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.
Experimental archaeologist Bill Schindler’s globe-trotting research has led him to champion a diet based on humanity’s long history of inventive food preparation techniques, from nose-to-tail butchery to sourdough bread.
Moments of Resilience Amid a PandemicSAPIENS podcast host Chip Colwell discusses resilience among African American communities with Melanie Adams, of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum.
What Human Hair Reveals About Death’s SeasonalityA new study demonstrates a method for deciphering the timing of a deceased person’s death using a lock of hair.
A Vaccine Will Not Be EnoughAs the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep across the globe, biological anthropologist Agustín Fuentes explains how the virus is a “biosocial” phenomenon.
What’s Behind Humanity’s Love-Hate Relationship With Exercise?Evolutionary history can help resolve the question of why so many people desire a physical break even when their bodies need movement.
A Japanese Sea Spirit Battles COVID-19The world has become enchanted with a three-legged mermaid called Amabie, said to help fight plague.
Two Surgeries, 800 Years ApartAn archaeologist’s hip surgery prompts him to reimagine the experience of a Puebloan woman who survived a terrible fall centuries ago.
What Many Don’t Know About WelfarePublic assistance recipients’ stories hold the key to clearing up misconceptions about who needs aid and why.
What Milk-Sharing Communities RevealAs women in the United States create networks to give or receive breast milk, anthropologists are illuminating the complex social and cultural forces that shape mothers’ choices.
Communities Grapple With Exposure to “Forever Chemicals”Toxic chemicals known as PFAS pollute the water at more than 2,000 sites across the U.S.—and reside in the bodies of most Americans. How do residents cope with contamination?