Why do men find a lower waist-to-hip ratio sexier?
Researchers examine why males tend to rate women with a lower waist-to-hip ratio as more attractive or sexy. ... Read More...
evolution
The macabre world of mind-controlling parasites
Understanding how parasites 'hack' the brains of their hosts may provide new insights into decision making and behavior.... Read More...
Recursive language and modern imagination were acquired simultaneously 70,000 years ago
A mathematical model suggests a genetic mutation which extended the critical period by slowing prefrontal cortex development in two or more children 70,000 years ago was one factor for the emergence of recursive language and modern imagination. ... Read More...
The politics of fear: How it manipulates us to tribalism
Using fear as a political platform has created a resurgence in feelings of tribalism. The utilization of fear as a political tool is uninformed, illogical and can result in increased social violence. A new study looks at the impact of the politics of fear on tribalism.... Read More...
The case against reality
A new theory argues consciousness creates neural activity, and humans have evolved to see what is needed for survival. Perception, it is argued, is a user interface which may not necessarily be real.... Read More...
Study finds Nunavik Inuit are genetically unique
Canada's Nunavik Inuit population are genetically distinct from any other known population. Certain genetic variants identified in this population are associated with a higher risk of brain aneurysms. Nunavik Inuit have distinct genetic signatures in pathways linked to lipid metabolism, allowing them to adjust to higher-fat diets and the extreme temperature of the Canadian Arctic.... Read More...
How mammals’ brains evolved to distinguish odors is nothing to sniff at
Study reveals at least six types of mammals distinguish odors in similar ways, using neural networks that are evolutionarily preserved across species.... Read More...
Humans aren’t designed to be happy
Researchers argue humans did not evolve to be consistently happy but primarily survive and reproduce. Evolution, they say, placed an advantage on depression, preventing humans from engaging in risky or hopeless situations.... Read More...
Environment, not evolution, might underlie some human-ape differences
A new study sheds doubt on existing theories of ape social cognition. Researchers argue it is possible apes and humans are equally capable in some aspects of social cognition, such as social signaling. The study concludes it is essential to not just consider evolution, but also environmental factors when researching ape-human differences.... Read More...
Infants 10 to 16 months old prefer those who yield in conflicts
In staged confrontations between two puppets, infants under 18 months preferred the one who deferred. However, older children preferred the victors.... Read More...
Screams contain a ‘calling card’ for the vocalizer’s identity
Listeners can correctly identify whether pairs of screams originate from the same person or two different people. Findings suggest human screams convey a level of individual identity and shed new light on their evolutionary origin.... Read More...
What made humans ‘the fat primate’?
Early humans underwent critical shifts in how DNA was packaged inside fat cells. As a result, the human body's ability to turn "bad" fat into "good", calorie burning fat was reduced.... Read More...