A benign bone tumor has been discovered in a 120,000-year-old Neandertal rib fragment, providing a unique link to modern humans. The fibrous dysplasia tumor was identified through advanced imaging techniques and sheds light on the health of ancient human populations.
Adult wild chimpanzees exhibit a strong association between age and malaria parasite detection rates, with significantly lower positivity in adults. This suggests that individuals reaching adulthood mount an effective protective immunity against malaria parasites, consistent with human observations.
A new report documents harassment, abuse, or assaults of young researchers in biological anthropology fieldwork. Larger research sites tend to have fewer incidents than smaller ones.
A study by UCSB anthropologist Jeffrey Hoelle explores the complex relationship between cattle ranchers and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Ranchers, who are often seen as villains of Amazonia, actually have a nuanced perspective on their industry's impact.
Anthropologist Robert W. Sussman explores the dangers of eugenics and the importance of cultural understanding in addressing human behavior. He argues that most individual variances result from social, environmental, and cultural exposure rather than genetics.
A new DNA study from the University of Texas at Austin provides genetic evidence for the impact of Aztec imperialism on Mesoamerican populations. Researchers found that the pre-conquest maternal aDNA did not match those of the post-conquest era in Xaltocan, suggesting significant genetic changes
A study of ancient DNA from a 40,000-year-old human from Tianyuan Cave near Beijing found that the individual shared a common origin with present-day Asians and Native Americans. The genetic profile also revealed that this early modern human diverged genetically from present-day Europeans and did not carry a larger proportion of Neande...
Researchers found that Tsimane indigenous population in Bolivia does not exhibit the traditional Big Five personality traits, but rather a 'Big Two' of prosociality and industriousness. The study's findings suggest that lifestyle and ecology shape human psychology more broadly.
A University of Oklahoma study analyzed ancient DNA from human fecal samples to understand changes in the human gut microbiome. The results suggest that the last 100 years have seen a major shift in the human gut microbiome, with broader implications for modern health.
Researchers used ArcGIS to analyze a human foot bone, revealing patterns of tension and compression that reveal how the bones were used during life. The study provides a proof of concept for using geographic software to study internal bone structure.
A study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology found that singing gibbons use the same vocal techniques as professional soprano singers. The research reveals a physiological similarity between gibbon and human voices, suggesting that complex vocal abilities evolved in humans were not due to unique modifications.
Research by Kathrine Starkweather found that polyandrous cultures often feature small-scale societies with egalitarian values, where younger brothers protect the family. This study adapts traditional practices to modern realities, highlighting human adaptability and variability in marriage structures.
A Wayne State University researcher has launched a program to target safer river fishing practices among Detroit River anglers. The 'Improving Community Awareness for Detroit River Fish Consumption Advisories' program aims to educate anglers on the importance of choosing less-contaminated fish.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati discovered a massive ancient dam built by the Maya, stretching over 260 feet and holding 20 million gallons of water. The dam, constructed from cut stone and earth, was part of a sophisticated water management system that allowed the city to thrive despite periodic droughts.
A new EU-funded project, BEAN, aims to enhance skills in anthropology, pre-history, and population genetics by analyzing DNA from hunter-gatherers and early farmers. Researchers will compile a model for the settlement of Europe using genomic data.
Researchers analyzed fossilized teeth to reveal that A. sediba ate harder foods like trees and bushes, unlike most other hominids who focused on grasses and sedges. This diet was confirmed by analysis of microscopic particles trapped in tooth tarter, suggesting the individuals avoided open grasslands.
A Michigan State University study found that poor mothers produce fattier milk for their daughters than sons, supporting a 1973 hypothesis. In contrast, wealthy mothers prefer to invest resources in sons who are more likely to increase their status through marriage.
Research by Rutgers-Camden professor Cindy Dell Clark analyzes Hollywood's portrayal of children with asthma, revealing common stereotypes that can lead to stigma and unfair treatment. Her study suggests that depicting asthma as a form of weakness or stress-induced condition is not supported by medical evidence.
A new Northwestern University study suggests that children of older fathers inherit longer telomeres, which may promote slower aging and facilitate extension of lifespan. The association is cumulative across multiple generations, offering insights into the evolution of aging.
Research on lemur extinctions over 2,000 years reveals that remaining species go into 'ecological retreat,' increasing extinction risk. Surviving lemurs rely on denser habitats due to vacant environmental niches, which may be a result of human disturbance.
