part of the online male supremacist ecosystem" that is included in its list of hate groups.

Keep Reading Show less
miahcel moore the joker the joker vriews viral joker review incels clowncels joker violence mass shootings Joker reviews Entertainment Weekly CNN MSNBC michael moore the joker
Culture

South Park's new episode is a hilarious wake up about China that everyone should see

Since normalizing relations with Communist China back in 1979, the U.S. government and its companies that do business with the country have, for the most part, turned a blind-eye to its numerous human rights abuses.

In China's Muslim-majority province of Xinjiang, it's believed that over a million members of its Uighur population are being arbitrarily imprisoned and tortured in concentration camps. Female Uighurs in detention are being given forced abortions and subjected to sexual mistreatment.

Keep Reading Show less
china south park matt stone trey parker disney south park china episode
Culture

Scientists think they know why vaping is killing people

live.staticflickr.com

The vaping epidemic is like a PSA come to life. A recent outbreak of vaping-related deaths and illnesses has affected people from across 46 states. More than 800 people fell ill, and at least 17 people died from vaping. In Illinois and Wisconsin, 87% of the people who got sick said they used THC, and 71% of people also said they used products that contained nicotine. Symptoms of the illness included coughing, chest pains, shortness of breath, nausea, and fatigue. We finally might now why.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic believe toxic chemical fumes, not the actual chemicals in the vape liquid, might be the culprit. "It seems to be some kind of direct chemical injury, similar to what one might see with exposures to toxic chemical fumes, poisonous gases and toxic agents," Dr. Brandon Larsen, a surgical pathologist at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, said in release.

Keep Reading Show less
vaping vaping illness science cigarettes nicotene
Health