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Why do we lack the instincts our ancestors had, e.g. telling you which foods are poisonous

Dr. Aris Thorne
Dr. Aris Thorne
Senior Science Editor · Jan 29, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

We still have them. Ever gone "EW" from spoiled food and decided not to eat it? Ever smelled something horrible and realized that it wasn't edible?

67
Words

1 min
Read Time

#202
of 500 in Everyday Life

+3%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

We still have them. Ever gone "EW" from spoiled food and decided not to eat it? Ever smelled something horrible and realized that it wasn't edible? The issue is that we've realized that there's a lot more items out there can that kill us, and notice it. Our ancestors would have just died from eating it, and then warned the surviving descendants to stay away from it.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Ever, realized, gone

This explanation focuses on ever, realized, gone and spans 67 words across 5 sentences. The depth is typical for Everyday Life questions (category average: 65 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “We still have them.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.

How This Compares in Everyday Life

Ranked #202 of 500 Everyday Life questions by answer depth (top 41%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why we lack the instincts our ancestors had, e.g. telling you which foods are poisonous?

We still have them. Ever gone "EW" from spoiled food and decided not to eat it? Ever smelled something horrible and realized that it wasn't edible? The issue is that we've realized that there's a lot more items out there can that kill us, and…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Everyday Life questions?

This is an above-average answer at 67 words, ranked #202 of 500 Everyday Life questions by depth. The key concepts covered are ever, realized, gone.

What approach does this answer take to explain we lack the instincts our ancestors had, e.g. telling you wh?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 67 words. It is categorized under Everyday Life and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.