The whole story of human evolution – from ancient apes via Lucy to us

Our understanding of human ancestry has changed dramatically since the discovery of Lucy the ancient hominin 50 years ago. Here is the history of humanity as we know it today.

John Gowlett, Professor of Archaeology and Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool • conversation
Nov. 25, 2024 ~44 min

The MIT Press releases report on the future of open access publishing and policy

Report aims to “ensure that open science practices are sustainable and that they contribute to the highest quality research.”

MIT Press • mit
Nov. 25, 2024 ~3 min


The whole story of human evolution – from ancient apes via Lucy to us – in one long read

Our understanding of human ancestry has changed dramatically since the discovery of Lucy the ancient hominin 50 years ago. Here is the history of humanity as we know it today.

John Gowlett, Professor of Archaeology and Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool • conversation
Nov. 25, 2024 ~44 min

Your child, the sophisticated language learner

New research shows that a grasp of grammar helps even very young children figure out when they must acquire new words.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News • mit
Nov. 21, 2024 ~9 min

‘Deep inside, something told me I had found the earliest human ancestor; I went numb’ – Yohannes Haile-Selassie on his lifetime quest to discover ancient humanity

On the 50th anniversary of the discovery of ancient hominin Lucy, a leading Ethiopian scientist on why we need to ‘decolonise’ paleo research – and what it’s like to find the oldest human ancestor.

Mike Herd, Investigations Editor, Insights • conversation
Nov. 21, 2024 ~23 min

Can robots learn from machine dreams?

MIT CSAIL researchers used AI-generated images to train a robot dog in parkour, without real-world data. Their LucidSim system demonstrates generative AI's potential for creating robotics training data.

Rachel Gordon | MIT CSAIL • mit
Nov. 19, 2024 ~8 min

Study uncovers earliest evidence of humans using fire to shape the landscape of Tasmania

Some of the first human beings to arrive in Tasmania, over 41,000 years ago, used fire to shape and manage the landscape, about 2,000 years earlier than

Cambridge University News • cambridge
Nov. 15, 2024 ~5 min

J-PAL North America announces new evaluation incubator collaborators from state and local governments

Selected LEVER collaborators will work with the organization to develop an evaluation of their respective programs that alleviate poverty.

Victoria Moura | J-PAL North America • mit
Nov. 15, 2024 ~6 min


Hundreds of 19th-century skulls collected in the name of medical science tell a story of who mattered and who didn’t

Marked with numbers, demographic information and provenance – though not name – these skulls tell a story of racist hierarchies but also diversity in the early United States.

Pamela L. Geller, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Miami • conversation
Nov. 14, 2024 ~10 min

A portable light system that can digitize everyday objects

A new design tool uses UV and RGB lights to change the color and textures of everyday objects. The system could enable surfaces to display dynamic patterns, such as health data and fashion designs.

Alex Shipps | MIT CSAIL • mit
Nov. 6, 2024 ~8 min

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