food anthropology

Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, is a mainstay of genetics and biology labs.

National
Health & Safety

When And Where Fruit Flies First Bugged Humans

4:53pm December 06, 2018

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Drosophila melanogaster is a mainstay of genetics labs, but its wild origins have been mysterious. Scientists have now traced the pesky fly to a particular fruit — a human favorite 10,000 years ago.

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Why did humans start cultivating celery? It's low-calorie and, one might argue, low flavor. We asked some experts at the intersection of botany and anthropology to share their best guesses.

Science
Arts
Health & Safety

Celery: Why?

3:34pm June 13, 2016

by Natalie Jacewicz

Considering humans' millennia-long struggle with famine, it's surprising anyone spent time or resources cultivating low-calorie celery. But the vegetable's original use had nothing to do with food.

This gladiator tombstone was excavated in a cemetery for these ancient power athletes in what was once Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey.

Science
Arts
Health & Safety

Gladiator Gatorade? Ancient Athletes Had A Recovery Drink, Too

5:54pm November 04, 2014

by Maria Godoy

Gladiators guzzled a drink made from plant ash to help their bodies recover after a hard day of sword fighting, according to Roman accounts. New tests of old bones back up that idea.