Two studies led by University of Pennsylvania scientists uncover new information about Native American and First Nations migration patterns, genetic impact of cultural practices and historical relationships among groups. The research provides the first clear evidence of shared markers in DNA of people living in the circumarctic region.
A recent study found that bigger male gorillas are more successful at attracting mates and raising offspring. The research, conducted over 12 years in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, revealed positive correlations between physical traits such as head-crest size and gluteal muscles with an adult male's average number of mates.
Archaeologists are utilizing information from multiple disciplines to inform and enhance their data, providing new insights into social systems, economic processes, and political dynamics. The field has expanded beyond anthropology to include perspectives from sociology and other social sciences.
Researchers found that humans and chimpanzees tend to copy majority behaviour, while children consider both frequency and number of demonstrators. Orangutans, however, showed no such bias, possibly due to their solitary group structure. The study suggests a key difference in social learning mechanisms between humans, chimpanzees, and o...
Researchers found that people consistently judge pistol-packers to be taller and stronger than men holding other objects, even when hand size and appearance are similar. The study suggests an unconscious mental mechanism that gauges threat and translates it into size and strength dimensions.
The prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Foundation has selected four University of Miami students as 2012 Goldwater Scholars: Christopher Sanchez, Ian Ergui, Juan Pablo Ruiz, and Christine Chesley. Sanchez is majoring in Environmental Science and Policy with a focus on Anthropology.
Scientists have discovered the first evidence of Pre-Columbian sources of palygorskite for Maya Blue. Researchers established a link between contemporary indigenous knowledge and ancient mines in Mexico's northern Yucatan Peninsula.
A Michigan State University anthropologist has exposed the horrific experiences of poor people who were victims of organ trafficking. Moniruzzaman's study found that kidney sellers are often plagued with health problems and receive inadequate compensation.
Recent studies suggest that prehistoric pastoralist societies in Eurasia developed distinct economies and triggered the formation of extensive networks of interaction. These 'nonuniform institutional complexity' models describe how small-scale institutions impact wider-scale political economies and shape the growth of great empires.
A recent study published in Current Anthropology reveals that women who did not plan their pregnancies are more likely to stop breastfeeding within three months. The research suggests that unplanned pregnancy leads to emotional and physical discomfort, causing women to resist the close physical connection required by breastfeeding.
Researchers at Michigan State University used advanced DNA testing to confirm the presence of brucellosis in skeletal remains from medieval Albania, suggesting the disease was endemic in the region since the Middle Ages. The findings provide valuable insights into the history of infectious diseases and their impact on human health.
A Queen's University study found that men prefer sons while women want daughters, despite cultural norms of gender neutrality. The results suggest an intrinsic desire to leave a legacy, with men envisioning this through male heirs.
A study by Oregon State University researcher Melissa Cheyney found that midwife-attended home births have better health outcomes, including lower cesarean section rates. Midwives construct woman-centered rituals around pregnancy and birth to put mothers in control, involving family members and downplaying technology.
A 5-year study on Bornean orangutans reveals they store fat when abundant food is available and use it for energy during scarcity. This research may aid in understanding human obesity and eating disorders.
Chimpanzees from the Fongoli research site in Senegal frequently share plant food and hunting tools with other chimps, exhibiting behavior similar to humans. The study found that females commonly receive food from males, potentially as a future mating strategy.
A team of researchers used computational modeling to study the evolution of Neanderthals in response to climate change, revealing that they were as adaptable and resourceful as modern humans. The study suggests that Neanderthals' success led to their own extinction due to interbreeding with modern humans.
Researchers have re-analyzed ancient deciduous teeth from Grotta del Cavallo, Italy, and found they belong to anatomically modern humans. The new study suggests that Homo sapiens arrived in Europe earlier than previously known, with dates ranging from ~43,000-45,000 cal BP.
The article reveals how Los Alamos' decline is linked to misguided policies and mismanagement, rather than a culture of arrogance. The lab's scientists faced harsh conditions, including polygraph tests and shutdowns, after media scrutiny of one individual's actions was misconstrued as institutional failure.
Researchers found that four-year-olds conformed their public judgment of a situation to the majority of peers despite better knowledge. This conformity plays a crucial role in acquiring group-specific behavior. In the study, only 40% of children conformed at least once, indicating some level of peer pressure on young minds.
Researchers at Poggio Colla excavation site in Italy discovered a ceramic fragment with two images of a woman giving birth to a child, over 2,600 years old. The unique find is the first of its kind ever found in an Etruscan excavation, providing new insights into the culture.
