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New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Central market in Acanceh, Yucatan state, Mexico

Humans

We evolved to match local micronutrient levels, which may be a problem

Most human populations evolved to cope with low or high local levels of micronutrients such as zinc, but these localised adaptations might now be problematic

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Illustration of a teenage girl who is the offspring of a Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) mother and Denisovan (Homo sapiens denisova) father. A bone fragment with this hybrid ancestry was found in the Denisova Cave in Russia. The bone belonged to a female who was at least 13 years old and died around 90,000 years ago. It was known from genetic analysis of other fossils that the two species had interbred, but this is the first first-generation offspring of such a pairing to be found.

Humans

Understanding the Denisovans means understanding ourselves

Leader

A skull unearthed in Harbin, China, turns out to belong to a Denisovan

Humans

An incredible Denisovan skull is upending the story of human evolution

Features

Mother holding baby on her lap and playing. Happy little boy looking at mother.; Shutterstock ID 1368345290; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Humans

Did childcare fuel language? A new book makes the case

Culture

TX DATE:21-07-2025,TX WEEK:29,EMBARGOED UNTIL:08-07-2025 00:00:00,DESCRIPTION:Dramatic reconstruction of early anatomically modern Homo sapiens living in Africa.,COPYRIGHT:BBC Studios,CREDIT LINE:BBC / BBC Studios

Humans

Exploring humanity's ancient origins in fantastic new BBC documentary

Culture

Humans

Fossil teeth may come from a new species of early hominin

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Humans

Why a mysterious group of ancient humans doesn’t have a species name

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Team of EMS Paramedics React Quick to Provide Medical Help to Injured Patient and Get Him in Ambulance on a Stretcher. Emergency Care Assistants Arrived on the Scene of a Traffic Accident on a Street.

Health

Let a breakthrough in measuring body clocks ease the ills of shiftwork

Leader

Creepy blank gravestone in graveyard at night with low spooky fog; Shutterstock ID 1890736525; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Humans

Homo naledi's burial practices could change what it means to be human

Leader

Atmospheric graveyard

Humans

What were ancient humans thinking when they began to bury their dead?

Claims that a small-brained hominin called Homo naledi buried its dead raise intriguing questions about ancient minds and why we engage in this peculiar practice

Features

Humans

Evolution has made humans both Machiavellian and born socialists

Features

Humans

70,000 years ago humans underwent a major shift – that’s why we exist

Comment

Humans

'Hybrid' skull may have been a child of Neanderthal and Homo sapiens

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Humans

A Neanderthal-shaped skull may explain why some people get headaches

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