“It’s almost like a miracle every time we find that one of our ancestors died in the right place at the right time to be fossilized for us to find three million years later,” said @vcuanthprof, co-author of the study describing the team’s discovery. wsj.com/science/human-ancest…

Nature research paper: New discoveries of Australopithecus and Homo from Ledi-Geraru, Ethiopia go.nature.com/45wyzVb

Researchers, including @VCU professor @vcuanthprof, have unearthed tooth fossils in Ethiopia dating to about 2.65 million years ago of a previously unknown species in the human evolutionary lineage. reuters.com/science/ethiopia…

.@VCU Prof. @vcuanthprof spoke this week at a news conference in Ethiopia about the discovery of tooth fossils dating to about 2.65 million years ago from a previously unknown species in the human evolutionary lineage. news.vcu.edu/article/2025/08…

#Ethiopian fossils reveal new species in human #evolutionary lineage Researchers have unearthed tooth fossils in Ethiopia dating to about 2.65 million years ago of a previously unknown species in the human evolutionary lineage, one that lived in the same time and place as the earliest-known member of the genus Homo to which our own species belongs. The scientists discovered in the Ledi-Geraru research project area of northeastern Ethiopia's Afar Region 10 teeth - six molars, two incisors, one premolar and one canine - that they concluded belonged to a new Australopithecus species. The teeth came from two individuals. Until now, six species of the genus Australopithecus, an important early human ancestor that displayed a mix of ape-like and human-like traits, were known from fossils at various African sites. The researchers said the newly found teeth bore traits indicating they belonged to a seventh species. A genus is a group of closely related species that share similar characteristics. For example, lions and tigers are from the same genus but represent different species. The scientists also discovered three other teeth dating to 2.59 million years ago that had traits showing they belonged to the oldest-known species of Homo, one that was first revealed by a jawbone unearthed in the same vicinity in 2013. reuters.com/science/ethiopia…

🔥 New discoveries of Australopithecus and Homo from Ledi-Geraru, Ethiopia nature.com/articles/s41586-0…

New discoveries of #Australopithecus and #Homo from #Ledi-Geraru, Ethiopia nature.com/articles/s41586-0…

RT @fanatelevision: NEW Scientists unearthed two early human ancestors lived side by side in Ethiopia #Ethiopia #Land_of_Origins https:…

Ancient teeth discovered by @VCU professor Amy Rector (@vcuanthprof) and colleagues at the Ledi-Geraru Research Project have revealed a new species of Australopithecus that lived alongside early members of the Homo genus 2 million to 3 million years ago. news.vcu.edu/article/2025/08…

In 100 days, Trump's administration has: - fired 1000s of gov scientists - threatened to slash billions in funding from research universities - terminated over 1000 grants And this looks likely to be just the beginning. What's next for US science? (2/2) nature.com/articles/d41586-0…

My life's work is exploring the origins of our humanity through discovery and analysis of the fossils of our ancestors. #WithoutNSF, my research project will not be able to continue and we will know less about what it means to be human. #SupportNSF #SaveNSF #SupportScience

It was an honor speaking to students at @VCU today about my time in Congress, the future of our Commonwealth, and democracy. Thank you for being engaged in the future of our Commonwealth!

If you are thinking of donating to charity before midnight, think about your favorite scientific societies (such as @BiologicalAnth or @aaas). They are going to be busy in the coming year, and need our support!

Need a little pick-me-up?? Order your #AABA2025 #Baltimore t-shirt and be the coolest kid on every block! Link here: xcdsystem.com/aaba/program/W…

#AABA2025 Abstracts are due TODAY, October 15 by 11:59pm PDT! We've got a new system this year, so give yourself enough time to renew your membership and get your abstract in.

✈️AABA announces a pilot program for international travel support for #AABA2025 conference attendees from qualifying countries! More information here: bioanth.org/94th-annual-meet… Application deadline is October 15!

Let's be very clear: a non-elected politically appointed group of non-educators decided they knew better about what's right for VCU students than VCU students and faculty.

I have proudly signed this, and I am profoundly grateful to be part of a program that condemns violence both against our students, and worldwide.

Just sent an open letter to the President of @VCU condemning the response to the peaceful protest by students on campus on Monday. For the full letter and more than 800 signatories, see docs.google.com/document/u/1…

Congratulations to one of our seven 2024 @VCU Outstanding Mentors of the Year: Marie Vergamini, MSc. She mentored undergraduate HPEX major, Charmi Patel, on her project, "An Osteological Pathology Survey of Non-Human Primate Skeletal Collections" @VCULifeSciences