Why did modern humans replace the Neanderthals? The key might lie in our social structures

Neanderthals and humans may have been equally smart and skilled, but some evidence points to humans living in larger groups.

Nicholas R. Longrich, Senior Lecturer in Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology, Life Sciences at the University of Bath, University of Bath • conversation
March 26, 2024 ~8 min

Could dinosaurs be the reason humans can't live for 200 years?

Our mammal ancestors evolved to compete with dinosaurs but may have lost something in the process.

Joao Pedro de Magalhaes, Chair of Molecular Biogerontology, University of Birmingham • conversation
Dec. 20, 2023 ~7 min


A tooth that rewrites history? The discovery challenging what we knew about Neanderthals – podcast

What could the extinction of Neanderthals tell us about our own species? An archaeologist explains in The Conversation Weekly podcast.

Mend Mariwany, Producer, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation • conversation
Oct. 12, 2023 ~5 min

How morbid curiosity can lead people to conspiracy theories

The answers lie in early human evolution.

Coltan Scrivner, Behavioral Scientist, Arizona State University • conversation
Oct. 11, 2023 ~7 min

Enigmatic human fossil jawbone may be evidence of an early *Homo sapiens* presence in Europe – and adds mystery about who those humans were

Scientists had figured a fossil found in Spain more than a century ago was from a Neandertal. But a new analysis suggests it could be from a lost lineage of our species, Homo sapiens.

Rolf Quam, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Binghamton University, State University of New York • conversation
May 2, 2023 ~12 min

How fish evolved to walk – and in one case, turned into humans

We can trace our human evolutionary lineage back to fish.

Chris Organ, Assistant Professor of Evolutionary Biology, University of Reading • conversation
March 3, 2023 ~7 min

Fossil teeth reveal how brains developed in utero over millions of years of human evolution – new research

Using a new equation based on today’s primates, scientists can take a few molar teeth from an extinct fossil species and reconstruct exactly how fast their offspring grew during gestation.

Tesla Monson, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Western Washington University • conversation
Jan. 25, 2023 ~9 min

Most humans haven't evolved to cope with the cold, yet we dominate northern climates – here's why

Hate winter? The answer may lie in our evolutionary history.

Kyoko Yamaguchi, Senior Lecturer in Human Genetics, Liverpool John Moores University • conversation
Jan. 16, 2023 ~9 min


The real Paleo diet: new archaeological evidence changes what we thought about how ancient humans prepared food

New study shows Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens had a taste for sharp and bitter food.

Ceren Kabukcu, Research Associate in Archaeology, University of Liverpool • conversation
Nov. 23, 2022 ~8 min

8 billion people: how different the world would look if Neanderthals had prevailed

Neanderthals were wiped out by chance changes in the environment. The rise of Homo sapiens wasn’t inevitable.

Penny Spikins, Professor of the Archaeology of Human Origins, University of York • conversation
Nov. 16, 2022 ~8 min

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