New Scientist - Humans https://www.newscientist.com/ https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421957-did-the-people-of-easter-island-independently-invent-writing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:00:53 +0000 Wooden tablets containing a language of glyphs called Rongorongo may be evidence that the people of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, created their own writing system without the influence of European language 2421957-did-the-people-of-easter-island-independently-invent-writing|2421957 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134821-700-stick-or-twist-how-to-improve-the-outcomes-of-your-big-life-decisions/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Most people are too risk-averse when it comes to life's biggest choices. Learning how to overcome the cognitive biases at play can help you make better decisions with fewer regrets mg26134821-700-stick-or-twist-how-to-improve-the-outcomes-of-your-big-life-decisions|2421553 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421578-indigenous-australians-have-managed-land-with-fire-for-11000-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:00:20 +0000 Lake sediments reveal the ancient history of Aboriginal people’s use of fire to manage the landscape, a tradition that has benefits for biodiversity 2421578-indigenous-australians-have-managed-land-with-fire-for-11000-years|2421578 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420679-ukraine-may-have-been-first-part-of-europe-colonised-by-early-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 06 Mar 2024 16:00:56 +0000 Korolevo, a site in Ukraine where early humans made stone tools, has been dated to 1.4 million years ago, suggesting early humans moved from Ukraine into the rest of Europe 2420679-ukraine-may-have-been-first-part-of-europe-colonised-by-early-humans|2420679 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420884-genomes-of-modern-indian-people-include-wide-range-of-neanderthal-dna/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:27:26 +0000 A genetic study of nearly 2700 individuals has revealed the ancestry of Indian people, and gets scientists closer to reconstructing the genomes of ancient Neanderthals 2420884-genomes-of-modern-indian-people-include-wide-range-of-neanderthal-dna|2420884 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417952-ancient-bronze-hand-may-offer-clue-to-the-origins-of-basque-language/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:01:19 +0000 Archaeologists say a mysterious language inscribed on a 2000-year-old metal hand may be related to Basque, but linguists aren't convinced 2417952-ancient-bronze-hand-may-offer-clue-to-the-origins-of-basque-language|2417952 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134783-600-is-it-time-for-a-more-subtle-view-on-the-ultimate-taboo-cannibalism/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 14 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 New archaeological evidence shows that ancient humans ate each other surprisingly often - sometimes for compassionate reasons. The finds give us an opportunity to reassess our views on the practice mg26134783-600-is-it-time-for-a-more-subtle-view-on-the-ultimate-taboo-cannibalism|2417067 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134780-500-our-human-ancestors-often-ate-each-other-and-for-surprising-reasons/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Fossil evidence shows that humans have been practising cannibalism for a million years. Now, archaeologists are discovering that some of the time they did it to honour their dead mg26134780-500-our-human-ancestors-often-ate-each-other-and-for-surprising-reasons|2416749 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416721-when-does-a-bone-become-a-fossil/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 15 Feb 2024 11:00:42 +0000 As organic material in a bone gets replaced by minerals over time, it becomes a fossil. But that can happen at different rates even within the same individual 2416721-when-does-a-bone-become-a-fossil|2416721 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417221-dogs-and-horses-buried-with-iron-age-people-may-have-been-beloved-pets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:00:32 +0000 A 2200-year-old burial ground in northern Italy includes people interred with dogs and horses, perhaps showing they had strong bonds with their animals 2417221-dogs-and-horses-buried-with-iron-age-people-may-have-been-beloved-pets|2417221 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416773-submerged-wall-could-be-the-largest-stone-age-megastructure-in-europe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:00:29 +0000 A stone wall nearly a kilometre long found under the Baltic Sea may have been built by ancient hunters to channel deer into a confined space 2416773-submerged-wall-could-be-the-largest-stone-age-megastructure-in-europe|2416773 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416647-hominins-may-have-left-africa-700000-years-earlier-than-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 09 Feb 2024 17:20:42 +0000 Our hominin ancestors originated in Africa and the consensus is that they didn't leave there until about 1.8 million years ago, but stone tools found in Jordan challenge the idea 2416647-hominins-may-have-left-africa-700000-years-earlier-than-we-thought|2416647 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2416276-how-ancient-herculaneum-papyrus-scrolls-were-deciphered/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:00:16 +0000 