The search for human origins is a fascinating story – from the Middle Ages, when questions of the earth’s antiquity first began to arise, through to the latest genetic discoveries that show the interrelatedness of all living creatures. Central to the story is the part played by fossils – first, in establishing the age of the Earth; then, following Darwin, in the pursuit of possible ‘Missing Links’ that would establish whether or not humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor. John Reader’s passion for this quest – palaeoanthropology – began in the 1960s when he reported for Life Magazine on Richard Leakey’s first fossil-hunting expedition to the badlands of East Turkana, in Kenya. Drawing on both historic and recent research, he tells the fascinating story of the science as it has developed from the activities of a few dedicated individuals, into the rigorous multidisciplinary work of today.
In these videos, John Reader, author of Missing Links: In Search of Human Origins talks about the treasure hunt that is the search for the missing link.
Is it possible to discover the missing link?
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What is it like finding the remains of an ancient pre-humanoid?
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Can scientists draw firm conclusions from fossil finds?
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John Reader is Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Anthropology, University College London. A writer and photographer with more than fifty years of professional experience, his work has included contributions to major international publications, television documentaries and a number of books, including including The Untold History of the Potato, Africa, Pyramids of Life with Harvey Croze, and Rise of Life. His latest book, Missing Links: In Search of Human Origins, published in October 2011. John Reader has previously written about Australopithecus sediba for OUPblog.
View more about this book on the 
By John Reader
A blaze of media attention recently greeted the claim that a newly discovered hominid species, , marked the transition between an older ape-like ancestor, such as Australopithecus afarensis, and a more recent representative of the human line, Homo erectus. As well as extensive TV, radio and front-page coverage, the fossils found by Lee Berger and his team at a site near Pretoria in South Africa featured prominently in National Geographic, with an illustration of the three species striding manfully across the page. In the middle, Au. sediba was marked with twelve points of similarity: six linking it to Au. afarensis on the left and six to H. erectus on the right. Though Berger did not explicitly describe Au. sediba as a link between the two species, the inference was clear and not discouraged. The Missing Link was in the news again.
Deidre Knight is giving away an Analog Butterfly Watch by Fossil to celebrate the print release of BUTTERFLY TATTOO (Samhain, Feb 2010)! You can enter up to SIX times and get multiple entries, dependant on which method you use to enter. Details are below! Best of luck. :-)
HOW TO ENTER :
1.) Twitter about the book using the hashtag #butterflytattoocontest (Worth 1 entry)
2.) Buy a copy of the book online and forward a copy of your receipt confirmation to
[email protected]. (Worth 2 entries)
3.) Buy a copy in the bookstore and mail the receipt to: Attn: BUTTERFLY TATTOO Contest Coordinator at 570 East Avenue, Madison, GA 30650 or scan the receipt and email the image to
[email protected]. If sending via U.S. mail, please write your email address on the receipt. (Worth 2 entries)
4.) Post the book cover and cover blurb on your blog and link to an online retailer. (Worth 5 entries) **Please find cover copy below or email
[email protected] to receive a ready-made blog post.**
5.) Install the BUTTERFLY TATTOO widget on your blog and send us the link. (Worth 10 entries) **Widget provided below**
6.) Write a review of the book on Amazon and email the link to
[email protected]. (Worth 15 entries)
*The 'Let Love Rule' contest ends on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 12:00am ET. The winner will be notified via email. Please email any questions about the contest to
[email protected].
COVER COPY for BUTTERFLY TATTOO by Deidre KnightJust when the darkness seems permanent, fate flips a switch.
Michael Warner has been drifting in a numb haze since his lover was killed by a drunk driver. As the anniversary of the wreck approaches, Michael’s grief grows more suffocating. Yet he must find a way through the maze of pain and secrets to live for their troubled young daughter who struggles with guilt that she survived the crash.
Out of the darkness comes a voice, a lifeline he never expected to find—Rebecca O’Neill, a development executive in the studio where Michael works as an electrician.
Rebecca, a former sitcom celebrity left scarred from a crazed fan’s attack, has retreated from the limelight and from life in general, certain no man can ever get past her disfigurement. The instant sparks between her and Michael, who arrives to help her during a p
