Paul Giamatti’s CHINWAG with Stephen Asma
Were Neanderthals Cannibals? + AI With Professor Avi Loeb
Nov 20, 2024
Avi Loeb, a distinguished astrophysicist and professor at Harvard, joins to tackle some fascinating questions. They discuss the dark mystery of Neanderthal cannibalism and what this reveals about survival instincts. Loeb also sheds light on how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing our understanding of the cosmos and the ethical dilemmas it poses. From ancestry myths to cosmic explorations, this conversation dances across timelines and thought-provoking ideas, blending history with future possibilities.
36:02
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Quick takeaways
- The discussion explores evidence of Neanderthal cannibalism linked to population decline, revealing a complex history rather than simple extinction.
- The conversation emphasizes the need for ethical considerations in AI and the philosophical implications of potential extraterrestrial interactions.
Deep dives
The Neanderthal Mystery
The discussion delves into the fate of Neanderthals, particularly focusing on the theory of their possible cannibalistic behaviors. Evidence suggests that some Neanderthals may have resorted to cannibalism, which, due to their unique dietary abilities, did not drive them to madness as it would in humans. This behavior coincided with a declining Neanderthal population, leading to interbreeding with early humans, resulting in a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA in contemporary humans of European and Asian descent. This exchange hints at a complex history between the two species rather than a simple narrative of extinction.
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