How did the wild red jungle fowl become the modern-day chicken? Why did our human ancestors choose to domesticate this odd bird? When and where did it first happen? And what does any of this have to do with a chili pepper? Scientists are teaming up to answer these questions, with big hopes for impact on the future.
On a pepper-tasting and harvesting excursion across the U.S. and Mexico, a chef, an ethnobotanist, and an agroecologist find that our changing climate is altering peppers and affecting the people who pick them.
For our Geo Quiz, we're on the lookout for a city in southwest China known for its silk, teahouses and traditional spices. We're talking peppercorns, ginger and chili peppers. But new spices and western-style dishes are starting to appear around town.
As the winter months approach, we take a moment to explore the warm comfort of chili with New York Times food writer, Melissa Clark, and Bryant Terry, author of "Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy and Creative African-American Cuisine."