News From the Field
Discovery of Foot Fossil Confirms Two Human Ancestor Species Coexisted 3.4 Million Years Ago

March 28, 2012

An international team of scientists has announced the discovery of a 3.4 million-year-old partial foot from the Afar region of Ethiopia. The foot fossil indicates that Lucy's species, Australopithecus afarensis was not the only hominin species living in eastern Africa at this time. Full Story

Source
Cleveland Museum of Natural History

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, its budget was $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $593 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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