Why Does Caffeine Exist?

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  • čas přidán 27. 07. 2022
  • Thank you to Wondrium for Supporting PBS. For more information and a trial please go to ow.ly/6nrt30smywM
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    Today, billions of people around the world start their day with caffeine. But how and why did the ability to produce this molecule independently evolve in multiple, distantly-related lineages of flowering plants, again and again?
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Komentáře • 1,7K

  • @albatross4920
    @albatross4920 Před rokem +3274

    Why do plants do anything? Either to attract bugs or kill bugs 🐛

    • @mme.veronica735
      @mme.veronica735 Před rokem +169

      or to attract or ward off bigger animals

    • @logandelacruz2152
      @logandelacruz2152 Před rokem +155

      They attract bugs to pollinate them, but kill them if the bugs eat their leaves or stem.

    • @RDV-1996
      @RDV-1996 Před rokem +56

      And in this case, both.

    • @Crakinator
      @Crakinator Před rokem +73

      Spicy fruits with lots of capsaicin were evolved to ward off mammals like us who typically avoid eating the seeds of peppers.

    • @brothermine2292
      @brothermine2292 Před rokem +31

      They also do many things to grow and reproduce that have nothing to do with attracting or repelling other species. Photosynthesis is a well-known example.

  • @CelibateCetologist
    @CelibateCetologist Před rokem +1971

    What gets me about the cacao plant is that it generally is poisonous to most animals but one day, a human looked at it and said, “I’m gonna eat it.” And then didn’t die!

    • @jamesdeininger3759
      @jamesdeininger3759 Před rokem

      I’d be willing to bet that, throughout history, humans have tried consuming every single plant, fungal, and animal species they came in contact with.

    • @krono5el
      @krono5el Před rokem +156

      The Maya and cacao are basically one in the same, they probably engineered it to be edible like maize.

    • @LithmusEarth
      @LithmusEarth Před rokem

      Tons of these plants, hot peppers, coffee, etc. are design evolutionarily to like kill the insects from eating them, a pesticide. BUT we are an insane species, who is like, Habaneros hurt... must eat more. I also like that our meat preservation habits, depend on what the average temperature & weather is, which determined the level of spice tolerance/use that that sector of the world required for that culture, so you get really heavy spicy food in india one of the hottest large ancient cultures, but relatively mild spice use in Germanic area.

    • @LithmusEarth
      @LithmusEarth Před rokem +23

      I did post this before I got to 4 minutes in when she literally says the pesticide thing. It's just one of those common facts you've heard before, this video I'm not expecting a lot of new content to reach me, but you never know! Also these guys are great so I watch them, because they are very entertaining.

    • @tacitus6384
      @tacitus6384 Před rokem +44

      And bless that man.

  • @claysparrows
    @claysparrows Před rokem +612

    The connections that Eons makes between evolution, biology, human culture, and history are what makes this one of my favorite channels on CZcams.

    • @lyreparadox
      @lyreparadox Před rokem +5

      Me too! I reminds me of the old tv series "connections"

    • @MemphiStig
      @MemphiStig Před rokem +2

      @@lyreparadox oh that was a great show! i totally forgot about it. thanks for reminding me. i'll go look it up now.

    • @MossyMozart
      @MossyMozart Před rokem

      @@lyreparadox - And the great PBS show, "Contact!".

    • @IrisGlowingBlue
      @IrisGlowingBlue Před 9 měsíci

      @@lyreparadox I hadn't heard about that show before but now I have learned! Thanks for bringing it up [:

  • @DieNextInLINE
    @DieNextInLINE Před rokem +386

    My favorite little tidbit I discovered when researching the history of the cacao was finding out about a tribe in South America that became a huge "empire", for lack of a better word, by diplomacy with a lot of smaller tribes. Archaeologists found pottery that had traces of a cacao mixture laced with another chemical that could induce hallucinations. Basically, these guys were inviting their rivals over, drinking this hallucinogenic hot cocoa and then making a deal while they're all friendly and high.

    • @keegentilley578
      @keegentilley578 Před rokem +17

      Could've been Ayahuasca

    • @chilliecheesecake
      @chilliecheesecake Před rokem +1

      @@keegentilley578 Dude weed lmao

    • @keegentilley578
      @keegentilley578 Před rokem +24

      @@chilliecheesecake weed isn't native to that region. It comes from the Tibetan plateu

    • @ayoungethan
      @ayoungethan Před rokem +27

      Sounds less like an empire and more like a federation. Bottom up vs top down. One of the many reasons why imperial regimes seem to consider hallucinogens an existential threat. Bringing people together, raising consciousness and spiritual practice are all the same process. One cannot occur without the other.

    • @Burn_Angel
      @Burn_Angel Před rokem +8

      And that's why the guys who use guns calls us savages or barbarians. We just know a better way than violence.
      ("We" as South Americans. I don't do that hallucinogenous stuff, I'd rather punch someone lmao)

  • @BrunoMontanhez
    @BrunoMontanhez Před rokem +2896

    Fun fact that I learned on academy: we are so linked to caffeine comsuption that we can actually use the molecule concentration as an indication of domestic sewer contamination on natural waters.

    • @alicehargest
      @alicehargest Před rokem +126

      Kinda gross but cool!

    • @crashmatrix
      @crashmatrix Před rokem +102

      That _is_ a fun fact

    • @mikeblair2594
      @mikeblair2594 Před rokem +17

      Just like corona virus. Yey.....?

    • @nicholaslogan6840
      @nicholaslogan6840 Před rokem +103

      actually pretty unremarkable when you consider human activity is notorious for leaving a wide array of footprints

    • @AlexanderRM1000
      @AlexanderRM1000 Před rokem +23

      Huh! Whereas molecules in urine for example would also be found in animal urine.

