Elife September 2015 PMID 26354290

The many mysteries of Homo naledi.

Chris Stringer

Mentions

101
Peak: 30 in Oct 2020
across 6 sources since Oct 2020

Extended reach

548,937
potential audience

Total likes

391

Video views

8,409

Mentions per month

Oct 2020 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter57 posts
  • News16 articles
  • Facebook11 posts
  • Blogs11 articles
  • Bluesky3 posts
  • YouTube3 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The evaluations are driven by posts that highlight the enduring mysteries surrounding Homo naledi, such as questions about its age and place in human evolution, with comments referencing past commentary and ongoing debates. The tone and choice of words suggest a collective curiosity and recognition of its significance, with repeated mentions of the species' complexity emphasizing its role in advancing anthropological knowledge.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the significance of Homo naledi's discovery and its ongoing mysteries, showing general agreement on its importance.

InterestHigh interest

Posts display high interest, with many referencing the fascination around the species' unusual mix of traits and unresolved questions.

EngagementModerate engagement

Conversations demonstrate moderate engagement, including references to specific commentary, historical context, and calls for further research.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions reflect perceived impact, especially considering repeated mentions of Homo naledi’s potential to reshape understanding of human evolution and the acknowledgment of unresolved mysteries.

Abstract in brief

  • The text describes the discovery of over 1500 fossils from the Rising Star cave in South Africa, attributed to a new species called Homo naledi.
  • Homo naledi exhibits a mix of primitive traits (features seen in earlier human ancestors) and derived traits (more evolved characteristics).
  • This combination of traits makes Homo naledi a unique and intriguing species in the study of human evolution.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
eLife - the journal
@eLife · X

In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be studied, Homo naledi brought with it more mysteries about the complex origins of humans https://t.co/ZgRMYH0Wej #InternationalFossilDay https://t.co/O4P1VjBXnG

Oct 17, 2020 · 115 likes · 33 shares · 171,707 followers View post →
Chris Stringer
@ChrisStringer65 · X

My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co/rZ26qNOpbg

Dec 15, 2020 · 72 likes · 19 shares · 29,579 followers View post →
Chris Stringer
@ChrisStringer65 · X

Yes, something I suggested was a possibility in 2015 https://t.co/UWsQmVDlR6 https://t.co/YFsdV3JJBZ

Jan 13, 2021 · 21 likes · 1 share · 29,579 followers View post →
MU-Peter Shimon
@mu-peter.bsky.social · Bluesky

Despite much information about the physical characteristics of Homo naledi, many mysteries remain. How old are the fossils? Where does H. naledi fit in the scheme of human evolution? Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi

Sep 29, 2025 · 18 likes · 6 shares View post →
Chris Stringer
@chrisbstringer.bsky.social · Bluesky

#Homonaledi was announced #OTD in 2015. Here is my commentary, published that day. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi doi.org/10.7554/eLif...

Sep 10, 2025 · 13 likes · 6 shares View post →
Chris Stringer
@chrisbstringer.bsky.social · Bluesky

My commentary from 2015: The many mysteries of Homo naledi [several of those mysteries are still unsolved] elifesciences.org/articles/10627

Jun 19, 2025 · 10 likes · 4 shares View post →

All mentions

MU-Peter Shimon
@mu-peter.bsky.social · Bluesky

Despite much information about the physical characteristics of Homo naledi, many mysteries remain. How old are the fossils? Where does H. naledi fit in the scheme of human evolution? Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi

Sep 29, 2025 · 18 likes · 6 shares View post →
beitris
@beitris · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: Homo naledi was announced #OTD in 2015. Here is my commentary, published that day. Human Evolution: The many mysteries…

Sep 10, 2025 · 2 shares · 301 followers View post →
Chris Stringer
@ChrisStringer65 · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: Homo naledi was announced #OTD in 2015. Here is my commentary, published that day. Human Evolution: The many mysteries…

Sep 10, 2025 · 2 shares · 29,579 followers View post →
Chris Stringer
@chrisbstringer.bsky.social · Bluesky

#Homonaledi was announced #OTD in 2015. Here is my commentary, published that day. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi doi.org/10.7554/eLif...

Sep 10, 2025 · 13 likes · 6 shares View post →
Chris Stringer
@ChrisStringer65 · X

Homo naledi was announced #OTD in 2015. Here is my commentary, published that day. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co/rZ26qNOX0O

Sep 10, 2025 · 5 likes · 2 shares · 29,579 followers View post →
Chris Stringer
@chrisbstringer.bsky.social · Bluesky

My commentary from 2015: The many mysteries of Homo naledi [several of those mysteries are still unsolved] elifesciences.org/articles/10627

Jun 19, 2025 · 10 likes · 4 shares View post →
Chris Stringer
@ChrisStringer65 · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Sep 7, 2023 · 19 shares · 29,579 followers View post →
voltaire
@voltaire · X

In the Cave of Secrets! > The Many Mysteries of Homo Naledi https://t.co/VJrbAu1aDD via @YouTube

Sep 23, 2022 · 1,120 followers View post →
Nigel Tebbutt 奈杰尔
@NigelTebbutt · X

Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi Read more: - https://t.co/YNMzkw5bEH Chris Stringer | Natural History Museum, United Kingdom | Insight Sep 10, 2015 A two-part list of links to download the article, or parts of the article, in var…https://t.co/DYmNOAslIM

