Read about the latest human origins discoveries, Leakey Foundation-supported research, and news from the field.
Culture: the Engine of Human Adaptation
Being Human | Guest Post
Humans can rapidly adapt to much wider range of circumstances than any other creature.
The Adaptive Value of Happiness
Being Human | Guest Post
Since Darwin, some scientists have believed that the uniquely human ability to make and enjoy complex music facilitated successful courtship in our ancestors.
An Interview with Steven Heine: Looking for Human Universals
Being Human
Sandra Aamodt interviews psychologist Steven Heine on genetic essentialism, culture, and the weirdest people in the world.
Monsters Incorporated
Being Human
When was the last time you were stalked and attacked by a hungry mountain lion—or any other large predator for that matter?
The Evolution of Everyday Thought
Being Human
Recent research on how evolution has shaped the mind and its development suggests that this view does not do justice to biological reality…
The Roots of Human Aggression
Being Human | Guest Post
Humans are more often at peace than at war; we cooperate more than we conflict. In fact, there is mounting evidence that cooperation may be acentral facet in explaining our success as a species.
Against Animal Natures: An Anthropologist’s View
Being Human | Guest Post
To understand the behavior of nonhuman animals, then, scientists nowadays may look for the expression of stable individual personality traits…
Lying
Being Human | Guest Post
We like people who don’t lie; we feel they’re trustworthy. But perhaps life is not that simple, not that black and white.
Leakey grantees contribute to Chimpanzee
In the News
Jarman, age 4 Did you know that grantees of The Leakey Foundation, as well as project sites funded by the Foundation, were part of this summer’s Disneynature documentary Chimpanzee? The … Continued
Evolution
Being Human
Humans often forget that we really are animals and almost all our behavior—even the most civilized and controlled—is rooted in evolution.