Ancestry & Evolution
The desire to understand our origins is primal. By examining our DNA over successive generations through the evolutionary process of inherited characteristics of human and animal populations–as well as from those species from which humans share a common ancestry–we can decipher our individual and collective past and develop medical innovations for the future.
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Evolution research: What were the top discoveries of 2022?
Telling us more about our food, our health, our close relatives and ancestors, and even our animal friends, these 14 ...
Dinosaurs most likely lived near the North Pole. How did they survive?
It was the middle of winter under a moody Alaskan sky. On one side stretched the flat expanse of the ...
Viewpoint: Evolutionary theory is predicated on gender equality. Here’s why
Evolutionary theory is predicated on gender equality because parents have an equal genetic contribution to children. It is the only ...
What can teeth tell us about how human pregnancy evolved?
Human babies pack a lot of growth into those nine months between conception and birth to give them and their ...
As plants fight each other for access to sunlight, shorter crops with ‘unselfish’ genes could be more productive
Identifying genes that make plants “cooperate” with their neighbours rather than compete with them could enable breeders to develop more ...
Plaque on our teeth reveals secrets of our ancient ancestors
Plaque fossilises while we are still alive. Now, dental calculus is giving up the secrets of our ancient ancestors, from ...
Part II: Jewish skeletal remains in a Norwich well — Do they undermine the controversial theory of ‘Jewish IQ’?
Gregory Cochran, Jason Hardy and Henry Harpending, co-authors of “Natural History of Ashkenazi Intelligence”, did not clearly address how disease ...
A species of rat without the Y chromosome may foreshadow what might evolve in humans
The male Y chromosome has disappeared from a species of rat, leading scientists to investigate how humans might also lose ...
What is evolutionary medicine?
Basic scientists are good at proposing overarching theories, knocking down paradigms and erecting new ones. These are necessary and provide ...
Dispelling misconceptions about evolutionary psychology
Research in evolutionary psychology attracts considerable attention, from both enthusiasts and critics. Evolutionary researchers devote substantial effort to correcting misperceptions ...
Video: Where did the wolf go? Here’s why dogs are so friendly towards humans
What do you actually know about where dogs come from? You're probably aware they evolved from wolves — but how, ...
Ancient humans didn’t get sunburn. Here’s how living indoors has evolved our skin
Human beings have a conflicted relationship with the sun. People love sunshine, but then get hot. Sweat gets in your ...
Viewpoint: Reject GM crops because they’re ‘not natural’? Here’s a primer on 9,000 years of human tampering with our food supply
One of the most frequently cited concerns about ‘genetically modified’ food is that it is ‘unnatural’ or as the then ...
‘Quirks of our reptilian brains’: Why looming deadlines can cause paralyzing anxiety
Do you ever get so overwhelmed with schoolwork that all you can do is curl up on the couch and ...
Why has female sexual health research been so neglected?
In a recent News Hour segment on PBS television, doctors and researchers pointed out that female sexual topics were largely ...
Part I: Intelligence, disease, prejudice — and Jewish skeletal remains in a Norwich well
Who would have thought that bones found at the bottom of a medieval well in England could stir up such ...
‘Cities create a completely novel ecosystem’: How urban environments shape the evolution of plants, rats, fish and birds
Brown rats in New York City may be evolving smaller rows of teeth. Tiny fish across the Eastern US have ...
On foot: ‘Evolution of walking has everything to do with what makes us human’
Going places on foot isn’t a particularly glamorous way to get around. Sure, there are proven health, social and environmental ...
Want to buy a 76-million year old T-rex skull as an art object for your living room? Here’s how
Maximus Rex needs a home. What Sotheby’s calls one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skulls ever discovered goes on ...
Is violence built into our genes and human nature?
Violence is clearly not a modern phenomenon, but is it an inherent part of being human? Have we evolved to ...
‘Unseen connections’: Iconic 3-million-year-old hominim Lucy marks 48th anniversary with a selfie
The iconic ancient hominin gets her hands on a smartphone in anticipation of the museum’s upcoming exhibition exploring the global ...
How closely are genes tied to our language abilities?
More than 7,000 languages are spoken in the world. This linguistic diversity is passed on from one generation to the ...
Smart octopuses: Getting to know one of the most intelligent invertebrates
Cephalopods like octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish are highly intelligent animals with complex nervous systems. A team of researchers has now ...
Did ancient humans experience depression or anxiety?
Operationalizing a perspective that discusses generalized anxiety and other mental health disorders without interpreting history through the lens of our ...
Ants: The world’s most successful species?
Given their centrality to life on the planet, not to mention their teeming populations, shouldn’t we think more highly of ...
‘I like my carp well done please’: Human ancestors 780,000 years ago were catching and barbecuing fish
Heaps of fish teeth found at a waterlogged prehistoric site in today’s northern Israel have revealed an important new piece ...
Claw-like hands, second eyelids, and 90-degree elbows? Here’s how overusing technology may affect human evolution
Claw-like hands, smaller brains, and 90-degree elbows? It sounds as ridiculous as it looks, but these researchers suggest it’s possible ...
