Read about the latest human origins discoveries, Leakey Foundation-supported research, and news from the field.
Three exciting archaeology events in Chicago
Education | Speaker Series
Explore human origins, ancient art, and evolutionary history in Chicago with Australian archaeologist Adam Brumm.
Tiny cut marks on animal bone fossils reveal that human ancestors were in Romania 1.95 million years ago
Human Origins
Ancient cut marks on animal bones show that human ancestors were in Romania 1.95 million years ago. This research was supported in part by The Leakey Foundation.
Who would win in a fight between 100 men and 1 gorilla? An evolutionary expert weighs in
Primates
Who would win in a no-rules fight between 100 average human men and one adult male gorilla? Learn what science says about it!
Leakey Foundation grantees elected to National Academy of Sciences
Grantee Spotlight | In the News | The Leakey Foundation
Three Leakey Foundation grantees were inducted into the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. on April 25, 2025. Membership in the Academy is a widely accepted mark of excellence in science and is one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive.
Golden lion tamarin habitat restoration, hope, and survival
Survival
Learn how science and collaboration are helping ensure the golden lion tamarin’s survival.
1.5 million-year-old bone tools discovered in Tanzania shed new light on human evolution
Archaeology | Human Origins
Researchers have discovered 1.5 million-year-old tools made from the bones of large animals such as hippos and elephants.
Stone tools reveal human adaptability
Archaeology
Stone tools in El Aliya Cave in Morocco provide evidence that ancient hunter-gatherers in North Africa had flexible subsistence strategies.
Understanding evolutionary mismatch with Audrey Arner
Grantee Spotlight
Why do rates of diabetes surge when traditional societies urbanize? The answer may lie in a concept called the “evolutionary mismatch hypothesis.”
Vanderbilt University PhD candidate Audrey Arner is investigating this phenomenon with support from The Leakey Foundation.
Stone tool discovery in China shows people in East Asia were innovating during the Middle Paleolithic
Archaeology
Researchers in China find the first complete example of stone tool technology previously seen only in Europe and the Middle East.
How microorganisms impact primate reproduction
Grantee Spotlight
Do microbes matter for making babies? Emerging research suggests that the hidden world of microorganisms may play a crucial role in animal reproduction.