In a recent article by Veronique Greenwood entitled Why bacteria, but not humans, can live on caffeine, the author informs readers of reasons why humans are not able to live one caffeine, and why some bacteria are.
In the article she states "the specific reason caffiene isn't an energy source for us, thus, is because we don't have the gear to digest derivatives further". Our bodies are just not able to do as much as we would like them to, and digesting caffiene is one of those things which is why we can't get energy from it.
Another quote in the article says, "...It possesses several enzymes that do things to caffiene that we can't. Specifically, it breaks down the two carbon and nitrogen rings at the molecules core." Basically, the bacteria is able to do more things with caffiene and get more nutrients out of it than humans can, making it possible for them to survive.
For those coffee lovers in the world, there is hope! "...We are a veritable rainforest when it comes to bacteria." We dont know for sure yet if we have the right bacteria in our body to digest caffeine, but our bacteria varies so much that it's very possible.
As many people have hoped, with more research scientists might one day make it possible to actually live on caffiene, that would definitely make a hyper society!
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