> ## Content Index
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# The Top Secret Vault for Ancient Maize
- URL: https://www.cascadepbs.org/show/human-footprint/extras/top-secret-vault-ancient-maize-mpbpe0/
- Published: 2024-04-02T22:51:32.000Z
- Updated: 2025-08-20T18:47:08.000Z
- Description: Shane dives into Mexico's cornucopia with geneticist Sarah Hearne.
- Author: Cascade PBS Staff
- Tags: Human Footprint, #ZZZ_Show_920c28e7-cc8d-4bd4-a6a1-1d54d80cf6c8, #geo-us, #v1.7, #ZZZ_Extra_8739d240-dcdc-41c3-a44c-f382c913ea02, #extra

Shane follows geneticist Sarah Hearne into a vault of over 28,000 species of maize that has weaved itself into the fabric of Mexico's past, present and future. But in the last century, just a handful of varieties have come to dominate global corn production. What happened?