What Scars Say About Sex and Stereotypes
People’s perceptions of scars—from ritual scarification to mastectomy marks—reveal biases about gender, character, and more.
Phenomenon
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Why Face Masks Are Going Viral
As the new coronavirus epidemic spreads, more and more people are wearing surgical masks—despite their questionable effectiveness. An anthropologist explores the reasons why.
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The Hidden Color Code in Mimbres Pottery
Patterned markings on some Southwestern pots in the U.S. may have been used to symbolize color in black-and-white arts.
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Does Your Microbiome Shape Your Friendships?
Research confirms that who you spend time with is a powerful predictor of the microbes you carry. But these tiny organisms may also influence your social life.
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Why Don’t More Humans Eat Bugs?
Around the world, at least two billion people routinely consume insects. One anthropologist believes geography and colonization can explain why some populations are too squeamish to stomach such foods.
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The Evolutionary Enigma of the Human Eyebrow
Eyebrows lack an obvious function. Does new research solve the riddle of these thin arcs of facial hair?