Human evolution
- Health & Medicine
Many human ails are ‘scars’ of evolution
Humans suffer many physical problems that other primates don’t, from sprained ankles to hip fractures. Scientists now say you can blame these on evolution.
- Genetics
Ancient DNA sparks new mystery
DNA from a 400,000-year-old leg bone found in Spain is by far the oldest recovered from pre-human ancestors. It also shows an unexpected link to later, Asian ‘kin.’
- Science & Society
Human ancestors threw spears
Who threw first? Scientists had long believed that ancient people who lived 80,000 years ago were the first to throw spears with stone tips. But the discovery of 279,000-year-old stone spear tips in Ethiopia pushes that date back, and suggests prehuman species hunted with spears too.
- Fossils
Where do humans come from?
Some scientists propose a newfound South African species as the most likely ancestor of the line that led to humans. But not everyone accepts that this is where it all began.
-
- Brain
Age-old fears perk up baby’s ears
Kids start paying attention to scary sounds when only a few months old.
- Fossils
Shoulder bones fuel debate
Fossil shoulder blades suggest an ancient humanlike species may have been at home in the trees as well as on the ground.
- Genetics
DNA hints at ancient cousins
Scientists find evidence of an extinct humanlike species within modern-day Africans.
- Archaeology
Hobbits: Our tiny cousins
Skeletal remains of ancient human relatives found in Indonesia are challenging some long-accepted “truths” about human evolution.
- Fossils
Old relative steps down
Ancient human ancestor climbed trees but also walked clumsily upright on the ground.
-
- Humans
Meet your mysterious relative
Ardi climbed trees and walked on two legs 4.4 million years ago.
