Songs to make the forest happy
Music is universal in all human cultures, but why? New Leakey Foundation-supported research explores the evolutionary function of music and singing. The study focuses on women from the Mbendjele BaYaka, a hunter-gatherer community in the Republic of the Congo with a strong musical tradition. This research offers intriguing insights into how music fosters social bonding and communication.
Quadruple your Giving Tuesday impact
This Giving Tuesday, a group of supporters has generously committed to quadruple-match all donations to The Leakey Foundation up to $6,500!
Wild chimpanzees experience menopause
Researchers studying the Ngogo community of wild chimpanzees in western Uganda’s Kibale National Park for two decades has published a report in Science showing that females in this population can experience menopause and postreproductive survival.
Human shoulders and elbows first evolved as brakes for climbing apes
The rotating shoulders and extending elbows that allow humans to reach for a high shelf or toss a ball with friends may have first evolved as a natural braking system.
Woman the hunter: Women, endurance, and evolution
Join Dr. Cara Ocobock on Lunch Break Science to learn how her research challenges traditional human evolution narratives and expands our understanding of women’s physical capabilities and endurance.