Beyond the Human

Today on Headlines from the Beyond: What have astronomers detected coming from a planet 63 light-years from Earth? Researchers have detected radio emissions from Beta Pictoris b that appear to be produced by auroral activity, providing the first direct evidence of a magnetic field on an exoplanet. We explain what the discovery actually tells us—and why, despite the extraterrestrial implications, these signals are not evidence of an alien transmission.Then, a new UAP disclosure initiative could give military personnel, government employees, and contractors a way to report previously protected UAP-related information without violating nondisclosure agreements. We look at the Department of War’s PURSUE initiative, what its new disclosure provisions actually allow, and whether it could remove some of the legal barriers that UAP disclosure advocates have long argued prevent potential whistleblowers from coming forward.Finally, science has added some remarkable new animals to the catalog of life. The Tilcayo tiger cat, Leopardus tilcayo, was recently recognized as a distinct species in Bolivia—the first new living cat species described in more than a century. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, researchers formally described the Likweli, Colobus congoensis, only the fifth new African monkey species identified in 75 years. And genetic research has revealed a distinct population of southeastern gentoo penguins on the Kerguelen Islands. What do these discoveries tell us about how much life remains undocumented—and whose knowledge counts when scientists decide what constitutes a “new” species?Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.Stay connected with us between episodes—follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Human on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Field Notes from the Beyond⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack.Show Notes:Radio Waves Coming From an Alien Planet May Be a Cosmic FirstCeballos, Kevin N. Ortiz, Edo Berger, and Yvette Cendes. "Discovery of radio emission from the exoplanet $\beta $ Pictoris b." arXiv preprint arXiv:2609.16720 (2026).Department of War Issues Legal Waiver to Authorize Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Disclosures to PURSUE ‘We are not alone:’ Coalition of UFO whistleblowers call on Trump to let them publicly reveal secrets-New Species of Cat Discovered for First Time in a CenturyTilcayo Tiger Cat FactsNew monkey species with orange lips found 'hiding' in DR Congo forestHart, John A., Junior D. Amboko, Julia L. Arenson, Emma R. Horton, Kathryn F. Coates, Jean-Pierre I. Kapale, Mardoché B. Koko et al. "Likweli: A remarkable new species of Colobus monkey from the Lomami National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo." PLoS One 21, no. 7 (2026): e0349857.First new penguin species in a century found on Kerguelen IslandsNoll, D., Younger, J., Pertierra, L.R. et al. Integrative evidence reveals adaptive divergence and speciation in gentoo penguins. Commun Biol 9, 798 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-10081-7

What happened in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in April 1941 more than six years before the infamous Roswell incident?On this special episode of Beyond the Human, we’re joined by author Paul Blake Smith, whose new book The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell: Missouri’s 1941 Crash and Coverup explores one of the lesser-known alleged UFO crash stories in American history.Smith takes us through the crash, the evidence he uncovered while researching the case, and why he believes the incident deserves a place in the larger history of UFO crashes and government secrecy. We discuss the unusual circumstances surrounding the reported crash, the potential involvement of local and military figures, and why this incident has produced far fewer whistleblowers and deathbed revelations than cases like Roswell.We also explore Smith’s research into Franklin D. Roosevelt’s activities around the time of the crash and his theories about possible Masonic connections to the events and subsequent cover-up. Finally, we look beyond Missouri to the alleged 1933 Magenta UFO crash in Italy, including claims about Vatican knowledge of the incident and its possible connection to the MO41 story.What can the Cape Girardeau case, and the stories that have grown around it, tell us about the history of UFO crash narratives, secrecy, and the ongoing search for answers about UAPs?Show NotesPaul Blake Smith's websiteBuy The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell

