Top Human Origins Discoveries of 2025

From Origin Stories by The Leakey Foundation

December 31, 2025 · 42 min · Episode 91

About this episode

This episode discusses the top human origins discoveries of 2025 as selected by scientists and Leakey Foundation grantees.

2025 was another exciting year in human origins research! In this episode, four scientists and Leakey Foundation grantees (and one podcast host) share their picks for the top discoveries of the year. Support this show and the science we talk about. Your tax-deductible gift to The Leakey Foundation will be matched! Click here to donate. Want more science between podcast episodes? Join our monthly newsletter for human origins news and updates from Origin Stories and The Leakey Foundation . Links to learn more All research articles are open-access and free to read New research reveals the hand of Paranthropus boisei Earliest evidence of making fire Complete sequencing of ape genomes Highly selective cannibalism in the Late Pleistocene of Northern Europe reveals Neandertals were targeted prey Denisovan mitochondrial DNA from dental calculus of the >146,000-year-old Harbin cranium

People in this episode

Guest: four scientists

Topics covered

human origins
scientific discoveries
Pleistocene research
archaeology
genomics
fire making
cannibalism

Keywords

human origins
2025 discoveries
Paranthropus boisei
fire making
ape genomes
Neandertals
cannibalism
Denisovan DNA
Pleistocene

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Top Human Origins Discoveries of 2025

Places: Northern Europe, Harbin