Science Magazine Podcast Will your family turn you into a chatbot after you die? Plus, synthetic squid skin, and the sway of matriarchs in ancient Anatolia
Jun 26, 2025
Andrew Curry, a contributing correspondent specializing in ancient DNA, explores maternal kinship in Neolithic Çatalhöyük, revealing intriguing gender dynamics in early societies. Georgii Bogdanov discusses innovative synthetic squid skin that changes color, mimicking natural adaptations for future tech applications. Tamara Kneese dives into the ethics of digital legacies, pondering whether families might turn their deceased loved ones into chatbots, highlighting the cultural implications of our digital footprints and memorialization in the tech age.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Maternal Lines in Ancient Çatalhöyük
- Ancient DNA from Çatalhöyük shows children were related mostly through maternal lines.
- Women stayed in their birth houses, men moved between them, suggesting matrilineal kinship.
Gender Roles Reflected in Burials
- Girls buried at Çatalhöyük were found with more burial goods than boys.
- This indicates gender mattered, though more goods doesn't necessarily imply power.
Changing Kinship Over Time
- Over time at Çatalhöyük, genetic kinship in burial groups declined.
- Houses held genetically unrelated individuals, suggesting adoption or fostering practices.