Nature Podcast Neanderthals mastered fire — 400,000 years ago
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Dec 10, 2025 
Anand Jagatia, a science reporter and producer, shares groundbreaking findings on Neanderthals mastering fire in the UK 400,000 years ago. Their evidence includes heated sediment and ancient tools, suggesting a rich social life around fire. Dan Fox discusses the role of AI in detecting ancient biosignatures and the fascinating chemistry behind fading emerald green paints. Max Kozlov reveals how AI chatbots can dramatically sway political opinions, raising important questions about their influence and the potential risks in elections.
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Fire Transformed Early Human Life
- Taming fire transformed human life by providing light, warmth, protection and the ability to cook and extract more nutrients from food.
- Evidence suggests early humans used natural fires before mastering deliberate ignition, which required maintenance and skill.
Discovery Of Reddened Sediment At Barnham
- Nick Ashton described finding reddened terracotta sediment while digging at Barnham in 2021 and immediately suspected heating.
- He recognized this as a potential sign of ancient burning and called for detailed analyses.
Geochemical Proof Of Controlled Burning
- Multidisciplinary geochemical tests showed the sediment was heated to over 700°C and exhibited short, repeated burning events.
- Those signatures are consistent with controlled human fires rather than isolated wildfires.