A new paper published in the journal Human Nature finds that transgendered men were often seen as an asset in some societies.
evolution
What Drove Man to Monogamy: It Wasn’t Love
Two new studies analyze the origin of monogamy and come up with very different answers
New Insight into the (Epi)Genetic Roots of Homosexuality
Sexual preference may not be written in our genes, but rather in how our genes are expressed
The Ancient Sexual Revolution that May Have Spurred Human Monogamy
Did a sexual revolution, led by low-ranking males and faithful females, lay down the roots of the modern family?
Why We Form Societies: It’s Our Big Babies
Newborns may seem tiny to their adoring moms and dads, but most other primate parents would disagree. According to Jeremy DeSilva, an anthropologist at Boston University, human babies weigh about 6% of what their mothers weigh, …
An Evolutionary Explanation for Altruism: Girls Find It Sexy
One of the big unsolved mysteries in evolutionary theory is why creatures are altruistic. Selflessness doesn’t seem to be one of those qualities that ensure survival of a bloodline, since, by definition, it means acting against oneself.
All humans are mutants, a new study suggests
Researchers in Britain and China are using a new method to measure the rate of genetic mutation among humans — and it seems that all people in the world likely carry at least some new mutations.
For their study, published this week in the journal Current Biology, the researchers enlisted the help of two Chinese men whose families …
The evolutionary of roots of “cuddle hormone” oxytocin
A hormone known as the “cuddle chemical” helps humans to form monogamous bonds, to feel a loving attachment to their kids, and even to produce breast milk. Now, a new report in Science shows that an avian version of that very same hormone also helps birds to stick together as a flock — a sign that of our seemingly unique social bonds …