On Humans Podcast
@ilarimakela.bsky.social
Human Origins | Macro History | Anthropology | Neuroscience | Philosophy
Posting as Ilari Mäkelä, host of On Humans.
https://onhumans.substack.com/about
Posting as Ilari Mäkelä, host of On Humans.
https://onhumans.substack.com/about
Pinned
Origins of Humankind
Where do we come from?
onhumans.substack.com
"The Origins of Humankind" is now live! 👏
We’ve assembled the world’s leading experts to reconstruct humanity’s 4-billion-year origin story—with cutting-edge science as our guide.
The first episode is out now!
Listen. Read. Subscribe. All for free at:
👉 onhumans.substack.com/origins
We’ve assembled the world’s leading experts to reconstruct humanity’s 4-billion-year origin story—with cutting-edge science as our guide.
The first episode is out now!
Listen. Read. Subscribe. All for free at:
👉 onhumans.substack.com/origins
Why do we exist?
The science of human origins keeps producing new theories. But are we any closer to telling a true story of human origins? Or are we simply drowning in data?
I think we have a story--a story centered on calories, childhoods, cooperation, and climate.
Here is the story.
The science of human origins keeps producing new theories. But are we any closer to telling a true story of human origins? Or are we simply drowning in data?
I think we have a story--a story centered on calories, childhoods, cooperation, and climate.
Here is the story.
Can We Tell a (True) Story of Human Origins?
The science of human origins keeps producing new theories. But are we any closer to telling a true story of human origins? I think so. Here is the story.
onhumans.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Why do we exist?
The science of human origins keeps producing new theories. But are we any closer to telling a true story of human origins? Or are we simply drowning in data?
I think we have a story--a story centered on calories, childhoods, cooperation, and climate.
Here is the story.
The science of human origins keeps producing new theories. But are we any closer to telling a true story of human origins? Or are we simply drowning in data?
I think we have a story--a story centered on calories, childhoods, cooperation, and climate.
Here is the story.
You decided to read this. But could you have chosen otherwise? Are we ever free to choose?
🧠 A short episode on a big topic!
Read or listen at onhumans.substack.com/p/is-the-bra....
🙏 Thanks to @timcoulson.bsky.social from @biology.ox.ac.uk!
🧠 A short episode on a big topic!
Read or listen at onhumans.substack.com/p/is-the-bra....
🙏 Thanks to @timcoulson.bsky.social from @biology.ox.ac.uk!
Is the Brain Free to Choose?
You decided to read this. But could you have chosen otherwise? Tim Coulson thinks so.
onhumans.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:49 PM
You decided to read this. But could you have chosen otherwise? Are we ever free to choose?
🧠 A short episode on a big topic!
Read or listen at onhumans.substack.com/p/is-the-bra....
🙏 Thanks to @timcoulson.bsky.social from @biology.ox.ac.uk!
🧠 A short episode on a big topic!
Read or listen at onhumans.substack.com/p/is-the-bra....
🙏 Thanks to @timcoulson.bsky.social from @biology.ox.ac.uk!
"New research at Semiyarka is challenging long-held ideas about mobility, metallurgy, and the unexpected shape of early cities in Eurasia."
www.anthropology.net/p/city-of-th...
@anthropology.net
www.anthropology.net/p/city-of-th...
@anthropology.net
November 20, 2025 at 4:49 PM
"New research at Semiyarka is challenging long-held ideas about mobility, metallurgy, and the unexpected shape of early cities in Eurasia."
www.anthropology.net/p/city-of-th...
@anthropology.net
www.anthropology.net/p/city-of-th...
@anthropology.net
"How is it that Brazil imported so many more enslaved people than the US, yet by the mid-19th century the US had 2.5 times more?"
aeon.co/essays/way-d...
aeon.co/essays/way-d...
November 19, 2025 at 1:53 PM
"How is it that Brazil imported so many more enslaved people than the US, yet by the mid-19th century the US had 2.5 times more?"
aeon.co/essays/way-d...
aeon.co/essays/way-d...
A classic challenge: human brain is only ~2% of our body mass but takes about ~20% of our base metabolism.
A bigger challenge: during early childhood, the number climbs over 50%!
How to afford that?
So much of human evolution wrapped in one puzzle
www.nature.com/articles/npr...
🏺 #paleosky
A bigger challenge: during early childhood, the number climbs over 50%!
How to afford that?
So much of human evolution wrapped in one puzzle
www.nature.com/articles/npr...
🏺 #paleosky
November 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A classic challenge: human brain is only ~2% of our body mass but takes about ~20% of our base metabolism.
A bigger challenge: during early childhood, the number climbs over 50%!
How to afford that?
So much of human evolution wrapped in one puzzle
www.nature.com/articles/npr...
🏺 #paleosky
A bigger challenge: during early childhood, the number climbs over 50%!
How to afford that?
So much of human evolution wrapped in one puzzle
www.nature.com/articles/npr...
