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How We Won the Hominid Wars, and All the Others Died Out
The unique adaptability of Homo sapiens is what allowed us to survive when so many other species died out, paleoanthropologist Rick Potts contends. 02.23.2012
20 Things You Didn't Know About... Alcohol
You can stash it in your muscles, you can make it in your intestines, and you can find it in space. 01.10.2012
#59: The Mismeasure of Stephen Jay Gould
Looking deeper into Stephen Jay Gould's claims has revealed he was guilty of the same sins he decried in others. 01.03.2012
#24: Gut Microbes Establish Your Identity
Your gut population falls into one of three groups. 12.22.2011
#85: Meet the Grazing Hominid
Researchers discover the so-called "Nutcracker man" ate mostly plants, diverging from fellow primates. 12.22.2011
#80: Neanderthal DNA Boosts Your Immune System
Did early matings with Neanderthals increase our ability to fight disease? 12.22.2011
#51: Stone Age Art Studio Unearthed
Early humans were able to plan and knew more about chemistry than we'd thought. 12.22.2011
The Sperm Crisis: A Tough Nut to Crack
Bad food, bad genes, and monogamy are sucking the life out of human sperm. But conceptive gels and stem cells could bring some virility back. 11.08.2011
The Language Fossils Buried in Every Cell of Your Body
A British family with a bizarre speech deficit has led linguists to FOXP2: a gene that begins to explain how our ancestors acquired language. 10.17.2011
What You Don't Know Can Kill You
Humans have a perplexing tendency to fear rare threats such as shark attacks while blithely ignoring far greater risks like unsafe sex and an unhealthy diet. Those illusions are not just silly—they make the world a more dangerous place. 10.03.2011
Are Cancers Actually New Species of Life? Probably Not—and It Doesn't Matter
Don't believe everything you read on the Internet. 07.29.2011
Homo Sapiens, Meet Your New Astounding Family
Once we shared the planet with other human species, competing with them and interbreeding with them. Today we stand alone, but our rivals’ genes live on inside us—even as their remarkable stories are only now coming to light. 07.28.2011
Monkeys & Morality
The institutions of science are slowly unwinding and assessing the problems that have been revealed in psychologist Marc Hauser's research. 06.20.2011
Discover Interview: Lynn Margulis Says She's Not Controversial, She's Right
It's the neo-Darwinists, population geneticists, AIDS researchers, and English-speaking biologists as a whole who have it all wrong. 06.17.2011
If Modern Humans Are So Smart, Why Are Our Brains Shrinking?
Here are some leading theories about the why the human brain has been getting smaller since the Stone Age. 01.20.2011
#72: Stone-Age Romeos and Juliets
12.16.2010
#45: Pinkie Pokes Holes in Human Evolution
12.16.2010
#34: Our Jumbled Ancestor
12.16.2010
#22: Hair DNA Documents Forgotten Migration
12.16.2010
The 100 Top Science Stories of 2010
Every year DISCOVER sorts through the scientific accomplishments of the past 12 months, and assembles a list of the coolest experiments, most brilliant discoveries, and most world-changing events. As you page through the countdown to the #1 science story, we think you'll come to the same conclusion we did: 2010 was quite a year. 12.16.2010
7 Visions of Our Hot, Awful Future
A bounty of 2010 books predict the future in a globally warmed world. Among the forecasts: boom town Detroit, abandoned Miami, an Arctic black gold rush, and a weirdly strong dried fruit market. 12.13.2010
How Did 9/11 and the Holocaust Affect Pregnant Women and Their Children?
Recent research suggests that terrifying experiences can leave lasting scars on the psyches of people who were fetuses at the time. 10.14.2010
The Evolution of a Punk-Rock Scientist
We talk with Bad Religion frontman Greg Graffin about his dual careers in music and science, non-religious faith, and his problems with authority. 10.06.2010
How Climate Change Shaped Humanity
Could the study of hard times in the past teach us how to deal with global warming in the future? 10.03.2010
Shedding Dark: Discoveries That Totally Confused Scientists
Some science doesn't "shed light" on the subject--instead it forces researchers to question their assumptions and start all over again. 07.29.2010
The Brain: The Switches That Can Turn Mental Illness On and Off
The difference between one personality and another is not determined by genes alone. Love’s got something to do with it too. 06.16.2010
5 Questions for the Woman Who Tracks Our DNA Footprints
Pardis Sabeti unravels recent human genetic changes like lactose tolerance, changes in skin tone, and responses to deadly Lassa fever. 04.17.2010
The Primitive, Complicated, Essential Emotion Called Fear
Are you a man or a mouse? No matter how you answer, you experience fear the same way in your brain. 02.16.2010
#3: Meet Ardi, Your First Human Ancestor
A big analysis of the 4.4-million-year-old fossil shows that humans left the trees before leaving the forest and getting much smarter. 01.25.2010
Did We Mate With Neanderthals, or Did We Murder Them?
