Our group together with an international team of scientists successfully recovered and analyzed ancient DNA from Egyptian mummies dating from approximately 1400 BC to 400 AD, establishing ancient Egyptian mummies as a reliable source for genetic material to study the ancient past. The study, published... click to read more

The origin and the evolution of today's diverse populations is a complex process to study and clarify. Nevertheless, the recovery of genetic material from old remains such as bones, the so-called ancient DNA (aDNA), adds a new important source of information. aDNA can provide information on... click to read more

When trying to understand early human migration, timing is everything. We know that humans migrated from the African savannahs through Asia and down into Australia, and this journey is seen as one of our greatest human accomplishments. But we still don't know exactly when we... click to read more

A fundamental and often neglected feature of life on Earth is that all organisms live immersed in fluids. In the case of animals that fly or swim, locomotion is, therefore, a combination of their own movement and the displacements of the surrounding air or water.... click to read more

Our research team has determined the age of Homo naledi, a new species of hominin (human ancestor), from the Rising Star Cave in The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, South Africa. We have also announced the discovery of a second chamber (the Lesedi Chamber)... click to read more