Bonobo Mothers Meddle in Their Sons’ Sex Lives – Making Them Three Times More Likely to Father Children
New research shows that for bonobos, sex really is often a family affair. What’s more, rather than being an embarrassing hindrance, motherly presence greatly benefits bonobo sons during the deed.
Evolution and the Mammalian Spine
"Nearly all mammals have the same number of cervical vertebrae, no matter how long or short their necks are--humans, giraffes, mice, whales, and platypuses all have exactly seven cervical vertebrae," said Jeff Spear, a doctoral student from New York University, and part of a team whose Leakey Foundation supported research explored why this characteristic has stayed the same through time and across species.
From the Field: Kevin Hatala, Nariokotome, Kenya
Leakey Foundation grantee Kevin Hatala has recently returned from fieldwork near Nariokotome, in northwestern Kenya, where his research team did surveys and preliminary excavations of sites that preserve 1.5 million-year-old fossil footprints.
Homo naledi and the Chamber of Secrets
May 14 is the final day for discounted 'early bird' tickets for our upcoming lecture, "Homo naledi and the Chamber of Secrets" with Dr. Jeremy DeSilva. The lecture will be held at the Houston Museum of Natural Science on May 21 at 6:30 pm.
National Parks Could Save Endangered Species
Research led by Leakey Foundation grantee Stacy Lindshield shows how protected areas like national parks are effectively preserving many mammal species in Senegal.