In some places, we ate them. More generally, modern humans' more varied lifestyle may have been the key to the survival. 12.30.2009
#75: Yes, You Really Can Smell Fear
Thanks to our sweat, anxiety—and maybe also other emotions—can be chemically transferred between people. 12.23.2009
#82: Humans Took Care of the Disabled Over 500,000 Years Ago
The deformed skull of a 10-year-old child means that there was 10 years of intense support for the child. 12.21.2009
Monkey See, Monkey Do, Monkey Connect
The most profound bonds between people begin in our bodies with imitation and synchronized movements. 11.19.2009
The Brain: Humanity's Other Basic Instinct: Math
New research suggests that math has evolved its way right into our neurons—and monkeys', too. 11.17.2009
Darwin's Great Blunder—and Why It Was Good for the World
The best thing we can do for the theory of evolution may be to bring its creator back down to earth. 10.27.2009
Does Evolution Explain Human Nature?
This panel discussion was based on a recent Big Questions essay series sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation. The panel was moderated by DISCOVER editor-in-chief Corey Powell and hosted by Yale University. 10.05.2009
5 Questions for the Mummy Doctor
Since 2005, Swiss pathologist Frank Rühli has focused on the cause of death for patients who died thousands of years ago. 07.27.2009
The Big Similarities & Quirky Differences Between Our Left and Right Brains
A broken symmetry from our evolutionary heritage is part of what makes us human. 04.15.2009
The Best New Science Books
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Area 51, modern life vs human nature, and more 02.20.2009
Darwin's Dystopias: Ghastly Visions Inspired by Evolution
A new collection of art shows how one scientist shocked the world. 02.12.2009
We All Live in Darwin's World
“Survival of the fittest” is helping us understand not only the origin of species but also love, politics, and even the cosmos. 02.11.2009
They Don't Make Homo Sapiens Like They Used To
Our species—and individual races—have recently made big evolutionary changes to adjust to new pressures. 02.09.2009
DISCOVER Special Evolution Section
The future of Homo sapiens, genetic proof of evolution, the next Galapagos, and more. 02.04.2009
Evolution by Intelligent Design
Bioengineers will likely control the future of humans as a species. 02.02.2009
#34: Anti-Malaria Gene Boosts HIV Vulnerability
An adaptation against tropical disease makes people of African descent more prone to AIDS. 12.16.2008
#36: Creationism Lurks in Public High Schools
One in six teachers say they believe the earth is 6,000 years old. 12.15.2008
#42: Geneticists Uncover the Origin of Blue Eyes
A single genetic mutation gives life to baby blues. 12.14.2008
#64: Spain Gives Great Apes Legal Rights
The animals have the right to life and protection from harmful research practices. 12.10.2008
#66: Natural Selection Helped Indonesians Find the Perfect Canoe
Darwinian-style evolution pushes cultural change, a new paper argues. 12.10.2008
#76: Europe’s Oldest Hominid Makes Its Debut
Archaeologists in Spain uncover the remains of a 1.2-million-year-old human. 12.09.2008
#84: 9,000-Year-Old Milk Cartons Found
A new study examines the world's oldest cattle ranchers. 12.08.2008
#85: Smackdown Over Ancient "Hobbit" Continues
A mysterious skeleton puzzles scientists who wonder if it was human. 12.08.2008
He Found the Innate Humanity in the Human Brain
“Noam Chomsky’s position in the history of ideas is comparable to that of Darwin or Descartes.” 12.01.2008
3 Diseases We May Be Able to Blame on Our Ancient Ancestors
Obesity, lactose intolerance, and high blood pressure may all be traceable to hunter-gatherer survival. 11.27.2008
The Man Who Found That "Genes Hold Culture on a Leash"
Edward O. Wilson looked at ants and made fundamental discoveries about humans. 11.17.2008
Mom and Dad Are Fighting in Your Genes—and in Your Brain
Our brains may contain a battle of the sexes that can cause schizophrenia and autism. 11.10.2008
Why Darwin Would Have Loved Botox
All those wrinkle-causing winces, smirks, and sneers may have been the product of evolution. 10.15.2008
The "Monkey Whisperer" Learns the Secrets of Primate Economics
Laurie Santos penetrates the world of monkeys... and finds they're more like humans than we think. 10.13.2008
Forecasting the Future May Be a Matter of Fun and Games
A new online game uses crowdsourcing to find out how to save humans from extinction. 09.05.2008
How to Teach Science to the Pope
The Vatican keeps close tabs on the latest science—and integrates new research into its modern theology. 08.18.2008
Does Intelligent Design Seek to Undo Modern Science?
