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Ancient bacteria genome reconstructed from Neanderthal tooth gunk

4 May 2023

Researchers pieced together the genomes of two unknown species of green sulphur bacteria from DNA fragments found in ancient calcified tooth plaque

Neanderthals may have grown their baby teeth faster than we do

24 November 2021

A tooth from a Neanderthal child who lived 120,000 years ago suggests that our cousin species began cutting their baby teeth at 4 months – earlier than for the average modern human

Prehistoric elephant nursery probably made easy prey for Neanderthals

16 September 2021

Fossil footprints reveal that the extinct straight-tusked elephant raised its young with groups of adult females and no adult males, just as modern elephants do – and that they were probably hunted by Neanderthals

Neanderthals feasted on seafood and nuts according to fossil remains

26 March 2020

The fossilised remains of the food found in one of the few remaining coastal Neanderthal sites in Europe show they ate plenty of seafood, fish and nuts

Don't miss: celestial bodies, mathematical beauty and sci-fi fun

24 April 2019

See medieval depictions of spirits and the cosmos, explore the human condition through equations, and catch fan-funded film Iron Sky: The Coming Race

Chimp evolution was shaped by sex with their bonobo relatives

24 May 2018

Some chimpanzee populations gained useful DNA from interbreeding with bonobos, and one may even have become more gentle and “bonobo-like” in its brain structure and behaviour

Can CGI finally convince us that Neanderthals were smart?

14 May 2018

We still see Neanderthals as dim, ape-people despite mounting evidence of their intelligence. Can a CGI makeover with Andy Serkis help transform their image?

Stem cells may reveal how Neanderthal DNA works in modern humans

11 May 2018

Many of us carry DNA inherited from Neanderthals, but we can’t be sure how it affects us. Stem cells with Neanderthal DNA could tell us

Neanderthals ambushed cave bears as they awoke from hibernation

26 March 2018

Our extinct cousins the Neanderthals seem to have targeted cave bears, which were normally intimidating foes, while they were sleepy and weak from hibernating through the winter