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‘From Spices to Vices’: Evolutionary Biologist Noah Whiteman on Nature's Toxins

Beneath the surface of a coffee bean or a red pepper flake or a nutmeg seed — or any of the plants we rely on for medicine, food and drink — lie a "bevy of poisons," writes UC Berkeley evolutionary biologist Noah Whiteman. But the chemical compounds that treat our infections, spice up our meals and calm our nerves didn't evolve for our benefit. Instead, plants, fungi and even some small animals produce toxins to defend themselves against predators, attract pollinators and engage in battles of chemical warfare. We’ll talk about the biology and influence of “nature’s pharmacopeia” with Whiteman, whose new book is “Most Delicious Poison: The Story of Nature's Toxins — From Spices to Vices.” see more
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Rebroadcast: Elvis Costello's 'Unfaithful Music' Reveals A Life Lived in High Fidelity

Mina Kim
at 10:30 AM
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 (Mary McCartney)

Legendary musician Elvis Costello has commanded the stage for decades on the strength of hits like "Alison," "Watching the Detectives" and "Radio, Radio." "Songs are more powerful than books," he once said. Even so, the Grammy-winning musician has just published a new memoir, "Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink." In the book, he reflects on his complex relationship with his musician father, his early reputation as an angry young man and his high-profile collaborations with artists like Paul McCartney and George Jones.

Guests:

Elvis Costello, Grammy-winning musician, singer-songwriter and record producer; author of "Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink"

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