by The Leakey Foundation
Explore human evolution one story at a time. This award-winning show blends storytelling with science that will change your understanding of who we are.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/1/2015
Email Addresses
1 available
Phone Numbers
0 available
December 24, 2024
<p>2024 was another amazing year in human origins research. In this episode, three Leakey Foundation grantees (and one podcast host) share their picks for the most exciting discoveries of the year.</p> <p>Support this show and the science we talk about. Your tax-deductible gift to The Leakey Foundation will be quadruple-matched through midnight on December 31! <a href= "https://leakeyfoundation.org/?form=2024">Click here to donate</a>. </p> <p>Want more science between podcast episodes? Join our monthly newsletter for human origins <a href= "https://mailchi.mp/leakeyfoundation.org/2024-email-landing-page">news and updates from Origin Stories and The Leakey Foundation</a>.</p> <p><strong>Links to learn more</strong></p> <p>All research articles are open-access and free to read</p> <p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07095-8">On the genetic basis of tail-loss evolution in humans and apes</a></p> <p><a href= "https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/23/world/humans-tails-genetic-mutation-junk-dna-scn/index.html"> Why don’t humans have tails? Scientists find answers in an unlikely place</a></p> <p><a href= "https://www.cell.com/cell-genomics/fulltext/S2666-979X(24)00177-0"> Long genetic and social isolation in Neanderthals before their extinction</a></p> <p><a href= "https://www.iflscience.com/meet-thorin-a-cave-dwelling-population-of-neanderthals-were-isolated-for-50000-years-75910"> Meet Thorin: A cave-dwelling population of Neanderthals isolated for 50,000 years</a></p> <p><a style= "font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07911-1">Recurrent evolution and selection shape structural diversity at the amylase locus</a></p> <p><a href= "https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/17/science/neanderthals-starch-amylase-genes.html"> How early humans evolved to eat starch</a></p> <p><a href= "https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ado5275">Footprint evidence for locomotor diversity and shared habitats among early Pleistocene hominins</a></p> <p><a href= "https://leakeyfoundation.org/fossilized-footprints-reveal-two-extinct-hominin-species-living-side-by-side-1-5-million-years-ago/"> Fossilized footprints reveal two extinct hominin species living side by side 1.5 million years ago</a></p> <p> </p>
November 27, 2024
Paleoanthropologist Don Johanson shares the story of his discovery of Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old hominin fossil that revolutionized our understanding of human origins.
October 8, 2024
<p dir="ltr">Are humans the only animals that practice medicine? In this episode, two scientists share surprising observations of orangutans and chimpanzees treating wounds–their own and others'–with plants and insects. These discoveries challenge ideas about uniquely human behaviors and offer insights into animal intelligence, empathy, and the evolutionary roots of medicine.</p> <p dir="ltr">Origin Stories is a project of The Leakey Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding human origins research and outreach. <a href= "https://mailchi.mp/leakeyfoundation/news-sign-up">Sign up for our monthly newsletter</a> to learn more about our work! </p> <p dir="ltr">Videos</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_Sb4xwaDOA">Rakus and his wound</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ5iTg38VXI">Rakus doing a long call after being wounded</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7-NdgHa7-4">Chimp applying insect to wound</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL5zpp7uizA">Caroline Schuppli on Lunch Break Science</a> </p> <p dir="ltr">Links to learn more</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://suaq.org/">SUAQ Orangutan Program</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://en.ozouga.org/">Ozouga Chimpanzees</a> (where Alessandra studies chimpanzee behavior)</p> <p dir="ltr">Research papers</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-58988-7#MOESM2">Active self-treatment of a facial wound with a biologically active plant by a male Sumatran orangutan (open access)</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://en.ozouga.org/_files/ugd/0e1b0a_a1b7d97144dc4be4bd6d6b980db88174.pdf"> Application of insects to wounds of self and others by chimpanzees in the wild (pdf)</a></p> <p>Credits</p> <p>Origin Stories is a listener-supported show. Additional support comes from Jeanne Newman, , Camilla and George Smith, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund. </p> <p>Origin Stories is produced by Ray Pang. Our editor is Audrey Quinn. Theme music by Henry Nagle. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Lee Roservere.</p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p> </p>
Common Descent
Iszi Lawrence and David Hone
I KNOW DINO, LLC
History Hit
The Royal Astronomical Society
Chris Hasler
Immediate Media
Big Picture Science
Wondery / Patrick Wyman
Stuart Gary
Lawrence M. Krauss
Kevin Stroud
History Time
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at [email protected] for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.