Did primates opt for brains over brawn? Primate species with larger brains have reduced muscle mass, supporting a controversial theory that energy-hungry brains grew larger by stealing resources from other bodily tissues. Image: Dave Q
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Over the past 30,000 years or so, humans have domesticated all manner of species for food, hunting, transport, materials, to control pests and to keep as pets. But some say that before we domesticated any of them, we first had to domesticate ourselves. Image: Jerzy Kijewski
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A Briton who lived 10,000 years ago had dark brown skin and blue eyes. At least, that’s what dozens of news stories published this month stated as fact. But one of the geneticists who performed the research says the conclusion is less certain, and others say we are not close to knowing the skin colour of any ancient human. Image: C_Dave
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Is it possible to walk through the gates of hell and live? The Romans thought so, and they staged elaborate sacrifices at what they believed were entrances to the underworld. A new study of one ancient site suggests that the “miracles” that occurred there may have a simple geological explanation. Image: farukkgur
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Even in the Stone Age, humans may have loved their dogs. A reanalysis of a prehistoric dog that was buried with two humans reveals that the animal had experienced several bouts of potentially lethal illness. The fact it survived suggests its owners cared for their dog as a pet. Image: Mark Beery Photography
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