  • @islandsunset
    @islandsunset Před rokem +871

    Fun fact: if we take equal quantities, tea leaves contain more caffeine than coffee beans but coffee beans releases more caffeine than the tea leaves.

    • @ferretappreciator
      @ferretappreciator Před rokem +152

      So what you're saying is just skip the drink altogether and eat tea leaves?

    • @a_e_hilton
      @a_e_hilton Před rokem +127

      Those darn tea leaves, keeping it all to themselves!

    • @ZombieBarioth
      @ZombieBarioth Před rokem +93

      A lot of which comes down to the brewing method, as tea leaves are typically steeped at lower temperatures, heat is the key to caffeine.
      Ground tea (matcha) will get you the full benefits. You'll definitely notice. :P

    • @genghiskhan6809
      @genghiskhan6809 Před rokem +22

      What if I mix tea and coffee together then?

    • @Ryan-cb1ei
      @Ryan-cb1ei Před rokem +4

      @@ZombieBarioth ?? I have both of those a lot, and coffee always seems stronger

  • @Beryllahawk
    @Beryllahawk Před rokem +890

    Fascinating to learn just HOW many different plants make caffeine - but I'm not really surprised that everywhere such plants exist, humans have found ways to consume them, haha. We like our mind-altering chemicals!

    • @swimdownx6365
      @swimdownx6365 Před rokem +6

      Did you know mRNAs those are genes actually being used can sometimes fall back main genome and douplicate genes. Case in point lamarckism

    • @madxD144
      @madxD144 Před rokem +11

      @@swimdownx6365 k

    • @akashsinha2880
      @akashsinha2880 Před rokem +7

      No caffeine for me.

    • @salt-emoji
      @salt-emoji Před rokem +60

      Ever since humans gained sentience, they've been trying to find ways to change that.

    • @Simplinalina
      @Simplinalina Před rokem +4

      @@salt-emoji best comment

  • @christinamann3640
    @christinamann3640 Před rokem +31

    So this is why grandmas put coffee grounds on their prize roses: fertilizer, insecticide, and pollenator encouraging.

  • @protocetid
    @protocetid Před rokem +32

    caffeine: exists
    PBS Eons: “but why?”

  • @drangus3468
    @drangus3468 Před rokem +165

    I was wondering this literally yesterday. Thanks for checking in with my internal narrative, PBS, and impressive turnaround.

  • @majrminer
    @majrminer Před rokem +383

    First time I had caffeine was a pill, 200mg. I didn't know what that would do. I ended up running several miles because it felt like what my body wanted to do. Years later, i would drink a cup before writing papers. Years later than that, it can clear my mind a bit, but has nothing close to the same impact it did when I was younger. The body certainly adapts and changes.

    • @Meraxes6
      @Meraxes6 Před rokem +108

      If you stop drinking it for a while you’ll experience that same effect as when you were younger

    • @since2133
      @since2133 Před rokem +33

      Caffeine in general gives me a headache, makes me sad or a little depressed and stressed sometimes and I wonder why. But that’s not always.

    • @joshuanavarrete1891
      @joshuanavarrete1891 Před rokem +1

      Caffeine is a drug and like all drugs your body begins to create tolerance and youll need more and more to get the same effect. So like the other person said, stop for a month or more.

    • @shleeb896
      @shleeb896 Před rokem +46

      @@since2133 Caffeine has many links to anxiety and headaches, both because it makes the heart race and it’s a diuretic.

    • @RandomNirvanaSXE
      @RandomNirvanaSXE Před rokem +51

      I drink a coffee when I want to go to sleep or have a nap. Thank you ADHD brain ❤️

  • @CoolAsFreya
    @CoolAsFreya Před rokem +165

    Nicotine is also a naturally occurring alkaloid that acts as a stimulant for humans, so we also have a long history of tobacco usage due to this.

    • @apextroll
      @apextroll Před rokem +27

      Humans love their -ines.

    • @hanfred
      @hanfred Před rokem +28

      It is also a very powerful insecticide, so plants developed it probably for similar reasons?

    • @ain92ru
      @ain92ru Před rokem +25

      @@hanfred There is actually even a family of widely used artificial insecticides derived from nicotine, the so-called neonikotinoids

    • @hanfred
      @hanfred Před rokem +7

      @@ain92ru I know, they seem to be problematic for bees and other insects, not just the ones farmers and gardeners want to protect their crops and other plants with.

    • @danilooliveira6580
      @danilooliveira6580 Před rokem +14

      @@hanfred almost all of those psychotropic chemicals plant produce are used for self defense, that also include opioids and canabinoids

  • @webby-pl1mn
    @webby-pl1mn Před rokem +87

    "makes our brains go zoom zoom"
    Epic quote

  • @amelade
    @amelade Před rokem +160

    i love the connection to anthropology and human evolution in this episode. would love to see more like this!
    the line in particular stood out to me: "Just like different kinds of plants convergently evolved to produce caffeine, many cultures on different continents independently converged on using it."

  • @radagastwiz
    @radagastwiz Před rokem +212

    When they were first investigating the stimulant in tea, they named it 'theanine' because it worked a whole lot like the 'caffeine' they'd already investigated. It was only later that they realized it was chemically identical.

    • @drts6955
      @drts6955 Před rokem +3

      I needee that clarified. I was confused by the terms

    • @thomicrisler9855
      @thomicrisler9855 Před rokem +59

      Theine, actually. Theanine is an amino acid, also found in tea.