3D mapping and artificial intelligence has helped decipher an ancient Herculaneum papyrus scroll which had been digitally scanned 2416276-how-ancient-herculaneum-papyrus-scrolls-were-deciphered|2416276 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415821-ancient-herculaneum-scroll-piece-revealed-by-ai-heres-what-it-says/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Mon, 05 Feb 2024 22:00:12 +0000 A Greek philosopher’s musings on pleasure, contained in ancient papyrus scrolls buried by Mount Vesuvius’s eruption 2000 years ago, have been rediscovered with the help of AI 2415821-ancient-herculaneum-scroll-piece-revealed-by-ai-heres-what-it-says|2415821 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414915-mammoth-tusk-tool-may-have-been-used-to-make-ropes-37000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 31 Jan 2024 19:00:30 +0000 Experiments with a replica suggest that a piece of mammoth ivory with carved holes found in a cave in Germany was used by ancient humans to make ropes 2414915-mammoth-tusk-tool-may-have-been-used-to-make-ropes-37000-years-ago|2414915 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415037-modern-humans-were-already-in-northern-europe-45000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:00:07 +0000 DNA from bones found in a cave in Germany has been identified as from Homo sapiens, showing that our species endured frigid conditions there as they expanded across the continent 2415037-modern-humans-were-already-in-northern-europe-45000-years-ago|2415037 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413020-humans-first-reached-china-thousands-of-years-earlier-than-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:00:29 +0000 A fresh look at an archaeological site in northern China that was excavated in the 1960s has confirmed Homo sapiens was present there about 45,000 years ago 2413020-humans-first-reached-china-thousands-of-years-earlier-than-we-thought|2413020 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2411924-ancient-cities-discovered-in-the-amazon-are-the-largest-yet-found/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:00:56 +0000 A mysterious civilisation built a network of cities and roads in the Amazon between 3000 and 1500 years ago, and then disappeared 2411924-ancient-cities-discovered-in-the-amazon-are-the-largest-yet-found|2411924 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933250-600-cold-water-swimming-what-are-the-real-risks-and-health-benefits/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:00:00 +0000 Social media is awash with people claiming that regular cold dips have transformed their health and well-being. We investigate whether it is actually good for you mg24933250-600-cold-water-swimming-what-are-the-real-risks-and-health-benefits|2270665 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2407998-test-your-brain-with-this-fiendish-set-of-museum-themed-puzzles/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:00:42 +0000 Work your way through the exhibits of a mysterious museum, solving brain-twisting puzzles as you go. Then add your answers together to find the overall solution 2407998-test-your-brain-with-this-fiendish-set-of-museum-themed-puzzles|2407998 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2406410-the-2023-discoveries-that-made-us-rethink-the-story-of-human-evolution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 13 Dec 2023 10:00:17 +0000 In 2023, archaeologists found evidence of architecture and art beginning earlier than we thought, and uncovered data that rewrites our ideas of how much power women had in ancient societies 2406410-the-2023-discoveries-that-made-us-rethink-the-story-of-human-evolution|2406410 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2408555-genome-analysis-reveals-genetic-diversity-of-indigenous-australians/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 13 Dec 2023 16:00:54 +0000 Before colonisation, Australia was made up of at least 200 distinct nations. Now a genome analysis has revealed that modern Indigenous Australians retain high levels of genetic diversity, far more than people of European or Asian ancestry 2408555-genome-analysis-reveals-genetic-diversity-of-indigenous-australians|2408555 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2408052-what-makes-the-best-sounding-didgeridoo-according-to-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:37:21 +0000 A didgeridoo may look like a simple, hollowed-out branch, but a study of the acoustic interplay between the instrument and our vocal cords has revealed the complexity involved 2408052-what-makes-the-best-sounding-didgeridoo-according-to-science|2408052 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23231040-700-no-more-drama-the-game-theory-guide-to-a-happy-family-holiday/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 14 Dec 2016 18:00:00 +0000 From who will host to the last piece of cake, ‘tis the season to bicker like wild animals. Have yourself a merrier little Christmas with some strategic thinking mg23231040-700-no-more-drama-the-game-theory-guide-to-a-happy-family-holiday|2115809 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25233653-800-kenneth-libbrecht-interview-a-grand-unified-theory-of-snowflakes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 15 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0000 Snowflakes can form in either a plate or column shape, but no one understood why – until physicist Kenneth Libbrecht investigated. His theory is the result of two decades making snow in the lab