Blog
02.05.19Fresh Clues to the Life and Times of the Denisovans
Journal Article We know that some modern human genomes contain fragments of DNA from an ancient population of humans called Denisovans, the remains of which have been found at only one site, a cave in what is now Siberia. Two recent papers published in Nature give us a firmer understanding of when these little-known archaic hominins lived.
02.01.19New Studies Reveal the History of Denisova Cave
Journal Article An extinct branch of hominins called the Denisovans is one of the most elusive members of our extended family tree: So far there have been only four individuals found in a single Siberian cave. Now researchers have done the painstaking work of dating the fossils, sediments, and artifacts found in that famous cave, including what might be the first evidence for crafts made by our long-lost cousins.
01.28.19The Diversity of Rural African Populations Extends to Microbiomes
Journal Article Our microbiome, the complex community of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other microorganisms in and on our bodies, reflects the way we live. Most microbiome analyses have focused on people living in developed nations, but in the last several years, scientists have begun to investigate whether people in non-industrialized societies possess distinctly different microbiomes and, if so, what factors shape those differences.
01.25.19Understanding Australopithecus sediba
Journal Article Now, 10 years later after the discovery of Malapa, full descriptions of the Australopithecus sediba fossil material, as well as raw measurement data and surface scans of the fossils which are available at Morphosource.org, have been published in a special issue of the open access journal, PaleoAnthropology.
01.24.19Human Respiratory Viruses Continue to Spread in Wild Chimpanzees
Journal Article Less than two years after the first report of wild chimpanzees in Uganda dying as a result of a human “common cold” virus, a new study has identified two other respiratory viruses of human origin in chimpanzee groups in the same forest.
01.24.19Introducing Our Fall 2018 Grantees
Grants, The Leakey Foundation The Leakey Foundation is proud to announce the 32 recipients of our fall 2018 research grants.
01.22.19Origin Stories: Margaret Mead
Origin Stories, From the Archive In this never-before-released archival lecture from 1974, anthropologist Margaret Mead discusses the lives of women from prehistoric through modern times.
01.15.192.4 Million Year Old Stone Tools Found in North Africa
Journal Article When did early humans first arrive in the Mediterranean? New archaeological evidence published in the journal Science and funded in part by The Leakey Foundation indicates their presence in North Africa at least 2.4 million years ago.
01.10.19Grantee Spotlight: Elizabeth Mallott
Grantee Spotlight Leakey Foundation grantee Elizabeth Mallott is studying how eating meat has shaped the primate gut microbiome.
12.28.18What Teeth Can Tell Us About Ancient Humans and Neanderthals
Journal Article Teeth are a really useful indicator of past environments. This is possible because teeth have biological rhythms and key events get locked inside them. These faithful internal clocks run night and day, year after year, and include daily growth lines and a marked line formed at birth.
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