    • @kateapple1
      @kateapple1 Před rokem +7

      @@thomicrisler9855 thank you! I was like that’s so not caffeine! But man it works like caffeine. Taurine, ginseng, and theanine 🙌🏽 the holy trinity of AWAKE 😳

    • @The.Heart.Unceasing
      @The.Heart.Unceasing Před rokem +16

      @@kateapple1 yeeeah no. taurine doesn't do shit to keep you awake, it does however help *caffeine* stay longer in your system, there is no evidence of ginseng acting as a stimulant (if anything it is thought to be a pretty good antioxydant and a bunch of other nebulous benefits that have never been proved) and theanine is actually a *relaxant* (unless you meant "theine"... which is just another name for *caffeine* )

    • @BasicTruths
      @BasicTruths Před rokem +10

      Theine is another name for caffeine. Theanine is a different molecule entirely.

  • @sarahskileth6925
    @sarahskileth6925 Před rokem +50

    "caffeine makes your brain go zoom"
    Me: "caffeine makes my heart go boom"

    • @redfieldwong717
      @redfieldwong717 Před rokem +4

      True. I stay away from it. You’re better off

    • @erinyes3943
      @erinyes3943 Před rokem +1

      If it helps any, that’s a reaction that isn’t dangerous and will usually decrease with time

    • @sarahskileth6925
      @sarahskileth6925 Před rokem +1

      @@erinyes3943 it actually started when i was older and is getting worse actually.

    • @sarahskileth6925
      @sarahskileth6925 Před rokem +1

      @TwinTurbo Ray i avoid caffeine like the plauge. Which is surprisingly hard to do actually.

    • @CatFish107
      @CatFish107 Před 3 měsíci

      Or, if you have the right kind of neurological quirk, it might make your brain go zzzzzzz, or barely function. (laughs in ADHD)

  • @TragoudistrosMPH
    @TragoudistrosMPH Před rokem +25

    The Adenosine explanation was cool and unexpected!

  • @user-yw9mw9hv8o
    @user-yw9mw9hv8o Před rokem +22

    Another very nice plant episode, they're the very basis of many ecosystems! Can't wait for the next time you share one.

  • @J_K944
    @J_K944 Před rokem +23

    When I worked in a coffee roasters in college I had to inform new customers of Kaldi's story anytime I sold them our Kaldi's blend, which is ironic that we would name a blend after Kaldi as they would have just been using a single sourced bean.

  • @idiosyncraticat4554
    @idiosyncraticat4554 Před rokem +262

    It would be very interesting to learn about how the poppy plant began to produce opium and why? Was there a need or advantage of the opium or just a byproduct?

    • @thefisherking78
      @thefisherking78 Před rokem +36

      Yeah lol it's a natural neurotoxin.

    • @terranovarubacha5473
      @terranovarubacha5473 Před rokem +30

      Fun fact: casein, a protein in milk, turns into an opioid in our bodies. That's why we like cheese so much

    • @ElectronFieldPulse
      @ElectronFieldPulse Před rokem +50

      @@terranovarubacha5473 - Your last sentence is pure conjecture and isn't supported by any science.

    • @HHLucifer666
      @HHLucifer666 Před rokem +39

      @@ElectronFieldPulse source: i am not this person and I like cheese

    • @johnsmith-ht3sy
      @johnsmith-ht3sy Před rokem +8

      @@ElectronFieldPulse A lot of myths in here.

  • @jaredsmith6328
    @jaredsmith6328 Před rokem +61

    That caffeinated "species of North American holly" is called Yaupon. It's native to the Southeast and is commercially available as "Yaupon Tea" from various sellers online. I strongly recommend it for North American viewers as an alternative to shipping tea leaves across the globe.

    • @andersjjensen
      @andersjjensen Před rokem +5

      Unless it tastes precisely like tea you're probably going to meet some resistance. For some strange reason we seem to be ultra-traditionalists when it comes to our drugs addictions :P

    • @lyreparadox
      @lyreparadox Před rokem +2

      Thank you, I was wondering what that was.

    • @arooobine
      @arooobine Před rokem +1

      It tastes better than traditional tea imo. Unfortunately it's also much more expensive, probably only because it's niche.

    • @monicaluketich3106
      @monicaluketich3106 Před rokem +2

      In east and Central Texas, yaupon bushes/trees grow as weeds. My woods is full of them. I have goats to help clean up the undergrowth, and they will stand up on their hind legs to get to the leaves. I then cut the bare branches off for firewood but leave the canopy there for the bees. Everyone is happy - slowly the woods is being cleared so I will have paths and areas for new treevgrowth, goats think it is candy, I get firewood and the bees get both nectar and pollen from yaupon.

  • @mentalrebllion1270
    @mentalrebllion1270 Před rokem +105

    7:55 I would say so considering that tea is the most consumed drink after water, statistically. And this is even after it has suffered drops in popularity in its history.
    On another note, caffeine also will react weirdly with adhd but, to my knowledge, this is fairly new research.

    • @stellarmagnus9999
      @stellarmagnus9999 Před rokem +30

      I was gonna say, I have adhd and I'm curious as to why caffeine doesn't seem to have much of an effect on me. Stimulants tend to make it easier for me fall asleep and make me calmer. I've found that citrus or anything acidic tends to do a better job at helping me stay awake than caffeine.

    • @infinitemonkey917
      @infinitemonkey917 Před rokem +1

      So do other stimulants.

    • @slwrabbits
      @slwrabbits Před rokem +15

      I'm pretty sure that for several years, I self-treated my ADHD with caffeine.

    • @rsullivan6738
      @rsullivan6738 Před rokem +7

      I have ADHD and Caffeine makes me feel drowsy and ill.