mg25233653-800-kenneth-libbrecht-interview-a-grand-unified-theory-of-snowflakes|2301397 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23231041-200-how-the-rules-of-long-lost-board-games-take-us-inside-ancient-minds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 14 Dec 2016 18:00:00 +0000 Humans have faced off with grids, dice and pieces for millennia – figuring out the rules of long-lost board games can take us inside ancient minds mg23231041-200-how-the-rules-of-long-lost-board-games-take-us-inside-ancient-minds|2115817 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24432611-400-from-star-wars-to-hitchhikers-how-to-make-the-best-drinks-in-sci-fi/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 18 Dec 2019 18:00:00 +0000 New Scientist combines mixology with science fiction to produce recipes for the finest drinks in this – or any other – universe, from Bantha Milk to Ambrosia mg24432611-400-from-star-wars-to-hitchhikers-how-to-make-the-best-drinks-in-sci-fi|2227532 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034680-100-the-us-needs-to-do-more-to-preserve-its-ancient-sites/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:00:00 +0000 It has been over 100 years since the US began protecting its places of antiquity, such as Colorado's ancient cliff dwellings, from development, but they remain vulnerable to politics, says archaeologist Rachel Morgan mg26034680-100-the-us-needs-to-do-more-to-preserve-its-ancient-sites|2406757 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2405902-stonehenge-science-how-archaeology-reveals-the-stone-circles-secrets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:40:56 +0000 Archaeologists explain how science has unearthed the mysteries of Stonehenge, its ancient astronomy and how much more we are yet to discover 2405902-stonehenge-science-how-archaeology-reveals-the-stone-circles-secrets|2405902 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22830520-500-farting-the-questions-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 15 Dec 2015 18:00:00 +0000 The most insidious consequences of the festive meal are a lot more interesting than you think mg22830520-500-farting-the-questions-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask|2070236 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2402401-vaping-vs-edibles-how-does-the-way-we-use-cannabis-alter-its-effects/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:00:20 +0000 Edibles, vapes and joints all contain the same psychoactive compounds, but the effects they have on the body vary 2402401-vaping-vs-edibles-how-does-the-way-we-use-cannabis-alter-its-effects|2402401 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22430001-400-man-vs-sherry-trifle-can-i-eat-myself-drunk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 16 Dec 2014 18:00:00 +0000 What happens if you try to get mashed on potatoes and sauced on sauce? It's a sobering insight into what really happens to the booze we cook with mg22430001-400-man-vs-sherry-trifle-can-i-eat-myself-drunk|2014238 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2404056-traces-of-cannabis-found-in-pre-modern-human-bones-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:00:34 +0000 A 17th-century hospital crypt in Milan, Italy, has yielded the first archaeological evidence of cannabis's psychoactive components in human bones 2404056-traces-of-cannabis-found-in-pre-modern-human-bones-for-the-first-time|2404056 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034660-800-how-did-paranthropus-the-last-of-the-ape-people-survive-for-so-long/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Paranthropus was an ape-like hominin that lived on in a world dominated by big-brained early humans. Recent archaeological discoveries, like stone tools, are revealing how they lived mg26034660-800-how-did-paranthropus-the-last-of-the-ape-people-survive-for-so-long|2403707 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2402423-people-feel-more-creative-after-using-cannabis-they-arent/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 24 Nov 2023 09:00:32 +0000 There is no strong evidence that taking cannabis improves our ingenuity, although it does make users feel more creative 2402423-people-feel-more-creative-after-using-cannabis-they-arent|2402423 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2404369-did-homo-naledi-bury-its-dead-debate-rages-over-human-relative/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 23 Nov 2023 16:50:42 +0000 Studies earlier this year claimed that the extinct hominin Homo naledi buried its dead and produced rock art, but other researchers say the evidence is “non-existent” 2404369-did-homo-naledi-bury-its-dead-debate-rages-over-human-relative|2404369 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034652-800-how-archaeologists-can-decide-if-prehistoric-artefacts-count-as-art/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0000 To make sense of aesthetically pleasing ancient objects and what they tell us about how their creators thought, archaeologists must temper imagination with science mg26034652-800-how-archaeologists-can-decide-if-prehistoric-artefacts-count-as-art|2403021 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034650-500-the-archaeological-finds-that-show-art-is-far-older-than-our-species/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 We used to trace the origins of art to Stone Age Europe. Now we have evidence of artistic sensibility in earlier hominins, from Neanderthals to Homo erectus and beyond mg26034650-500-the-archaeological-finds-that-show-art-is-far-older-than-our-species|2402586 