Evolution
- Anthropology
How humans (maybe) domesticated themselves
Prior to taming other species, humans selected for more docile traits among fellow Homo sapiens, a slew of recent studies suggest.
- Genetics
Double-duty DNA plays a role in birth and death
Coronary artery disease may be the price humans pay for improved fertility.
- Anthropology
Oldest known Homo sapiens fossils come from northern Africa, studies claim
Moroccan fossils proposed as oldest known H. sapiens, from around 300,000 years ago.
- Archaeology
Tool sharpens focus on Stone Age networking in the Middle East
Stone Age tool’s route to Syrian site covered at least 700 kilometers.
- Anthropology
European fossils may belong to earliest known hominid
With new analyses of Graecopithecus fossils from Greece and Bulgaria, researchers argue for possible hominid origins in Europe, not Africa.
- Genetics
Jumping genes play a big role in what makes us human
Jumping genes have been a powerful force in human evolution.
- Anthropology
Homo naledi may have lived at around same time as early humans
South African species Homo naledi is much younger than previously thought.
- Humans
Homo naledi’s brain shows humanlike features
South African Homo species had small but humanlike brain, scientists say.
- Archaeology
Stone Age hunter-gatherers tackled their cavities with a sharp tool and tar
Late Stone Age hunter-gatherers scraped and coated away tooth decay.
- Archaeology
Cow carved in stone paints picture of Europe’s early human culture
Stone Age engraving helps to illuminate European travels of an ancient human culture.
- Climate
Monsoon deluges turned ancient Sahara green
The ancient Sahara Desert sprouted trees and lakes for thousands of years thanks to intense rainfall.
- Anthropology
Monkeys have vocal tools, but not brains, to talk like humans
Macaques have vocal tracts, but not brains, built for talking much as people do, scientists say.