    • @tomfoolery5680
      @tomfoolery5680 Před rokem +6

      @@stellarmagnus9999 I was never diagnosed, but definitely have ADHD and any stimulant to which I have developed a tolerance doesn't stimulate at all. However, when I first start drinking or eating it it's like I'm shot out of a cannon. I've cut way down and only drink an occasional cup of coffee and I'm wound like an 8 day clock. If I were to resume drinking it regularly again by the third day it does nothing

  • @misanthropichumanist4782
    @misanthropichumanist4782 Před rokem +70

    So... we've had episodes on capsicum and caffine producers...
    How about one on chocolate, specifically?
    Also, Keep the food-related episodes coming! 👍🏻😁

  • @carolinacoreas7716
    @carolinacoreas7716 Před rokem +47

    Something I find interesting is how caffeine affects individuals with ADHD. I have ADHD and caffeine has never really given me an energy boost after the first time I tried it as a kid. I rarely ever drink soda, so I got my caffeine from coffee. I can usually sleep easily even when having drank more than my usual amount of caffeine. However, I still get the side effects of it such as an elevated heart rate, the laxative effect, and anxiety. I can be tired, but I get extreme anxiety if I drink too much coffee. Coffee has always been a sort of luxury drink for me because it tastes so good with creamer and sugar, and it's most likely for its stimulant effect of helping us produce more dopamine, which is something ADHD inhibits.

    • @adriennefloreen
      @adriennefloreen Před rokem +3

      That's interesting. I wake up shaking with my heart racing in the morning and drink coffee to feel calm and awake. And energy drinks like Red Bull don't get me very wired. Actually a few nights ago I woke up around 3am, couldn't find anything to drink but a Red Bull, so I drank one and went back to bed for a few more hours. Do I have ADHD? Probably I guess, I am quite a hyper person.

    • @carolinacoreas7716
      @carolinacoreas7716 Před rokem +8

      @@adriennefloreen so, the thing is, not all people with ADHD fit the stereotypical image of a hyper person. In fact, the most common subtype of ADHD in women is the inattentive subtype. However, some things affect most people with ADHD in similar ways regardless of which subtype they have. The condition itself has to do with the low production of dopamine and epinephrine, but mostly dopamine, which impacts one's executive function.
      The fact that you wake up shaking and the only thing that can calm you down and be awake is caffeine sounds more like symptoms of withdrawal. So it has less to do with the probability that you have ADHD and more with the probability that you're addicted to caffeine and your body undergoes moderate withdrawal symptoms when your caffeine levels run low.

    • @adriennefloreen
      @adriennefloreen Před rokem +3

      @@carolinacoreas7716 I am actually probably like most men with ADHD, I am constantly doing things and getting distracted and doing other things. I have a heart condition where my heart always races so I don't really know how much is physical caused by that. They gave me Ritalin one time as a teen and I took one pill and never took it again, I felt like I was high on a drug, I do not recommend that, most people I have known with ADHD seem to do better self medicating themselves with coffee or marijuana or just being very busy people. Curiously do you have a opposite reaction to valium where it makes you wired not tired and relaxed because I do. Very badly. The last time they gave me valium they had to give me some other medication to counteract the shaking and racing heart rate it caused.

    • @carolinacoreas7716
      @carolinacoreas7716 Před rokem

      @@adriennefloreen I still haven't been treated with stimulants as I've been recently diagnosed and I've started on bupropion and atomoxetine. I don't know how I'd react to stimulants, but considering I'm still not seeing much of an improvement with atomoxetine, I may need to start on a stimulant at some point in the future. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to get it prescribed in my state, so I have very low hopes that I'll get the medications that I need to normally function.

    • @adriennefloreen
      @adriennefloreen Před rokem

      @@carolinacoreas7716 What state? In California they made it nearly impossible to get pain medication. I had to sign a form saying I wouldn't ask for it to go to a dentist, and when you go to the ER they ask you if you hurt yourself to get pain medicine.

  • @johnquach8821
    @johnquach8821 Před rokem +25

    This is interesting!
    Maybe "Why Nautiloids/Nautiluses survived but Ammonites didn't?"

  • @romxxii
    @romxxii Před rokem +59

    I love how plants produce chemicals entirely for their own benefit that end up creating an entirely different chemical reaction in humans. We then cultivate these plants, making them grow and proliferate more than the chemical's intended purpose ever could. And this isn't just for caffeine-bearing plants, too. Capsaicin in chili was made to deter all pests but birds, where the seeds pass through their digestive tracts unharmed. We said "nah, we like the burn", and proceeded to spread the chili further than any bird could.
    And it's not just plants we cultivate for food, either. There's cannabis and tobacco, which are billion-dollar industries.

    • @sapphirII
      @sapphirII Před rokem

      I was told the scent of basil is of a similar use. A compound to deter pests and we're just like "umm fragrant! I'll add it to my dish!"

  • @christophmahler
    @christophmahler Před rokem +1

    Neat episode.
    Narratives that relate species to another, not by genetics, but in complex patters of evolutionary _functions_ are arguably the most fascinating - and most challenging to produce since many different fields are to be taken into account.

  • @joebaumgart1146
    @joebaumgart1146 Před rokem +4

    I used to have a caffine and alcohol addiction. Now I'm 2 weeks in to drinking nothing but water. I feel so much freer now.

  • @xubluetree86
    @xubluetree86 Před rokem +9

    And this episode accompanies my morning coffee perfectly. Thanks Eons :)

  • @adamthompson4072
    @adamthompson4072 Před rokem +25

    Plants: I'm gonna create a deterrent that'll kill whatever tries to eat me.
    Humans: mmm, these beans make me jittery.
    And now I can't get through a day without it or I get a headache

    • @fungalcoffee
      @fungalcoffee Před rokem +3

      Caffeine withdrawal, fun times with evolutionary traps I know well.

