Blog
05.30.19Unraveling the Mystery of Human Bipedality
Guest Post Bipedality, the ability to walk upright on two legs, is a hallmark of human evolution. Many primates can stand up and walk around for short periods of time, but only humans use this posture for their primary mode of locomotion.
05.29.19From the Field: Frido Welker, Copenhagen
From the Field Not all paleolithic research happens in the field! In fact, nowadays a lot of it happens in laboratories hidden away in university buildings and research institutes. Leakey Foundation grantee Frido Welker studies ancient proteins preserved in archaeological bone in order to learn more about human evolution.
05.21.19Bonobo Mothers Meddle in Their Sons’ Sex Lives – Making Them Three Times More Likely to Father Children
Journal Article New research shows that for bonobos, sex really is often a family affair. What’s more, rather than being an embarrassing hindrance, motherly presence greatly benefits bonobo sons during the deed.
05.20.19Evolution and the Mammalian Spine
Journal Article "Nearly all mammals have the same number of cervical vertebrae, no matter how long or short their necks are--humans, giraffes, mice, whales, and platypuses all have exactly seven cervical vertebrae," said Jeff Spear, a doctoral student from New York University, and part of a team whose Leakey Foundation supported research explored why this characteristic has stayed the same through time and across species.
05.16.19From the Field: Kevin Hatala, Nariokotome, Kenya
From the Field Leakey Foundation grantee Kevin Hatala has recently returned from fieldwork near Nariokotome, in northwestern Kenya, where his research team did surveys and preliminary excavations of sites that preserve 1.5 million-year-old fossil footprints.
05.13.19Homo naledi and the Chamber of Secrets
Speaker Series May 14 is the final day for discounted 'early bird' tickets for our upcoming lecture, "Homo naledi and the Chamber of Secrets" with Dr. Jeremy DeSilva. The lecture will be held at the Houston Museum of Natural Science on May 21 at 6:30 pm.
05.10.19National Parks Could Save Endangered Species
Journal Article, In the News Research led by Leakey Foundation grantee Stacy Lindshield shows how protected areas like national parks are effectively preserving many mammal species in Senegal.
05.01.19Bonobos Eat and Share Meat at Rates Similar to Chimpanzees
Journal Article Small forest antelope in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have more to worry about than being eaten by leopards. In at least one portion of the forest, Weyn's duikers are the preferred meat consumed by bonobos, according to new research supported by The Leakey Foundation.
04.30.19Grantee Spotlight: Frido Welker
Grantee Spotlight Ancient DNA research has revolutionized the study of human evolution, but some time periods and geographic regions have not yet yielded usable DNA. Leakey Foundation grantee Frido Welker is a postdoctoral researcher who is testing new methodologies for breaking down and extracting ancient proteins.
04.23.19From the Field: Chris Gilbert, India
From the Field Leakey Foundation grantee Chris Gilbert has returned from a successful field season in the Indian Lower Siwaliks. He and his team revisited known fossil localities, discovered new ones, collected detailed geological measurements, and found an additional specimen of the fossil ape Sivapithecus indicus.
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