Apr 10, 2022 · 1 like · 541 followers View post →
Chris Stringer
@ChrisStringer65 · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: Yes, something I suggested was a possibility in 2015 https://t.co/UWsQmVDlR6

Jan 14, 2021 · 1 share · 29,579 followers View post →
Chris Stringer
@ChrisStringer65 · X

Yes, something I suggested was a possibility in 2015 https://t.co/UWsQmVDlR6 https://t.co/YFsdV3JJBZ

Jan 13, 2021 · 21 likes · 1 share · 29,579 followers View post →
Claude Gillono
@sherman1959CG · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 16, 2020 · 19 shares · 167 followers View post →
Carolyn Schoenling
@Gransview · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 16, 2020 · 19 shares · 701 followers View post →
Cindy
@lmay4528 · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 16, 2020 · 19 shares · 97 followers View post →
PaleoAnthropology+
@Qafzeh · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 16, 2020 · 19 shares · 50,412 followers View post →
shovelbumtexas
@MayaResearchPro · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 2,233 followers View post →
Jari-Pekka Vuorela
@jpvuorela · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 375 followers View post →
Chris Stringer
@ChrisStringer65 · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 29,579 followers View post →
Cochise
@Rhik17 · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 634 followers View post →
HamedAlGhaithi حمد الغيثي
@HamedAlGhaithi · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 3,767 followers View post →
Radical Anthropology
@radicalanthro · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 7,510 followers View post →
Nell Whiteside
@scividence · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 569 followers View post →
Paris Ayiomamitis
@Ayiosantonios · X

Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co/A5KH5AK7Tf

Dec 15, 2020 · 149 followers View post →
Stefano Berto, PhD
@StefanoBerto83 · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 7,772 followers View post →
@mbalter — investigations and commentary
@mbalter · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 11,496 followers View post →
Greg Bailey
@BluBanjoes · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 910 followers View post →
Theres Cubis
@Theres146 · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 818 followers View post →
Lee R Berger
@LeeRberger · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 22,078 followers View post →
Bill Stebbins
@BillStebbins2 · X

RT @ChrisStringer65: My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co…

Dec 15, 2020 · 19 shares · 1,012 followers View post →
Chris Stringer
@ChrisStringer65 · X

My commentary on the first discoveries of Homo naledi. Human Evolution: The many mysteries of Homo naledi https://t.co/rZ26qNOpbg

Dec 15, 2020 · 72 likes · 19 shares · 29,579 followers View post →
Constanza Huerta
@cons_287 · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 19, 2020 · 33 shares · 45 followers View post →
Shuo 烁
@ShuoYang_Lab · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 18, 2020 · 33 shares · 149 followers View post →
Harper the Teacher
@JHarperEdu · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 18, 2020 · 33 shares · 259 followers View post →
Cosmic Forangeet
@Cosmic1008 · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 18, 2020 · 33 shares · 212 followers View post →
DingLab
@dinglab_plants · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 18, 2020 · 33 shares · 1,378 followers View post →
Prof. D. Gómez
@dgomez_author · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 18, 2020 · 33 shares · 101 followers View post →
Brian Amolo
@Amollo10 · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 18, 2020 · 33 shares · 1,250 followers View post →
Alaa A. Alnefaie
@AlaaAlnefaie90 · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 18, 2020 · 33 shares · 124 followers View post →
cytosine back in their academia era
@cytosine_37 · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 18, 2020 · 33 shares · 675 followers View post →
Free11_09
@Free11_09 · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 460 followers View post →
ar2ro
@_ar2ro_ · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 315 followers View post →
Akif Uzman
@UZs_Scinippets · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 32 followers View post →
Matthew Smith
@Matthew03136758 · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 102 followers View post →
William flowers
@William04226503 · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 125 followers View post →
Smith
@Smitherist · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 73 followers View post →
Eric Von Heidelberg
@CydoniusRex · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 67 followers View post →
Khawla Monsur-Hadi
@AhmadiMuslima · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 584 followers View post →
JD
@jjj17_05dj · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 934 followers View post →
Phillip Lundell
@PKLUNDELL · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 83 followers View post →
Michael Buratovich
@MichaelBuratovi · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 1,164 followers View post →
Janet Iams Shannon
@avgusergirl · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 2,375 followers View post →
naomi
@naomishutup · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 181 followers View post →
ATHANASIOS TASSIS
@ATHANASIOSTASS1 · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 84 followers View post →
M. Lynn Cornish
@SisterSeaweed · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 4,343 followers View post →
Savanna Faith
@savfaithhenning · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 421 followers View post →
Gilbert Kouamé
@KwameGilbert · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 419 followers View post →
Lee R Berger
@LeeRberger · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 22,078 followers View post →
Dr. Tana Joseph
@TanaDJoseph · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 6,998 followers View post →
Himender Bharti
@adubharti · X

RT @eLife: In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be…

Oct 17, 2020 · 33 shares · 1,326 followers View post →
eLife - the journal
@eLife · X

In 2015, the discovery of over 1,500 fossils saw the description of a new human species. Despite the abundance of fossils to be studied, Homo naledi brought with it more mysteries about the complex origins of humans https://t.co/ZgRMYH0Wej #InternationalFossilDay https://t.co/O4P1VjBXnG

Oct 17, 2020 · 115 likes · 33 shares · 171,707 followers View post →