🏺 #paleosky
Diving with Sea Lions in San Diego 🦭
Turn on the sound to hear their vocalisations!
Not a bad start to a Wednesday. I could get used to this...
#animal
Turn on the sound to hear their vocalisations!
Not a bad start to a Wednesday. I could get used to this...
#animal
November 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Diving with Sea Lions in San Diego 🦭
Turn on the sound to hear their vocalisations!
Not a bad start to a Wednesday. I could get used to this...
#animal
Turn on the sound to hear their vocalisations!
Not a bad start to a Wednesday. I could get used to this...
#animal
Did Neanderthals speak? We don't know. But DNA evidence shows our ancestors experienced speedier evolution in the vocal tract.
This is highly suggestive of a more important role for speech amongst Homo sapiens.
By the way, the methods are insane 🤯 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32132541/
🏺 #paleosky
This is highly suggestive of a more important role for speech amongst Homo sapiens.
By the way, the methods are insane 🤯 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32132541/
🏺 #paleosky
November 12, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Did Neanderthals speak? We don't know. But DNA evidence shows our ancestors experienced speedier evolution in the vocal tract.
This is highly suggestive of a more important role for speech amongst Homo sapiens.
By the way, the methods are insane 🤯 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32132541/
🏺 #paleosky
This is highly suggestive of a more important role for speech amongst Homo sapiens.
By the way, the methods are insane 🤯 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32132541/
🏺 #paleosky
Okay. It's over. What an incredible weekend!
Thank you to all the wonderful folks who made this possible!
BONUS: I managed to record short live episodes with three speakers... Stay tuned 👀
@anthropogeny.org @salkinstitute.bsky.social
Thank you to all the wonderful folks who made this possible!
BONUS: I managed to record short live episodes with three speakers... Stay tuned 👀
@anthropogeny.org @salkinstitute.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Okay. It's over. What an incredible weekend!
Thank you to all the wonderful folks who made this possible!
BONUS: I managed to record short live episodes with three speakers... Stay tuned 👀
@anthropogeny.org @salkinstitute.bsky.social
Thank you to all the wonderful folks who made this possible!
BONUS: I managed to record short live episodes with three speakers... Stay tuned 👀
@anthropogeny.org @salkinstitute.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reading this, I'm not surprised that many of the aDNA pioneers have simply dropped using latin names.
Does the family tree of ancient humans need a drastic rewrite?
Anthropologist Christopher Bae has recently suggested we add two new species of ancient human to our family tree. The plans break the conventions for how species should be named – but Bae argues the r...
www.newscientist.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reading this, I'm not surprised that many of the aDNA pioneers have simply dropped using latin names.
Forgive me for one LinkedIn style post... But this did feel good! ★★★★★ Grateful to those 100 people who, against all odds, actually discovered how rate a show on Spotify! (I still struggle to find it at times...)
🙏
open.spotify.com/show/4nhm3fG...
🙏
open.spotify.com/show/4nhm3fG...
November 6, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Forgive me for one LinkedIn style post... But this did feel good! ★★★★★ Grateful to those 100 people who, against all odds, actually discovered how rate a show on Spotify! (I still struggle to find it at times...)
🙏
open.spotify.com/show/4nhm3fG...
🙏
open.spotify.com/show/4nhm3fG...
"Startups are exploring using [period blood] to test for a wide range of health conditions .. including endometriosis"
‘A medical miracle’: is period blood ‘the most overlooked opportunity’ in women’s health?
Period blood has long been thought of as ‘stinky and useless’, but startups are exploring using the fluid to test for a wide range of health conditions – including difficult-to-diagnose endometriosis
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:47 PM
"Startups are exploring using [period blood] to test for a wide range of health conditions .. including endometriosis"
Reposted by On Humans Podcast
This looks like an excellent introduction.
"The Origins of Humankind" is now live! 👏
We’ve assembled the world’s leading experts to reconstruct humanity’s 4-billion-year origin story—with cutting-edge science as our guide.
The first episode is out now!
Listen. Read. Subscribe. All for free at:
👉 onhumans.substack.com/origins
We’ve assembled the world’s leading experts to reconstruct humanity’s 4-billion-year origin story—with cutting-edge science as our guide.
The first episode is out now!
Listen. Read. Subscribe. All for free at:
👉 onhumans.substack.com/origins
Origins of Humankind
Where do we come from?
onhumans.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:49 PM
This looks like an excellent introduction.
I posted this article already, but only highlighting the negative trend.
Here is a more hopeful point: change is possible!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here is a more hopeful point: change is possible!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 5, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I posted this article already, but only highlighting the negative trend.
Here is a more hopeful point: change is possible!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Here is a more hopeful point: change is possible!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The backdrop to human evolution: an increasingly erratic climate.
🏺 #paleosky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK9P...
🏺 #paleosky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK9P...
