Advertisement

Futureproof Extra: The Evolution of Deliciousness

Some flavour preferences seem to be with us from when we were kids, others develop over time as o...

Share this article

07.30 30 Mar 2021


Futureproof Extra: The Evolution of Deliciousness



Share this article

07.30 30 Mar 2021


Some flavour preferences seem to be with us from when we were kids, others develop over time as our palette changes, and then there are some foods, flavours, and tastes that have near universal appeal.

But why did our sophisticated taste receptors first evolve in the first place and what impact could that have had on the course of our evolutionary journey as a whole?

Dr Rob Dunn, Professor of Applied Ecology at North Carolina State University and co-author of ‘Delicious: The Evolution of Flavor and How It Made Us Human’ joined Jonathan to discuss.

Listen and subscribe to Futureproof with Jonathan McCrea on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

  

Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.

  

You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.


Read more about

Aroma Bitter Deliciousness Fermentation Flavour Food Fruit Futureproof Futureproof Extra Jonathan Mccrea Neanderthal Newstalk Rob Dunn Salt Smell Sour Spice Sweet Taste Umami

Related Episodes

Movies and TV: Emily in Paris,...

00:17:33

Movies and TV: Emily in Paris, Marty Supreme, Saipan

The Hard Shoulder

00:17:33


How has foreign direct investm...

00:15:12

How has foreign direct investment fared in 2025?

The Hard Shoulder

00:15:12


The Top Tech of 2025

00:33:47

The Top Tech of 2025

Tech Talk With Jess Kelly

00:33:47


Looking back on the key politi...

00:17:45

Looking back on the key political stories from 2025

The Hard Shoulder

00:17:45