Our species is defined by a long list of cultural and genetic traits that set us apart from our ancient counterparts. New research suggests at least some key distinctions date back earlier than ...

Many known hominin fossils defy species classification, with the most famous example being the ever-enigmatic Denisovans. A study by anthropologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the ...

For decades, the story seemed settled: one early human species left Africa and spread across the world. But a new study ...

In paleoanthropology, a rare, nearly-complete skeleton can rewrite entire chapters of the human origin story. The “Little ...

The climate and early human societies were changing quickly during the fall of our closest evolutionary relative—and are big clues to the causes of their demise. This reconstruction of a Neanderthal ...

The human brain is a fascinating and complex organ that supports numerous sophisticated behaviors and abilities that are ...

The millions of species humans share the world with are valuable in their own right. When one species is lost, it has a ...