Human Evolution
What's the Difference Between a Human and Neanderthal Brain?
One small variation in DNA may have helped Homo sapiens out-compete our ancient relatives
Seven Million Years Ago, the Oldest Known Early Human Was Already Walking
Analysis of a femur fossil indicates that a key species could already move somewhat like us
Chewing Uses More Energy Than You'd Think
And it may have influenced the way our jaws and teeth evolved
The Evolutionary Trait That May Have Led to Human Speech
“Vocal membranes” in primates make their speech grating and unpredictable, study suggests. Humans have no such thing
Why Did Europeans Evolve Into Becoming Lactose Tolerant?
Famine and disease from millennia ago likely spurred the rapid evolution of the trait on the continent
This Is the Oldest Human-Made Object in the Smithsonian Collections
Roughly two million years ago, simple items like the Kanjera tool sparked a revolution in the way humans lived
When Did Early Humans Start Using Fire? To Find Answers, Scientists Enlist Artificial Intelligence
By analyzing flint tools, researchers find new evidence of an 800,000-year-old fire in northern Israel
Ancient Molar Found in Laos Could Help Fill in a Gap in Human History
Researchers believe the tooth belongs to a Denisovan girl, making it the first fossil evidence of these hominins in Southeast Asia
Why Humans Sleep Less Than Their Primate Relatives
Ancient humans may have evolved to slumber efficiently—and in a crowd
How Did Climate Change Affect Ancient Humans?
Sophisticated climate models were paired with evidence from the archaeological record to reveal where ancient humans may have lived and evolved
Scientists Have Finally Sequenced a 'Gapless' Human Genome
Scientists have deciphered the missing eight percent of our genetic blueprint, setting the stage for new discoveries in human evolution and disease
Largest Human Family Tree Identifies Nearly 27 Million Ancestors
Researchers create massive genealogical network dating back 100,000 years
Why Early Humans Built Fires in the Center of Lazaret Cave
A new study suggests pre-Neanderthals carefully placed their hearths to minimize smoke exposure while maximizing room for activities
Discovery of Ancient Baby Tooth Places Humans in Western Europe 10,000 Years Earlier Than Previously Thought
The archeologists also uncovered a number of Neanderthal artifacts suggesting the two species coexisted in the area
Humans' Sense of Smell May Be Worse Than Our Primate Ancestors'
The recent study also identified two new scent receptors for musk and body odor
East Africa's Oldest Modern Human Fossil Is Way Older Than Previously Thought
Analysis of ash from a massive volcanic eruption places the famed Omo I fossil 36,000 years back in time
Famed Paleoanthropologist and Wildlife Conservationist Richard Leakey Dies at 77
His team's discovery of early human skulls and skeletons cemented Africa as the cradle of humanity
Seven New Things We Learned About Human Evolution in 2021
Paleoanthropologists Briana Pobiner and Ryan McRae reveal some of the year's best findings in human origins studies
The Ten Most Significant Science Stories of 2021
Thrilling discoveries, hurdles in the fight against Covid and advancements in space exploration defined the past year
Baby Buried With Care 10,000 Years Ago Found in Italian Cave
The rare interment suggests that some hunter-gatherer societies imbued female infants with full personhood
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