The history of oils and animal fats in human civilization
Oils and animal fats have been with us since the first bonfires. But their roles have shifted constantly. From marrow scooped out of bones to global commodities that lit cities,…
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The science and history of caffeine: from ancient rituals to modern life
For most of human history, the sun dictated our rhythm. We rose with light and rested with darkness. Then came an invisible molecule that would fundamentally rewire our relationship with…
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The history of alcohol: fermentation, distillation, and human society
In our last exploration, we looked at how our ancestors mastered the invisible world of microbes to keep hunger at bay through fermentation. They learned to preserve milk, grain, and…
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The discovery of fermentation: humanity’s first biotechnology
One of humanity’s most brilliant discoveries emerged not in a laboratory, but in accident: fermentation. Imagine, for a moment, a nomadic traveler ten thousand years ago. In a pouch made…