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2403289-why-so-many-prehistoric-monuments-were-painted-red/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:00:23 +0000 Megaliths, or huge stones, were used for thousands of years to build monuments, and they were far more colourful than you might think – the most common pigments used to decorate them came from reddish cinnabar and ochre 2403289-why-so-many-prehistoric-monuments-were-painted-red|2403289 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2402268-cannabis-use-is-on-the-rise-in-the-us-except-among-younger-teens/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 10 Nov 2023 21:00:18 +0000 Cannabis is more popular in North America than anywhere else and its use continues to grow – but, somewhat surprisingly, not among adolescents 2402268-cannabis-use-is-on-the-rise-in-the-us-except-among-younger-teens|2402268 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401141-skull-shows-man-survived-surgery-to-ease-brain-pressure-2700-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 03 Nov 2023 15:00:23 +0000 A skull found in China shows signs of healing after part of it was removed 2700 years ago, suggesting that a man survived at least eight weeks after surgery to relieve pressure in his head 2401141-skull-shows-man-survived-surgery-to-ease-brain-pressure-2700-years-ago|2401141 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400895-earliest-known-war-in-europe-was-a-stone-age-conflict-5000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:00:39 +0000 Hundreds of human remains from one burial site hint at a prolonged conflict between Stone Age people, long before the formation of powerful states 2400895-earliest-known-war-in-europe-was-a-stone-age-conflict-5000-years-ago|2400895 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398708-humans-caught-more-diseases-after-we-domesticated-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 20 Oct 2023 15:40:46 +0100 Analysis of DNA from human remains up to 37,000 years old shows that more infectious diseases jumped from animals to people after the dawn of farming 2398708-humans-caught-more-diseases-after-we-domesticated-animals|2398708 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24732913-000-how-changing-the-way-you-sit-could-add-years-to-your-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 15 Jul 2020 07:00:00 +0100 Our bodies evolved to take rest breaks, but sitting on chairs and couches can cause long-term damage. Here’s how to change the way you sit and boost your health mg24732913-000-how-changing-the-way-you-sit-could-add-years-to-your-life|2248881 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397961-people-around-europe-have-eaten-seaweed-for-thousands-of-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 17 Oct 2023 17:00:51 +0100 Traces of algae on teeth found at archaeological sites suggest that seaweeds may have been a staple part of European diets from the Mesolithic until the Middle Ages 2397961-people-around-europe-have-eaten-seaweed-for-thousands-of-years|2397961 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397457-a-site-used-by-ancient-humans-was-also-a-latrine-for-giant-hyenas/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:00:08 +0100 Stone tools, mammal bones and fossilised faeces hint that hominins and hyenas scavenged for food at the same place 1.4 million years ago 2397457-a-site-used-by-ancient-humans-was-also-a-latrine-for-giant-hyenas|2397457 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034600-200-the-desire-for-legacy-is-a-mental-glitch-but-we-can-use-it-for-good/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:00:00 +0100 The strange drive to be remembered after death may result from a cognitive glitch, but it could help solve big problems from climate change to inequality mg26034600-200-the-desire-for-legacy-is-a-mental-glitch-but-we-can-use-it-for-good|2396187 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397583-student-uses-ai-to-decipher-word-in-ancient-scroll-from-herculaneum/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 13 Oct 2023 21:10:50 +0100 A computer science student has discovered the first decipherable word in unopened scrolls from Herculaneum, an ancient Roman town buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius 2397583-student-uses-ai-to-decipher-word-in-ancient-scroll-from-herculaneum|2397583 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397291-early-humans-lived-in-ethiopian-highlands-2-million-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 12 Oct 2023 20:00:57 +0100 A child’s jawbone found in Ethiopia is one of the earliest fossils identified as Homo erectus, and shows ancient hominins settled in high-altitude areas 2397291-early-humans-lived-in-ethiopian-highlands-2-million-years-ago|2397291 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397317-neanderthals-hunted-cave-lions-with-spears-and-made-use-of-their-pelts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:00:32 +0100 Fossilised remains of extinct big cats called cave lions display evidence of butchery, showing that Neanderthals had the skills to take on top predators 2397317-neanderthals-hunted-cave-lions-with-spears-and-made-use-of-their-pelts|2397317 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396731-mysterious-viking-queen-may-have-helped-unify-denmark-in-the-900s/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 11 Oct 2023 01:01:16 +0100 Queen Thyra, the mother of King Harald Bluetooth, was commemorated on four runestones in different parts of Denmark – suggesting she was a powerful figure 2396731-mysterious-viking-queen-may-have-helped-unify-denmark-in-the-900s|2396731 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396260-the-amazon-may-contain-thousands-of-undiscovered-ancient-structures/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 05 Oct 2023 20:00:37 +0100 Archaeological surveys have uncovered earthworks built by pre-Columbian societies across the Amazon, suggesting the rainforest isn't as pristine as we once thought 2396260-the-amazon-may-contain-thousands-of-undiscovered-ancient-structures|2396260 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2395924-humans-lived-on-spanish-plateau-during-earths-last-cold-snap/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:00:16 +0100 Prehistoric people endured frigid and dry conditions in the highlands of central Spain during the coldest part of the last glacial period 2395924-humans-lived-on-spanish-plateau-during-earths-last-cold-snap|2395924 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394874-read-an-extract-from-the-seventh-son-by-sebastian-faulks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 29 Sep 2023 11:00:11 +0100 This intriguing extract is taken from The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks, the latest pick for our New Scientist Book Club. It sees a billionaire entrepreneur recruiting a scientist for his new project, which will have major implications for the human race 2394874-read-an-extract-from-the-seventh-son-by-sebastian-faulks|2394874 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394958-sebastian-faulks-homo-sapiens-is-a-very-odd-creature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 29 Sep 2023 11:00:02 +0100 The award-winning novelist Sebastian Faulks on how he came to set his new novel The Seventh Son – the latest pick for our New Scientist Book Club – a little way into the future 2394958-sebastian-faulks-homo-sapiens-is-a-very-odd-creature|2394958 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394372-ancient-baskets-and-shoes-reveal-skill-of-prehistoric-weavers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 27 Sep 2023 20:00:48 +0100 Well-preserved artefacts found in a Spanish cave show that advanced plant-based crafts were practised in Europe 9500 years ago 2394372-ancient-baskets-and-shoes-reveal-skill-of-prehistoric-weavers|2394372 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393136-prehistoric-people-in-spain-may-have-made-tools-from-human-bones/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:00:06 +0100 The Cueva de los Marmoles cave in Granada, Spain, was used as a prehistoric human burial site. Researchers have found that nearly a third of the bones that remain were altered by tools, possibly to make bowls, cups or spatulas 2393136-prehistoric-people-in-spain-may-have-made-tools-from-human-bones|2393136 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392894-earliest-evidence-of-buildings-made-from-wood-is-476000-years-old/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 20 Sep 2023 17:00:56 +0100 We tend to think that ancient humans were constantly on the move, but at a site in Zambia there are the first tentative hints that people stayed put and built large wooden dwellings 2392894-earliest-evidence-of-buildings-made-from-wood-is-476000-years-old|2392894 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392510-why-the-ancient-hominins-of-asia-are-so-mysterious/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 15 Sep 2023 22:40:23 +0100 When it comes to ancient humans in Asia, we have so many fossils and no consensus on how to make sense of them 2392510-why-the-ancient-hominins-of-asia-are-so-mysterious|2392510 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2391787-stone-age-carvings-of-animal-footprints-identified-by-expert-trackers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:00:46 +0100 Animal footprints carved into rock thousands of years ago depict over 40 species, a trio of trackers has determined 2391787-stone-age-carvings-of-animal-footprints-identified-by-expert-trackers|2391787 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2391228-how-humans-brought-cannabis-to-every-corner-of-the-globe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 08 Sep 2023 12:00:06 +0100 Cannabis originated in East Asia but can now be found growing on every continent except Antarctica – thanks to human trade and cultivation 2391228-how-humans-brought-cannabis-to-every-corner-of-the-globe|2391228 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2391272-cave-art-pigments-show-how-ancient-technology-changed-over-4500-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 08 Sep 2023 11:00:59 +0100 The source of ochre minerals used by Stone Age humans in an Ethiopian cave changed over a 4500-year period, although it is unclear why 2391272-cave-art-pigments-show-how-ancient-technology-changed-over-4500-years|2391272 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2390687-terracotta-army-shoes-reveal-secrets-of-ancient-chinese-footwear/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 05 Sep 2023 16:14:38 +0100 An analysis of the sculpted shoes on the statues in China’s Terracotta Army, which dates back about 2200 years, suggests that their real-life soldier equivalents had surprisingly flexible footwear 2390687-terracotta-army-shoes-reveal-secrets-of-ancient-chinese-footwear|2390687 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2389449-a-million-years-of-marijuana-how-cannabis-became-our-favourite-weed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 06 Sep 2023 