Eleanor Scerri

Eleanor Scerri, Professor at the Max Planck Institute studying human palaeosystems and pan-African Homo sapiens origins. She discusses early Homo sapiens in Saudi Arabia and green corridors that enabled dispersals. She explores human presence in African rainforests and evidence from Anyama. She reveals unexpected Mesolithic seafaring to Malta and a major expansion of the human ecological niche around 70–50k years ago.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Dr. Eleanor Scerri, an archaeologist at the Max Planck Institute, and Dr. Manuel Will, a lecturer at the University of Tübingen, challenge the popular notion of a sudden cognitive revolution in humans. They present evidence of a gradual development of cognitive abilities during Africa's Middle Stone Age. They also explore early personal ornamentation using marine shells, the significance of ochre in human culture, and the diverse pathways of cognitive evolution, urging a reassessment of our understanding of human history.

Eleanor Scerri, an archaeologist at the Max Planck Institute, reveals findings of hunter-gatherers thriving in Malta 8,500 years ago, challenging views on prehistoric maritime skills. Marianne Brasil, a physiologist, discusses the evolutionary 'obstetric dilemma' linked to human pelvic anatomy and childbirth complications. Richard Binzel updates on asteroid Apophis, emphasizing international collaboration for planetary defense. Finally, Sergui Pascu shares groundbreaking research on brain assembloids that mimic pain signaling, paving the way for new pain therapies.