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.
An anthropologist holds up a mirror to his own experience in order to understand how humans conceive of difference.
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.
Remembering the Woman Who Was My Second Mother in CubaUpon the death of her friend and childhood nanny in Cuba, an anthropologist reflects on the gifts exchanged over decades of reunion amid cultural and economic changes on the island.
Fat Gets No Respect (But That Should Change)In this original animated video, anthropological research helps reveal the surprising story behind fat in the human body and in cultures around the world.
For Chimps, Human Touch Can HurtAn anthropologist spent two years studying care at chimpanzee sanctuaries in Cameroon. She left with a deeper appreciation of how human contact, though necessary to rehabilitate and heal rescued wildlife, can also leave lasting scars.
Why Don’t Westerners Eat Off One Plate?Time spent with hunter-gatherers in Tanzania offers a sharp contrast to “normal” social behaviors in the West.
The Rise of Emotional RobotsScientists explore what robot-human intimacy could mean for love, work, communication, and even war.
Is Robot Empathy a Trap?Scientists explore what robot-human intimacy could mean for love, work, communication, and even war.
Why Envy Might Be Good for UsNamibian hunter-gatherers deride those who stand out. What does this tell us about why, and how, we care about fairness?
The Evolutionary Enigma of the Human EyebrowEyebrows lack an obvious function. Does new research solve the riddle of these thin arcs of facial hair?
