Michael Pollan Spills the Beans on the Caffeinated Brain
Chasing Life
The Defense Mechanism of Caffeine
A biologist at NASA once conducted an experiment where spiders were given psychoactive substances like LSD and caffeine. The spiders created defective webs, proving that chemicals like caffeine can help plants defend against spiders and other insects. This suggests that defense mechanisms may work by messing with the insect's mind rather than just poisoning it. Interestingly, some plants even produce caffeine in their nectar, which attracts insects.
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