    • @tinyjungle_
      @tinyjungle_ Před rokem +6

      I think it's a genius long-term strategy to gradually agitate the human species and keep them sleep deprived until they annihilate themselves. Plants are cool.

    • @KianaWolf
      @KianaWolf Před rokem +7

      And now coffee has a species devoted to ensuring the plant's survival and propagation.

    • @adamthompson4072
      @adamthompson4072 Před rokem +3

      @@KianaWolf just like peppers. The plants outsmarted us again

    • @dannybrown5744
      @dannybrown5744 Před rokem

      Like mosquito

  • @thomsen256
    @thomsen256 Před rokem +1

    I love this series so much. Every video is different educational and plain fascinating.

  • @halfabeet
    @halfabeet Před rokem +6

    this was legitimately incredibly interesting and informative, thanks!

  • @rafaelrenno
    @rafaelrenno Před rokem +24

    Amazing episode specially when I've been studying to produce coffee in my property. Thanks a lot for this gift! :)

  • @Angel-Kitten
    @Angel-Kitten Před rokem +47

    I'm one of those people who doesn't feel caffeine effect, it doesn't cheer me.
    It would be interesting to know more about it.

    • @sa.8208
      @sa.8208 Před rokem +3

      wow how unique and special

    • @Crimson54
      @Crimson54 Před rokem +6

      It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. As someone who starts to stutter with caffeine, I don’t drink it anymore, but when I did, it’s not like I went from 60% energy to 80% it’s more like if you’re at 60% it’ll go to like 65% with a cup. Plus the feel goodness of a warm drink adds a placebo. Excluding espresso shots that is. You also have to poop about an hour after your cup.

    • @TragoudistrosMPH
      @TragoudistrosMPH Před rokem +10

      There at least 2 identified genes related to that. One is like a resistance to caffeine's effect and the other makes some metabolize it more quickly (this lessening the effect).
      I forget how the first works, exactly, but the latter I remember more clearly.
      Caffeine does little to me, so I don't bother with it.

    • @infinitemonkey917
      @infinitemonkey917 Před rokem +10

      Maybe you have that same bacteria in your gut as the beetle.

    • @brothermine2292
      @brothermine2292 Před rokem +4

      So, do you mean that you would sleep just as well if you drank a few cups of coffee before going to bed?
      I wouldn't say coffee "cheers me," but it makes me a little more wakeful and I think that improves my concentration.
      On summer mornings, instead of hot coffee I often add a teaspoon of instant coffee to a cold cup of chocolate almond milk. I like the taste too... coffee ice cream is one of my favorite ice creams (but I rarely eat ice cream).

  • @bennubyrd
    @bennubyrd Před rokem

    It's so amazing... to actually think of plants performing this task, in real time, on a microscopic level! Being able to have a general understanding of this process is truly humbling. And just to think of how many iterations are necessary to result in one threshold dose of caffeine...! Like what

  • @mirrorblue100
    @mirrorblue100 Před rokem +1

    As always - an excellent program from Eons - thanks.

  • @jalex4251
    @jalex4251 Před rokem +13

    I want caffeinated avocado trees.

  • @robertanderson5092
    @robertanderson5092 Před rokem +7

    Caffeine, sugar, and dairy are the three food groups

  • @charleslord2433
    @charleslord2433 Před rokem +2

    Of course I watched this while drinking coffee! 😄
    Love EONS!!!

  • @slomari
    @slomari Před rokem +4

    I love this! Id love a video on cotton's evolution because it's very interesting to me that the plant developed those fibers in the first place for humans to selectivly breed longer fibers

    • @Dragrath1
      @Dragrath1 Před rokem +2

      Yeah though the fibers are actually a pretty common example of convergent evolution for wind based seed dispersal from dandelions, to milkweed and willows there are quite a few plants which produce these and wildlife takes full advantage of these fibers especially birds which use the fluff as nesting material. Humans just selected for plants which had seeds that had too many fibers to disperse effectively.

  • @infinitemonkey917
    @infinitemonkey917 Před rokem +9

    It's the convergent evolution in different plants on different continents that makes it interesting. I guess DMT is another example.

  • @jamaririptoe8555
    @jamaririptoe8555 Před rokem +6

    I love Ethiopian coffee culture. By far the strongest and best coffee and ways of drinking it. Absolutely perfect 🥰

  • @arkiisan
    @arkiisan Před rokem +2

    Now that’s an answer to a question I never knew I needed the answer for

  • @stankthatank7074
    @stankthatank7074 Před rokem +1

    I was expecting solid work but this episode really surprised me in how fascinating that inconspicuous title turned out to be
    🤘🙏

  • @arthuryu6602
    @arthuryu6602 Před rokem +11

    Question is something I never thought about, but definitely would want the answer to.

  • @Jop_pop
    @Jop_pop Před rokem +11

    Eons drinking game: Take a shot every time they say "evolutionary arms race"

    • @hafizqayib6486
      @hafizqayib6486 Před rokem +1

      Take two when they say "convergent evolution" 🙂

    • @Jop_pop
      @Jop_pop Před rokem +1

      @@hafizqayib6486 oh no I wouldn't make it out alive...

    • @fallinginthed33p
      @fallinginthed33p Před rokem +1

      If it's a shot of espresso, I'd be halfway to the moon by now.

    • @hafizqayib6486
      @hafizqayib6486 Před rokem

      @@Jop_pop 🤣

    • @hafizqayib6486
      @hafizqayib6486 Před rokem

      @@fallinginthed33p Way to go

  • @Meg-zf7qx
    @Meg-zf7qx Před rokem +2

    Loved this video; as a barista I’m gonna use this info a conversation starter!

