The Neanderthal Arm—Hints About Handedness
Stone tools and skeletons suggest that Neanderthals were mostly right-handed.
Biology
-
-
Witnessing an Endangered Puberty Ritual
In an Indigenous community in Peru, a girl’s first menstruation is accompanied by a “boot camp” during which she’s trained in how to be a woman—but that tradition is ebbing away.
-
The Neanderthal Throat—Did Neanderthals Speak?
The third installment of our head-to-toe tour of the Neanderthal body tackles how our close ancestors might have sounded.
-
The Dark Side of Skin Whitening
A desire for lighter skin tones is deeply entrenched in many parts of the world, but it comes with equally deep risks to health and society.
-
Genetic Factors May Help Explain Athletic Sudden Death
Biological anthropologists and other researchers investigate why there is a diversity of symptoms and outcomes in people with sickle cell trait.
-
The Rebirth of Placenta Rituals
Reclaiming an organ that modern medical professionals often designate as waste may inspire more people to study and adapt ancient traditions.