Human Nature

The Science of Human Nature Has a Serious Problem
You can’t characterize human psychology and behavior if studies overlook 85 percent of people on Earth.
What Our Skeletons Say About the Sex Binary
Society increasingly accepts gender identity as existing along a spectrum. The study of people, and their remains, shows that sex should be viewed the same way.
How Human Smarts Evolved
By counting the number of neurons in brains, one scientist revolutionized our view of why Homo sapiens and nonhuman primates are so much smarter than other animals.
Why Eradicating Polio Is More Complicated Than It Seems
Polio retains a foothold in Pakistan—and will likely continue to do so as long as basic health services are neglected.
Chimpanzees Can’t Tell Us Much About Being Human
Although there is merit in recognizing how we resemble our primate relatives, sometimes we need to understand what sets our species apart.
Why Envy Might Be Good for Us
Namibian hunter-gatherers deride those who stand out. What does this tell us about why, and how, we care about fairness?

The Science of Human Nature Has a Serious Problem