Biologist Kenneth Miller thinks so. 07.11.2008
Laughter May Outlive Humans—and Even Numbers
Chimps and orangutans agree: Humor is truly fundamental. 06.27.2008
Did Humans Colonize the World by Boat?
Research suggests our ancestors traveled the oceans 70,000 years ago. 05.20.2008
The Extinct Human Species That Was Smarter Than Us
The superintelligent Boskops had small, childlike faces and huge melon heads. 03.21.2008
Has Science Found a Way to End All Wars?
Given adequate food, fuel, and gender equality, mass conflict just might disappear. 03.13.2008
Your Inner Fish
Learn to love your body for what it really is: a jury-rigged fish. 02.21.2008
Did Life Evolve in Ice?
Funky properties of frozen water may have made life possible. 02.01.2008
96. And Here's Why You Have an Appendix:
When you're sick, it re-boots your gut with good bacteria. 01.15.2008
84. Chimps Show Altruistic Streak
01.15.2008
83. Why Loneliness Is Bad for You
01.15.2008
76. Immune Cells Show Off Their Deadly Grip
01.14.2008
74. Musical Scales Mimic the Sound of Language
The harmonics of human vocalization may generate the frequencies used in music. 01.14.2008
8. Can Vitamin D Save Your Life?
New studies highlight the importance of the forgotten vitamin. 12.12.2007
Whatever Happened To... the Aquatic Ape Hypothesis?
How else to explain naked skin, enlarged mammaries, subcutaenous fat... 12.05.2007
Schizophrenia: The Curse That's Almost a Blessing
The disease may be the twisted flipside of an evolutionary boost. 11.13.2007
Shifty Eyes Provide Super Human Vision
Without jittery eye motion, our most powerful sense is blunted. 10.02.2007
One Universe, Under God
Creationism battles for the hearts and minds of America’s teachers. 10.01.2007
Out of Africa, All of Us
The great debate of human origins finally gets settled . . . maybe. 09.13.2007
He Thinks, She Thinks
Gender differences show up in the brain. 07.05.2007
The Simplistic Manifesto
Intelligent design misses the point. Again. 07.02.2007
Was Lucy a Brutal Brawler?
These legs were made for fighting. 06.26.2007
Review: Meet the Ancestors
A jazzy new Hall of Human Origins opens at the American Museum of Natural History 05.21.2007
How Europeans Got to Europe
45,000-year-old carvings found in Russia 04.23.2007
Why We Get Diseases Other Primates Don't
New research might explain why HIV kills only humans. 09.01.2006
Nice Guys Didn't Finish the Neolithic
New evidence for clubbing cavemen. 08.06.2006
Hand Walkers and Media Circuses
Provocative science thrusts a bizarre Turkish family into the limelight 06.25.2006
Origin Of The Ear
Once, it was more of a nose. 05.28.2006
Born To Run
Humans can outrun nearly every other animal on the planet over long distances. 05.28.2006
The Discover Interview: John McCarter
The head of Chicago's Field Museum lends a powerful new voice to the evolution debate 05.28.2006
Are We All Asians?
Renegade anthropologists rethink where humans came from. 05.27.2006
The Year in Science: Anthropology
01.08.2006
First Americans
Skulls show who got here first. 12.13.2005
Human Origins
Common hospital gear opens up a new way of reconstructing Homo sapiens' ancestors. 10.24.2005
Missing Links Found
Humans - 37 million years ago. 10.18.2005
More Hobbit Bones
Frodos from Flores are multiplying. 10.14.2005
How Loyal Was Lucy?
