In pursuit of knowledge, the evolution of humanity ranks with the origins of life and the universe. And yet, except when an ...

This is a photo of Lucy. Or rather, it’s Lucy, as she was imagined by a sculptor working for a museum. Probably the National ...

Fifty years ago, the discovery of a human ancestor "Lucy" generated worldwide attention. NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with paleoanthropologist Zeray Alemseged about the legacy of the discovery.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with paleoanthropologist, Donald Johanson, about the 50th anniversary of his biggest discovery, Lucy, an early human ancestor.

It was exactly 50 years ago on Nov. 24, 1974 that white men from America, France and Britain on a scientific expedition in ...

Preserved in volcanic ash and measuring 27 meters (88 feet) long, the 3.6-million-year-old footprint trail was likely left behind by one of the earliest hominin species, Australopithecus afarensis—the ...

The 3.2-million-year-old fossil, discovered 50 years ago, is considered to be one of the most significant early hominin ...

A collection of 3-million-year-old bones unearthed 50 years ago in Ethiopia changed our understanding of human origins.

Arizona State Professor Donald Johanson discovered the Lucy fossil skeleton—dated at over 3 million years old—in Ethiopia 50 ...

Yohannes Haile-Selassie is responsible for some of the most remarkable ancient human fossil discoveries in his home country.

Fifty years after a fossil skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis was unearthed in Ethiopia, we know so much more about how ...