  • @justalonesoul5825
    @justalonesoul5825 Před rokem +1

    "Grumpy, tired, hairless apes"
    Yup, that seems to sum it up pretty well! *winces and returns to his cup of black nectar*

  • @shuunosukesato4379
    @shuunosukesato4379 Před rokem +7

    Ooohhh. This came at the right time as I am drinking my morning coffee.

  • @simonmuschamp4582
    @simonmuschamp4582 Před rokem +5

    Literally drinking coffee whilst watching. Life would certainly be much bleaker without it. Another great video. 👍

    • @redfieldwong717
      @redfieldwong717 Před rokem

      Not true at all. I think you’re just addicted. (Saying non aggressively)

    • @simonmuschamp4582
      @simonmuschamp4582 Před rokem

      @@redfieldwong717 Oh there's no disputing that! Lol

  • @Zei33
    @Zei33 Před rokem +2

    Really quite a good example of how Eons is about the mysteries of the past rather than just dinosaurs. I like it a lot.

  • @Thejosiphas
    @Thejosiphas Před rokem +1

    this is one of the more well-researched & mindblowing videos on here really excellent job to all involved!!!!!

    • @cattnipp
      @cattnipp Před 9 měsíci

      doesn't take much to impress you.

    • @Thejosiphas
      @Thejosiphas Před 9 měsíci

      @@cattnipp stop being an ashole

  • @Romanticoutlaw
    @Romanticoutlaw Před rokem +41

    personally, I like to believe that people just randomly ate things and if they had mind altering or tasty properties, we kept consuming it

    • @MrNeboff
      @MrNeboff Před rokem +3

      Me too. There are theories of how this lead to our brains evolving . One of them I believe is called stoned ape theory m

  • @SuperManning11
    @SuperManning11 Před rokem +32

    Fascinating! The presenter is so wonderful-I could listen to her talk about science for hours on end. She must be a fantastic teacher!

    • @des8893
      @des8893 Před rokem +4

      Indeed, they are a teacher.

    • @nirodper
      @nirodper Před rokem +3

      the narration is awful, the others are much better

    • @mikeblair2594
      @mikeblair2594 Před rokem +1

      @@nirodper Why?

    • @rickkwitkoski1976
      @rickkwitkoski1976 Před rokem +1

      @Stephen Smith
      She is a professor and researcher at a university in California. And not in Biology or Biochemistry.

    • @itzakehrenberg3449
      @itzakehrenberg3449 Před rokem

      @@des8893 They? Is there more than one person we are talking about?

  • @Radi0ActivSquid
    @Radi0ActivSquid Před rokem

    I love this channel so much. Has Eons ever shown up to a convention or something?

  • @anirbanmaitra6051
    @anirbanmaitra6051 Před 4 měsíci

    I was reading plant defense against herbivores in my Ecology class and this video has made me fall in love with the subject!

  • @tinyjungle_
    @tinyjungle_ Před rokem +25

    This makes me think about the "plants are poison" people who claim eating any plants is toxic to humans. The most ironic thing about them is the vast majority of them depend on caffeine to get through the day.

    • @Meraxes6
      @Meraxes6 Před rokem

      Lol what idiots believe that?

    • @matthewswift4510
      @matthewswift4510 Před rokem +14

      I've literally never heard of this. Please show me to these people so I can point and laugh at them

    • @tinyjungle_
      @tinyjungle_ Před rokem +3

      @@matthewswift4510 they often call themselves carnivores

    • @matthewswift4510
      @matthewswift4510 Před rokem +8

      @@tinyjungle_ I've heard of carnivore diet and people that think like "plants are rabbit food" but literally saying these green things are toxic, I've never heard of that

    • @tinyjungle_
      @tinyjungle_ Před rokem +1

      @@matthewswift4510 it's definitely a niche genre. That said, you might be surprised how many people believe it and promote it.

  • @jamesraymond1158
    @jamesraymond1158 Před rokem +8

    Fascinating subject. Similar stories can be told for all the spices and many drugs (e.g., scopolamine) which evolved to repel herbivores. PBS Eons is the best science channel on CZcams. It is far better than Nova.

  • @jonathanlabrecquepoirier6615

    Not only your my favorite eons person, this video is really awesome ! ❤️

  • @thomasratliff9278
    @thomasratliff9278 Před rokem

    Thank you. Another wonderful presentation.

  • @joewalsh1054
    @joewalsh1054 Před rokem +5

    Ethiopian Yirgacheffe is my favorite coffee. It's very fruity and slightly tart. It isn't bitter at all. There are other coffees i like as well, including blends but it is my favorite

    • @cattnipp
      @cattnipp Před 9 měsíci

      how's it on stains?

  • @emancoy
    @emancoy Před rokem +53

    We are drinking this toxic insecticide for centuries and we love it!

    • @fallinginthed33p
      @fallinginthed33p Před rokem

      We pay good money to drink a tasty toxin.

    • @redfieldwong717
      @redfieldwong717 Před rokem

      Yes but I believe that’s why America has the worst heart problems of any nation.

    • @emancoy
      @emancoy Před rokem +8

      @@redfieldwong717 that and their obesity problems

    • @bengsynthmusic
      @bengsynthmusic Před rokem

      But alcohol is cool though right?

  • @ryanrex297
    @ryanrex297 Před rokem +2

    What a great episode y’all.

  • @nougan_gamer
    @nougan_gamer Před rokem +4

    I love coffee, few cups per day, but I'm still a powerful mosquito detector - I'm always the 1st one getting bitten. I guess (sadly) caffeine is not a pesticide against mosquitoes then... 😅

  • @vrushabhbhaskar1348
    @vrushabhbhaskar1348 Před rokem +7

    In school, we had a chapter in our Hindi literature subject on The Shepard's story discovering coffee berries. It was elaborate and beautiful. I remember the smile on our teacher's face when she came to the part of the Shepard discovering the smell of the roasting coffee.
    Teachers are our one of the first storytellers indeed.

  • @RIPvizzini
    @RIPvizzini Před rokem +1

    🙏 A new Eons dropping as soon as I'm out of therapy and am in need of some brain comfort

  • @pheebs887
    @pheebs887 Před rokem

    Loved this video! Here's something I'm curious about, How did Cacti and Succulents evolve? Are there any fossils?

  • @tj3056
    @tj3056 Před rokem +11

    Hi Eons team, I'd love to see a video on the evolution of dingoes. I'm curious to learn more about where they came from and whether they were domesticated by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It would also be interesting to see an episode on thylacines and Tasmanian devils

    • @EricRoberts2112
      @EricRoberts2112 Před rokem

      And why they steal babies lol

    • @theairstig9164
      @theairstig9164 Před rokem +3

      Wild dogs ate all the devils and Tasmanian tigers on the mainland. The dingo is genetically related to the Asiatic wolf and has lived in Australia for about 4000 years. Therefore they did not arrive by land bridge. They arrived by boat with people.
      The 4000 years comes from measuring the genetic mutations from the Asiatic wolf then dividing these by the average breeding age of the animal

  • @toonses4300
    @toonses4300 Před rokem +7

    To give humans a reason to live.

  • @jakepschirrer9150
    @jakepschirrer9150 Před rokem

    Great information. Thank you. (As I'm sipping a dark roast). Cheers.

  • @soslothful
    @soslothful Před rokem

    It would be interesting to see a similar presentation on soporifics and intoxicants.

  • @TheKaneECO
    @TheKaneECO Před rokem +9

    According to some research it's apparently much better to drink coffee about 90 minutes after you wake up opposed to right away. This was you avoid a crash later.
    The reason is that in the morning you have a lot of adenosine in your brain so by blocking the receptors all of it just sits there waiting to bind to the receptors when the caffine wears off.
    Giving yourself an hour or so allows the left over adenosine to bind and wear off so you don't crash super hard when it kicks in later all at once.

  • @nitzan3782
    @nitzan3782 Před rokem +27

    The Kaldi story seems so simplistic and to-the-point I'm inclined to believe it. Random goat shepherd stumbling into coffee by accident is 100% believable to me.

    • @thorium222
      @thorium222 Před rokem +8

      yes, certainly beats the " and then a god came down from heaven and brought a gift to humanity" in the believability department. :D

  • @andybeans5790
    @andybeans5790 Před rokem

    I still have a cortado each morning before training, but drink decaf at any other time. My caffeine addiction was driving my anxiety, but I was drinking coffee to deal with my undiagnosed spectrum issues, which was made worse by the anxiety.
    Getting off that rollercoaster after 20 years has been a major turning point in my life, I recommend it to anyone, especially if you're suffering anxiety.

  • @gregorysagegreene
    @gregorysagegreene Před rokem +2

    Fascinating. The fact that 'chemical evolution' can separately evolve alternate convergent pathways to the same end, which then gets 'selected' at the macro-eukaryote organism level, is a strong indicator of the sheer vastness of 'deep time'. On the underpinning molecular drivers, Darwin's mind would be blown.

  • @gavinjones3933
    @gavinjones3933 Před rokem +12

    Weird how there aren’t any caffeine producing mushrooms (so far as I know - correct me if wrong). Alkaloids are pretty common in the fungus world, so you’d have thought one would’ve hit on caffeine.

    • @juanausensi499
      @juanausensi499 Před rokem +7

      Probably they don't have the same chemical precursors as plants. But they have they own version of everything, so probably there is a mushroom out there that doesn't make caffeine but something that acts similar.

    • @regorflora7915
      @regorflora7915 Před rokem +8

      No nees for shrooms to produce coffeine. They have something better

    • @saferugdev8975
      @saferugdev8975 Před rokem +3

      not sure if its just me, but taking small amounts of magic mushrooms has a very very similar effect on my brain as coffee. the effect being a clear mind and high concentration. besides that i am very sure that there has been, at least at some point, a mushroom producing caffeine, as there are literally millions of mushroom subspecies, of which we have only discovered around 1%

  • @lDemonAngel
    @lDemonAngel Před rokem +6

    Life without coffee would be no fun

  • @refsmithy
    @refsmithy Před rokem +1

    "Grumpy, tired, hairless ape"...
    Me relying on caffeine to get me through Monday because I'm grumpy and tired... the story checks out!

  • @neub4321
    @neub4321 Před rokem

    Informative - he says while sipping his coffee. I almost didn't recognize the narrator after her makeover.

  • @anyawillowfan
    @anyawillowfan Před rokem +13

    What I find most fascinating is the plants you mention are all bitter tasting. In general it makes sense to avoid anything naturally bitter because it's a sign of danger/poison (obviously not all the time, but it could be argued caffeine is dangerous due to preventing the body feeling tired, as well as addiction), yet humans choose foods like coffee and chocolate, often adding a lot of dairy and sugar to make it palatable. I would love to see a video about how and why we learned to prepare certain foods in different ways.

    • @CatFish107
      @CatFish107 Před 3 měsíci +1

      Caffeine in a dose equivalent to filling your stomach with chewed tea leaves would probably have some severe negative effects on a human, or other mammals. It is quite interesting how we've adapted various plants and preparation methods to make them edible.

