World of Anthropology

Read about research projects being conducted at Arizona State University. Many of the articles you find on this page are written by graduate students in the anthropology departments. The list is always growing so be sure to come back and visit often.

A Brief History of History

Written by: Benjamin Schoville

What does it mean to be human? Take a look at the story of how we became…well…us. The search for our first ancestors who looked and acted like people today is the search for what it means to be human.

Babies, Birth, and Brains

Written by: Halszka Glowacka

We have big brains, but are we born with big brains or do they get big as we grow up? It turns out that it’s a little bit of both. Learn about how our incredible brains grow and find out what limits our brain size.
Also in: Español

Because Your DNA Says So

Written by: Genevieve Housman

Your DNA is unique, and it makes you a human, not any other animal. Sequencing DNA lets us identify genetic similarities and differences that relate to species similarities and differences.

Brains over Brawn

Written by: Halszka Glowacka

The differences between our brains and the brains of other animals is an important part of what makes us human. Find out why your brain is so big and what that allows you to do.

Changing Climates and Changing Faces

Written by: John Rowan

Climate change has been a hot topic in discussions on the future of our global community. But looking into the past is also important. What do we know about how the climate and the environment affected our early ancestors?

Chipping Away: Tools in the Stone Age

Written by: Benjamin J. Schoville

Since long ago, the survival of our ancestors has depended in part on technology. Even today, the shoes you put on and the car you drive are both built on previous discoveries. We can trace human technological developments way back to over three million years ago.

Chomp Into the Past

Written by: Kierstin K. Catlett

Sitting on the sofa, you flip through a family photo album. You see a young man dressed in a uniform from the 1940s. Your father looks a lot like the man in the black and white photograph. You flip another page and go further back in time.

Controlling the Code

Written by: Genevieve Housman

DNA controls all of your traits. Right? Well, kind of. The environment can actually control how your DNA works. Learn about how it does this through a series of switches known as epigenetic mechanisms.

Fossil Hunters

Written by: Dominique Garello

To make it easier to find fossils, you need to know how and where to look. Luckily, there are clues all around, and a good fossil detective knows to ask the four Ws: who, what, when, and where.

Fossils Rock: How Geology is Used in the Fossil Record

Written by: Dominique Garello

The fossil record is not only about bones. Geology is an important part in learning about fossils and uncovering their story.

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How did changes in the Earth’s climate affect our human ancestors?
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