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The origin of the chew: When did we learn to eat like this?

NPR | By Ari Daniel

Published October 10, 2026 at 4:40 AM PDT

It's likely you've already chewed and swallowed some tasty morsel today. But when did that ability emerge? New evidence points to at least the middle Jurassic, back when dinosaurs still reigned.

Ari Daniel

Ari Daniel is a freelance contributor to NPR's Science desk.

See stories by Ari Daniel