Stars, Cells, and God

Neanderthal Brains Shaped Like Ours? | More Moon Formation Designs

June 3, 2026·38 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Join biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana and astrophysicist Hugh Ross as they discuss discoveries with theological and philosophical implications that point to the reality of God’s existence. A new study from a US–China research team argues that the volumes of Neanderthal brain regions fall within the range seen in modern human populations. If so, does that mean Neanderthals were just as cognitively capable as modern humans—and would that challenge RTB’s human origins model? In this episode, Fuz Rana explains what the researchers measured, what their conclusions do and do not show, and why RTB’s model remains scientifically robust. New evidence suggests that Theia, the planet believed to have collided with Earth to form the Moon, may still exist deep inside our planet, near the boundary between Earth’s mantle and core. According to a new model, Theia’s metallic core may have sunk through Earth’s mantle and merged with Earth’s core, while denser mantle fragments settled deep inside Earth. These buried fragments may explain unusual structures detected there, as well as a thin, chemically distinct layer at the top of Earth’s core. The model also helps explain why Earth and the Moon have such similar compositions and how Earth maintained the long-lasting magnetic field essential for life.  LINKS AND RESOURCES:  Neanderthal Brain and Cognition Reconsidered   Reconstructing the Neanderthal Brain Using Computational Anatomy   Secular Changes in Cranial Morphology and Pattern of Sexual Dimorphism in Modern Japanese: A Geometric Morphometric Analysis Using Post-Mortem Computed Tomography Data   Survival of Asteroid-Sized Debris from the Moon-Forming Impactor in Earth’s Deep Mantle with Implications for Its Solar System Provenance   Immediate Formation of Core-Mantle Boundary Heterogeneities Following a Giant Impact   Designed to the Core

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of Stars, Cells, and God and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.