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. You see a woman in a Victorian style dress, and you think she looks like your sister.
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.
Historical Human Habitats
Written by: John Rowan
Many types of plants and animals lived alongside our ancestors in East Africa over the last six million years. These organisms can help us learn about the habitats of early humans and how these habitats changed over time.
Life is Spelled A, T, C, G
Written by: Genevieve Housman
Life is complex and diverse but comes down to four little letters. The central code that makes all life on earth possible is found in a tiny molecule known as DNA.
More than Just Another Idea: Technology and Human Learning
Written by: Benjamin Schoville
Culture holds all the information needed to make tools, friends, and a living. Humans are good at learning and imitating what other people do, which has helped us survive and thrive.
Off to the Field We Go
Written by: Hallie Edmonds
Cargo pants. Bug repellent. Duffel bag. Laptop computer. These are just a few of the “must-haves” for anthropologists as they set off to do fieldwork each year.
On the Origin of Species
Written by: Alexandra Norwood
In 1859, Charles Darwin published a book called On the Origin of Species that completely changed our understanding of how biodiversity arises.
Our Primate Heritage
Written by: Neysa Grider-Potter
As humans, we have a place on the primate family tree. We can find it by studying other primates and comparing their traits to our own.
Team Primates
Written by: Irene E. Smail
Humans aren't the only animals with complicated social lives. Studying how other primates interact with each other can help us figure out why humans live the way they do.
The Setting for Science
Written by: Hallie Edmonds
If you like being outdoors, digging up bones, and doing science, then check out what it’s like to be an anthropologist.
The Tales of Teeth
Written by: Kierstin Catlett
You are sitting in a dark movie theater. You are trying to enjoy the movie, but you keep thinking about a pesky piece of popcorn stuck between your molars, the back teeth. After fumbling for a toothpick in your pocket, you dislodge the popcorn. You glance down at the toothpick and see a bit of blood from your gums. Although the popcorn is gone, your tooth still throbs with pain.
There's no I in Human
Written by: Irene E. Smail
Teamwork isn’t just something you do playing sports. It’s also a very important part of what makes humans unique.
To the Laboratory!
Written by: Hallie Edmonds
The precious fossils are carefully bound in bubble wrap and placed in fireproof cases. Soon the fossils will have a new home—the laboratory— and the world will get to know all the secrets these fossils have to offer.
Walking Upright: A Tale of Two Legs
Written by: Neysa Grider-Potter
How do you move from one place to another? Well, most humans walk. Walking on two legs is a very human trait. Learn how the evolution of bipedal walking changed the course of our history.
When Did Our Brains Get Big?
Written by: Halszka Glowacka
Big brains are one of the features that make us human. Find out when during our evolution our brains got big and why this change occurred.
Who Are You?
Written by: John Rowan
Have you ever wondered how your cat, dog, bird, lizard, or fish is related to you? Animal bodies today are like living history books. They tell us a story that goes back at least 500 million years.Be Part of
Ask An Anthropologist
By volunteering, or simply sending us feedback on the site. Scientists, teachers, writers, illustrators, and translators are all important to the program. If you are interested in helping with the website we have a volunteers page to get the process started.
