Domestication and Human Brain Size with Stefan Milo - Ruins 105

What this episode covers

On this episode of A Life In Ruins Podcast, we have our good friend and frequent collaborator Stefan Milo on the podcast. Stefan is in the process of researching for a video on human brain size, and we talk about what he has found. Researchers have noted a decrease in brain size in humans within the last 30,000 years. We take a deep dive into how brain size has changed throughout the evolution of the genus Homo and potential reasons for the decrease in brain size. We talk about the possibility of human self-domestication and the theories surrounding it. If you have left a review of the podcast on iTunes or Spotify, please email us at [email protected] so we can get shipping information to send you a sticker. If you are listening to this episode on the "Archaeology Podcast Network All Shows Feed," please consider subscribing to the "A Life in Ruins Podcast" channel to support our show. Listening to and downloading our episodes on the A Life in Ruins channel helps our podcast grow. So please, subscribe to the A Life in Ruins Podcast, hosted by the Archaeology Podcast Network, on whichever platform you are using to listen to us on the "All Shows Feed." Support our show by following our channel. Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot! [https://www.paleoimaging.com/about-the-paleoradiography-course] Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging [https://twitter.com/Paleoimaging] Interested in sponsoring this show or podcast ads for your business? Zencastr makes it really easy! Click this message for more info. [https://zen.ai/thearchaeologyshow] Start your own podcast with Zencastr and get 30% off your first three months with code RUINS. Click this message for more information. [https://zencastr.com/pricing?coupon=RUINS&fpr=3tym6] For rough transcripts of this episode go to www.archpodnet.com/ruins/105 [https://www.archpodnet.com/ruins/105] Links * When and Why Did Human Brains Decrease in Size? A New Change-Point Analysis and Insights From Brain Evolution in Ants by DeSilva et al. [https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.742639/full] * Hypotheses for the Evolution of Reduced Reactive Aggression in the Context of Human Self-Domestication by Richard W. Wrangham [https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01914/full] Guest Links * Stefan Milo's Youtube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/c/StefanMilo/videos] * Stefan Milo's Website [https://www.stefanmilo.com/] * Stefan Milo's Instagram and Twitter: @historysmilo * Stefan Milo's book Tales of Ancient Worlds: Adventures in Archaeology [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684492122/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_ERPTRZK3XSSVPDSAPCP9] Contact * Email: [email protected] * Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast [https://www.instagram.com/alifeinruinspodcast] * Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast [https://www.facebook.com/alifeinruinspodcast] * Twitter: @alifeinruinspod [https://www.twitter.com/alifeinruinspod] * Website: www.alifeinruins.com [https://www.alifeinruins.com/] * Ruins on APN: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/ruins * Store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/alifeinruins/shop ArchPodNet * APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com [https://www.archpodnet.com/] * APN on Facebook: https:// [https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet]