All Stories by Bruce Bower
- Humans
Sociologists looking at risky behavior plunge into the gene pool
A new study of youths reveals that social scientists’ opinions still vary on the potential of studying how genes interact with social contexts.
- Archaeology
Lucy’s kind used stone tools to butcher animals
Animal bones found in East Africa show the oldest signs of stone-tool use and meat eating by hominids.
-
Birth of the beat
Music’s roots may lie in melodic exchanges between mothers and babies.
-
Songs from the Stone Age
No one knows for sure whether music played a key role in human evolution or came about as a kind of ear candy. But there are several scientifically inspired proposals for the origins of music, some included below. Da ya think I’m sexy? Charles Darwin, an avid music fan, suggested in 1871 that humans’ tunes […]
- Paleontology
Oldest dog debated
A fossil jaw may, or may not, come from the oldest known example of man’s best friend.
- Psychology
DNA variant may make heavy boozing a team sport
People who inherit a particular gene variant may find it more appealing to drink a lot of alcohol when they see others doing so.
- Paleontology
Apes and Old World monkeys may have split later than thought
A 29- to 28-million-year-old primate fossil found in Saudi Arabia assists scientists in timing a major evolutionary transition.
- Psychology
Ancient hominids grabbed early northern exposure
Newly recovered stone tools indicate that hominids lived in chilly northwestern Europe more than 800,000 years ago.
- Humans
Botox injections put a crease in emotional evaluations
By immobilizing a muscle needed for frowning, Botox injections may interfere with a person’s ability to assess others’ emotions.
- Life
Having BFFs brings longevity to female baboons
A seven-year study of one African troop finds that females live longer if they form close, lasting friendships.
- Archaeology
Serbian site may have hosted first copper makers
Newly identified remnants of copper smelting at a 7,000-year-old Serbian site fuel debate over where and when this practice began.
- Psychology
Social judgments take touching turns
New evidence suggests that the sense of touch influences people’s willingness to drive a hard bargain or endorse a job candidate.
