Extinction of moa still remembered by the Māori
Wherever humans went, extinction often followed. New Zealand was no exception, where the giant moa was wiped out. But local populations still remember them.
Did going hairless help our brain evolve?
A new hypothesis suggests that becoming hairless drove the evolution of our big brains, as it was forced to adapt to the new sensations of a naked body
Why did early human culture remain frozen?
For the first million years of the stone age, human culture remained unchanged. New research suggests that maybe it wasn’t really culture.
Our mouth evolved faster and longer than any other primates
Over the past 4 million years our mouth changed a lot, but the speed and scope of this change has been unknown. New research sheds light on this mystery.
The first Italians – Human evolution news update #12
Here are the top human evolution news stories of the past week, as voted on by my social media followers. To see the full set of news – or have your say on what’s featured here – be sure to check Filthy Monkey Men out
Homo naledi brain was tiny yet modern
Researchers have managed to reconstruct the Homo naledi brain from fossils, revealing it was surprisingly small yet shared many modern features with us.
Neanderthal cave art confirmed, but why did they make it?
Neanderthal cave art has been discovered in 3 caves across Spain. But why were they making it? New research claims to have the answer.
African family tree – Human evolution news update #11
Here are the top 5 most interesting human evolution news stories from the past week. As voted on by you, the people.
Stone age sigils found in the Levant
A series of bones with a similar style has been found across Israel. Perhaps these represent ancient sigils people used to identify friend from foe.
Prehistoric environmentalists kept the mammoth alive
When humans arrived in a region it was often bad news for local animals. However, the mammoth escaped our wrath. Were ancient people protecting the animals?