Grass Apes

Radiolab

This episode explores the profound, often overlooked role that grasses have played in shaping human evolution, diet, and sensory perception. Thr

Key takeaways

Grasses contain microscopic pieces of silicate, which act like tiny bits of glass to defend against overgrazing animals.
The expansion of global grasslands was driven by a cooling planet and decreasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

Main topics

Evolutionary history of grasses
Human dietary dependence on cereal crops

Notable quotes

If we ignore grass... we miss out on one of the most incredible stories of human history.

Conclusion

The episode offers a transformative perspective on a common plant, rev

Transcript preview

Speaker 6 (0:00) Hey, I'm Molly Webster from Radiolab, and I am in studio today with Anissa Vitsa, who is our assistant producer, but also a really amazing artist. And so we have her do a lot of our cool visuals for the show. And Anissa, you're here to talk about this awesome thing you just made for us. What is it? Speaker 5 (0:23) I have been wanting a Radiolab fanny pack slash crossbody bag for probably as long as I've worked here, but everyone hated the idea. And then some listeners asked us for it, and now all of a sudden everyone's finally ready to do my vision. You're vindicated. I'm vindicated. I will just Speaker 6 (0:41) say I am a good pairing for you on this fanny pack. promo because I love a fanny pack slash crossbody bag. So what does this one look like and how often will I use it? So I wanted to do Speaker 5 (0:52) some drawings that were Radiolab related. Okay. It's sort of like blue, almost woodblock print-like drawings of a couple recent, my favorite recent episodes. One of them is actually your episode, Speaker 6 (1:04) Molly. I made it. I did not know this. I made it onto the bag. Speaker 5 (1:08) Yes, you made it onto the bag. Which Speaker 6 (1:10) one? What was it? Speaker 5 (1:11) I feel like grass has become a huge part of our lives here in the office. Now I've learned more about grass than I ever possibly could have imagined and appreciated it more. So I wanted that to make it on the bag. And then I've also drawn a bird from Annie's Nigel episode, Nigel the Gannet. I just wanted these two things that have been little joyful Radiolab stories. Speaker 6 (1:33) I heard you paid extra for it. an interior pocket. Speaker 5 (1:36) Yes, we did. That was important to me. Kick it. Can't Speaker 6 (1:39) say that on the radio. If you want to get your hands on this finally, finally, we've got one fanny pack, please join The Lab, which is our membership program. Membership starts at just $7 a month, and it comes with extra perks like sponsor-free episodes, bonus content, members-only swag, this fanny pack, and lots more. And if you join Speaker 5 (1:59) The Lab now and get this crossbody bag, then I will be vindicated that people really do want a fanny pack. But more than that, really what you're doing. is you're helping us make Radiolab. Listener support is so, so central to what we do. We just made it through our first year without federal funding, thanks in large part to you, to people, individuals helping us. supporting us each month. Speaker 6 (2:22) It's totally true. Like individual donations let us get out into the field and report on that infamous moment when a reporter threw a shoe at former President George W. Bush. Or report on stuff like the resurgence of flesh-eating screw worms. That was a good one. We also just had our Holy Shivers episode about goosebumps. Basically, if you have learned something or been moved by Radiolab, in the last few months, or you just really love a fanny pack, please consider becoming a member of the Lab. It is easy, and it really does go a long way in making Radiolab possible. To Speaker 5 (2:57) become a member, go to radiolab.org slash join, or you can text LAB to 83763. That's 83763 to Speaker 6 (3:07) make your donation. Thank you in advance. Thank you, Anissa, for making this fanny pack. Of course. I can't wait to wear it. And now you get to listen to the show. Speaker 1 (3:19) Wait, you're listening? Okay. Alright. Speaker 4 (3:26) You're listening to Radiolab. Speaker 1 (3:29) Radiolab. From WNYC. Speaker 6 (3:38) Hey, I'm Molly Webster. This is Radiolab. And today's show is inspired by an invitation that I got last spring, which was essentially to tell a story for a park about parks. It was a little more complicated than that, but basically they were like, can you make a story out of the space that we're in? Which happened to be this shady glade. It had a lawn down the middle and trees around the side and rocks and things. So I looked around the space and I was like, okay, maybe there's something to do with mushrooms or, I don't know, squirrels. It's New York City. And as I was talking about these scintillating ideas with people, I started having a conversation with a horticulturist. And they said, you know what I think about all the time? Speaker 6 (4:34) Grass. And I completely ignored them because I thought, what could be interesting about grass? Then they started talking about how landscapers use grass and that grass is like an instrument that makes sound. And I felt myself get a little pulled toward grass, like maybe there was something there I Speaker 5 (4:55) wasn't seeing. Speaker 6 (4:56) So I wrangled producers Anissa Vitsa and Joe Strogatz to go out into the parks of New York City and ask people this question. What do you think about grass? Speaker 1 (5:07) What do I think about grass? Grass? Speaker 6 (5:10) You mean this grass? Speaker 5 (5:12) They got a lot of blank stares. Do you feel like it's a weird question to ask? That's all right. But... People had Speaker 6 (5:20) a lot to say. Speaker 3 (5:20) Let me think. In general, I would probably be thinking about... Speaker 6 (5:23) They talked about... Rolling around. Speaker 3 (5:25) Mowing lawns. My daughter. Speaker 6 (5:27) Grass memories. Speaker 3 (5:28) Playing catch. Girlhood. Speaker 6 (5:30) Feelings. Horses chewing it. Speaker 3 (5:33) Grass stains. Speaker 6 (5:34) Grudges. Their square teeth. Grind it. Grind it. Grind it up. I like all the trees, the shrubs, flowers. Random associations. The Speaker 3 (5:44) other type of grass comes to mind as well. I Speaker 6 (5:46) like the smell. But... No one. Feels Speaker 3 (5:49) great on