Humans evolved larger brains than their primate cousins in order to develop complex social skills such as maintaining friendships, a new study suggests.
Ancient cave formations found in Israel provide the first concrete evidence that a change in rainfall allowed early humans to migrate out of Africa, experts say.
England's gene pool has shrunk considerably since the days of the Vikings, possibly due to two deadly, centuries-old plagues that wiped out large parts of its population.
The packet of genetic code that increases the odds of being a southpaw is also linked to certain mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, a new study says.
Two genes that are still evolving in humans might have subtle effects on people's abilities to learn different types of languages, according to new research.
A chieftain buried in a 1,400-year-old Chinese tomb was found to be of European descent, marking the easternmost spot where his ancient lineage has ever been found.
A comet exploded over North America about 13,000 years ago, causing massive mammal die-offs and the demise of one of the earliest American cultures, according to a controversial new theory.
The skull of a 30-million-year-old human ancestor held a brain tinier and more primitive than previously believed, though the species probably still had excellent vision.
Australian Aborigines, Asians, and Europeans all emerged from a wave of migration out of Africa around 50,000 years ago, according to new DNA evidence.
Computer reconstructions of a 1.9-million-year-old skull suggest that early modern humans looked more like apes than thought—but other experts are cautious about the new findings.
