Ashley Judd explores the thrilling stories behind important scientific discoveries in a new 12-episode series based on the book "Discovering Us: 50 Great Discov...
There are only five kinds of great apes alive today. Chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, orangutans, and us. Among the non-human apes, orangutans are unique. Orangutans live only in Asia - in the forests of Sumatra and Borneo. They’re intelligent, solitary animals that feed mostly on fruit. There is a lot we can learn from them - but it’s not an easy job.Further learningCheryl Knott's orangutan researchErin Vogel's orangutan research Lunch Break Science episode on how orangutans learnOrigin Stories podcast with Biruté Mary GaldikasAbout The Leakey FoundationThe Leakey Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding human origins research and sharing discoveries. The Foundation was established in 1968 to fund work at the forefront of fossil and primate studies and provide opportunities for a global community of scientists. Learn more at leakeyfoundation.org.Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human OriginsIn 50 lively and up-to-the-minute essays illustrated with full-color photographs, Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human Origins presents stories of the most exciting and groundbreaking surprises revealed by human origins research.Prepared in consultation with leading experts and written by Evan Hadingham, senior science editor for NOVA, Discovering Us features stunning photographs, some taken at the actual moment that groundbreaking discoveries were made. The book presents a highly accessible account of the latest scientific insights into the ultimate question of humanity’s origins. Discovering Us was published by Signature Books.Find Discovering Us at your local library, bookstore, or amazon.com.Show Credits:Narrated by Ashley JuddHosted by Meredith JohnsonWritten by Evan HadinghamScript edits by Sharal Camisa Smith and Meredith JohnsonRecorded and mixed by Dave Hagen, Dark Horse RecordingHost recording by Kerry FogartyTrailer produced by Ray PangCover art by Élisabeth DaynesCover design by Jason Francis, Signature BooksMusic “Ode to Seven” by Our Many Stars licensed from Marmoset MusicDiscovering Us was made possible by generous support from Camilla and George Smith, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.
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10:07
Born and Evolved to Run
One of the enduring mysteries in human evolution is the question of how and when humans evolved our unusually large brains. Another mystery is how and why we started moving around on two legs. This episode of Discovering Us explores both of these questions by exploring the human ability to run over long distances.Further readingAbout The Leakey FoundationThe Leakey Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding human origins research and sharing discoveries. The Foundation was established in 1968 to fund work at the forefront of fossil and primate studies and provide opportunities for a global community of scientists. Learn more at leakeyfoundation.org.Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human OriginsIn 50 lively and up-to-the-minute essays illustrated with full-color photographs, Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human Origins presents stories of the most exciting and groundbreaking surprises revealed by human origins research.Prepared in consultation with leading experts and written by Evan Hadingham, senior science editor for NOVA, Discovering Us features stunning photographs, some taken at the actual moment that groundbreaking discoveries were made. The book presents a highly accessible account of the latest scientific insights into the ultimate question of humanity’s origins. Discovering Us was published by Signature Books.Find Discovering Us at your local library, bookstore, or amazon.com.Show Credits:Narrated by Ashley JuddHosted by Meredith JohnsonWritten by Evan HadinghamScript edits by Sharal Camisa Smith and Meredith JohnsonRecorded and mixed by Dave Hagen, Dark Horse RecordingHost recording by Kerry FogartyTrailer produced by Ray PangCover art by Élisabeth DaynesCover design by Jason Francis, Signature BooksMusic “Ode to Seven” by Our Many Stars licensed from Marmoset MusicDiscovering Us was made possible by generous support from Camilla and George Smith, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.
