Did Nubian brewers from 400AD engineer tetracycline into their beer?

[dzero]

Apparently, they did - Podcasts | Scientific American

Anthropologists know the Nubians were skilled brewers. Researchers now believe that the ancient brewmasters learned to purposely make their beer medicinal, by lacing it with grain contaminated with antibiotic-producing Streptomyces bacteria. Just imagine that prescription.

[Flander]

A gq post that answers itself. Neat.

[dzero]

@Flander

A gq post that answers itself. Neat.

Yes, a bit dishonest I admit. But it is still technically subject to debate. Also, there doesn’t seem to be a subforum for sharing interesting information. I know it would fit in Mundane, except it’s not really at all mundane. The same goes for some of the other categories.

But I’m open to suggestions since I come across these sorts of intriguing general (and not-so-general) interest articles all of the time.

[Flander]

I’m wondering if such a brew could be used to help treat alcoholics with infections without taking them off the sauce and causing withdrawals.
And where can I get a case?

[Colibri]

Since the OP is not really asking a question but answering one, this is better suited to MPSIMS than GQ.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

[Gary_Robson]

@dzero

Also, there doesn’t seem to be a subforum for sharing interesting information. I know it would fit in Mundane, except it’s not really at all mundane.

Actually, MPSIMS is precisely the forum you’re looking for, which is why Colibri moved your post here. Please take a moment to look at the main page of the SDMB, where you’ll find the following description of MPSIMS:

For general discussion: from frivolous chatter to deep thoughts; from harmless diversions to life-changing announcements.

[dzero]

[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:6, topic:553967”]

@dzero

Also, there doesn’t seem to be a subforum for sharing interesting information. I know it would fit in Mundane, except it’s not really at all mundane.

Actually, MPSIMS is precisely the forum you’re looking for, which is why Colibri moved your post here. Please take a moment to look at the main page of the SDMB, where you’ll find the following description of MPSIMS:

For general discussion: from frivolous chatter to deep thoughts; from harmless diversions to life-changing announcements.

[/quote]

I’m not trying to play games with the rules, but what if I had instead asked if ancient cultures had more advanced medicine than is commonly believed and provided this as an example?

In hindsight, that would have been a better choice since it would have stimulated more discussion. How would the mods have felt about something like that for example?

[Gary_Robson]

You’re welcome to ask however you wish, but the question determines the forum. If you’re stating a hypothesis and asking what people think of it, that goes in IMHO. If you have a position on the subject and wish to argue the point, it’s GD. If you’re making an observation about something you read, it’s MPSIMS. And if you have a question to which you’re seeking a definitive factual answer, it goes in GQ.