13:00:16 +0100 Cannabis was one of the first crops that humans cultivated about 12,000 years ago. But medicinal and psychoactive uses are much more recent 2389449-a-million-years-of-marijuana-how-cannabis-became-our-favourite-weed|2389449 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2390655-mysterious-ancient-stones-were-deliberately-made-into-spheres/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 06 Sep 2023 01:01:25 +0100 Stone balls found at a site used by early humans about 1.4 million years ago didn’t become round after being used as hammers, but were intentionally knapped into spheres 2390655-mysterious-ancient-stones-were-deliberately-made-into-spheres|2390655 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934543-400-how-artefacts-are-found-tells-its-own-story-if-we-want-to-hear-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 30 Aug 2023 19:00:00 +0100 It is easy to overlook the circumstances surrounding the discovery of ancient artefacts, but the insight this gives us into modern lives is just as valuable as the find itself mg25934543-400-how-artefacts-are-found-tells-its-own-story-if-we-want-to-hear-it|2389802 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2390124-our-ancestors-may-have-come-close-to-extinction-900000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 31 Aug 2023 20:00:47 +0100 A genetic analysis suggests our ancestral population fell as low as around 1300 individuals nearly a million years ago, but other experts aren't convinced 2390124-our-ancestors-may-have-come-close-to-extinction-900000-years-ago|2390124 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934540-900-the-untold-story-of-the-curiously-controversial-homo-floresiensis-dig/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:00:00 +0100 The discovery of Homo floresiensis revolutionised the study of human evolution, but it was rocked by accusations of theft. Twenty years on, here's the full story behind the episode mg25934540-900-the-untold-story-of-the-curiously-controversial-homo-floresiensis-dig|2389302 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2390048-scent-of-eternity-worn-by-ancient-egyptian-mummy-has-been-revealed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 31 Aug 2023 17:00:02 +0100 A balm used in the mummification of an ancient Egyptian who died 3500 years ago contains ingredients hinting at long-distance trade 2390048-scent-of-eternity-worn-by-ancient-egyptian-mummy-has-been-revealed|2390048 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2389497-ancient-humans-may-have-worn-shoes-more-than-100000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 29 Aug 2023 11:20:37 +0100 Three archaeological sites in South Africa feature impressions that might have been made by ancient footwear, but pinpointing when humans first wore shoes is challenging 2389497-ancient-humans-may-have-worn-shoes-more-than-100000-years-ago|2389497 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2388720-the-human-y-chromosome-has-been-fully-sequenced-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 23 Aug 2023 17:00:59 +0100 The Y chromosome, which normally confers male characteristics, features large amounts of repetitive DNA, which meant it was difficult to compile a complete sequence until now 2388720-the-human-y-chromosome-has-been-fully-sequenced-for-the-first-time|2388720 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934530-200-these-ancient-sand-drawings-could-be-a-fifth-type-of-palaeoart/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 23 Aug 2023 19:00:00 +0100 Was this perfect circle with a central depression drawn by our ancestors in the sand, around 136,000 years ago? Palaeontologist Charles Helm certainly thinks so mg25934530-200-these-ancient-sand-drawings-could-be-a-fifth-type-of-palaeoart|2388219 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2388999-women-and-men-throw-spears-equally-well-using-ancient-atlatl-tool/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 24 Aug 2023 18:00:30 +0100 Men typically throw objects with a greater velocity than women can – but with a spear-launching tool called an atlatl, men and women’s throwing velocity is indistinguishable 2388999-women-and-men-throw-spears-equally-well-using-ancient-atlatl-tool|2388999 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2387604-otzi-the-iceman-was-dark-skinned-and-balding-suggests-genome-analysis/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 16 Aug 2023 17:00:12 +0100 The genome of Ötzi, the 5300-year-old mummified man found in the Alps, was first published in 2012, but a more accurate readout has changed the story of where his ancestors came from 2387604-otzi-the-iceman-was-dark-skinned-and-balding-suggests-genome-analysis|2387604 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2386633-alice-roberts-interviewed-by-a-10-year-old-about-her-novel-wolf-road/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 09 Aug 2023 14:15:11 +0100 Alice Roberts has just published the children’s novel, Wolf Road. New Scientist decided that the best person to quiz her about it was culture editor Alison Flood’s 10-year-old daughter Jenny 2386633-alice-roberts-interviewed-by-a-10-year-old-about-her-novel-wolf-road|2386633 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2386570-how-prehistoric-people-settled-one-of-earths-most-extreme-places/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:00:39 +0100 Archaeologists previously believed the Tibetan plateau was one of the last places to be settled by humans or hominins – over the past couple of decades that notion