EVOLUTION

Often dismissed as “primitive,” our extinct relatives were surprisingly thoughtful. Some were also cannibals.

These prehistoric members of our genus, ‘Homo,’ occupy different branches of the human family tree.

Scientists have uncovered ancient fossils, prehistoric artwork, and other clues to human evolution. Here are nine of the most revealing discoveries that have changed our understanding of our early ancestors—and ourselves.

Within the last 200 years, we’ve discovered about two dozen species of hominins in Europe, Africa, and Asia—which you can see laid out in this map.

A fragment of an arm bone found on Flores, Indonesia, suggests that some of our human ancestors were even smaller than we thought.

A fossilized ear bone supports the idea that Neanderthals helped raise the child collectively and altruistically.

They’re both in the camel family and live in South America, but alpacas and llamas aren’t the same species.

The alien-looking, bloodsucking fish have cells that may form the same rudimentary nervous system we have. 

Gasping is tied to an innate survival mechanism, hardwired into humans through evolution: the fight-or-flight response.

Why do we even have them? Let's get to the root of the issue.

If you can't resist puckering your mouth when you lick a lemon or snack on Sour Patch Kids, you can thank evolution.

Fans of '90s alternative music may recall King Missile's big single, "Detachable Penis." While the song may have been silly, it turns out than in the animal world, the idea isn't all that bizarre—at least not to the sea slug Chromodoris reticulata.