Research suggests that human children exhibit a strong preference for working together to solve problems, with cooperation rates exceeding 78% compared to 58% for chimpanzees. This finding highlights a potential difference in motivation between humans and our primate cousins.
Researchers will examine how humans have responded to changes in surrounding forests over multiple centuries, focusing on New Mexico's Jemez Mountains and the intersection of climate change, drought, and forest fires. The team aims to understand how humans can live sustainably within fire-adapted ecosystems.
A new Northwestern University study confirms that human males are biologically wired to care for their offspring, showing that fatherhood significantly lowers testosterone levels. The study found that fathers who became more involved in child care experienced the largest decline in testosterone.
Researchers describe the earliest complete fossil hominin hand post-dating stone tools, Australopithecus sediba's hand. The study reveals that it used its hand for arboreal locomotion but also showed human-like precision grips, a prerequisite for tool-making.
David Sloan Wilson's book applies evolutionary theory to urban planning, using natural phenomena like wasps and crows to understand human behavior. He creates a map of Binghamton neighborhoods reflecting civic engagement, providing insights into how cities define us.
A new UCLA study suggests that warfare likely shaped the development of civilization in the Titicaca basin of southern Peru. The researchers found evidence of massive fires, iconographic signs of conflict and agricultural decline after a devastating fire in Taraco state, indicating war may have led to the downfall of this early settlem...
Researchers found that females preferred to disperse from their natal groups, similar to chimpanzees and human groups. The study suggests early hominins' social structure was not like that of gorillas.
A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder found that female hominids preferred to move away from their residential groups, suggesting a dispersal pattern similar to modern humans and some primates. The team used high-tech analysis of strontium isotope ratios in tooth enamel to identify specific areas of landscape use.
An analysis of ancient Nubian-era mummies found that human alteration of the environment contributed to the spread of schistosomiasis, a water-borne parasitic disease infecting an estimated 200 million people today. The study suggests that ancient individuals were capable of altering their environment in ways that impacted their health.
A previously unknown fossil primate, Mescalerolemur horneri, has been discovered in West Texas, dating back to the Eocene Epoch. The species is closely related to Eurasian and African adapiforms, challenging current understanding of North American primates.
Recent UC research on ancient Maya agroforestry and water-management systems at Tikal reveals that the forests were insufficient to meet the needs of Late Classic Maya populations, highlighting the importance of sustainable management techniques. The study also sheds light on how the ancient Maya built their water management systems, u...
The newly discovered stone monument features a central figure with an elaborate headdress and ornate accessories, dating back to the Early Formative period. The sculpture's design suggests a connection between corn cultivation and religion, supporting the idea of an early association between the two.
A new study by Washington University in St. Louis anthropologist Glenn Stone suggests that genetically modified Bt cotton seeds may have overemphasized crop yield gains, potentially harming sustainable farm management. The research found a modest rise in crop yields despite decreased pesticide sprayings.
Anthropologists at University of Toronto discover earliest cemetery in the Middle East, with graves containing human remains and those of a red fox. The discovery suggests that humans may have kept foxes as pets or had early attempts to tame them, but no successful domestication.
Archaeologists have found evidence of Homo sapiens in the Qesem Cave in Israel dating back to 400,000 years ago. The discovery challenges the long-held theory that modern man emerged from Africa 200,000 years ago and may indicate significant evolutionary changes in human behavior during this period.
The discovery of the ancient Siberian human genome reveals a new hominin group, Denisovans, which shared an origin with Neandertals but diverged. The findings also suggest interbreeding between Denisovans and modern human ancestors in Papua New Guinea.
New research in Psychological Science found that the fear of being the target of malicious envy motivates people to act more helpfully toward those they think might be jealous. This fear encourages prosocial behavior, such as sharing resources with others.
Research shows that young children are sensitive to others' moral behaviors and intentions, helping less when they see harm or intention behind an action. This suggests children's moral development is more complex than previously thought.
Researchers found that up to 53 out of 128 studied societies believe in the principle of multiple paternity. Women benefit from this system as secondary fathers provide gifts and support, increasing child survival rates. Men also gain by formalizing alliances through shared wives, strengthening family bonds.
A recent study found that the brains of newborn humans and Neanderthals are similar in size and appearance, but differ significantly in shape after birth. The differences reflect changes in brain circuitry and may underlie cognitive differences between the two species.