Quote:
Originally Posted by fredtheobviouspseudonym
Key element -- remember that originally the human species was in the middle of the food chain -- our ancestors were basically snacks for cats. Fire changes this -- the Lion King doesn't like being burned and keeps his distance. [Actually the Lion Queen -- males don't hunt.] So build a fire, stay by it at night == and you will live longer in the Paleolithic.
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Other factors are that fire enables you to cook food, which increases the percentage of nutrients you can extract from some foods, and detoxifies others; and it opens the door to "firestick farming," which increases the productivity of many habitats.