Mar 18th, 2008 · The little people of Flores, Indonesia, continue to puzzle scientists and provoke debate. The latest analysis suggests that the tiny humanlike people whose bones were found in a cave five years ago are ancient human ancestors. However, not everyone is entirely convinced of the link.
Sep 20th, 2007 · New research on wrist bones of the "Hobbit," a skeleton found to resemble early humans, suggests that it might be an ancient human ancestor, instead.
Aug 22nd, 2006 · Almost two years ago, scientists found bones of an unknown species of early humans. These people were tiny, and the one skull they found had a braincase that looked too small to be human. Now another group of scientists says the bones were actually pygmies, and the skull was small because that individual was diseased. Christopher Joyce reports.
Mar 17th, 2006 · After proving immensely popular on page and screen, The Lord of the Rings is about to take another leap. When J.R.R. Tolkien's epic trilogy of fantasy novels makes its debut as a stage production in Toronto, audiences will hear Hobbits and elves sing. Just don't call it a musical, its producer says.
Oct 13th, 2005 · Archaeologists have discovered further evidence that a race of tiny humans lived on a remote Indonesian island as recently as 12,000 years ago. Alex Chadwick talks to Ira Flatow, host of NPR's Talk of the Nation Science Friday, about this latest "little" archaeological discovery. The smaller-than-average humans remind some of the Hobbit characters central to the plot of the Lord of the Rings book and movie trilogy.
Mar 4th, 2005 · News broke last October that archeologist had discovered a hobbit-like creature on an Indonesian island. Now neurologists have examined the creature's brain and believe it to be a lost relative of modern humans, just a bit smaller. But the debate is far from over.
Dec 3rd, 2004 · The discovery last month of a tiny skeleton dubbed "Hobbit" was proclaimed by its discoverers as part of a newly discovered human species. But that claim has met with skepticism from others in the scientific community. NPR's Richard Harris reports.