Letters to the Editor

Readers react to Neandertal diets and impressionist art

By Science News Staff

A song for the (stone) ages

People have long eaten putrid foods, forcing scientists to rethink the diets of Neandertals and other hominids, Bruce Bower reported in “Stone Age cuisine” (SN: 3/25/23, p. 16).

Reader Maria Reidelbach asked Google’s AI chatbot to write a song inspired by the story, in the style of musician Tom Waits:

Deep in the cave, the Neandertals eat
Putrid meat, their only treat
They gnaw on the bones, they chew on the skin
And they don’t give a damn if it’s been in


Chorus:
Putrid meat, putrid meat
It’s all they’ve got, it’s all they eat
Putrid meat, putrid meat
It’s the only thing that keeps them going



The Neandertals are a tough bunch
They’ve been through a lot, they’ve seen a lot
But they’re still here, they’re still alive
And they’re still eating putrid meat


(Repeat chorus)

Some people say the Neandertals are extinct
But I know they’re not, I’ve seen them
They’re out there, somewhere, eating putrid meat

(Repeat chorus)

So if you’re ever feeling down
And you think your life is tough
Just remember the Neandertals
And their putrid meat diet
They’re still here, they’re still alive
And they’re still eating putrid meat




Making an impression

Air pollution from the Industrial Revolution may have helped give rise to 19th century impressionist art, Bas den Hond reported in “Smog