Episode 359

DNA analysis of 10 Neanderthal people is shedding light on why their populations declined 75,000 years ago - eventually leading to their extinction.

After being hit by a cold spell, we can see Neanderthals lost a lot of genetic diversity as their numbers dwindled. Living in small, isolated groups, we see evidence in both genetic and archaeological evidence that this pushed the human species to die out.

One exception to this trend is Thorin - known as the last Neanderthal. We explore why his tribe may have been able to cling onto existence for longer than the rest of their species.

It wasn’t long ago this kind of understanding about ancient human species was well out of reach. Now the field is moving forward rapidly. What will we find next? 

To discuss this new finding - and to look at the genetic history of interbreeding between humans and Neanderthals - Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Alison George and Michael Marshall.

To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/

Image Credit: Neanderthal-Museum, Mettmann, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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