has been slowly but comprehensively blown apart 2386570-how-prehistoric-people-settled-one-of-earths-most-extreme-places|2386570 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2386449-alice-roberts-archaeology-can-create-a-world-for-stories-to-unfold-in/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Mon, 07 Aug 2023 18:00:59 +0100 Alice Roberts' first children’s book, Wolf Road explores an Ice Age world 30,000 years ago through the eyes of a prehistoric girl called Tuuli. "I wanted to immerse people in that kind of ancient environment, in that ancient time and use archeology to build a world that then a story could unfold in" 2386449-alice-roberts-archaeology-can-create-a-world-for-stories-to-unfold-in|2386449 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2385966-we-are-hopeless-at-telling-when-we-have-goosebumps/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:00:01 +0100 A study that filmed people's skin while they watched emotional videos found that most of them incorrectly reported when they did or did not have goosebumps   2385966-we-are-hopeless-at-telling-when-we-have-goosebumps|2385966 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2385449-ancient-babylonian-arson-in-jerusalem-revealed-by-chemical-clues/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:00:43 +0100 By analysing charred remains of a Jerusalem building, archaeologists have uncovered details of how it was burned down by Babylonian invaders in 586 BC 2385449-ancient-babylonian-arson-in-jerusalem-revealed-by-chemical-clues|2385449 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2384091-ancient-make-up-in-chinese-tomb-includes-concealer-and-skin-lightener/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 28 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0100 Two cosmetic products have been identified from residues in the tomb of a non-noble woman who lived in China 2000 years ago, suggesting the widespread use of make-up 2384091-ancient-make-up-in-chinese-tomb-includes-concealer-and-skin-lightener|2384091 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2385057-origin-of-indo-european-languages-traced-back-to-8000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 27 Jul 2023 20:00:30 +0100 An analysis of related words in 161 languages suggests their shared roots lie in the Middle East – a conclusion that also fits with DNA evidence 2385057-origin-of-indo-european-languages-traced-back-to-8000-years-ago|2385057 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2383816-ancient-utensils-bear-traces-of-2000-year-old-vietnamese-curry/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 21 Jul 2023 20:00:21 +0100 Remnants of eight spices were found on a sandstone slab from an archaeological site in Vietnam, showing the early adoption of ingredients and techniques from south Asia 2383816-ancient-utensils-bear-traces-of-2000-year-old-vietnamese-curry|2383816 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2383392-ancient-humans-hunted-animals-by-throwing-a-stick-like-a-boomerang/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 19 Jul 2023 20:00:00 +0100 Analysis of a wooden stick thought to be around 300,000 years old suggests it was designed to be thrown rotationally, rather than as a spear 2383392-ancient-humans-hunted-animals-by-throwing-a-stick-like-a-boomerang|2383392 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2381355-tooth-analysis-reveals-ancient-iberian-leader-was-female/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Thu, 06 Jul 2023 17:00:38 +0100 Molecular evidence has revealed that a person buried with lavish goods over 4000 years ago was female, not male as previously thought 2381355-tooth-analysis-reveals-ancient-iberian-leader-was-female|2381355 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2381177-ancient-scandinavians-wrote-encrypted-messages-in-runes-1500-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 05 Jul 2023 13:51:31 +0100 Objects from Norway and Sweden, some dating from AD 500 to 700, show clear evidence of encryption using runic symbols, the alphabet later used by the Vikings 2381177-ancient-scandinavians-wrote-encrypted-messages-in-runes-1500-years-ago|2381177 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834450-800-the-civilisation-myth-how-new-discoveries-are-rewriting-human-history/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:15:00 +0100 In an evolutionary eyeblink, our species has gone from hunting and gathering to living in complex societies. We need to rethink the story of this monumental transition mg25834450-800-the-civilisation-myth-how-new-discoveries-are-rewriting-human-history|2379735 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834453-400-history-reveals-vital-new-lessons-in-how-to-make-our-societies-better/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 28 Jun 2023 19:00:00 +0100 At a time when the future of human civilisation looks shaky, a reappraisal of how we got here suggests that changing direction may be easier than we think mg25834453-400-history-reveals-vital-new-lessons-in-how-to-make-our-societies-better|2380360 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2380684-stone-tools-in-filipino-cave-were-used-to-make-ropes-40000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 30 Jun 2023 20:00:58 +0100 Marks on stone tools found in the Tabon Caves on Palawan island in the Philippines suggest they were used for processing plant fibres, allowing the creation of ropes, baskets and other items 2380684-stone-tools-in-filipino-cave-were-used-to-make-ropes-40000-years-ago|2380684 