What’s a Potato? A Nine-Million-Year-Old Tomato
The New York TimesThursday, July 31, 2025 at 3:09:05 PM
Scientists have uncovered a fascinating twist in the evolutionary history of some of our favorite foods—turns out, potatoes and tomatoes share a much deeper connection than we thought. A new study reveals that these staples split from a common ancestor roughly nine million years ago, long before humans existed. The research sheds light on how these plants adapted over millennia, eventually becoming the wildly different (but equally delicious) crops we know today.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a fun fact for trivia night—it’s a glimpse into how nature tinkers with life over mind-boggling timescales. Understanding these ancient splits helps scientists piece together how plants evolve to survive, which could be crucial for breeding more resilient crops in the face of climate change. Plus, who doesn’t love imagining a primordial proto-potato-tomato hybrid?
— Curated via WP Now’s
