Featured Archived
Seasons Episodes
Table of contents
Introduction 0 Why Write for the Public? 1 What to Expect, from Pitch to Publication 2 How to Write a Pitch 3 How To Tell a Great Story, Part 1: Structure 4 How To Tell a Great Story, Part 2: Style 5 Navigating Ethics and Reducing Harms 6 Habits of Thriving Public Anthropologists 7 Cultivating the Craft of Writing 8
Table of contents
Introduction 0 Why Write for the Public? 1 What to Expect, from Pitch to Publication 2 How to Write a Pitch 3 How To Tell a Great Story, Part 1: Structure 4 How To Tell a Great Story, Part 2: Style 5 Navigating Ethics and Reducing Harms 6 Habits of Thriving Public Anthropologists 7 Cultivating the Craft of Writing 8
Announcement

After ten years of exploring humanity in all its diversity, SAPIENS has concluded its publishing chapter.

While the magazine has closed, its living archive endures—open to all and preserving the many ideas, voices, and discoveries that deepen our understanding of what it means to be human.

Were Neanderthals More Than Cousins to Homo Sapiens?

These members of the genus Homo have long occupied two different branches on the family tree. But now that researchers think these groups interbred, scholars are giving serious consideration to whether we are the same species after all.

Archaeology Is Having a Great Century So Far

Here’s why satellite imagery, lidar scans, ancient DNA analyses, and more are helping scientists break open the past. 

Neanderthal Bones: Signs of Their Sex Lives

With whom did Neanderthals mate? In some cases, inbreeding looks likely.

First Confirmed Denisovan Skull Piece Found

A fragment of a hominin skull adds to the sparse collection from our obscure cousins.

The Myth of Badass Sperm

We’ve all been taught that human fertilization is an Olympic-style competition. The truth is that it’s much more like a gigantic lottery.

Ancestry Tests Pose a Threat to Our Social Fabric

Commercial DNA testing isn’t just harmless entertainment. It’s keeping alive ideas that deserve to die.

Hepatitis B Viruses Discovered in Ancient Human Remains

New findings shed light on the origin and evolution of these stubborn pathogens.

Humanity’s Story Has No End of Surprising Twists

Recent discoveries, and new analyses of old evidence, are revolutionizing the way scientists look at human history.

Baby Fat Is About More Than Cuteness

At birth, human infants have the highest percentage of body fat of any species. Here’s why.

Can Medical Anthropology Solve the Diabetes Dilemma?

As the number of sufferers continues to rise, some researchers are moving in new directions to figure out how culture and lifestyle shape disease outcomes.