3.5 Million-Year-Old Ancestors Found on Outskirts of Nairobi

Meet East Africa's first woman paleoanthropologist Dr. Emma Mbua, learn about the surprising discovery of Australopithecus afarensis fossils at Kantis Fossil Site on the outskirts of Nairobi, and hear Emma's story in this special Women's History Month episode.
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Guest scientist: Dr. Emma Mbua
Creator, host, and producer: Arielle Johnson
Assistant producer: Meghan Khalsa
Lunch Break Science is brought to you by The Leakey Foundation and made possible by the generous support of the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, Camilla and George Smith, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.

[@75YBA]

All roads lead to Africa!❤

[@jimmyjasi-]

Agree but this doesn't mean we shouldn't research other areas. South Asia is so sadly underappreciated Stefan Milo done a video on that couple of months ago

[@robertdillon3171]

Hi, this is Dr. Robert Dillon (geologist). I have a few questions. How were the depositional layers dated? I'm assuming the KFS volcanic tuff layer between layers 2 & 3 were dated using an isotopic dating technique (where the hominins were found). If dated, what age is the tuff? For those who don't know, absolute dating will provide evidence that layer 3 (above) was younger and layer 2 (below) was older than the tuff. Though, how did you determine the 3.6 to 3.3 million year range for the levels? Was it extrapolated based on the rate of sedimentation in the stream systems? Very interesting. Also, can someone explore along the Kantis River and help search for other fossil locations?

[@NnamdiAzikiwe_keyamsha]

Mr Stephen Kesuke watched a documentary in the 90s, but he only recalled the bones he saw in the 70s in 2009. Is it time for someone to come forward with bones they saw during the 1980s? I would love to know which documentary he saw. It should be required viewing for people living in that area...especially the ones who are constructing buildings near the site.

[@jimmyjasi-]

Please interview Maria Martinon-Torres she's so amazing! And there was new discovery from Atapuerca as you know indicating that common ancestor of us, Neanderthals and Denisovans probably have lived in Eurasia after all from at least 1,4 mln ya, after going Out Off Olduwai to Dmanisi and recorded in Atapuerca and splitting from Neanderthals in 800 thousands ya to return into Africa around 400 thousands ya to of course give rise to our ancestors somewhere in East?( Although I would prefer in South) Africa. Pity that we have practically zero record from South Asia and West Africa

[@jimmyjasi-]

@brandonletzco1433 Hope so!

[@jimmyjasi-]

@brandonletzco1433 I'm genetics and Evolution nerd as a whole but I agree. Svante Paabo has changed the rules! Using Plasmids to collect archaic DNA! And David Reich and Peter Skoglund and GWAS , all these algorithmic Sherlock Holmes like masterworks!

[@MossyMozart]

@Conon the Binarian - I hope I am still here to find out!