Why Does Caffeine Exist?

[@albatross4920]

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

[@mme.veronica735]

or to attract or ward off bigger animals

[@logandelacruz2152]

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

[@RDV-1996]

And in this case, both.

[@Crakinator]

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

[@brothermine2292]

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]

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]

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]

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

[@LithmusEarth]

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]

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]

And bless that man.

[@BrunoMontanhez]

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]

Kinda gross but cool!

[@crashmatrix]

That _is_ a fun fact

[@mikeblair2594]

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

[@nicholaslogan6840]

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

[@AlexanderRM1000]

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

[@claysparrows]

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

[@lyreparadox]

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

[@MemphiStig]

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

[@MossyMozart]

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

[@IrisGlowingBlue]

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

[@DieNextInLINE]

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]

Could've been Ayahuasca

[@chilliecheesecake]

@@keegentilley578 Dude weed lmao

[@keegentilley578]

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

[@ayoungethan]

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]

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)

[@Beryllahawk]

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]

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

[@madxD144]

@@swimdownx6365 k

[@akashsinha2880]

No caffeine for me.

[@salt-emoji]

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

[@Simplinalina]

@@salt-emoji best comment

[@islandsunset]

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]

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

[@a_e_hilton]

Those darn tea leaves, keeping it all to themselves!

[@ZombieBarioth]

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]

What if I mix tea and coffee together then?

[@Ryan-cb1ei]

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

[@majrminer]

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]

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

[@since2133]

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]

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]

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

[@RandomNirvanaSXE]

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

[@drangus3468]

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

[@kobrapromotions]

Sup

[@amelade]

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."

[@J_K944]

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.

[@CoolAsFreya]

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]

Humans love their -ines.

[@hanfred]

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

[@ain92ru]

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

[@hanfred]

@@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]

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

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

The Adenosine explanation was cool and unexpected!

[@radagastwiz]

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]

I needee that clarified. I was confused by the terms

[@thomicrisler9855]

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

[@kateapple1]

@@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]

@@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]

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

[@idiosyncraticat4554]

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]

Yeah lol it's a natural neurotoxin.

[@terranovarubacha5473]

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

[@ElectronFieldPulse]

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

[@HHLucifer666]

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

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

@@ElectronFieldPulse A lot of myths in here.

[@christinamann3640]

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

[@enckidoofalling2883]

And tea bags!

[@luukrutten1295]

yes it is quite effective

[@webby-pl1mn]

"makes our brains go zoom zoom" Epic quote

[@bluehydra4579]

Epic.... right....

[@josephharden5592]

Quackhead

[@romxxii]

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]

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!"

[@joebaumgart1146]

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.

[@aprilmingone3271]

I mainly drink water also and at times electrolyte drinks because of blood disorder because I can dehydrate faster than. A. Average person but I mainly drink just water too and I feel better than I did when I drank a 16 ounce latte everyday!

[@user-yw9mw9hv8o]

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

[@jaredsmith6328]

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]

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]

Thank you, I was wondering what that was.

[@arooobine]

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

[@monicaluketich3106]

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.

[@carolinacoreas7716]

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]

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]

@@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]

@@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]

@@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]

@@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.

[@protocetid]

caffeine: exists PBS Eons: “but why?”

[@lyrimetacurl0]

The best KZbin channel

[@misanthropichumanist4782]

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

[@laurajaneluvsbeauty9596]

Cacao was in this video

[@mentalrebllion1270]

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]

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]

So do other stimulants.

[@slwrabbits]

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

[@rsullivan6738]

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

[@tomfoolery5680]

@@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

[@sarahskileth6925]

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

[@redfieldwong717]

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

[@erinyes3943]

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

[@sarahskileth6925]

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

[@sarahskileth6925]

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

[@CatFish107]

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

[@xubluetree86]

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

[@jamaririptoe8555]

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

[@johnquach8821]

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

[@GunnarMcGriff]

Yes!

[@reeyees50]

Different niche

[@TheKaneECO]

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.

[@anyawillowfan]

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]

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.

[@flybennu]

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

[@joewalsh1054]

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]

how's it on stains?

[@gregorysagegreene]

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.

[@robertanderson5092]

Caffeine, sugar, and dairy are the three food groups

[@Romanticoutlaw]

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]

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

[@Angel-Kitten]

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]

wow how unique and special

[@Crimson54]

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]

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]

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

[@brothermine2292]

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).

[@SuperManning11]

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]

Indeed, they are a teacher.

[@nirodper]

the narration is awful, the others are much better

[@mikeblair2594]

@@nirodper Why?

[@rickkwitkoski1976]

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

[@itzakehrenberg3449]

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

[@tinyjungle_]

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]

Lol what idiots believe that?

[@matthewswift4510]

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

[@tinyjungle_]

@@matthewswift4510 they often call themselves carnivores

[@matthewswift4510]

@@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_]

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

[@Zett76]

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...