  • @ridiculous_gaming
    @ridiculous_gaming Před rokem +3

    After years of headaches and being a caffeine slave, I quit caffeine 3 weeks ago and endured the headaches and hungover feelings. This is a bad product that abuses your adrenaline gland, and releases too much cortisol.

  • @aarondilley5266
    @aarondilley5266 Před rokem

    I would love to see reference links in the description to learn more about things you quote instead of a just "one study" put a link to the study please, These are great summaries it would be nice to be able to do a deeper dive on some of this

  • @eliletts8149
    @eliletts8149 Před rokem

    Very interesting and informative!

  • @loverdeadly6128
    @loverdeadly6128 Před rokem +4

    Is coffee and tea in danger of over cultivation like other cash crops are?

  • @unknown39778
    @unknown39778 Před rokem +4

    Very interesting, I'm curious to know what it is exactly that prevents some people from being affected by caffeine like most.

    • @VioletWhirlwind
      @VioletWhirlwind Před rokem +4

      If anything, caffeine makes me sleepier...so yeah, I'm curious about that, too.

    • @blackwingrabbit1980
      @blackwingrabbit1980 Před rokem

      caffeine makes me sleepy as well far as coffee , chocolate doesn’t though I was told that caffeine in coffee can make someone that hyper active tired.

  • @marcbelisle5685
    @marcbelisle5685 Před rokem +2

    I'd love to see a video on the evolution of spider webs, PBS Eons.

  • @davidgrech4574
    @davidgrech4574 Před rokem

    Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise and I hope you know how much I appreciate your channel 🙏🌎

  • @kevinsmith5489
    @kevinsmith5489 Před rokem +7

    Fascinating to learn it independently evolved multiple times. Convergent evolution always make me wonder whether that means these traits are so useful, that maybe they even exist in life forms on other planets as well. Like blood.

  • @clearmenser
    @clearmenser Před rokem +8

    Not me. It gives me headaches and digestive issues. Must be I'm turning into a beetle.

    • @lyrimetacurl0
      @lyrimetacurl0 Před rokem

      Only when you DON'T have it 😂😂😂

    • @Genzafel
      @Genzafel Před rokem

      Kafka its that you?

    • @chimeremnmaozioko17
      @chimeremnmaozioko17 Před měsícem

      Caffeine does promotes the release of gastric, which promotes secretion of hydrochloric acid

  • @melaniabladeofmiquella

    I just love everything about this channel

  • @dosadnizub
    @dosadnizub Před rokem +1

    Thank you for showing more of plant evolution!!!

  • @ReesieandLee
    @ReesieandLee Před rokem +5

    It’s almost 100° and 4 PM but I’m sitting outside drinking hot coffee ☕️

  • @limalicious
    @limalicious Před rokem +5

    I would love to know why caffeine affects people with ADHD differently sometimes. It makes me sleepy instead!

    • @NadarCosainAmber
      @NadarCosainAmber Před rokem +1

      Same!

    • @VioletWhirlwind
      @VioletWhirlwind Před rokem +1

      same here!

    • @LatrinaDeshawntey
      @LatrinaDeshawntey Před rokem

      so quirky and unique

    • @notnormalyet
      @notnormalyet Před rokem +2

      @@LatrinaDeshawntey What's your problem? This is the second time you've commented this.

    • @Hyenalowena
      @Hyenalowena Před rokem +1

      Ultra simplistic version: it's because caffeine is a stimulant, and stimulants affect the production of dopamine, which helps control focus and calmness. People with ADHD have dopamine regulation problems. So instead of making you more peppy, caffeine is helping to level things out to make you feel more chill.

  • @Zett76
    @Zett76 Před rokem

    6:12
    "and once we've tried it [...], we keep coming back for more"
    Such a beautiful smile, while saying: yes, this will make you addicted...

  • @marcelovolcato8892
    @marcelovolcato8892 Před rokem

    I owe this man a lot. Thanks, Kaldi!

  • @StayCoolKeto
    @StayCoolKeto Před rokem +12

    *Never been this early! I need a coffee lol* 💪👍

  • @damomo13
    @damomo13 Před rokem +6

    Wow it's almost like it is addictive 🤔

    • @sitokiaba5404
      @sitokiaba5404 Před rokem +3

      Nearly everyone in this comment section is a drug addict but to deluded to admit it.

    • @damomo13
      @damomo13 Před rokem +1

      @@sitokiaba5404 For real lol
      I have always hated coffee, but imagine making caffeine illegal alongside marijuana. Lol I don't think the world's governments would last too long after that 😆

    • @sitokiaba5404
      @sitokiaba5404 Před rokem +1

      @@damomo13 I don't disagree with taking coffee for a purpose. It just annoys me that most people look down on people who take other drugs (marijuana, psychedelics, etc...), whilst happily smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, and take multiple cups of coffee a day just to get through.

  • @tomhubertemail
    @tomhubertemail Před 8 měsíci

    I could watch Eons all day. Thank you.

  • @hannsbendula542
    @hannsbendula542 Před 4 měsíci

    As an agriculture student majoring in entomology this information is really interesting

  • @Nefville
    @Nefville Před rokem +4

    It amazes me what chemicals we as a society generally agree are okay and which are not. And its almost completely arbitrary.

    • @correllbh
      @correllbh Před rokem +3

      It's definitely not completely arbitrary

    • @bengsynthmusic
      @bengsynthmusic Před rokem +1

      It's based on which crony corporations are bribing politicians.

    • @Nefville
      @Nefville Před rokem

      @@bengsynthmusic 100% agree.