Five Ways Humans Evolved to be Athletes
An archaeologist explores human athletic paleobiology to explain how our prowess in sport has deep roots in evolution.
Biology
-
-
The Evolution of Throwing
Homo sapiens has a throwing arm that sets our species apart from all others—now athletes are helping anthropologists understand this prowess.
-
Sexism Still Winning at the Olympic Games
Old ideas about gender are unfairly baked into sporting regulations and guidance. That should change.
-
How Apes Reveal Human History
Great apes provide a window into the story of human evolution—and that’s one more reason to protect them.
-
Chasing the Myths of Mexico’s “Superrunners”
The Rarámuri people’s ancient traditions of footracing have captured global attention. New research by a biological anthropologist and his colleagues debunks stereotypes and contextualizes the community’s famous races.
-
Sex in Sport: Men Don’t Always Have the Advantage
Research shows that real differences exist in athletic capacities, on average, between men and women. But they cut both ways.