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Celebrity Status Almost Ruined Ancient DNA Research
An evolutionary anthropologist draws lessons from paleogenetic’s journey from Jurassic Park fiction to Nobel Prize reality.
On the Quandaries of Aquatic Forensics
A team of scientists, including an anthropologist, explains the challenges and methods for locating, identifying, and retrieving human remains from underwater.
What Molars and Math Reveal About the Human Brain
A paleoanthropologist explains what fossilized teeth—analyzed through a recently developed mathematical equation—can tell us about how brains have developed in utero over millions of years of human evolution.
Five Ways Native American Communities Honor Turkeys
Some Indigenous peoples in the U.S. Southwest have a long relationship with turkeys, which they use for their feathers, eggs, meat, and more.
Archaeology in the Ashes of Notre Dame
Two years ago, a fire devastated Paris’ iconic Catholic cathedral. An archaeologist outlines the unprecedented research scientists are now undertaking to make the most of the disaster.
Time to Rethink Teeth
New research is overturning long-held assumptions about tooth enamel and human diversity.
The CDC Needs Social Science
Sickness is not just biological—it’s social. That’s why social science should be central to controlling and preventing diseases.
What Human Hair Reveals About Death’s Seasonality
A new study demonstrates a method for deciphering the timing of a deceased person’s death using a lock of hair.
Can Anthropologists Propel Astronauts Toward Mars?
Space anthropologist Jack Stuster has interviewed and observed astronauts for decades. In a Q&A, Stuster tells journalist Amber Dance how he has worked closely with NASA to improve the human experience of space exploration.
Why Can’t Most Humans Drink Milk?
A 3,200-year-old piece of cheese from Egypt is providing more evidence about how humans evolved to consume dairy products.
