this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2023
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[–] wander1236@sh.itjust.works 28 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I thought the new theory is that capsaicin is for discouraging mold and fungal growth.

[–] jennwiththesea@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

Whoa, I had no idea! And apparently the research is being done at the best university in the world. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chemical-warfare-peppers-fight-fungus/

[–] niktemadur@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

I thought it was to facilitate the spread of seeds, by giving the eaters a loose and runny stomach, passing relatively quickly through the digestive tract.

[–] Moc@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Scientists applying evopsych to inanimate objects?

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

Depends on your how wrong your definition of inanimate is. Plants are alive and evolve. No psych motivations needed.

[–] kameecoding@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago
[–] Sheeple@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

It also kills insects!