Origin Stories x The Science Podcast

From Origin Stories by The Leakey Foundation

September 5, 2025 · 38 min · Episode 90

About this episode

This episode features stories about ancient hominin species and Neanderthal diets based on recent research.

This episode features two stories from the Science Podcast. First, Science writer Ann Gibbons tells the story of three ancient hominin species that lived side-by-side in South Africa's Cradle of Humankind. Then, anthropologist Melanie Beasley discusses her new study on why chemical signals in Neanderthal teeth and bones make them look like hypercarnivores. Her research suggests they were just eating a lot of maggots! Origin Stories is a project of The Leakey Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding human origins research and sharing discoveries. The Science podcast is a weekly show from the journal Science and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Search for Science Magazine in any podcasting app to subscribe. Learn more at https://www.science.org/podcasts Origin Stories is audience-supported. Additional support comes from Jeanne Newman, the Anne and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.

People in this episode

Host: The Leakey Foundation

Guests: Ann Gibbons, Melanie Beasley

Topics covered

hominin species
Neanderthal research
chemical signals
ancient diets
human origins

Keywords

hominin
Neanderthal
chemical signals
maggots
South Africa

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Leakey Foundation, Science Podcast, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science Magazine