November 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
The backdrop to human evolution: an increasingly erratic climate.
🏺 #paleosky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK9P...
🏺 #paleosky
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK9P...
I'll be here in person! Hit me up if you're coming, too.
The lineup is incredible -- do check out the webcast if not in sunny San Diego ☀️
carta.anthropogeny.org/events/ancie...
@anthropogeny.org
#paleosky 🏺
The lineup is incredible -- do check out the webcast if not in sunny San Diego ☀️
carta.anthropogeny.org/events/ancie...
@anthropogeny.org
#paleosky 🏺
October 31, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I'll be here in person! Hit me up if you're coming, too.
The lineup is incredible -- do check out the webcast if not in sunny San Diego ☀️
carta.anthropogeny.org/events/ancie...
@anthropogeny.org
#paleosky 🏺
The lineup is incredible -- do check out the webcast if not in sunny San Diego ☀️
carta.anthropogeny.org/events/ancie...
@anthropogeny.org
#paleosky 🏺
"It is a profound gift to know that when a chimpanzee stares into a person’s eyes, they too could be reflecting on their beliefs about humans."
Brian Hare in @science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Brian Hare in @science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Chimpanzees are natural scientists
Humans and chimpanzees share the potential to rationally revise their beliefs
www.science.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"It is a profound gift to know that when a chimpanzee stares into a person’s eyes, they too could be reflecting on their beliefs about humans."
Brian Hare in @science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Brian Hare in @science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by On Humans Podcast
4. Veneto Region, Italy. A 16th century female skeleton from a mass grave of plague victims was discovered with a brick forced between her jaws. Vampires were believed by some to cause plague so the brick was meant to stop the spread. (Image: Archaeology-World.com). More at: tinyurl.com/socmedarch36
October 31, 2025 at 11:01 AM
4. Veneto Region, Italy. A 16th century female skeleton from a mass grave of plague victims was discovered with a brick forced between her jaws. Vampires were believed by some to cause plague so the brick was meant to stop the spread. (Image: Archaeology-World.com). More at: tinyurl.com/socmedarch36
Certainly made me think
🚨 NEW | As renewables boom, an ‘agricultural revolution’ for energy is underway – advancing us from foraging scarce fossil fuels to harvesting abundant sunlight instead ☀️
And storage holds the key to this new revolution 🔑🔋 Ember’s four takes 🧵 1/5
ember-energy.org/lat...
And storage holds the key to this new revolution 🔑🔋 Ember’s four takes 🧵 1/5
ember-energy.org/lat...
October 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Certainly made me think
Rome wasn't built in a day — nor without immigrants.
🏺
🏺
A New Perspective on the Arrival of the Eastern Mediterranean Genetic Influx in Central Italy Before the Onset of the Roman Empire
Abstract. Italian genetic history was profoundly shaped by the Romans. While the Iron Age Central Italian gene pool was comparable to that of other coeval
academic.oup.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Rome wasn't built in a day — nor without immigrants.
🏺
🏺
Forget the Hard Problem.
Here comes the "Lobster Problem of Consciousness"
🧠 onhumans.substack.com/p/can-the-br...
with @matthewcobb.bsky.social
Here comes the "Lobster Problem of Consciousness"
🧠 onhumans.substack.com/p/can-the-br...
with @matthewcobb.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Forget the Hard Problem.
Here comes the "Lobster Problem of Consciousness"
🧠 onhumans.substack.com/p/can-the-br...
with @matthewcobb.bsky.social
Here comes the "Lobster Problem of Consciousness"
🧠 onhumans.substack.com/p/can-the-br...
with @matthewcobb.bsky.social
No. The spark of humanity was not a sudden climactic shift from forest to savanna. Yet we should miss the forest from the trees! The general pattern is still there.
1/👇
🏺 #paleosky
1/👇
🏺 #paleosky
New fossil evidence reveals a stable environment in the Cradle of Humankind
A groundbreaking study from the University of Cape Town and the University of Zürich reveals that the Cradle of Humankind maintained a stable environment for nearly two million years, challenging prev...
iol.co.za
October 28, 2025 at 3:15 PM
No. The spark of humanity was not a sudden climactic shift from forest to savanna. Yet we should miss the forest from the trees! The general pattern is still there.
1/👇
🏺 #paleosky
1/👇
🏺 #paleosky
The best thing about race realism is that its nonsense. Imagine a world where it would be true... I don't want to.
🙏 @killgrove.bsky.social 🏺 #paleosky
🙏 @killgrove.bsky.social 🏺 #paleosky
Neanderthals could be brought back within 20 years — but is it a good idea?
With today's technology, we cannot bring back Neanderthals. But even if future advances allow it, should we?
www.livescience.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The best thing about race realism is that its nonsense. Imagine a world where it would be true... I don't want to.
🙏 @killgrove.bsky.social 🏺 #paleosky
🙏 @killgrove.bsky.social 🏺 #paleosky