Ars Technica
3 months agoOMG science
Urban humans have lost much of their ability to digest plants
Cellulose is a key component of plant cell walls and dietary fiber, but its toughness makes it difficult for humans to extract calories from.
Humans host a mix of cellulose-eating bacteria, some from primate ancestry and others from domestication of herbivores, but urban living has reduced their numbers. [ more ]