New research reveals the primate origins of alcohol consumption—and how a single boozy mutation may have helped give rise to social complexity and large-scale civilizations.
As you discuss in Fluke, 'fig perception' is connected to us having superior vision. Does this enzyme tolerance we developed occur at the same branching off of the primate tree?
(You made me look up the Urban Dictionay's def. for "scrumping". At 6:20 a.m. Thank you, I think.
Besides, 'scrumpy' et al, the German word schrimpen just has to be responsible for 'shrimp', yes?)
Alcohol and civilization. A reason to settle in place; an opportunity to step outside of whatever was 'normal behaviour'....Like dreaming, alcohol use would have been one of primitive man's very few perceptions of an alternate reality/alternate feelings and notions. Once you experience Reality as being malleable, you are becoming open to...Religion.
So in the Edward O. Wilson, multi-level selection sense, we could say that the group selection level was greased by beerodiversity. [I’ll show myself out]
Michael Pollan’s thesis in his book Cooked is that cooking (over a fire, braising, fermenting, baking with yeast) allowed humans to outsource the digestive process (to cooking methods), thereby allowing them to extract calories and nutrition from foods that didn’t easily yield them when eaten. His section on beer was especially passionate, as I recall. It’s certainly more efficient to imbibe calories from a tankard of beer than scavenge for fermented berries on the ground.
Pollen is a journalist, not a natural scientist, but I enjoyed his take on it.
Facinating. I loved the lemurs, whose expressions were so much like my dog's when, in petting him, I hit some "sweet spot."
When I lived in Palo Alto I daily went through an intersection with El Camino. El Camino had in many places a wide median planted with bushes, and at this particular point the bushes had some kind of berries.
At the end of the berry season, flocks of birds went nuts, dive bombing cars and flying in erratic swoops. Normally they just did the usual bird things. I have no idea whether they have a gene that does neat things with ethanol, but they sure ACTED like they did.
This was over 50 year ago, and sadly can't remember what type of bird or what type of berry.
I’m not on Bluesky so am writing this here. With all due respect, it’s about what you said about Charlie Kirk. What you wrote is correct except for one word. Charlie Kirk was not a politician nor did he hold any kind of elected office. He was murdered, not assassinated. Rep Melissa Hortman was assassinated.
Humans do wonderful things. Humans do terrible things. I know Americans know booze was illegal one time in our history. We all reserve the right to get smashed. Please do not smash this right.
Fruit!
Where would we be without these delectables?
As you discuss in Fluke, 'fig perception' is connected to us having superior vision. Does this enzyme tolerance we developed occur at the same branching off of the primate tree?
(You made me look up the Urban Dictionay's def. for "scrumping". At 6:20 a.m. Thank you, I think.
Besides, 'scrumpy' et al, the German word schrimpen just has to be responsible for 'shrimp', yes?)
Alcohol and civilization. A reason to settle in place; an opportunity to step outside of whatever was 'normal behaviour'....Like dreaming, alcohol use would have been one of primitive man's very few perceptions of an alternate reality/alternate feelings and notions. Once you experience Reality as being malleable, you are becoming open to...Religion.
I will never again be able to think of drunken dancing as anything but “scrumping”.
😆 🤣
So in the Edward O. Wilson, multi-level selection sense, we could say that the group selection level was greased by beerodiversity. [I’ll show myself out]
A well foamed opinion!
Perfect!
From Neanderthals, to NASCAR, to the fine wines of the Nuovo riche... alcohol persists.
As Homer (Simpson) once said: "Alcohol! Both the problem AND the solution."
A toast to Brian! May all your Klassy readers weather life's storms in moderation, and be drunk in love and happiness!
🍻
Michael Pollan’s thesis in his book Cooked is that cooking (over a fire, braising, fermenting, baking with yeast) allowed humans to outsource the digestive process (to cooking methods), thereby allowing them to extract calories and nutrition from foods that didn’t easily yield them when eaten. His section on beer was especially passionate, as I recall. It’s certainly more efficient to imbibe calories from a tankard of beer than scavenge for fermented berries on the ground.
Pollen is a journalist, not a natural scientist, but I enjoyed his take on it.
“RUM played a huge role in the slave trade. We are all descendants of those DARK AND STORMY histories...”
*slow clap* 5/5 wordplay, Mr. Klaas.
Brian- thank you for your deep dive articles. Keep them coming.
Keeping up with our scary politics today can be chilling. Your articles give me enlightenment, satisfaction, and breath. NB
Facinating. I loved the lemurs, whose expressions were so much like my dog's when, in petting him, I hit some "sweet spot."
When I lived in Palo Alto I daily went through an intersection with El Camino. El Camino had in many places a wide median planted with bushes, and at this particular point the bushes had some kind of berries.
At the end of the berry season, flocks of birds went nuts, dive bombing cars and flying in erratic swoops. Normally they just did the usual bird things. I have no idea whether they have a gene that does neat things with ethanol, but they sure ACTED like they did.
This was over 50 year ago, and sadly can't remember what type of bird or what type of berry.
I’m not on Bluesky so am writing this here. With all due respect, it’s about what you said about Charlie Kirk. What you wrote is correct except for one word. Charlie Kirk was not a politician nor did he hold any kind of elected office. He was murdered, not assassinated. Rep Melissa Hortman was assassinated.
Seriously, Booze saves lives. No science will destroy this observation. THAT IS ALL I GOT.
How does this relate to the elephant in the room : alcoholism?
Humans do wonderful things. Humans do terrible things. I know Americans know booze was illegal one time in our history. We all reserve the right to get smashed. Please do not smash this right.