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human intelligence

Humans

Ancient lead exposure may have influenced how our brains evolved

Lead poisoning isn't just a modern phenomenon: fossil teeth show signs that it affected ancient hominids, and Homo sapiens may have coped better than our close relatives

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Humans

Early hominin had human-like dexterity and gorilla strength

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Humans

Who were the first humans to reach the British Isles?

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An illustration of a scroll being unfurled by two hands, surrounded by Roman columns and wisps of smoke, with a Roman figure in a toga at the centre

Humans

We’re finally reading the secrets of Herculaneum’s lost library

Features

Technology

Chatbots work best when you speak to them with formal language

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Humans

Evolution of intelligence in our ancestors may have come at a cost

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2AGP4K2 FBI Laboratory analysis of Castor Beans used to manufacture the highly poisonous agent Ricin. Ricin (/'ra?s?n/ RY-sin), a lectin (a carbohydrate-binding protein) produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant, Ricinus communis, is a highly potent toxin. A dose of purified ricin powder the size of a few grains of table salt can kill an adult human. The median lethal dose (LD50) of ricin is around 22 micrograms per kilogram of body weight if the exposure is from injection or inhalation (2 milligrams for an average adult).

Technology

Should we worry AI will create deadly bioweapons? Not yet, but one day

Analysis

Health

We now know why a belly button becomes an 'innie'

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Central market in Acanceh, Yucatan state, Mexico

Humans

We evolved to match local micronutrient levels, which may be a problem

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Los Angeles - CIRCA 1985: Author William Gibson poses for a portrait circa 1985 in Oakland, California (Photo by Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images)

Technology

Is Neuromancer's cyberpunk dystopia still thrilling in 2025?

When it was first published in 1984, William Gibson's Neuromancer transformed sci-fi and instantly birthed the cyberpunk genre. Ahead of an upcoming TV adaptation, Emily H. Wilson revisits the prophetic novel to see if it stands the test of time

Culture

Humans

Understanding the Denisovans means understanding ourselves

Leader

Humans

An incredible Denisovan skull is upending the story of human evolution

Features

Humans

Did childcare fuel language? A new book makes the case

Culture

Technology

I'm a cyclist. Will the arrival of robotaxis make my journeys safer?

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