Human Evolution

Dr. Maxime Aubert, archeologist and geochemist, uses his headlamp to examine the cave art at Leang Lompoa in Maros, Indonesia.

A Journey to the Oldest Cave Paintings in the World

The discovery in a remote part of Indonesia has scholars rethinking the origins of art—and of humanity

Say hello to your faithful friend Demodex folliculorum.

Your Hair Mites Are So Loyal Their DNA Reflects Your Ancestry

Mite DNA could hold clues to ancient human migrations and future skin health

Finally There’s a Scientific Theory for Why Some Words are Funny

The science behind Dr. Seuss

A close-up of what might be one of the oldest depictions of a human dwelling.

Does This Carving Depict a Paleolithic Campsite?

A chunk of stone may be marked with one of the oldest drawings of a human campsite

Europeans Only Started Digesting Dairy 4,000 Years Ago

They can enjoy that cheese thanks to ancient nomadic herders

Skeletal cast of "Lucy."

Lucy the Australopithecus Turns 41 (Plus 3.2 Million Years)

Lucy gets a Google Doodle for the anniversary of her discovery

The first Denisovan tooth that was discovered in 2008

DNA from a Huge Tooth Confirms a New Ancient Cousin

The Denisovans may have co-existed and interbred with Neanderthals and Homo sapiens

When a walk in the park is your worst nightmare.

Why Do Humans Have Allergies? Parasite Infections May Be the Trigger

Protein analysis suggests that antibodies that evolved to fight parasites might be turning their focus to otherwise harmless agents

Fossilized Teeth Reveal Humans Were in Asia Long Before Europe

Early humans might have been more inclined to roam than scientists previously thought

Hunter-Gatherers Sleep Little and Get Up Early

Our ancestors probably didn’t need nine hours of sleep either

A view from Mota Cave in Ethiopia, where archaeologists found the remains of a 4,500-year-old human.

Back to Africa: Ancient Human Genome Reveals Widespread Eurasian Mix

Genes from a 4,500-year-old skeleton from Ethiopia show how migrations shaped modern populations

The hand and foot of Homo naledi

The Increasingly Muddled Origins of Homo Naledi

Detailed analyses of Homo naledi shows a mosaic of both early and modern human features

A young chimpanzee sets out for a stroll in Tanzania's Mahale Mountains National Park.

Walking Chimps Move in Surprisingly Similar Ways to Humans

Motion-sensor studies showing how chimpanzees walk upright could help scientists better understand the evolution of bipedalism

Here’s Why Chimps and Humans Look So Different

Thank genes for the lack of family resemblance.

Meet Homo naledi, the newest member of the human family tree.

What Makes a Fossil a Member of the Human Family Tree?

The surprising new species Homo naledi raises more questions than answers—for now

New Fossil Discovery May Change What We Know About Human Evolution

The ancient species Homo naledi had small brains and seems to have intentionally carried their dead into caves

Sure, it looks cute now, but a new study explores why babies influence their moms' DNA for years.

Baby’s Cells Can Manipulate Mom’s Body for Decades

An evolutionary approach may help scientists understand why mothers become genetic chimeras and how that affects their health

Scientists Just Identified a Pinkie That’s Almost 2 Million Years Old

And it could be a major evolutionary breakthrough

Dating human remains (such as this 800-year old skeleton found in Bulgaria) often relies on radiocarbon dating

Climate Change Might Break Carbon Dating

Fossil fuel emissions mess with the ratio of carbon isotopes in the atmosphere

Brazil's Surui people, like the man pictured above, share ancestry with indigenous Australians, new evidence suggests.

A DNA Search for the First Americans Links Amazon Groups to Indigenous Australians

The new genetic analysis takes aim at the theory that just one founding group settled the Americas

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