The love of eggplant goes way back for Arunima Kashyap. It was the only food she’d eat when she was little, and it’s still her favorite. For a long time, that love was a one-way street. The eggplant gave, and Kashyap ate. But then the scientist, who grew up in India, found a way to give back to the humble eggplant, and to some of the other plants and curry spices she adores. Working with Steven Weber, an archeologist and associate professor at Washington State University Vancouver, Kashyap was able to track down some of the plants’ ancient lineage and...