[@arthuryu6602]

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

[@anirbanmaitra6051]

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

[@adamthompson4072]

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]

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

[@tinyjungle_]

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]

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

[@adamthompson4072]

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

[@dannybrown5744]

Like mosquito

[@ninjanerdstudent6937]

Farmers should use synthesized caffeine on their plants to deter pests.

[@jamesraymond1158]

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 KZbin. It is far better than Nova.

[@myxomatosisity9977]

Why aren't we using caffeine spray all over crops as an insecticide then? Paralyzes pests, encourages bees, easy to produce, natural... Honestly, why aren't we doing this?

[@cammiescorner]

apparently it's because it's hard to turn into a useable insecticide as a commercially viable product

[@infinitemonkey917]

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

[@Zei33]

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

[@Jalex92]

I want caffeinated avocado trees.

[@RibusPQR]

Nicotine is also an insecticide, but Capsaicin is a mammal deterrent, to allow birds exclusive access to the pepper seeds.

[@shuunosukesato4379]

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

[@ridiculous_gaming]

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.

[@vrushabhbhaskar1348]

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.

[@simonmuschamp4582]

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

[@redfieldwong717]

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

[@simonmuschamp4582]

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

[@rafaelrenno]

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

[@nitzan3782]

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]

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

[@emancoy]

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

[@fallinginthed33p]

We pay good money to drink a tasty toxin.

[@redfieldwong717]

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

[@emancoy]

@@redfieldwong717 that and their obesity problems

[@bengsynthmusic]

But alcohol is cool though right?

[@arkiisan]

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

[@toonses4300]

To give humans a reason to live.

[@lyrimetacurl0]

😂

[@lyrimetacurl0]

Music being the other reason.

[@justalonesoul5825]

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

[@lDemonAngel]

Life without coffee would be no fun

[@charleslord2433]

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

[@nougan_gamer]

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... 😅

[@spartan1121]

One of the side effects of watching all these Eons videos is that the phrase "as far back as a thousand years ago" now sounds more like "we found this stuff basically yesterday".

[@Nefville]

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

[@correllbh]

It's definitely not completely arbitrary

[@bengsynthmusic]

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

[@Nefville]

@@bengsynthmusic 100% agree.

[@christophmahler]

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.

[@gavinjones3933]

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]

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]

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

[@saferugdev8975]

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%

[@refsmithy]

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

[@NagasakiBladers]

this was legitimately incredibly interesting and informative, thanks!

[@eliseolopez2790]

Moringa, cilantro, tumeric, ginger, nettle sting tea,flax, Chia, sunflower seeds, nuts, butter

[@slomari]

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]

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.

[@andybeans5790]

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.

[@kevinsmith5489]

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.

[@JumpingFlapjack]

There are several studies that "prove or want to prove" that the economy would suffer a significant slump without morning coffee or similar drinks. When I look at my colleagues or other people in the morning before their first coffee and afterwards, I'm inclined to believe it!

[@PLAYERSLAYER_22]

it is a bad drug for society

[@Jop_pop]

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

[@hafizqayib6486]

Take two when they say "convergent evolution" 🙂

[@Jop_pop]

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

[@fallinginthed33p]

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

[@hafizqayib6486]

@@Jop_pop 🤣

[@hafizqayib6486]

@@fallinginthed33p Way to go

[@wezul]

Caffeine doesn't make me feel more awake, it just keeps me from falling asleep. I still feel just as tired, I just can't actually sleep. And then if I fail to consume caffeine again within a 20-24 hour window, I get withdrawl headaches. So I cut caffeine from my diet entirely a long time ago. Not too hard to do, since it never gave me the wakefulness that others use it for.

[@tj3056]

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]

And why they steal babies lol

[@theairstig9164]

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

[@JoseMolina-ij3xx]

In some cultures, Tobacco and Coca Leaves were also used as a stimulant, but they weren't caffeine.

[@sheenawarecki92]

A fun fact! Coffee and caffeine are good for the liver! Consumption of caffeine creates a chemical which at least slows growth of scar tissue on the liver and maybe even prevent or stop it! My liver specialist has me drinking coffee for my liver as I have non alcoholic fatty liver disease. I think she said it also helps with the elevated enzymes top but that I don't remember for sure lol 😂

[@BorderWise12]

I have never thought once as to why caffeine is a naturally-occurring thing, and I am so glad I now know. Cheers!

[@limalicious]

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

[@NadarCosainAmber]

Same!

[@VioletWhirlwind]

same here!

[@LatrinaDeshawntey]

so quirky and unique

[@notnormalyet]

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

[@Hyenalowena]

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.

[@TheBodiesInTheWaterBeckons]

Watching this while drinking Cappuccino. Caffeine is such a wonderful thing.

