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Science Magazine Podcast

When did rats come to the Americas, and was Lucy really our direct ancestor?

Apr 4, 2024
Researcher Eric Guiry discusses how rats arrived in the Americas with European colonists. The podcast also delves into the legacy of Lucy, a potential human ancestor, and the challenges in determining her direct lineage amidst new discoveries in paleoanthropology research.
31:28

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Shipwrecks and bone analysis reveal arrival of rats with European colonists to the Americas.
  • Recent discoveries challenge Lucy's status as our direct ancestor, highlighting diversity in early hominins.

Deep dives

Introduction to the Podcast Episode

The podcast episode delves into the impact of advances in artificial intelligence on medical research and healthcare. It directs listeners to a Science Magazine supplement on the topic and highlights an upcoming symposium on AI in healthcare. The importance of supporting nonprofit science journalism is also emphasized, encouraging subscriptions to news websites.

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