How Loyal Was Lucy? 09.09.2005
Darwin's Rottweiler
Sir Richard Dawkins: Evolution's fiercest champion, far too fierce 09.08.2005
23 Years Ago in Discover: Creationism
08.06.2005
Brains Study Brains
07.24.2005
Discover Dialogue: Evolutionary Biologist Mark Pagel
Human cultural groups have behaved as if they were different species 05.01.2005
The Latest Flap Over Flores Man
03.31.2005
Think Tank
Great scientists discuss the breakthroughs of the last quarter century—and the next 03.31.2005
New Limb on Family Tree
02.06.2005
Little Lady, Big Controversy
01.26.2005
81: Scans Push Back Date of Bipedalism
01.02.2005
30: Little People Make Big Splash
01.02.2005
This Is Your Ancestor
When microbiologist Mitchell Sogin decided to trace human evolution to its roots, he had no idea he might find sponges 11.25.2004
Grandma's Cultural Kick
10.01.2004
Discover Dialogue: Anthropologist Robert Martin
Did our primate ancestors make their debut during the age of the dinosaurs? 07.25.2004
Useless Body Parts
What do we need sinuses for, anyway? 06.26.2004
Biology
01.02.2004
Human Origins
01.02.2004
Darwin vs. Brussels Sprouts
01.02.2004
Hydra of My Heart
12.03.2003
Evolution of the Birthday Suit
10.01.2003
Great Mysteries of Human Evolution
New discoveries rewrite the book on who we are and where we came from 09.01.2003
Survivor
Older, more primitive skulls from Eurasia and Africa are changing what we thought we knew about where we came from 03.01.2003
A New Look for the First Americans
03.01.2003
Human Origins
01.01.2003
Not Out of Africa
Alan Thorne's challenging ideas about human evolution 08.01.2002
Human Origins
Year In Science 01.13.2002
When We Were Bug-eaters
04.01.2001
Under T.Rex's Toes
06.01.2000
Cooking Ourselves
11.01.1999
Evolutionary Mess
10.01.1999
Ambling Australopithecine
11.01.1998
These Butts Were Made for Walking
11.01.1998
A Million-Year-Old Relative
09.01.1998
Japanese Roots
Just who are the Japanese? Where did they come from and when? 06.01.1998
The Year in Science: Human Origins 1997
Footprints from the human dawn 01.01.1998
The Year in Science: Human Origins 1997
Out of Africa and Back 01.01.1998
The Third Man
For over a century the low-browed Homo erectus has sparked scientific fascination about our origins--and not-so-scientific ramblings about the meaning of race. 09.01.1997
Enigmatic Apes
08.01.1997
Mr. Wallace's Line
Through the ocean just east of Borneo runs an invisible line that separates the world of tigers from the world of kangaroos. Getting across that line may have seen what made our ancestors truly human. 08.01.1997
Are We in Anthropodenial?
To endow animals with human emotions has long been a scientific taboo. But if we do not, we risk missing something fundamental, about both animals and us. 07.01.1997
The Piltdown Perp
01.01.1997
Strong Bones, and Thus Dim-witted?
01.01.1997
The Monkey at Dawn
01.01.1997
The Face of an Ancestral Child
The remains of an 11-year-old who lived and died 800,000 years ago have been found in northern Spain, at a place called Atapuerca. The child's people may have been the ancestors of Neanderthals. But the child's face was ours. 12.01.1996
Sunset on the Savanna
Why do we walk? For decades anthropologists said that we became bipedal to survive on the African savanna. 07.01.1996
Why Women Change
Why are human females hobbled in their prime by menopause? 07.01.1996
A Brain That Talks
Our brains are much like those of our primate cousins, so where did we get our uniquely human gift of speech? One human says we simply rewired brain structures devoted to a different, more general primate specialty--vision. 06.01.1996
We Are All Panamanians
04.01.1996
Ludwig in the Sky With Diamonds
03.01.1996
Death From the Pleistocene Sky
02.01.1996
Walking at Turkana
01.01.1996
Little Foot, Big Implications
01.01.1996
Oldest Asians in China
01.01.1996
Oldest Europeans Reign in Spain
01.01.1996
Darwin's Rib
09.01.1995
The Neanderthal Peace
For perhaps 50,000 years, two radically different types of human lived side by side in the same small land. And for all those millennia, the two apparently had nothing whatsoever to do with each other. Why in the world not? 09.01.1995
Early Signifiers
05.01.1995
Erectus Rising
Oh no. Not this. The hominids are acting up again. 09.01.1994
Oh, Rubbish
08.01.1994
Coming to America
When did humans arrive here? Was it the long-accepted date of 11,200 years ago, or 10,000 years earlier? A remarkably detailed site in Chile may finally give us the answer. 10.01.1993
Who Peopled the Planet?
Prehistorians really agree that all of us originally came out of Africa. It's the details that cause a paleoanthropological donnybrook. 11.01.1992
The Dating Game
By tracking changes in ancient atoms, archeologists are establishing the astonishing antiquity of modern humanity. 09.01.1992
Has Human Evolution Ended?
08.01.1992
Eve and Her Tree
07.01.1992
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