What can years of systematic field research actually tell us about Sasquatch?In this episode of Beyond the Human, we’re joined by Michael Mayes, author of Valley of the Apes: The Search for Sasquatch in Area X and Shadow Cats: The Black Panthers of North America, and former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the North American Wood Ape Conservancy (NAWAC).As the second interview in our cryptohominid series, Mayes takes us deeper into the evidence emerging from NAWAC's long-term research in Area X. Drawing on the experiences documented in Valley of the Apes, we explore why encounters appear to increase with time spent in the field and what researchers can learn by developing a detailed understanding of an environment and the animals that inhabit it.We take a closer look at some of NAWAC's most intriguing findings, including Tag 7 and the remarkable range associated with the animal, as well as the group's efforts to document and communicate its research. Mayes also discusses the challenges of publishing research on a subject that remains controversial within mainstream science.We also turn to the larger questions raised by the research: what would constitute convincing evidence for a biological cryptohominid, and how should researchers respond when years of fieldwork produce compelling observations but no physical specimen?Finally, we discuss the reception of Valley of the Apes, the divide between academic and popular paranormal research, and what it might take to build a more productive relationship between the two.From long-term fieldwork and animal behavior to the limits of evidence and the challenges of studying controversial phenomena, this conversation asks a deceptively simple question: after years of looking, what do we actually know about Sasquatch?Show Notes:Michael Mayes' websiteValley of the Apes: The hunt for Sasquatch in Area XShadow Cats: The Black Panthers of North AmericaNorth American Wood Ape Conservancy

What happens when researchers try to bring scientific rigor to one of the most controversial areas of paranormal research?In this episode of Beyond the Human, we’re joined by James Waldo, a member of the North American Wood Ape Conservancy (NAWAC) and a podcaster with Seven Ages Research Associates, for an in-depth conversation about the search for Sasquatch and other cryptohominids.Waldo discusses how he first became interested in cryptozoology and eventually became involved with NAWAC, including what the organization is, who participates in its research, and what it’s actually like to take part in an operation in the field.We also explore how NAWAC’s goals have evolved over the course of its research, from its original objective of obtaining a wood ape specimen to its current projects and investigations. Waldo shares some of the Conservancy’s most significant findings from Area X and elsewhere, as well as the reactions their work has received from academic researchers, paranormal enthusiasts, and the broader public.In one of the most compelling parts of the conversation, Waldo reflects on his own experiences researching Sasquatch and addresses one of the central debates within cryptohominid research: if these creatures are biological organisms, why hasn't a specimen been recovered?Finally, we discuss a question at the heart of Beyond the Human: how can we bridge the divide between academic researchers and the popular researchers who investigate the paranormal outside of traditional institutions? And what would it take to create a more rigorous, productive conversation between the two?From field research and cryptozoology to anthropology, science, and the boundaries of paranormal research, this conversation explores what it means to seriously investigate a phenomenon that remains deeply contested—and what researchers can learn from one another along the way.Show Notes: North American Wood Ape ConservancySeven Ages Research Associates

Could reports of Bigfoot, Yeti, orang pendek, and other humanlike creatures represent something more than folklore?In this episode of Beyond the Human, we begin a multi-part investigation into cryptohominids: reported humanlike beings that may represent undiscovered primates, relict populations of ancient hominids, or something stranger. We start with the flesh-and-blood hypothesis and ask whether these creatures could realistically exist within what we know about human evolution, primate biology, and ecology.Drawing on the fossil record and discoveries of Neanderthals, Denisovans, Homo floresiensis, and Homo naledi, we explore the surprisingly diverse world of our extinct relatives and why the idea of another surviving hominid isn't quite as straightforward as it might seem. We then examine the evidence researchers have collected for cryptohominids, including footprints, hair and DNA, photographs and video, vocalizations, and eyewitness testimony.From orang pendek in Sumatra and otang in South Africa to Sasquatch in North America, we look at several of the cases that flesh-and-blood researchers consider particularly intriguing. Along the way, we examine the work of researchers who have attempted to investigate these reports more systematically and ask what the current evidence can (and cannot) tell us.This is only the beginning. In the episodes that follow, we'll hear directly from researchers in the field, including NAWAC members James Waldo and Michael Mayes, before turning to supernatural and high-strangeness explanations for the phenomenon. Finally, we'll speak with anthropologist Dr. Gregory Forth about the intersection of cryptohominids, ethnography, and human evolution.Are cryptohominids undiscovered animals, surviving relatives of our evolutionary past, or something that doesn't fit neatly into either category? We're starting with the evidence—and letting the investigation take us from there.Topics discussed in this episode:(3:49) - The Series and Defining Cryptohominids(12:51) - Human Evolution for Cryptozoologists(46:16) - Researchers in the Field(1:17:52) - Evidence for Biological Bigfoot(1:29:00) - Best Cryptohominid CasesShow NotesZhang Y and Harrison T. Gigantopithecus blacki: a giant ape from the Pleistocene of Asia revisited. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 2017; 162:153–177. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23150.Smithsonian Institution - What Does it Mean to Be Human?  Species Becoming Human - Journey Through the Timeline On the trail of the orang pendek, Sumatra's mystery ape