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.
A recent study suggests they’ve got the voice but not the brains.
How Human Smarts EvolvedBy 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.
Chimpanzees Can’t Tell Us Much About Being HumanAlthough there is merit in recognizing how we resemble our primate relatives, sometimes we need to understand what sets our species apart.
Bonobos Spied Sharing a FeastResearchers report for the first time wild apes sharing food with near strangers.
Watching Ancient Hominins Giving BirthThe human birthing process is more difficult than that of any other primate. One researcher is using bones and computers to figure out why—and what to do about it.
Primate Vocalizations Are Much More Than GibberishNonhuman primates clearly do more than just screech meaningless sounds at each other, but what are the limits of their communication?
How Molecular Clocks Are Refining Human Evolution’s TimelineScientists are getting better and better at using DNA to figure out when key evolutionary events happened.
Is Violence Embedded in Our DNA?Some research suggests that throughout our evolution an innate tendency toward fighting shaped human anatomy. But anthropologists are sharply divided on the matter.
Nature’s Most Creative CopulatorsWhy have humans taken mammalian sex to a whole new level?
New Study: 60 Percent of Primate Species Threatened With ExtinctionPrimates are in big trouble. And it’s our fault.