[@loverdeadly6128]

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

[@Erewhon2024]

Of course, people connected to the British East India company made sure the North American caffeinated holly got named "Ilex vomitoria." They didn't want their tea racket to get Colonial competition.

[@nunyabiznes33]

Someone should populatize it

[@davideleazar5721]

Qué pena que no haya entrado en el listado de plantas con cafeína la yerba mate, muy consumida en el Cono Sur de América. Que también tiene sus leyendas y su importancia ritual en la cultura guaraní, quiénes la habrían domesticado Lo que no quita que este sea un muy buen video como siempre Saludos desde Argentina

[@SebastianGrimthwayte]

Yerba mate is a plant species of the holly genus Ilex native to South America.

[@Sweet4chokoreeto]

Yerba mate is coffee on speed 🚅 I love it but I can't take too much of it without getting addicted and sleepless. Porque estoy escribiendo en inglés, que wea. Te quiero yerba mate 🧉

[@babaG819]

I've completely and inadvertently switched from coffee to Yerba mate. I started fermenting the leaves too. Very tasty.

[@AramatiPaz]

Mate counts as tea

[@CarlosChSa]

En el vídeo mencionan que hay varias especies en América del género "Holly", mejor llamado "Ilex" que producen cafeína. Hablan específicamente de "yaupon holly" (Ilex vomitoria) Yo creo que no quisieron mencionar cada una porque estas plantas si están fuertemente relacionadas entre sí (parte del mismo género, Yerba mate es Ilex paraguariensis), ya que parte del propósito del vídeo era hablar de la aparición de la molécula en especies de géneros no relacionados.

[@jbragg1001]

Rutgers has a massive caffeine molecule statue outside the chem department. Teachers and students alike worship caffeine as their savior

[@unknown39778]

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

[@VioletWhirlwind]

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

[@blackwingrabbit1980]

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.

[@iankrasnow5383]

I doubt people were using the coffee berry to make coffee initially. Coffee berries are sweet and tasty, and people would have enjoyed them fresh. They need to be dried for long term storage, which makes them ideal to make a "tea" out of.

[@nrsrymj]

IIRC caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug in the world.

[@pandoraeeris7860]

Close. Denial is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug in the world. Caffeine is a close second.

[@infinitemonkey917]

Tea is the 2nd most common beverage.

[@asmith8692]

Okay, did anyone else get a Mountain Dew commercial? One of the most caffeinated sodas ever?

[@raydonahue8304]

I'm a caffeine addict so I would love some insight

[@lavalianyuckstersthorazine2123]

Too bad us humans can't make our own caffeine in our own body that'd be well that will be cool because we don't have to drink coffee just wake up and have that caffeine in US

[@TheNinjaKiwi1]

Whenever I have caffeine, it’s always a Russian roulette. Sometimes I’m bouncing off the wall, sometimes I get sleepy, sometimes I feel sick to my stomach. Never pleasantly buzzed. I stay away from it

[@islandsunset]

So ... We can use the coffee residue from our coffee machine as a natural pesticide?

[@thangri-la]

Or it dopes them to give them more energy to destroy. Like the stimulation on the bees.

[@jasonsheridan2012]

I'm drinking coffee right now as I watch this.

[@gintasvilkelis2544]

What I've noticed: sometimes consuming caffeine has a strong energising effect, and other times exactly the same dose seems to have little or even no effect at all. And the time difference between the two can be as little as just a few hours. Is there an explanation to that? The times in question are morning thru mid-afternoon, when I need to be fully alert, but because of this phenomenon, I can't always count on caffeine doing the trick... It's a bit of a lottery instead of certainty.

[@notnormalyet]

You build a tolerance, just like any drug. Also, there are a lot of factors that can affect the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee or tea (age, temperature brewed, time brewed).

[@viviondioline]

I had a big smile on my face making coffee this morning because of this video

[@85jacob85]

Maybe some message about the harms of over-caffeination? It can be especially harmful to children and is a concern to me as a primary school teacher (and coffee drinker).

[@letsdothis9063]

Yup. I don't let my kids have any caffeine. I try to keep the sugar to a minimum, but they know how to break my resolve. I do most shopping in their absence.

[@jeffersonwright9275]

Love this video. Am double parked waiting for my wife to run an errand. By minute 2, couldn’t stand it any more, and quickly nipped into the cafe I’m in front of for a take-away cup of Joe!

[@desertdarlene]

Nicotine works the same way. It was originally a defense against insects.

[@calliarcale]

Ornithologists studying peregrine falcons living in New York City discovered that some of them had started collecting cigarette butts and using them to line their nests. They were initially horrified, of course, but then discovered that those birds had a much higher rate of chick survival. The nicotine in the cigarette butts was an effective insecticide, greatly reducing the rate of mites and other parasites that would otherwise attack the defenseless chicks. Last I heard, research was ongoing to see whether they suffered any negative effects (i.e. cancer).

[@marcbelisle5685]

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