With modern conveniences like heaters, snow boots, and heavy coats, surviving the winter is not difficult. But these conveniences didn't exist when early humans roamed Earth. So how did our ancestors keep warm? Based on archeological evidence found in caves and bones, archeologists found some ways that early humans might have protected themselves from the cold. 1. Early Humans Wore Animal Fur to Keep Warm Artist representation of ancient humans wearing fur. (Credit: Benoît Clarys)A study publis ...read more

It is the biggest desert of its kind in the world — almost as big as the entirety of the United States.Despite its desolation, it is nevertheless home to millions of people and hundreds of species of plant and animal life. It is dry, hot, and inhospitable in a way that would be hard for many people on the planet to fathom, yet it is also a land of incredible life and diversity. Here’s what we know about the Sahara Desert.What Is the Largest Desert in the World?Probably the first thing worth ...read more

When we feel depressed, anxious, angry, or sad, a common coping mechanism is to bury those feelings and emotions and try to move on. It’s also common to hear that it isn't constructive to ruminate on the things that keep us down, and that a shift in mindset or perspective can lift us out of our fatalistic slumber. The often-uttered slogans, 'happiness is a mindset,’ or 'good vibes only,’ can sometimes hide the darker aspects of the human experience and is often referred to as toxic positiv ...read more

In the U.S., the rising trend of dog ownership goes hand in hand with a surge in people seeking allergy-friendly canine companions. This has led to the popularity of so-called hypoallergenic dogs – breeds purported to be less likely to trigger allergic reactions. But, digging into the science of dog allergies, the reality of hypoallergenic dogs gets a little hairy.Are Hypoallergenic Dogs Real?Ultimately, the concept of a hypoallergenic dog is more a product of hopeful thinking than a reflectio ...read more

Did you know that anorexia is the most lethal mental health condition? One person dies from an eating disorder every hour in the U.S. Many of these deaths are not from health consequences related to starvation, but from suicide.Up to 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men in the U.S. will develop an eating disorder by age 40, and 1 in 2 people with an eating disorder will think about ending their life. About 1 in 4 people with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa will attempt to kill themselves, an ...read more

While a plant-based diet avoids animal products, a carnivore diet allows its followers to consume only meat and other animal products — a limit, some say, that comes with a host of health benefits. Philip Ovadia, a Florida-based cardiothoracic surgeon is one of the diet’s avid proponents. Ovadia, who first went low-carb before transitioning to fully carnivore five years ago, credits the lifestyle change for helping him lose weight and increase his energy and mental clarity. “During the eig ...read more

You step outside into snow-dusted streets, filling your lungs with the crisp air as you feel that satisfying crunch beneath your feet. It’s only later, when you look at your bare hands back inside, that you see (and feel) it: Red, raw, and rough skin, as itchy as it is uncomfortable.It’s almost a given that your skin will get drier and flakier in the winter months — perhaps even after you’ve already slathered it with moisturizer. But why, specifically, do our hands, feet, and lips become ...read more

Around the turn of the century, microbiologists at Danisco USA Inc. had a problem: The bacteria they used to make yogurt and cheese were getting infected with viruses. Investigating more deeply, the scientists found that some bacteria possessed a defense system to fight off such viral invaders. These virus-resistant bacteria carried weird, repetitive collections of DNA letters in their chromosomes — bits of DNA from their encounters with past viruses that the microbes had “saved” in their ...read more

What defines humanity? Is it the fact that we can walk upright on two legs? That we have brains big enough to use tools? That we can organize our societies well enough to find wonderful ways of exploiting the resources of the planet — and each other?While the answer may seem clear enough to anyone who doesn’t think too closely about it, anthropologists — the scientists who actually study humans — aren’t necessarily so certain.“We’re using this term and it’s not quite colloquial a ...read more

On July 2, 1937, pilot Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan hopped into their Lockheed 10-E Electra and headed for Howland Island, a 0.6-square-mile coral atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Following takeoff, the pilot, the navigator, and the plane were never seen again.The two disappeared during their attempt to fly their way around the world, with the location of their disappearance having eluded experts for decades. But this week, experts from the ocean exploration firm Deep Sea V ...read more