May 2022, Issue 1 Table of Contents
AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE
This Issue
May 2022, Issue 1
The First Americans
Mounting evidence suggests people reached the new world thousands of years earlier than previously thought
Feature
New Evidence Complicates the Story of the Peopling of the Americas
Emma Yasinski | May 2, 2022 | 10+ min read
New techniques have shown that people reached the New World far earlier than the long-standing estimate of 13,000 years ago, but scientists still debate exactly when humans arrived on the continent—and how.
Speaking of Science
Ten Minute Sabbatical
Ten Minute Sabbatical
Take a break from the bench to puzzle and peruse
Critic at Large
Opinion: How Large International Collaborations Have Fared in the Pandemic
Opinion: How Large International Collaborations Have Fared in the Pandemic
COVID-19 has challenged the progress of Big Science. Here are the lessons learned.
Notebook
Fish Are Chattier Than Previously Thought
Fish Are Chattier Than Previously Thought
Once thought to be silent, fish turn out to produce a range of vocalizations—so polluting the oceans with noise could pose a danger to them.
The Mystery of the Mouse Sperm Hook
The Mystery of the Mouse Sperm Hook
Nearly all mouse sperm have hooks on their heads. But new research suggests the structures slow them down—so what exactly is their purpose?
Infographics
Infographic: Mixed Evidence on Human Occupation of the Americas
Infographic: Mixed Evidence on Human Occupation of the Americas
Diverse lines of evidence point to humans’ presence in the New World long before the dawn of Clovis culture. But rewriting this chapter of human history raises many questions about how these early people came to inhabit these continents.
The Literature
Surface Area of Tooth Roots Predicts Primate Body Size
Surface Area of Tooth Roots Predicts Primate Body Size
Researchers determine that a primate’s tooth root, and not just its crown, can yield reliable information about body size, but the relationship between root surface area and diet isn’t as clear.
Dozens of Genes Tied to Caribou’s Seasonal Migration
Dozens of Genes Tied to Caribou’s Seasonal Migration
Researchers tracked the movements of endangered caribou and sequenced a portion of their genomes to determine which genes may influence migratory behavior.
Foundations
Universe 25 Experiment
Universe 25 Experiment
A series of rodent experiments showed that even with abundant food and water, personal space is essential to prevent societal collapse, but Universe 25's relevance to humans remains disputed.