2023 was another exciting year in human origins research! Fossil discoveries and longterm primate studies expanded our understanding of what makes us human. In this episode, four Leakey Foundation scientists shared their favorite human evolution discoveries from the past year.

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Guests

Briana Pobiner Emma Finestone Nasser Malit Risa Luther Links to learn more

Hunting and processing of straighttusked elephants 125,000 years ago: Implications for Neanderthal behavior (openaccess research paper) Neanderthals lived in groups big enough to eat giant elephants Evidence for the earliest structural use of wood at least 476,000 years ago (openaccess research paper Early Homo erectus lived at high altitudes and produced both Oldowan and Acheulean tools (openaccess research paper) The surprising toolbox of the early Homo erectus Demographic and hormonal evidence for menopause in wild chimpanzees (openaccess research paper) Wild chimpanzees experience menopause Chimpanzee menopause revealed ft. Melissa Emery Thompson (Lunch Break Science on YouTube) Sponsors and credits

Origin Stories is sponsored by Jeanne Newman, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.

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.