How Likely is Intelligent Life?
January 16, 2020
Two new books tackle the question of life and sentience and, together, they make a strong argument that neither may be as improbable as we thought. … More How Likely is Intelligent Life?
Tag: human evolution
The Decline of Violence in Homo sapiens
September 3, 2019
Science is finally making real progress on the question of how our species achieved a mostly nonviolent social harmony. … More The Decline of Violence in Homo sapiens
The Beauty of Imperfection: Why I Wrote “Human Errors”
November 12, 2018
Our flaws show the limits of our biology and the way in which our past shapes our present. … More The Beauty of Imperfection: Why I Wrote “Human Errors”
Attraction and Mate Choice in Humans
October 1, 2018
New research on attraction reveals how this multidimensional phenomenon integrates in our mind. … More Attraction and Mate Choice in Humans
My YouTube Channel
September 24, 2018
I have launched a YouTube channel where I will post events, lectures, video essays, and other content that I find interesting. … More My YouTube Channel
Even Marmosets Develop Regional Dialects
November 14, 2017
New research confirms that marmoset calls vary in different groups, showing that the calls are learned, not strictly biologically programmed. … More Even Marmosets Develop Regional Dialects
Video: An Impromptu Skype Call with Lee Berger and John Hawks from inside the Rising Star Caves as They Excavated More Homo naledi Fossils
September 18, 2017
Perhaps the most famous paleoanthropology team are now live-streaming their fossil excavation efforts from South Africa … More Video: An Impromptu Skype Call with Lee Berger and John Hawks from inside the Rising Star Caves as They Excavated More Homo naledi Fossils
Exclusive Interview with Lee Berger: A Second Cave, Homo naledi Fossils Only 236-355k Years Old
May 9, 2017
Researchers in South Africa have discovered another cave with remains of Homo naledi and the dating of the fossils reveals a big surprise. … More Exclusive Interview with Lee Berger: A Second Cave, Homo naledi Fossils Only 236-355k Years Old
What is the value of play?
May 1, 2017
[This is a quick summary of the second chapter of my book, Not So Different: Finding Human Nature in Animals on play and recreation. The thesis of the book is that we can better understand human behaviors by studying their equivalents in other animals.] Isn’t playing a pointless distraction for an animal? At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be any … More What is the value of play?
From Woodpeckers to Apes: Competition Drives the Correlation between Brain Size and Group Size
March 8, 2017
A new study of woodpeckers adds nuance to the relationship between brain power and social interactions. … More From Woodpeckers to Apes: Competition Drives the Correlation between Brain Size and Group Size
