Homo sapiens

Study reveals Neanderthal children faced similar stress levels to early humans, but at different developmental stages

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Neanderthal children (who lived between 400,000 and 40,000 years ago) and modern human children living during the Upper Paleolithic era (between 50,000 and 12,000 years ago) may have faced similar levels of childhood stress but at different developmental stages, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The authors suggest that these findings could reflect differences in childcare … Read more

Human Evolution: Origins and Evolutionary History of Homo sapiens

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Human evolution is the process by which Homo sapiens, the modern human species, emerged and diversified from earlier hominin ancestors over millions of years. It is a complex and fascinating journey that spans millions of years and involves numerous species, environmental changes, adaptations, and migrations. Understanding human evolution requires interdisciplinary approaches, drawing insights from paleontology, … Read more

History of Life on Earth

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The history of life on Earth spans billions of years, from the formation of our planet to the evolution of diverse life forms. This epic tale of biological evolution is intertwined with geological events, environmental changes, extinction events, and the emergence of complex organisms. The story of life on Earth is a testament to the … Read more

75,000-year-old Neanderthal face reconstructed from fragmented skull

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A new Netflix documentary has recreated the face of a 75,000-year-old female Neanderthal whose flattened skull was discovered and rebuilt from hundreds of bone fragments by a team of archaeologists and conservators led by the University of Cambridge. The team excavated the female Neanderthal in 2018 from inside a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan where the … Read more

Study identifies genomic variant responsible for unique human skull base morphology

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Humans, Homo sapiens, have unique features compared with other closely related hominin species and primates, including the shape of the base of the skull. The evolutionary changes underlying these features were significant in allowing the evolution of our increased brain size. Now, in a study recently published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, a … Read more

Competition, not just climate, shaped hominin evolution, new study suggests

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Competition between species played a major role in the rise and fall of hominins—and produced a “bizarre” evolutionary pattern for the Homo lineage—according to a new University of Cambridge study that revises the start and end dates for many of our early ancestors. Conventionally, climate is held responsible for the emergence and extinction of hominin … Read more

Complex dental traits found in Chinese fossils challenge theories of human evolution

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Although a relatively large number of late Middle Pleistocene hominins have been found in East Asia, these fossils have not been consistently included in current debates about the origin of anatomically modern humans (AMHS), and little is known about their phylogenetic place in relation to contemporary hominins from Africa and Europe as well as to … Read more

160,000-year-old mandible from China identified as Denisovan using protein analysis

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So far, Denisovans were only known from a small collection of fossil fragments from Denisova Cave in Siberia. A research team now describes a 160,000-year-old hominin mandible from Xiahe in China. Using ancient protein analysis, the researchers found that the mandible’s owner belonged to a population that was closely related to the Denisovans from Siberia. … Read more

40,000-year-old culture in Northern China

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When did populations of Homo sapiens first arrive in China and what happened when they encountered the Denisovans or Neanderthals who lived there? A new study in Nature by an international team of researchers opens a window into hunter-gatherer lifestyles 40,000 years ago. Archaeological excavations at the site of Xiamabei in the Nihewan Basin of … Read more

Early humans ate like Neanderthals, mostly mammoths and plants

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Senckenberg scientists have studied the diet of anatomically modern humans. With their recent study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, they were able to refute the theory that the diet of early representatives of Homo sapiens was more flexible than that of Neanderthals. Just like the Neanderthals, our ancestors had mainly mammoth and plants … Read more

Neanderthals used “super glue” 40,000 years ago

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Neanderthals created stone tools held together by a multi-component adhesive, a team of scientists has discovered. Its findings, which are the earliest evidence of a complex adhesive in Europe, suggest these predecessors to modern humans had a higher level of cognition and cultural development than previously thought. The work, reported in the journal Science Advances, … Read more

Stone tool technology suggests nuanced cultural evolution in early humans

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A study led by researchers at the Nagoya University Museum in Japan may change how we understand the cultural evolution of Homo sapiens at the time of their dispersal across Eurasia about 50,000 to 40,000 years ago. These findings challenge traditional beliefs about the timing and nature of cultural transitions during this critical period in … Read more

Modern humans reached Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, overlapping with Neanderthals

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A genetic analysis of bone fragments unearthed at an archaeological site in central Germany shows conclusively that modern humans—Homo sapiens—had already reached Northern Europe 45,000 years ago, overlapping with Neanderthals for several thousand years before the latter went extinct. The findings establish that the site near Ranis, Germany, which is known for its finely flaked, … Read more

How does the theory of natural selection contribute to our understanding of human evolution?

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The theory of natural selection, proposed by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in the 19th century, has been a cornerstone in understanding the process of evolution. Applied to the context of human evolution, this theory provides a comprehensive framework for explaining the development and adaptation of Homo sapiens over millions of years. In exploring … Read more

What is paleontology?

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Paleontology is the scientific discipline that focuses on the study of fossils to understand the history of life on Earth. It encompasses a diverse range of organisms, from microscopic bacteria to colossal dinosaurs, and investigates their evolution, ecology, and interactions over geological time scales. Paleontologists, the scientists who specialize in this field, employ various methods … Read more

Humans, not climate change, drove the decline of large mammals, new DNA study shows

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For years, scientists have debated whether humans or the climate have caused the population of large mammals to decline dramatically over the past several thousand years. A new study from Aarhus University confirms that climate cannot be the explanation. About 100,000 years ago, the first modern humans migrated out of Africa in large numbers. They … Read more

How has the discovery of ancient tools and artifacts shaped our understanding of human origins?

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The discovery of ancient tools and artifacts has played a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of human origins, providing crucial insights into the technological, cognitive, and behavioral evolution of our ancestors. These material remains serve as tangible links to the past, offering a window into the ways early humans interacted with their environment, developed … Read more

What evidence supports the “Out of Africa” theory of human migration?

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The “Out of Africa” theory, also known as the recent African origin of modern humans, is a widely accepted model explaining the migration and dispersal of Homo sapiens from Africa to populate the rest of the world. This theory posits that anatomically modern humans originated in Africa and then migrated and replaced archaic human populations … Read more

What distinguishes Homo sapiens from other hominid species in terms of evolution?

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The emergence and evolution of Homo sapiens, modern humans, represent a significant chapter in the broader story of hominid evolution. Understanding what distinguishes Homo sapiens from other hominid species involves exploring a combination of anatomical, behavioral, and cognitive characteristics that set our species apart. This journey through the evolutionary landscape sheds light on the unique … Read more

How does the fossil record provide insights into human ancestry?

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The fossil record is a rich source of information that allows scientists to explore and understand the evolutionary history of life on Earth, including the origins and development of various species, including humans. When it comes to human ancestry, the fossil record plays a crucial role in providing insights into our evolutionary past. This record … Read more