Who invented lawns? From Cretaceous grass to modern turf with That's Absurd Please Elaborate

Tiny Matters

Send us a Text Message.

This week, Sam and Deboki are joined by Trace Dominguez and Julian Huguet, the hosts of That’s Absurd Please Elaborate, a podcast where they do serious research to answer silly questions like, "What if the world had more sheep than people?" and "What would happen if you filled a volcano with concrete?"
In this episode of Tiny Matters, Trace and Julian answer the question, "Who invented the lawn?" It may sound like a question with a simple answer, but that is not the case! (Not even close). Their story begins in the Cretaceous period and ends with the lawns we know — and waste a whole lot of water on — today. This episode brings the perfect Tiny Matters mix of interesting science, fascinating history, important societal context and a sprinkle of goofiness.
Learn more about That's Absurd Please Elaborate here. Support the show by picking up a Tiny Matters mug here! All Tiny Matters transcripts are available here.

Chapters

1. Who invented lawns? From Cretaceous grass to modern turf with That's Absurd Please Elaborate (00:00:00)

2. Go rate and review us wherever you listen! (00:00:03)

3. Let's go back to the Cretaceous period (00:04:40)

4. Grass has a special photosynthesis (00:05:20)

5. The creation of the pleasure garden (00:09:24)

6. The first lawns! (00:18:24)

7. The explosion of the lawn in the United States (00:26:08)

8. Our obsession with lawns is made up (00:27:30)