12 June 2023
Language isolates, like Chimané from Bolivia, are unrelated to any other known tongue. Studying them is revealing how languages evolve and influence our perception of the world around us
11 April 2023
There is probably a plane of knowledge beyond the grasp of human minds. But mathematician and physicist David Wolpert says it is still possible to explore this unimaginable realm
3 August 2022
Much of the world’s first writing, carved into clay tablets, remains undeciphered. Now AI is helping us piece together this ancient Mesopotamian script, revealing the incredible stories of men, women and children at the dawn of history
23 March 2022
Our mastery of language presents many mysteries, not least where grammar comes from and how children learn to speak so effortlessly. Now researchers argue that it all makes sense if you think of language as a game of charades
16 December 2020
Pattern-seeking artificial intelligence promises a new way to decode animal languages from dog to whale. Our relationship with our furry and flippered friends may never be the same
14 October 2020
Filler words such as uh, mmm and huh may seem inarticulate, but without them human communication would be far less sophisticated
5 February 2020
One of civilisation’s most revolutionary inventions was long thought to be the brainchild of ancient Egyptian scribes. But its true creators may have been far less glamorous
9 October 2019
We can sniff out fear, find solace in the smell of a loved one, breathe in the scent of happiness. How we're deciphering the subliminal signals of human scent
1 May 2019
Two million years ago, our ancestors started singing to ward off predators putting humanity on a path that led to the evolution of language
2 January 2019
Being a better you needn't be as hard as you think. From more sleep, to snacking smarter and ditching the gym - we put 10 New Year's resolutions to the test