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2379915-ape-family-tree-suggests-human-ancestors-werent-particularly-violent/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:00:46 +0100 An evolutionary analysis of behavioural traits across primate species may shed light on the question of whether humans are violent by nature 2379915-ape-family-tree-suggests-human-ancestors-werent-particularly-violent|2379915 https://www.newscientist.com/article/0-utopia-the-ancient-discoveries-that-point-to-the-ideal-human-society/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:15:00 +0100 Anthropology and archaeology are revealing that a human society can take myriad forms, which can teach us how to build a modern society that is more equal, resilient and stable 0-utopia-the-ancient-discoveries-that-point-to-the-ideal-human-society|2380008 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2380011-the-myth-that-men-hunt-while-women-stay-at-home-is-entirely-wrong/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 28 Jun 2023 20:00:27 +0100 An analysis of foraging societies from around the world has found that women hunt in the vast majority of those looked at, confirming that the idea of gender division in providing food is a myth 2380011-the-myth-that-men-hunt-while-women-stay-at-home-is-entirely-wrong|2380011 https://www.newscientist.com/article/0-the-societies-proving-that-inequality-and-patriarchy-arent-inevitable/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:15:00 +0100 Today’s complex societies are pretty homogeneous, but experimental cultures, past and present, teach us how to think more creatively about the way we live 0-the-societies-proving-that-inequality-and-patriarchy-arent-inevitable|2379992 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2379164-finger-marks-on-cave-walls-are-among-the-earliest-neanderthal-art/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 21 Jun 2023 20:00:38 +0100 Symbols have been found carved on the walls of a cave in France that was inhabited by Neanderthals before being sealed off at least 57,000 years ago 2379164-finger-marks-on-cave-walls-are-among-the-earliest-neanderthal-art|2379164 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378638-artistic-artefacts-are-rewriting-the-timeline-of-ancient-south-america/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:00:11 +0100 A slew of newly found artefacts in South America are revealing surprisingly familiar ways ancient people in the region expressed their creativity, including sculpted figurines, a communal drum and perhaps a previously unrecognised form of writing 2378638-artistic-artefacts-are-rewriting-the-timeline-of-ancient-south-america|2378638 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933174-700-weve-got-intelligence-all-wrong-and-thats-endangering-our-future/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 13 Jan 2021 14:00:00 +0000 A narrow focus on IQ to determine success is depriving us of key decision-making smarts, as our faltering response to problems such as covid-19 and climate change shows mg24933174-700-weve-got-intelligence-all-wrong-and-thats-endangering-our-future|2264794 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532760-800-human-evolution-the-astounding-new-story-of-the-origin-of-our-species/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 01 Apr 2020 06:00:00 +0100 Forget the simple out-of-Africa idea of how humans evolved. A huge array of fossils and genome studies has completely rewritten the story of how we came into being. mg24532760-800-human-evolution-the-astounding-new-story-of-the-origin-of-our-species|2238976 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25033413-100-the-7-primes-of-life-why-each-decade-comes-with-its-own-superpowers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 30 Jun 2021 16:20:00 +0100 You might think we peak in our 20s or 30s before enduring a slow decline, but each era of our lives brings new strengths – even old age. Here's how to make the most of them mg25033413-100-the-7-primes-of-life-why-each-decade-comes-with-its-own-superpowers|2282627 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378160-fossils-in-laos-cave-imply-modern-humans-were-in-asia-86000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:30:04 +0100 Human skull and shinbone fragments found in a cave in northern Laos suggest modern humans may have been in South-East Asia between 68,000 and 86,000 years ago, considerably further back than the previous estimates of around 50,000 years 2378160-fossils-in-laos-cave-imply-modern-humans-were-in-asia-86000-years-ago|2378160 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2335613-who-is-ancestor-x-the-biggest-mystery-in-human-evolution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Wed, 31 Aug 2022 19:14:15 +0100 The search for the direct ancestor of humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans has been protracted and puzzling. Now, fresh clues are adding a surprising twist to the tale 2335613-who-is-ancestor-x-the-biggest-mystery-in-human-evolution|2335613 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834430-800-the-unique-vanishing-languages-that-hold-secrets-about-how-we-think/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=humans Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Language isolates, like Chimané from Bolivia, are unrelated to any other known tongue. Studying them is revealing how languages evolve and influence our perception of the world around us mg25834430-800-the-unique-vanishing-languages-that-hold-secrets-about-how-we-think|2377906