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Anthropology
Metaphors like the Great Chain of Being can lead people to misunderstand evolution and humanity’s place in the web of life.
There were at least eight other human species, some of whom existed for far longer than we have. Who were they?
The Te’omim Cave in the Jerusalem Hills is filled with skulls and oil lamps — objects a new study says may have been used in dark rituals.
From the laying out of the body plan to the organization and functioning of our nervous system, cells rule gene expression and make us who and what we are.
What better explains the prevalence of heavy metal in Scandinavian countries: culture or economy?
Mounted on horses and armed with unique, powerful bows, the archers of Genghis Khan inspired terror wherever they rode.
The carnival spirit was in full swing when the priests got wasted and made indecent gestures while dressed like pimps.
Hybrid animals emerge when two different species from the same family reproduce. For many years, the kunga’s lineage was just another genetic mystery.
In numerous cultures worldwide, women were just as involved in bringing home the prehistoric bacon as their male counterparts.
For better and worse, the Columbian Exchange plugged the Americas into the global system — and there was no going back.
They had the technology. So why didn't they use it?
We should acknowledge that there are faith-based myths running deep in science's canon.
Is the vast "Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area" the final resting place of Genghis Khan?
Gods and angels have been replaced with hi-tech extraterrestrials.
John Templeton Foundation
On the menu: stews, cheese, and fermented drinks.
For linguists, the uniqueness of the Basque language represents an unsolved mystery. For its native speakers, long oppressed, it is a source of pride.
We don't know what causes Miyake events, but these great surges of energy can help us understand the past — while posing a threat to our future.
Evolutionary pressures drove the formation of tribes who encoded their values in myths and symbols. Was this cooperation cursed?
4mins
Science has opened so many doors to humanity’s understanding of the world. Scientism shuts them. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Left-handed humans were likelier to get stabbed in the heart.
How humans came to feel comfortable among strangers, like those in a café, is an under-explored mystery.
John Templeton Foundation
One hypothesis: "gossip traps."
And her clothing tells an important story, says archeologist Rita Wright.
5mins
80% of the world was once polygamous. What happened?
It’s a lot easier to point out things that are gezellig (adjective) than it is to define gezelligheid (noun) itself.
The lack of friendship is particularly a problem for men. But there are easy ways to make friends.
Science isn't synonymous with technology; it's about a way of thinking.
It wasn't merely an act of brutality; it was a condemnation for the afterlife.
Zombies aren't a modern-day obsession. Throughout history, fear of the undead led to bizarre burial rituals all over the world.