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7:07
The Hobbit
In this episode, Ashley Judd tells the story of a startling discovery on the island of Flores. Deep inside a remote, limestone cave with a high, arched ceiling, researchers uncovered fossils of an ancient human species unlike any other. This discovery added a new member to the human family tree and shook up our understanding of human evolution.Further reading:Homo floresiensis - SmithsonianMaking sense of the small-bodied fossils from FloresAbout The Leakey FoundationThe Leakey Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding human origins research and sharing discoveries. The Foundation was established in 1968 to fund work at the forefront of fossil and primate studies and provide opportunities for a global community of scientists. Learn more at leakeyfoundation.org.Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human OriginsIn 50 lively and up-to-the-minute essays illustrated with full-color photographs, Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human Origins presents stories of the most exciting and groundbreaking surprises revealed by human origins research.Prepared in consultation with leading experts and written by Evan Hadingham, senior science editor for NOVA, Discovering Us features stunning photographs, some taken at the actual moment that groundbreaking discoveries were made. The book presents a highly accessible account of the latest scientific insights into the ultimate question of humanity’s origins. Discovering Us was published by Signature Books.Find Discovering Us at your local library, bookstore, or amazon.com.Show Credits:Narrated by Ashley JuddHosted by Meredith JohnsonWritten by Evan HadinghamScript edits by Sharal Camisa Smith and Meredith JohnsonRecorded and mixed by Dave Hagen, Dark Horse RecordingHost recording by Kerry FogartyTrailer produced by Ray PangCover art by Élisabeth DaynesCover design by Jason Francis, Signature BooksMusic “Ode to Seven” by Our Many Stars licensed from Marmoset MusicDiscovering Us was made possible by generous support from Camilla and George Smith, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.
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10:30
The Pit of Bones
It takes a special kind of detective work to figure out the story of how we became human. This episode takes us to a unique fossil site in Spain where scientists go back through time - finding clues in a rich fossil record that stretches over hundreds and thousands of years. They are uncovering a story with twists and turns that are more dramatic and mysterious than an Agatha Christie novel.Further reading (and listening)Origin Stories: Detective of the DeadAtapuerca, UNESCO World Heritage SiteAbout The Leakey FoundationThe Leakey Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding human origins research and sharing discoveries. The Foundation was established in 1968 to fund work at the forefront of fossil and primate studies and provide opportunities for a global community of scientists. Learn more at leakeyfoundation.org.Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human OriginsIn 50 lively and up-to-the-minute essays illustrated with full-color photographs, Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human Origins presents stories of the most exciting and groundbreaking surprises revealed by human origins research.Prepared in consultation with leading experts and written by Evan Hadingham, senior science editor for NOVA, Discovering Us features stunning photographs, some taken at the actual moment that groundbreaking discoveries were made. The book presents a highly accessible account of the latest scientific insights into the ultimate question of humanity’s origins. Discovering Us was published by Signature Books.Find Discovering Us at your local library, bookstore, or amazon.com.Show Credits:Narrated by Ashley JuddHosted by Meredith JohnsonWritten by Evan HadinghamScript edits by Sharal Camisa Smith and Meredith JohnsonRecorded and mixed by Dave Hagen, Dark Horse RecordingHost recording by Kerry FogartyTrailer produced by Ray PangCover art by Élisabeth DaynesCover design by Jason Francis, Signature BooksMusic “Ode to Seven” by Our Many Stars licensed from Marmoset MusicDiscovering Us was made possible by generous support from Camilla and George Smith, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.
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8:49
Unexpected Ardi
In this episode, Ashley Judd tells the story of the discovery of a fascinating fossil of a female that lived 4.4-million-years ago. This unexpected find opened up a new window into the very early evolution of the human species.Further readingArdipithecus ramidus - SmithsonianArdipithecus ramidus - Science About The Leakey FoundationThe Leakey Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding human origins research and sharing discoveries. The Foundation was established in 1968 to fund work at the forefront of fossil and primate studies and provide opportunities for a global community of scientists. Learn more at leakeyfoundation.org.Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human OriginsIn 50 lively and up-to-the-minute essays illustrated with full-color photographs, Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human Origins presents stories of the most exciting and groundbreaking surprises revealed by human origins research.Prepared in consultation with leading experts and written by Evan Hadingham, senior science editor for NOVA, Discovering Us features stunning photographs, some taken at the actual moment that groundbreaking discoveries were made. The book presents a highly accessible account of the latest scientific insights into the ultimate question of humanity’s origins. Discovering Us was published by Signature Books.Find Discovering Us at your local library, bookstore, or amazon.com.Show Credits:Narrated by Ashley JuddHosted by Meredith JohnsonWritten by Evan HadinghamScript edits by Sharal Camisa Smith and Meredith JohnsonRecorded and mixed by Dave Hagen, Dark Horse RecordingHost recording by Kerry FogartyTrailer produced by Ray PangCover art by Élisabeth DaynesCover design by Jason Francis, Signature BooksMusic “Ode to Seven” by Our Many Stars licensed from Marmoset MusicDiscovering Us was made possible by generous support from Camilla and George Smith, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.
Ashley Judd explores the thrilling stories behind important scientific discoveries in a new 12-episode series based on the book "Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human Origins."
Ireland