Primates
Why Fire Makes Us Human
Cooking may be more than just a part of your daily routine, it may be what made your brain as powerful as it is
June 2013 |
By Jerry Adler
Interview: Jane Goodall on the Future of Plants and Chimps
The renowned chimp expert discusses her new book, her efforts to protect the rainforest and why she misses living with chimps
February 21, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
How to Solve Human Evolution’s Greatest Hoax
One hundred years after Piltdown Man was "discovered," scientists are still investigating how and why the fossil find was faked
December 19, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Tree Climbers, Wood Eaters, and More: The Top 10 Human Evolution Discoveries of 2012
This year's hominid finds illuminate the great diversity and adaptability of our ancient relatives
December 17, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Top 7 Human Evolution Discoveries From South Africa
The search for humans' most ancient ancestors began in South Africa, where some of paleoanthropology's most iconic fossils have been found
December 12, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Four Species of Homo You’ve Never Heard Of, Part II
The history of anthropology is littered with many now-defunct hominid species that no longer have a place in the human family tree
December 10, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
How Death Played a Role in the Evolution of Human Height
A longer life expectancy might have allowed members of the genus Homo to grow taller than earlier australopithecines, researchers propose
December 05, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
A Holiday Gift Guide for the Whole Human Family
An offering of books, bumper stickers, artwork and other knickknacks for the hominid enthusiast on your gift list
December 03, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Primate Origins Tied to Rise of Flowering Plants
Scientists argue that grasping hands and feet, good vision and other primate adaptations emerged because the mammals plucked fruits from the ends of tree branches
November 28, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Homo antecessor: Common Ancestor of Humans and Neanderthals?
A hominid that lived in Europe more than a million years ago might have given rise to Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, some anthropologists say
November 26, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
The Top Seven Human Evolution Discoveries From Tanzania
Fossil finds from Tanzania in the mid-20th century kicked off East African hominid hunting
November 19, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Early Hominids Had a Taste for Grass
Unlike earlier hominids, the 3.5-million-year-old Australopithecus bahrelghazali ate grassland foods
November 14, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Early Bow and Arrows Offer Insight Into Origins of Human Intellect
Tiny blades discovered in South Africa suggest early humans had advanced intelligence and modern culture 71,000 years ago
November 07, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Did Lucy Walk Too Slow for Her Taller Group Mates?
Huge variability in Australopithecus afarensis height may have made it difficult for group members to walk together at the same speed
November 05, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Rare and Intimate Photos of a Gorilla Family in the Wild
Two photographers ventured deep into the forests of central Africa to capture touching photos of a 33-year-old wild silverback and his clan
November 2012 |
By Abigail Tucker
Five Early Primates You Should Know
Scientists have identified dozens of early primates, based mainly on teeth, but still have a hard time assessing how these mammals relate to modern primates
October 31, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Why Are Humans Primates?
People may seem very different from lemurs, monkeys and apes, but all primates share a few key physical and behavioral characteristics
October 29, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Fossilized Shoulder Reveals Early Hominids Climbed Trees
The shoulder blades of a 3.3-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis child suggest the species spent at least some time in the treetops
October 25, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
The Mystery of Human Blood Types
The ABO blood group evolved at least 20 million years ago, but scientists still don't understand the purpose of blood types
October 22, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Whatever Happened to Kenyanthropus platyops?
Scientists disagree over whether a 3.5-million-year-old skull is a flat-faced species of hominid or just a distorted example of Australopithecus afarensis
October 17, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
